I first applied a high solids filling primer to completely fill in the wood grain, followed by a commercial textured coating to effect the irregular surface feature of this finish. The intermediate and final colour coats were achieved with an antique brass lacquer finish, onto which I sprinkled brass metal flakes. I then repeated this application sequence a few more times to add depth of finish, before applying a clear lacquer to produce the final ‘satin smooth’ appearance and feel. Additionally, each piece of the copper re-plated hardware was then treated with my ‘aged patina’ process to simulate almost 100-year-old Deluxe finish.
Read more1937 Ludwig & Ludwig-Slingerland Super Rare Abalone Pearl Super Ludwig Drum Outfit
The Ludwig & Ludwig catalog of 1937 offered a Super -Ludwig Drum outfit consisting of a 14”x28” single tension bass drum, 5”x14” Super-Ludwig snare drum in “Abalone Pearl,” plus various other traps and cymbals, but no ‘separate tension’ tom toms. Slingerland, however, did offer separate tension tom toms in its 1936 (and presumably 1937) catalog in “Abalone Pearl.”
Read moreThe Ludwig Memorial Edition Chief Supraphonic Snare Drum
I was looking for one of these beautiful drums to add to my collection and found this one on drumsellers.com. I was able to contact George Lawrence who did a great job in helping me obtain it from a collector who was selling some of his collection
Read more2nd Generation Super Ludwigs
There were very few Super Ludwigs produced with WFL badges which makes them very rare. The Transition Badge, as known by collectors, had the Ludwig logo on it and was used in 1958 and 1959.
Read more1929- L&L Super-Sensitives--family portrait
Family portrait time here at Curotto Acres. Ludwig & Ludwig Super-Sensitives were around from 1929 to 1935-36. They do not appear in a Ludwig catalog past 1935 but I have heard of a few wood examples from the early 1940s.
Read moreIn Search Of (not with Leonard Nimoy) Vintage Drum Parts
My cousin, Dean Stewart who lives in Alabama, is a drummer and vintage drum collector (yes, the disease runs in the family). He’s looking for a number of parts.
Read moreLudwig Standard, Pioneer, or Universal?
My problem is that I have read that the Pioneer also had 8 lugs, and I don’t know the difference between a Standard, Pioneer, and a Universal.
Read moreMy Wood Snare Drum Collection
This month I will highlight 6 of the Ludwig & WFL wood snare drums in my collection of nearly 50 snare drums. People often ask me why I need so many snare drums. The answer quite simply is that they all look different and have their own unique sound. For this reason, I will continue on my infinite quest for more snares.
Read more1971 Ludwig Supraphonic “Cut Badge” Brass Snare Drum
In the 1970s, very few of these drums were made with brass shells. The Cut Badge snare has two distinct features. One is the B or BR stamped near the muffler. The other is the modified blue and olive badge.
Read more1958 Walberg & Auge WMP Set Restored
I’m calling this my “Cab Calloway” Set. In my opinion, this set is the epitome of vintage Jazz sophistication and elegance. I have been working on it for a year +.
Read moreLudwig/Slingerland/Leedy orphan set - rare sparkling pearls
Like many of you, I've come upon a good number of orphan drums through the years of collecting, buying and playing. This kit consists of orphan drums that were either included with kits purchased or just purchased to add on. But some with the hopes to piece an entire kit together (which is still possible!). But what is special about these drums is that they are all very rare and hard to find sparkling pearl wraps in pristine condition by the Great American Drum Companies of yesteryear.
Read more1960s Ludwig Red Glass Glitter Player Set
The set I am featuring in this issue is a completely restored 1960s Ludwig Set in beautiful red glass glitter. The bass drum is 20X14, the mounted tom is a 12X8, the floor tom is a converted marching drum 15X12. The snare is a Jazz Festival. The rail consolette works great and all the chrome is in great shape. It is a very pretty set with the glass glitter wrap. Red sparkle looks great, but red glass glitter just pops. I have a humorous story about this set I would like to tell you.
Read moreMy Beale Street Marching Band funeral parade drums
I use these drums in the parades on Beale Street for the funeral procession of famous Memphis musicians who have gone on to the great gig in the sky. The different musicians from the Beale Street clubs and others from around the city get together in an ad hoc New Orleans style marching band in front of the Hearse, playing “Just A Closer Walk With Thee” at a mournful tempo for one block and then breaking into a joyous, fast paced “When The Saints Go Marchin’ In” when we pass B.B. King Boulevard. Recently, drummer Howard Grimes passed away (see article) and we had an abundance of drummers for the drum line.
Read moreVintage Ludwig Badges without Serial Numbers - Prototypes, Limited Editions, Special Orders, Mistakes or Just Badges Lacking Serial Numbers?
A vintage Ludwig drum made after 1963 that does not have a serial number creates much confusion and spirited debate. Few today agree on why or how drums escaped the factory with badges lacking serial numbers. Theories are often strongly expressed but weakly supported. Although speculation and conjecture are a part of the wonderful world of vintage drums, many incorrect statements become truth through repetition. This study looks at 332 vintage Ludwig drums that have badges without serial numbers.
Read moreUnderstanding Ludwig’s Use of “Anti-Galvanic” Stamps and Stickers on Chrome Drums 1968 - 1984
Ludwig utilized two different types of stamps and three different stickers to indicate that the anti-galvanic finishing process was used on its chrome-plated shells. By gathering information from chrome-plated drums and exchanging emails with the president of the company which provided plating for Ludwig, a timeline of the different stamps/stickers is developed. These interior stamps/stickers are another useful tool to authenticate and date vintage Ludwig drums.
Read more1960s Ludwig Hollywood Set
This set is a 1960s Ludwig Hollywood set. It has a 22X14 bass drum, a 12x8 and a 9x13 mounted tom. The older Hollywood sets had two 12s and sometimes two 13s. The kit also features a 16x16 floor tom. The drums have Keystone badges with serial numbers that places their born-on date around 1967. I have placed an 8-lug matching Super Classic snare with the set, but I received a very nice chrome 14x5 snare with the kit. I'm sure it was the snare that was bought with the kit. That was the standard snare that went out with so many Ludwig sets.
Read moreLudwig Standard S-320 Kit in Blue Strata
No drummer can deny that Made in Japan drums had some of the most eye-catching wraps on the market. This is why Ludwig created 15 unique wraps that had that M.I.J. mojo—most notably, the strata wraps.
Read moreMystery Drum RARE Pre-War 1940 Ludwig & Ludwig w HEX BEAD
Hi, Could you please tell me what this drum is? It has the hex bead like the 20th Silv. Ann. model.
Read more1927-29 NOB 6&1/2" X 14" Ludwig Supersensitive snare drum
This is a 1927-29 NOB 6&1/2" X 14" Ludwig Supersensitive. It's a 2 piece shell with 10 tube lugs. It is 100% original (except for the heads) including top and bottom wires.
Ludwig's Use of Paper Labels in 1971/1972 - Date Stamps and Date Codes
Ludwig's Use of Paper Labels in 1971/1972 - Date Stamps and Date Codes - Rick Gier sheds light on this mystery.
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