Beautiful kit! Yes, WMP is a great finish!! Have a '62 set of Lud's that spent probably 35 years in cases stored away, so mine aren't faded very much either, probably about like yours.

Where'd you find that thing? Or are you the original owner?

Congrats!

-Kevin

I bought this kit off of a collector, was stored away away for at least 30 years I believe. Even just stacked in a corner, still collected that infamous fade.

Don't have it anymore but I do wonder what is the best condition of a WMP Ludwig kit out there.

I think the fading has to do with oxidation of the chemicals used to make the material, itself. Also exposure to ultra violet light creates a chemical change in the material. Some types of wraps react more than others. Green sparkle, for example, is almost impossible to keep green. It tends to yellow, too. I don't know if it's the dye or what it is, but it's a bugger! WMP is the same way in many cases. I have an old WMP Sherwood snare drum and it's changed to "mellow yellow". I love the color, myself...but it would be a dilemma to try and match it with any other WMP drums, I think. Drums that start out together in a matched kit and stay together -stored in the same way, etc., will tend to change equally -probably like your kit in the picture, so the variance is less outstanding.

Faded vintage WMP is just one of those things!

MichaelSJ,

I have WMP sheets that were shielded away in a small manilla envelope for 45 years! They are prefectly white, zero fading and look incredible. Granted they aren't on a kit, but still kinda neat to have.

Really? unfaded 60s Ludwig wmp pearl? Dang, that has to be a rarity. Please do post some pictures!

Yeah, it's not the first time I have been requested to post pictures, I am finally out of my busy season for a little while...hopefully I can get some up here!!

Here's a clear view of where the bottom of the shell was hidden from the elements. Amazing...I really wish I knew how to get the rest of the shell to look that white.

MichaelSJ:

Maybe I'm showing my "age" here, but the finish on the kit that you posted is flat-out GORGEOUS in my opinion.

To me, the beauty of the "vintage" kits IS the natural fade. Whenever I see an alleged "vintage" WMP that looks whiter than clean sheets, I instantly have my doubts of its originality. I guess it's kind of like looking at the senior citizen with the "shoe polish" black hair after he applied a "slight dose" of dye to his natural grey hair. Something's wrong with that picture to me.

I've got a WMP Radio King Kit, a WMP Rogers Kit and a WMP Ludwig Kit. ALL have "faded" naturally, and I think they ALL look fantastic.

Again, I guess that's why I use the login of "OldSchool" on this forum.

Happy holiday week-end to all!

Hey OldSchool!...

You mean like this?! ( click on the pic for a LARGER view ) Hey MichaelSJ! :-)

Tommyp