Understanding Ludwig’s Use of “Anti-Galvanic” Stamps and Stickers on Chrome Drums 1968 - 1984

July 31, 2021 Rick Gier

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.

1960s Ludwig Hollywood Set

July 31, 2021 Phil Wilson

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.

What in the heck is this?

July 31, 2021 admin

I read with interest your article on the Buescher True-Tone Snare Drum.I am attaching a couple of photographs of an old snare drum that I thought might interest you. The skins are almost certainly animal skins, and the snare wires are wire wound around silk. The clamps appear to be nickel plated and are free floating, not connected in any way to the main shell.

Clown Vomit/Frog-in-a Blender finishes, past and present

July 31, 2021 Mike Curotto

I saw this one at a NAMM Show in the late 1990s, maybe early 2000s. At that time Leedy was trying for some type of comeback. I got the drum from Sam Bacco who at the time was associated with Leedy. He told me that he located one long-lost piece of this material from Slingerland and there was enough material left over to make a Leedy Broadway Standard snare drum. Sam told me that the finish was made with melted guitar picks (you can see some un-melted guitar picks in the finish).

Where would this old drum rank on a scale of dumpster to museum?

July 31, 2021 admin

I purchased an old drum in Nashville in the mid-90s and have never been able to identify its manufacturer or its value.

1930-32 Ludwig & Ludwig 6.5 x 15” Peacock Pearl Super-Sensitive Snare Drum

June 30, 2021 Bob Campbell

I now own several Ludwig Peacock Pearl snares, but all are 5 x 14”. In late 2020, I found out that Paul “Jamo” Jamieson was thinking of retiring and paring down his drum collection. Jamo is well known for his many contributions to the music industry as a drum tech and cartage/rental businessman. He has worked with some of the biggest names in the music business and accumulated some amazing drums along the way. In one of our many engaging conversations, Jamo mentioned that he had some cool vintage drums that I might be interested in. One of these was a 6.5 x 15” (yes, 15”!) Ludwig Super-Sensitive in Peacock Pearl.

The One I Thought Got Away! 1950 Radio King

June 30, 2021 Edward Tucker

The story of the snare was vague, but from the extended family members of the original owner from whom I purchased it, it goes something like this; he bought it and never played it for whatever reason, and the later generations always respected the drum and never touched it. Not a lot of details but a very graceful unembellished straight-to-the-point explanation. They didn’t mince words or get into an epic narrative.
I am so grateful that it was left unscathed.

So now, here, is my unplayed, unused, 100% original MINT 1950 Slingerland Krupa Model Radio King No. 143 WMP 5.5” x 14” Solid One Piece Shell “Radio King” Engraved Nickel over Brass Rim 3-Point Strainer Tin Straps Snare Drum in it’s original Canvas Bag.

Buescher Drums

June 30, 2021 Reader Submissions

In trying to determine whether the Buescher Company also did drums among their band instruments, I came across your post/article on a Buescher drum, confirming for me that they did in fact make (or at least distribute) drums as well.

Vintage Duco Family

June 30, 2021 Mike Curotto

One would think that the less expensive drums would have the DuCo finishes but these four snares are perfect examples of higher end (and somewhat rare) drums whose owners chose the less expensive shell finish option. In my opinion this is like putting Sears tires on a Ferrari…but I still will not pass up a rare snare drum with an inexpensive finish.

1970s Ludwig Clear Vistalite Big Beat Outfit

June 30, 2021 Phil Wilson

My vintage drum collecting started out with a five-piece Ludwig clear Vistalite set in the 90s. There was a classified ad in my local newspaper that listed two Ludwig drum sets for sale. I bought the two sets and one of them was a clear Vistalite set, and the other a Rocker set. I cleaned up the Ludwig Rocker set and sold it for the price of both sets. I kept the Vistas and my collecting vintage drums started. It was downhill like a snow ball from then on.

Lester LTD Dance Drum? Mr. Know-It-All is stumped.

June 30, 2021 George Lawrence

I’m stumped. You?

1930s Carlton "The Prince" Dual Snare Drum

June 30, 2021 Bob Meyer

The drum has that 30s era quality brass sound and the silk wires give it that dry orchestra sound. The top wires make it very dry and totally dampen the ring/sustain. They actually sound better than the to wires of either the 20s Ludwig Super Sensitive or the 30s Leedy Dual (both 6&1/2 x14) that I also own.

French Pax Snare

June 30, 2021 Emmanuel Giraudon

With more than 15 lbs of engineering, this snare is very complex ! Léon AGEL wanted to create a snare drum whose top and bottom heads can be adjust with a single screw... and snare wire under each head... An aluminum shell, 2 strainers, 2 wire tensions screws, 2 mufflers, 2 fixed hoops and a big internal tension system...

Classic Drummer & Vintage Drummer Magazine back issues at DrumSellers.com

June 30, 2021 George Lawrence

The collection of all the Classic Drummer/Vintage Drummer Magazines still in print is available through Not So Modern Drummer at DrumSellers.com. All 17 of the print issues still in stock are available from former editor/owner Billy Jeansonne for a very low price $34.95 - plus $5.95 shipping. That’s about $2.40 an issue!

1955 Leedy New Era Outfit

May 31, 2021 Mark Markowitz

This is a 1955 Leedy New Era Outfit in excellent condition. This set is originally a 3 piece but I added a perfect matching floor tom from the 60’s to round out the kit. This is a great version of a small light vintage kit for the “jobbing” drummer. Easy to fit in the cabs and cars of yesteryear!

THE RARE SLINGERLAND BROADCASTER TRI-COLOR SNARE DRUM

May 31, 2021 James Anzelone

Unfortunately, Gretsch had a drum model with a similar name. Their Broadcaster was spelled with a K instead of a C. When Gretsch realized the similarities, they felt it was an infringement on their own drum products and rights. A lawsuit ensued and the court ruled in favor of Gretsch, so Slingerland had to drop the Broadcaster name, so it was only produced from 1934 to 1935.

Don Mcaulay sells items from Gene Krupa's drum collection.

May 31, 2021 Don Mcaulay

“Hey George. Hope you and yours are doing well. I was prepared to approach drum magazines and other publications about this historic discovery that I found for my boss, Charlie Watts in which he gave me a portion of the items as my commission. I have decided to sell some of these pieces. But the same week I finished the website the entire world went straight into lockdown.. So I’ve been waiting until the time seems right, which seems like a month from now? Would you like to show this story on NSMD? Ideally I want to present this in all the appropriate magazines at the same time so the word gets out all at once and every collector has the opportunity to purchase. check it out!”

1948-1953 Slingerland Radio King 5-Piece Drum Set in Original Black Diamond Pearl.

May 31, 2021 Edward Tucker

Allow me to introduce you to my 1948-1953 Slingerland Radio King 5-Piece Drum Set in Original Black Diamond Pearl. The set consists of: 9” x 13” Tom, 12” x 14” Tom/Floor, 16” x 16” Floor, 14” x 24” Bass, 7” x 14” Snare, Hi-Hat Stand, Pedal, Snare Stand, Cowbells & Woodblock. This set is 100% original and near flawless.
All NOB rims, original paint and inlay on the hoops. The exterior wrap and interiors are mint. The set arrived with ALL the original unblemished heads in place and intact. I kept the original calfskin resonant heads on, archiving the batters (see pic of the original batters and you will see why this set is so nice). A friend contacted me about this set in 2019 showing me a few photos and asking what I thought. After much back and forth discussion and consultation I mentioned that if he sells now or in the future that I am most definitely Interested.

The back story on this set is that the original owner had passed away and the children and grandchildren were sorting out his estate. When they went up to the attic of his home they discovered this set. Apparently they never heard or knew anything about it, or that at one time he may have been a drummer. From the near immaculate condition of this set and the original Radio King calfskin heads one can only come to the conclusion that he purchased this set and never really played it at all or very little. We will never know.
This set was in another part of the country so my friend had a friend pick it from the original owners family and ship it to him. When it arrived at my friends house he called me and said that he thought I should handle the cleaning of this set and that he wanted me to be the new temporary custodian (we are all only interim owners in the end). I was extremely excited to welcome this set into Studio 3T as one of the Crown Jewels of my collection for not only myself but for my clients.

After arriving at the studio I was astounded at the incredible condition that can only be appreciated in person. It was very dusty and the nickel hardware needed to be polished, but that was it. Zero fade, zero modifications, wrap is mint, interiors mint, the set and hardware are flawless. This is the finest example of this era Radio King set I have ever encountered in my lifetime.
As with all our sets and snares at Studio 3T, these drums will be put to work, I am not a fan of shelf queens or placing instruments under glass like an amusement attraction. They should be, and are, played, recorded and toured with as intended and allowed to sing, and please believe me when I tell you, these beauties SING!
You can see a few photos right after the initial disassembly and clean and how they look now set up in the studio. I added a few Radio King cymbal stands and cymbals.
Thank you for reading my column, I very much appreciate all the comments and interaction with everyone.
Stay tuned...🥁

Edward Tucker
Fate Up
Studio 3T

30th Annual Chicago Drum Show Report - Video

May 31, 2021 George Lawrence

I encourage everyone to attend the 2022 show, exhibit at the show, spread the word! Having to go through 2020 with no Chicago Drum Show was a drag, wasn’t it? We did not realize how much we appreciated it until it was taken away from us by the pandemic. We were going through withdrawals! Support all the drum shows in the nation and other parts of the world. It’s a good thing.

The Legacy of Mitch Mitchell

May 31, 2021 George Lawrence

Major Kevin John simon has gone to great lengths to compile tons of rare photos, information and general knowledge on all things Mitch and decided to take things further when he took on the incredible task of recreating the three Ludwig sets Mitch used with Jimi Hendrix from 1967-1969. When Kevin made the decision to showcase the sets and the group at the famous Chicago drum show that happens in May, a decision was made to recreate the Black Panther Ludwig set that Mitch used at Woodstock.

Database of Articles 11/13 to current