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Since 1988, a treasure trove of info about vintage drums, custom drums & legendary drummers

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The first vintage & Custom Drum Magazine, since 1988

Not So Modern Drummer

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Database of Articles 11/13 to current

For Sale - Ludwig 6.5" x 14" Millennium LM2000MX6 snare drum from 2000

October 12, 2025 George Lawrence
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This is from a Limited Edition, # 83 out of 100.

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In NSMD Consignment Sales, George Lawrence, Ludwig Tags vintage Drum, Ludwig Millineum
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1928-32 LUDWIG 5 x 14 MOTTLED SEPIA STANDARD MODEL

September 29, 2025 Mike Curotto
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We have to go to the Ludwig Drummer Magazines of that time or to dealer flyers to learn of the special “Hotsy-Totsy" and "Mottled Sepia" finishes offered in 1928. 

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In Mike Curotto's Medium Rare Drums, Vintage Drums, Ludwig Tags Mike Curotto
1 Comment

The Ghost That Wouldn't Die

September 5, 2025 Reader Submissions

Once someone played a Ghost pedal they had to have one. From drummer to drummer, stories of the Ghost spread first by word-of-mouth.

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In Vintage Drums, Reader Submissions, Ludwig Tags Ghost bass drum pedal, Ludwig Ghost
17 Comments

1928-32 Ludwig 5x14 Mottled Sepia Standard Model Snare

June 23, 2025 Mike Curotto
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“Not all pearl covering options were offered in the catalogs. Some finish options, like model options, were short lived and never made the next years catalog. 

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In Mike Curotto's Medium Rare Drums, Vintage Drums, Ludwig
Comment

The Ludwig Club Date

June 21, 2025 Kurt Ekstrom

The name Club Date was actually used for the first time in the 1948 WFL catalog and was actually written as the DeLuxe Club Date.

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In Kurt Ekstrom, Ludwig, Vintage Drums Tags Ludwig Club Date, Kurt Ekstrom
3 Comments

Pristine 1970 Ludwig "Hollywood" Drum Set - No Serial Number WMP

March 31, 2025 Edward Tucker
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This set was born together and still with the one and only original owner whose parents purchased it for him brand spanking new in 1970. He played it for about a year with his cousin in a little band in his basement and never again after that. The set NEVER left his house and was NEVER played out. He also immaculately cared for it keeping it under cover.

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In Edward Tucker Restoration, Ludwig, Vintage Drums Tags Ludwig 1970 Hollywood
3 Comments

100 Year Old Snare Drum Reclaims It’s Rightful Heritage!

February 23, 2025 Joe Czulinski
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I had purchased a 1920’s Ludwig & Ludwig White Enamel Professional model 5X14 snare drum from a US seller several months previous.  From the photos provided before the time of sale, I knew this drum had seen better days

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In Vintage Drums, Ludwig, Reader Submissions Tags Joe Czulinski, Ludwig & Ludwig
6 Comments

The First Ludwig & Ludwig 1912 Catalog – by Jim Catalano

December 29, 2024 The NSMD Staff
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The front page of the catalog used a new technique with a cutout to show the new Ludwig metal shell snare drum in a framed setting that was actually printed on the 2nd page and shown through to the front cover. 

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In Vintage Drums, Ludwig Tags first ludwig catalog
1 Comment

1926-27 LUDWIG & LUDWIG 5 x 15 STIPELGOLD SUPER-LUDWIG MODEL

December 29, 2024 Mike Curotto
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I got this drum a while back. The drum came to me is this condition so no cleaning/restoration was necessary. I don’t see as many 15” Stipelgold snares vs 14” Stipelgold snares. I wonder if this is true with other collectors.

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In Ludwig, Mike Curotto's Medium Rare Drums Tags Ludwig & Ludwig, Ludwig Stipelgold
1 Comment

1921-22 LUDWIG & LUDWIG 4 x 14 6 LUG SCROLL PATTERN DeLUXE MODEL

November 30, 2024 Mike Curotto
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I call it a “Monday Morning at the Office” drum because the scroll pattern is in every panel but there is no “Ludwig Chicago” engraving that would normally be just left of the strainer.

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In Ludwig, Vintage Drums, Mike Curotto's Medium Rare Drums Tags L&L deluxe
1 Comment

A Rare 1950s Leedy & Ludwig Broadcaster Snare Drum

November 30, 2024 James Anzelone
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This snare drum is a rare 1950s Leedy & Ludwig White Marine Pearl 5” x14”, Broadway model with a solid 1-ply maple shell.

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In Vintage Drums, Leedy, Ludwig, James Anzelone Tags James Anzelone
2 Comments

WFL Porto-Pak Snare Drum History

October 29, 2024 Danny Bilan
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The Porto-Pak is a very special snare drum.  Punchy and articulate, this 5.5 x 13 1948 – 52 WFL Classic Porto-Pak snare drum is difficult to find these days.  This drum was born out of the need for gigging musicians, be bop and club players to get their drums into the taxi cabs and onto smaller band stands and still hit the spot. 

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In Danny Bilan, Vintage Drums, Ludwig Tags WFL Porto-Pak, Danny Bilan
Comment

1929 L&L Rose Standard Sensitive

October 28, 2024 Mike Curotto
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I got this rare drum from Bill Wanser of Olympic Drums & Percussion. Bill also pointed out a Ludwig Drummer magazine article that places Rose Pearl at 1929, this aligns perfectly as the Standard-Sensitive model was first seen in 1929. Bill agrees that this was an uncatalogued finish, L & L obviously had the material but it was never seen in a catalog, only in a Ludwig Drummer Magazine article.

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In Mike Curotto's Medium Rare Drums, Vintage Drums, Leedy, Ludwig Tags Leedy & Ludwig, L&L Standard Sensitive
Comment

1921-22 LUDWIG & LUDWIG 4 x 14 6 LUG SCROLL PATTERN DeLUXE MODEL

August 30, 2024 Mike Curotto
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I call it a “Monday Morning at the Office” drum because the scroll pattern is in every panel but there is no “Ludwig Chicago” engraving that would normally be just left of the strainer.

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In Mike Curotto's Medium Rare Drums, Vintage Drums, Ludwig Tags Ludwig & Ludwig
Comment

Ludwig Las Vegas 4 x 13 Snare Drum

August 30, 2024 Danny Bilan
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It took me years to finally find a Ludwig Las Vegas 4 x 13 Snare Drum.  I finally got the opportunity in May of this year to purchase one from a private seller in the U.S., although it did come at a bit of an inconvenient time.  I was lying on a stretcher in the hospital waiting to go into the operating room for my scheduled spine surgery when I received a text message from the seller wanting to discuss my interest in purchasing this snare drum. 

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In Danny Bilan, Vintage Drums, Ludwig Tags Ludwig Las Vegas Stand Up Cocktail Outfit
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Super Ludwig Super Sensitives

June 29, 2024 Danny Bilan
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I really like the Ludwig pre-serial # Super Sensitive snare drum.  I have 10 of them in my collection from the 1920’s – 1970’s.  This month I will feature 3 of them that are from 1961 – 1964.

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In Danny Bilan, Vintage Drums, Ludwig Tags Super Ludwig, Ludwig Super Sensitive
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Bucket List Find - Ludwig Down Beat Bowling Ball Oyster Blue

June 28, 2024 John Floyd
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I’ve always been a fan of the blue and black “bowling ball” oyster finishes that Ludwig introduced in 1971.  The blue is my favorite and I have had a couple of Hollywood kits (12, 13, 16, 22) over the years, but I’ve always wanted a Downbeat kit (13, 16, 22) with a rail consolette. 

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In John Floyd, Vintage Drums, Ludwig Tags Ludwig DownBeat, Ludwig Blue Oyster Bowling Ball
1 Comment

1960s Keystone Badge Ludwig Drums – Types and Dimensions

June 26, 2024 Rick Gier

This article documents the types and sizes of drums recorded in a large database of 1960s Ludwig Keystone badge drums to provide a glimpse into Ludwig’s 1960s production. 

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In Rick Gier, Vintage Drums, Ludwig Tags Ludwig drum production, Ludwig Keystone badges, keystone badge Ludwig drums
4 Comments

1930s Ludwig Standard Snare Re-issue and anatomy of a two piece shell

April 30, 2024 Danny Bilan
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In 2009, I saw an ad for a 1930’s Ludwig Standard 5 x 14 snare drum re-issue.  Adrian Kirchler, owner of AK Drums in Valdaora di Sotto Italy, was making 60 replicas of this 2-piece shell snare.  Even though I heard about it late, I was able to get on the list to purchase one through Long & McQuade, a musical instrument store in Toronto. 

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In Ludwig, Vintage Drums, Custom Drums, Danny Bilan Tags Ludwig standard, Ludwig pioneer, Ludwig standard 30s re-issue, Adrian Kirchler, two piece shell
2 Comments

1927-30 LUDWIG & LUDWIG 5 x 15 GOLD PLATED SUPER-LUDWIG THEATER MODEL

April 1, 2024 Mike Curotto
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The entire drum is bright gold plated. L & L did offer gold plating as an option so this drum could be a special order or the drum may have been plated after market.

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In Vintage Drums, Ludwig
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