Wow, interesting! Eventually, I'll check my '67 and '69 kits to see, too. Maybe there was a transition time when they switched. I guess we'll have to find some drums with 30 degree bevels and check the dates on them in order to start to get a clearer picture!

I had to laugh. I have a Jazz Fest that I bought on CL. It has a stamped date of March 1, 1971. It literally had NO bearing edges or snare bed cut in it at all. None. Sounded like crap. It was still perfectly round, so I sent it off to Precision and had them put period correct Ludwig edges on it. It was also odd in that it was almost 6 inches deep. Fixing the edges narrowed it to 5.5". Now it sings beautifully.

It would certainly be interesting to know what you find on your '67 and '69 kits, please keep us posted. And as you have suggested, if perhaps others could also provide photos detailing the bevels from their kits of different years then we may be able to obtain a clearer idea of time frame etc.

I may be wrong, but all this talk is about the angle on the inside of the shell; I've always thought the bearing edge angle referred to the outside of the shell, where the head rolls over the edge. This is where the profile & amount of contact between the head & edge has the most effect, no?.........marko

The bearing edge bevel angle is the inside. The outer area is where either a counter cut is made or, in the case of vintage drums, the round over. The shallower the bevel, the more "meat" there is to round over. I think this was the practice that came about when calfskin heads were still the standard. A sharp angle and less surface area contact would have just created tears in the calfskins. But, subsequently, synthetic heads came in and replaced the calfskins as the standard, but drum builders just kept on making the same kind of shells. Eventually, drum builders figured out that a sharper bevel and edge made improved the sustain and widened the tuning range, so that became the thing for awhile. Now, I think the choices are much more varied.

I just want to see a drum with a 30 degree bevel now to compare it to the look of those 45 degree bevels.

I too was always under the impression that the bearing edge bevel angle was referring to the inside cut. I don't believe that the angle of this cut has any real (if any) significance as it is where the drum head makes contact with the shell that is of importance and as O-Lugs has pointed out, it's the counter cut that makes a difference here or if a 'roundrover' is applied which I believe tends to dampen the harmonic overtones slightly and perhaps reduces the sustain a little. However, time and time again I am finding claims that all Vintage Ludwigs had 30 degree bearing edges up until at least the mid 70's but as I have reported previously in this thread, findings so far by myself and others when actually checking Ludwig shells of the 60's have proven to be a 45 degree cut. Hoping that some other members here can contribute and post some photos of their findings when checking kits that they own, it would be interesting to see.

Hi O-Lugs

Just wondered if you found the opportunity to check the bearing edges on your 67 and 69 kits?

Sounds like that shell missed an important step in the manufacturing process!

No, sorry...They are both in storage at the moment. We recently remodeled our basement and there was just no room. It's one of the many things I have yet to get back out of storage. I swear though....I'm thinking they are going to be 45's like yours. The 30 degree bevels just look SO flat compared to anything I've seen on my drums...I think I would have noticed it, but I will check on them when I get them out of storage....hopefully soon.

It's going to be kind of embarrassing if they all turn out to be 45's...one reason being that I had a custom kit made by Rob Kampa several years back and I specified that the bevels MUST be 30 degrees for the authentic Ludwig sound.....errrrmm...yeeeah!...Maybe NOT!