Hi again,

More happiness has just entered The Curotto Collection and the "Ludwig Family" has a new member. A while back you may have seen my NSMD article/Drum Forum posts on the #1 (WFL I), #2 (WFL II) and #3 (WFL III) Ludwig 1984 75th Anniversary brass/engraved 6.5x14 Super-Sensitives. I am happy to share with you all that #4, Joe Morello's drum, has now entered my collection and is sitting right next to #1, #2, and #3. Almost two years ago the original owner (after Joe), Clay Greene, had contacted me that he was selling Joe Morello's 5x14 gold plated Super-Sensitive (yes, one of the four drums that were presented to Ringo Starr, Dick Schory, George Gaber and Joe Morello) and Joe's #4 75th Anniversary 6.5x14 brass/engraved 6.5x14 Super-Sensitive. I am very happy that I saved Clay's email as I was able to broker Joe's 5x14 gold drum to a buyer and for my efforts I was able to purchase Joe's #4 at a discounted price in lieu any broker fees. I know by now some of you are thinking: "Why didn't Mike buy the JM gold drum?" For those that are interested, my answer is: 1. I was originally offered the JM gold drum and the JM #4 75th Anniversary drum and I could have purchased one or both of those drums before this deal took place...2. I already own one of the four gold plated drums that were presented to the 4 individuals mentioned above. I own the George Gaber drum, George's drum is the only 6.5x14, the other 3 are 5x14s...3. I have a few other potential snare drum purchases in the works and decided to allot the money for those snare drums instead...4. The buyer was really excited about owning this drum as this was his first "big purchase" of a well known drum. So this was a win-win situation for all! There are signed letters of provenance, photos with Joe, Clay and the drum and Joe autographed the top head. One final interesting fact about this drum can be found on page 263 of The Ludwig Book by Rob Cook; and I quote: "Drum #4 was sold by Joe Morello in 2002 to Clay Greene. This drum has never been played, although Morello did admit to Greene that he tapped it with his fingers from time to time." Clay told me that when he met with Joe to purchase the drums he had Joe play a little on this drum and Clay assured me that Joe was the last person to play on this drum...very cool! I am happy to confirm that this drum is in the condition that was stated. I took it right out of the case, photographed it and put it on the shelf right next to the Ludwig Family.

The Drum: 1984 LUDWIG #4 (JOE MORELLO) 75th ANNIVERSARY BRASS/ENGRAVED SUPER-SENSITIVE MODEL

NB: I have excerpted and updated some information from my previous article in order to describe this drum.

The engraving is the laser-engraved 10 point floral pattern similar to the 1929-only 10 point floral pattern. One interesting thing that I noticed on all three drums (four drums now) was the absence of engraving in the top half of the panel that is left of the butt side SS mechanism. Any ideas why that happened? Any 75th owners out there with the same situation? If you look at the top half of the shell starting at the butt side SS mechanism and move to the right you'll have drilling for the SS mechanism, tone control, Ludwig badge, 75th Anniversary plaque, engraving, lever side SS mechanism, engraving, engraving, engraving and then the blank area. It doesn't seem logical to me why the engraving would be left out in that area. I did hear that these panels were left blank because that's where the 75th Anniversary plaque was originally supposed to be placed; so now I hear all of you enquiring minds asking (in unison) the logical question: "So is there engraving under the 75th Anniversary plaque?" There is engraving on every panel in the bottom half of the shell except for the areas (top and bottom) where the SS mechanism is. So feel free to weigh in on that one as I'd love to know the answer or at least some of your theories. There is a "B" stamp (brass) right above the tone control thumbwheel.

Enjoy!

Mike