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Ludwig Black Galaxy Sparkle kit, factory or pieced together?

Posts: 63 Threads: 22
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Greetings,

I have a Ludwig kit that looks (to me) like a Club Date bass drum (22") and rack tom (13") with an added-on Super Classic floor tom (16"). They're all in black galaxy sparkle, which was only available for a few years, but they're all a bit different: The bass drum and rack tom have single lugs, no serial, and nickel plated hardware, the floor tom has chrome hardware, dual lugs, and a serial (#25506, 1964). The floor tom and rack tom have white paint interior and red felt mufflers, the bass drum is natural wood inside, obviously from the factory.

Other details: the bass drum doesn't have a rail, it has a retractable cymbal arm, the kit came with a #45 hoop mounted tom holder. The floor tom's badge is centered vertically.

So was this kit likely pieced together, or could it have been purchased like this as a kit?

Posted on 2 years ago
#1
Posts: 6170 Threads: 255
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I have the same kit and sizes. It is all legit. Would love to see some pictures. It is called a Ludwig Club Date Combo kit. The early 60's models of those were cataloged with a matching Jazz Festival snare. As they got closer to '64 it was a Pioneer snare. The added a classic floor tom was very common at that time. Great drums! Enjoy! Here is a pic of mine a few years back with a added floor tom and Pioneer snare.

Mike

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Posted on 2 years ago
#2
Posts: 63 Threads: 22
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Nice, thanks for confirming that. There will be pictures, eventually. Gotta give the bass drum hoops a new coat of paint first.

So, the Super Classics were chrome and the Club Dates were nickel plated in 1964?

Or they changed from nickel to chrome around that year, and used what they had to make kits?

Cheers!

Posted on 2 years ago
#3
Posts: 63 Threads: 22
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My bad, a simple Google search answered my question. It sounds like the use of chrome and nickel overlapped for quite a few years around that time.

Posted on 2 years ago
#4
Posts: 1190 Threads: 86
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At the time, Super Classic just referred to the set configuration 22, 13, 16 with a cymbal mount on the bass drum. There was no drum line called Super classic.

Posted on 2 years ago
#5
Posts: 63 Threads: 22
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Good to know! The "Club Date" designation is for the single lug drums though, right?

Posted on 2 years ago
#6
Posts: 2010 Threads: 19
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Technically Club Date was an outfit that used Club Date toms and a Century bass drum.

All used the same 3 ply shells, just drilled differently.

Posted on 2 years ago
#7
Posts: 63 Threads: 22
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From mlayton

I have the same kit and sizes. It is all legit. Would love to see some pictures.

All cleaned up! You asked for pictures, here they are.

It's in amazing condition. The nickel / chrome is nearly impeccable, and apart from some shrinkage and resulting lack of overlap at the seam (and one small crack at the seam on the bass drum bottom), there's basically one scratch that's actually visible on the whole kit. It's on the top of the bass drum, probably tom rash, and it's really not bad. All bearing edges are pristine, and drums beautifully in round.

It is missing one small strip of wrap for the bottom of one of the bass drum hoop, so if anyone has scraps of this rarest wrap...

Porto Seat to match.

Posted on 2 years ago
#8
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Gorgeous kit, I love the finish.

Posted on 2 years ago
#9
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