I would call that a beautiful set of wpm Ludwig drums.

thankyou it really is

well yes they are tools, that progressed into a art form! design makes form and function,,

Speaking from a player's point of view, sound is most important followed by make/look, which are usually the same thing to me.

Out of the drums I've sampled in the last 55 years or so of Drumming , id have to say sound is a variable and can be controlled with any kit Mij or some custom stuff it's the over all stage presence that inspires everyone from players to spectators and so it's a complete awe and shock with looks that kill and sound that penetrates the soul ..aka 60's 70's drums ..not neccesarily perfect but nonetheless very right in all areas for a performance .

This is true and most vintage kits, no matter who made them, generally have that vibe. But sometimes you find that sound in a totally unexpected place. For instance, the MIJ kit I just bought may not appeal to all, but it inspires me to play everytime I sit down behind them.The tone and feel of this kit rivals any I've played. If I could put a price on sound alone, this kit would be worth ten times what I payed.

I don't keep a kit unless there is something special about it. I try to match with all original parts - but don't typically get to 100%.

...and as for sound - my approach makes it easier to achieve good sound because I go all vintage MIJ all the way and I am willing to re-cut edges. Once that is the case, they all can sound great, so long as they are not OOR.

Some cringe at the idea of re-cutting edges on vintage kits, but IMHO if it can't sound the way they were intended to sound, it is a betrayal of the vision of the engineers and (if I may personify) not fair to the drums themselves. BTW - as special as all my keepers are - easier to recut edges on a kit that cost you $100 than a kit that cost $900. (though a more accurate truth would be that most of my kits were acquired for nothing considering the selloff of the other stuff that came with them.

IN summary - by going the affordable vintage MIJ route, I can cut edges and therefore get great sound (which is the only potential weakness in this segment of vintage drums). It is not hard to get good sound out of one of these with all the know-how we have around here - oh yeah - we are adults now, and can afford new heads....which tend to make a huge difference.

The look is most important. - Put a long haired wailer on a monster kit strapped to a Power Tower and tell me that look doesn't excuse any of the other's listed below. Cool1

Sound wise-not important. As long as they sound like loud drums, that's all that matters.

Value- Not important. Buddy Rich would have outplayed most anybody, on the set of their choice, while using a Stagg kit. Also plenty of posers buy top gear in all hobbies, and are typically the worst of the worst at the hobby. I liken this to the guy with the brand new tool belt decked out with all new tools strutting around his yard on the weekend. Anyone who knows how to do anything has tools that are half worn out already!

Originality-not important. Plenty of guys have become rich when they figured out people will pay a premium to be different. Don't be the guy who makes them rich.

Toodles

Drumhack Car Driving2guitar3guitar3Clapping Happy2

As I said before any kit will work if you tweak the sound but there's a coolness and can't be made new close but no cigar old kit look cool sound cool and are valuable .