Looking closely at the catalog numbers and options can help decode the Rocker series kits.[LIST]

[*]1982 S/L lines had a P/N sequence starting with 5xx, B/O badges, 4-ply Tom/6-ply Bass shells, Classic Lugs, 8-lug bass drum w/wooden hoops.[/LIST][LIST]

[*]1984 S/L Series 5 line also had a P/N sequence starting with 5xx, but B/W badges, 4-ply Tom/6-ply Bass shells, Classic Lugs, 8-lug bass drum w/wooden hoops.[/LIST][LIST]

[*]1984 Mark Time line was new and had a P/N sequence starting with 7xx, B/W badges, 3-ply shells, Standard Lugs, 8-lug bass drum w/wooden hoops.[/LIST][LIST]

[*]1986 Rocker Series 5 Piece line had a P/N sequence starting with 5xx, B/W badges, shell plys not mentioned, but lists "newly designed playing edge for fine tuning", Classic Lugs, 8-lug bass drum w/wooden hoops.[/LIST][LIST]

[*]1986 Rocker II Series 5 Piece line had a P/N sequence starting with 7xx, B/W badges, shell plys not mentioned, but lists "lightweight yet sturdy new shell construction" (probably still 3-ply), Standard Lugs, 8-lug bass drum w/steel hoops and matching inlay.[/LIST][LIST]

[*]1988 Rocker Outfit line had a P/N sequence starting with 2xx, B/W badges w/USA, 4-ply clear-lacquered shells, HD tom mounting system, Standard Lugs, 8-lug bass drum w/wooden hoops.[/LIST][LIST]

[*]1988 Rocker II Outfit line had a P/N sequence starting with 1xx, B/W badges w/USA, sealed Granitone shells, Standard tom mounting system, Standard Lugs, 8-lug bass drum w/steel hoops and matching inlay.[/LIST][LIST]

[*]1991 Rocker brochure only list the Rocker Power Outfits with deeper shells.[/LIST]Based on this information and after squinting at all of the Ludwig Rocker and Rocker II brochures, I think this is probably a post-1984/pre-1986 Rocker kit with the steel bass drum hoops. The P/N's also tell us that up until 1986, the Rocker series was really just the S/L series kit with a new name and the Mark Time series became the Rocker II. It's interesting that the 1984 brochure lists the shell plys, but in 1986 the number of plys was removed from the descriptions.

Really the only big difference in the very early S/L & Rocker series and the mainline Ludwig kits would be the following:

- S/L & Rocker bass drums had 16 lugs/T-handles with straight spurs and the mainline kits had 20 lugs/T-handles with curved spurs

- 4-ply/6-ply Rocker shells used Granitone to cover imperfections in shells that didn't get used for the Classic mainline kits

Now I can see why the S/L and early Rocker kits are considered "sleepers". Who needs 20 lugs on a 22" bass drum anyways? I think I just let the cat out of the bag.

-Tim

For $100 that is crazy nice score. Classic lugs too!

As to the floor tom feet, you'll want some shock mount feet anyway so no problem there.

Congratulations. I would live to spend $100 on something like that.

Here's a pic of the kit set up. Since the inside shells and bearing edges have Granitone, I took off one of the tom lugs and the mount to see how many plys. I clearly counted 4 when I looked through multiple holes. If the catalogs are correct, this means it is the Rocker (S/L series) and not the Rocker II (3-ply shells). :)

While I had the head off, I also tried out a regular coated Ambassador and I think I like it better than the clear silver dot batter. The bottom head was still the clear Rocker resonant, so it still had a little ring, but not like before. Nice and punchy, but still some resonance.

Since this is not a collectors kit, I have an idea, but I'm going to let it soak in first. Think "light/medium maple hand rubbed oil". ;) I knew there was a reason I bought that Acrolite.

-Tim

Don't let a 100$ get in your way it's worth a bit more than that how can you go wrong .

Hand rubbed oil? Your not going to remove the wrap are you? No of course not, you wouldn't do that. But if you are planning on removing the granitone from the interior, forget about. I tried that once and that stuff is like iron. By the way, the drums look very very nice, good work on the clean up!

I thought the wrap was White Cortex, but it's just the plain plastic White Gloss (1981). Frisbee material and not the counter top stuff. I agree, that Granitone stuff looks tough as nails.

Clean up? I haven't touched them yet. My son and I just carried them from the car to the house, grabbed a snare, tightened up a couple tension rods and commenced the beating.

-Tim

Dang! they look really nice. I guess I dont know what cortex wrap is. I always thought it was just the same material as the sparkle and pearl stuff only a solid color. If those drum are sporting the original wrap I would not remove it. Even though they are not what the real big time collectors want, they are USA made Ludwig drums and in ten years they will be sought after like the 70's blue and olive badge drums, I think. Anyway, they look real nice and all you need to do to them now is play them, perfect score!

You're right, Jeff. It's hard to not want to customize when only paying $25 per drum. Since the kit is setup in our back room, I catch a glimps every once and awhile. The wrap actually has a pearl look, depending on the angle.

Tim

You may want to think twice about removing the wrap. I bought some Rocker shells only, with beat-up black wrap and Lud-Cote interiors, a couple weeks ago for $20.00. The wrap was really beat up so I removed it - by hand, easily. But the shells' exteriors are not ready for prime time staining. They'll need a wrap or veneer.

Great deal, by the way - those will sound great.

Hey Tim those are really nice~! Great deal for $100 too. Cool wrap color.