Welcome to our newest writer, Ting Tinpoti. Ting is a very active seller on DrumSellers.com, NSMD’s classifieds site. He lists under the name King Louie Music. Hopefully this is only the first of many contributions to come.
When you have been a collector, seller and a repairman as I have
for 43 years you are bound to have owned some interesting musical
instruments. Luckily I had the foresight to photograph many of these
instruments because I just don't see as many nowadays unless of course I
visit one of the national drum shows. 95% of the pictures you will see
in my column were drums owned by me at one time or another. Today we
look at some interesting Ludwig drum sets.
The first set is a 1976 Ludwig Hungarian Flag 7 piece Vistalite
drum set. Sizes are 9x13, 10x14, 14x14, 16x16, 16x18, 14x24 and 5x14 and
the set has all the correct Ludwig hardware. You don't see many three
floor tom sets especially in the rainbow Vistalite combination.
The second set is probably one of the most recognizable sets of
any manufacturer just by the look and set-up of it. The "Ginger Baker"
six piece Ludwig silver sparkle set with all the correct hardware. Sizes
are 8x12, 9x13, 14x14, 16x16, 14x22, 14x22 (although one of Ginger's bass
drums was a 20"). This set is from 1970 and was one of the countless sets
that came through my hands that I should have kept. I could have kept it
but what's the point? I don't need to own every cool set or snare drum
on the planet.
The third set is a 1967-68 Ludwig 4 piece set in the
silver/blue/silver sparkle combination. Most of these sets were ordered
by high schools across the country to mimic the school's colors. Sizes
for this set are 9x13, 16x16, 16x18 and 14x24.
The fourth set is another Ludwig school drum set from 1972 this
time in blue/silver/blue sparkle. This set was really well taken care of
since the majority of school drums I find are beat to a pulp. The sizes
are the standard 8x12, 9x13, 16x16 and 14x22.
The fifth Ludwig set is quite unusual. I remember seeing the ad
in the local "Guide News," "Pennysaver," you know, the small local paper
that is delivered in you mailbox each week. When I walked into the
garage to look at it I was flabbergasted !! My first thought was who in
the world would order these size drums? Why? Well the sizes are 12x15,
12x15, 18x20, 14x28 and 14x28. The set was from 1971 and the color is
"bowling ball" blue oyster pearl. As cool as this set was I set it up
but couldn't play it. The toms were just too high.
The sixth and last set is a 1976 Ludwig Quadraplus 7 piece
"Jelly Bean" Vistalite set. Sizes are 8x12, 9x13, 10x14, 12x15, 16x16
14x22 and 5x14. The drummer is yours truly who was much younger then and
had many more hair follicles than today but boy can he still rock.
Next installment will be cocktail drums. Keep banging. Ting
Tinpoti