Really nice kit. I have the same kit in red but 20 13 16 sizes. I suspect the serial number badges were on the next model up. I think the decal badges, without serial numbers, were on the entry level kits. Just a guess though.

Here is my snare with decal badge. Amazingly, all my decal badges have survived.

i got the red thunder just like fayray still missing that darn 13 tom

Beautiful snare drum fayray... nice condition. There are a few red blue and yellow kits floating around on the forum. Ive never seen a C series midnight surf wrap. I wonder if that's the scarce one.

I have the same sizes as Fayray (13"/16"/20" + 14" snare) - C series Red Thunder.

Is there any way to determine year of production?

Interestingly, the brochures and your pictures all display the snare drum with 6 lugs - mine has the Y decal badge and Red Thunder wrap with 8 lugs.

Also - did these kits all come standard with Ludwig tom mounts?

Pics are here:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150695616984272.405172.595954271&type=1&l=0c94832283..

Unfortunately, the condition of this set isn't great - seems to be the way with vintage kits in this corner of the earth (Tasmania, Australia). Perhaps we're super-hard on them!

My red thunder snare is 8 lug as well. I had one in blue thunder also and it too was an 8 lugger. I guess they did both.

There's no definitive way to date your kit that i'm aware of but I believe it'll be 1968/69. They didn't come with Ludwig rail mounts but they did have a similar rail mount so you could keep that and it'll at least look right for the period rather than the usual crime of someone installing an 80's Pearl or Tama mount.

Nice, well made kits that sound cool.

To clean it up, strip off the hardware and polish the shells with Novus polish number2 and then a layer of automotive wax. Polish up the lugs and rims (Autosol is good for this) and it'll look fantastic. The Novus polish really is very, very good on these wraps.

Hey guys :)

Is THIS a C series midnight surf??

http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/hobart-cbd/percussion-drums/vintage-yamaha-drumkit/1005176521

I would LOVE to get this....even if it isn't a rare one. Love these vintage kits!

it's not midnight surf. It's a finish I haven't seen. It's close to black willow. The tom mount is not one I've seen either but it could be a kit from the later 70s. You might have to trawl the internet to find a match. It does have the C series lugs but I can't see any badges. Check it's not a re-wrap and ask for more and better pics. It's not too badly priced at $600 but without the matching snare it's maybe a tad high. Below is a YD series black willow kit from the early 70s which is closer to the colour of the one you're looking at. Good luck.

Oh, and welcome to the forum.

Hey All,

I have my Vintage Yamaha, upon cleaning the hardware and taking the skins off etc, I came across the serial C2079 inside the 16" Floor tom.

Does anyone know anything about the serials? I have checked the Yamaha "Vault" site, but the serial does not show when entered the search.

The tom mount is not the original, as holes and a very faint outline of the original Yamaha hardware mount is visible.

These drums are in Amazing condition! Beautiful shells, even at 40 odd years :D

nice kit. All the bass drums from this model are 6 lug but the snares came in both 6 and 8. Golden Dragon may be the most sought after wrap and the sizes are nice. Some have re-rings and some not, too. Many will say $450 is a lot for an MIJ kit but these kits are different. The quality of the finish and materials on my red dragon kit is of a high standard. I find the 6 lug bass drums sounds fine as well. The 8 lug bass drum is from the YD series. I think it's good buying at $450