That is an early Jazz Festival, and the finish is NOT Black Panther, that is just a vinyl material someone applied, probably to make it somewhat match an actual Black Panther kit. The original finish is clearly the blue sparkle pearl. If the muffler is a SMALL round knob, that would be original to the drum as well.

Yeah I figured all that out over time. If you look back I did a before and after pic with the vinyl removed and the blue sparkle all shined up. Actually this drum appears to be a Super Classic. The shell is 5.5" deep. Unless I'm wrong the Jazz Festival only came in 5"? Also there are two extra holes drilled underneath the strainer which it appears would have held the Super Classic strainer.

I'm also looking for a COB top hoop for this drum if anyone knows where I could find one...

Is anyone able to confirm that this is a Super Classic and not a Jazz Festival? The shell is 5.5" deep.

Wouldn't a SC have a different butt plate?

Like this?

http://www.hazelshould.com/files/imagecache/product_full/images/museum/ludwig_bo_badge_maple_snare_drum_6.5x14_super_classic_throwoff_4.jpg

Now I'm really confused! I thought that the Jazz festival didn't come in a 5.5" shell depth? And why would the extra holes have been drilled?

Check out these two sold drums on ebay. They seem to have the classic strainer with a normal butt plate.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1959-LUDWIG-5-1-2X14-SUPER-CLASSIC-BLUE-SPARKLE-SNARE-DRUM-FOR-SET-LOT-K788-/271094802148?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f1e8266e4&nma=true&si=uI1gPNFR72MS735KW5dUzaPE%2BTg%3D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ludwig-Super-Classic-Snare-Drum-vintage-excellent-with-extra-set-of-snare-wires-/121019245491?pt=Vintgae_Drums_Percussion&hash=item1c2d4f23b3&nma=true&si=uI1gPNFR72MS735KW5dUzaPE%2BTg%3D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Here's pic of the holes on my drum. The outside holes fit the p-85 that is currently on the drum.

I'd love to get to the bottom of this mystery!

It looks to me like the strainer and butt plate are in a reversed position. The strainer on early 60's Ludwigs should be right next to the badge and you have the butt plate there. around 1964-ish the strainer moved back a panel so that there was a space between the badge and the strainer.

A P-87 is very likely what was on there as they were more common in the early 60's as they were pretty much common place as the strainer in the 50's. The 1950's WFL Buddy Rich model used a p-87 and was a very common drum much like the supraphonic was in the 60's. Wrap looks to be in good shape!

So would you think that my drum is a Super Classic that originally would have had the p-87 strainer? Then someone drilled and installed a p-85 later?

I think you're right that the strainer has been switched, & WFLKurt would know about location on the drum; I've never committed that stuff to memory. As far as the size goes, JF's kinda went between 5" & 5-1/2" in height. Some guys here have 5-1/4" high shells. Rob C's book shows both snares as 5-1/2"; My '64 catalog shows the SC at 5-1/2" & the JF at 5". Hope that helps......marko

Hmmmm so this could be a Jazz Festival? The reason I'm confused is that according to what I have found, if this snare is a Jazz Festival it should have been a straight swap from the original p-83 to the p-85 on it now, without extra holes drilled. If this snare is a Super Classic, it could perhaps explain the extra holes. Perhaps it will remain a mystery...

This article from the Drum Guide might help.... or confuse further...??

Link