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76 Ludwig Red Sparkle; question on shells Last viewed: 1 minute ago

Posts: 1041 Threads: 64

Hey fellas! I have this 76 Ludwig set which I picked up cheap from a friend who doesn't play. I cleaned these bad boys up (they were horrible looking) about a year and a half ago and love 'em.

I would like to know what series these are. Serial# 939xxx on all drums which I matched to 1976. Also, any ideas of the kind of wood used on the shells and how many plys?? Bass drum has 10 lugs on each side. Insides of all shells are natural wood, with a laquer type of finish.

Configuration is 22" bass, 12", 13" and 16" floor tom.

I used the 12" rack tom for the close ups:

http://i1158.photobucket.com/albums/p614/Brewkowski/76luddys002.jpg

http://i1158.photobucket.com/albums/p614/Brewkowski/76luddys005.jpg

http://i1158.photobucket.com/albums/p614/Brewkowski/76luddys007.jpg

http://i1158.photobucket.com/albums/p614/Brewkowski/76luddys004.jpg

http://i1158.photobucket.com/albums/p614/Brewkowski/76luddys001.jpg

-Justin

"People might look at you a bit funny, but it's okay. Artists are allowed to be a bit different."- Bob Ross

"After silence, that which comes closest to expressing the inexpressible is music..." - Aldous Huxley
Posted on 13 years ago
#1
Posts: 6583 Threads: 644

Early 70's....circa 71-72

They were cranking LOTS of drums out at that time!

In case you didn't know.....Red Sparkle Rulz!

"Always make sure your front bottom BD lugs clear the ground!"
Posted on 13 years ago
#2
Posts: 1819 Threads: 153

IF you used the following link (http://www.vintagedrumguide.com/serial_numbers.html) to date your drums by serial number, I can see why you came up with 1976.

However, look at the 1970 numbers: "out of sequence, unnumbered." Ludwig did "glitch" a little here with their numbering.

Since your shells are the 3-ply w/rings and clear interiors, they were produced from 1969 through the very early 70s. By 1973 (I think, but for sure by 1976) Ludwig was using the gray-speckled interiors.

I've got the Ludwig book, and I'd check right now except I'm at work at it's at home...

Nice looking drums!

Hope this helps,

Bill

Bill
Cherryvale, Ks
"Redrums - Ks" on FB and Reverb
(also "billnvick" on eBay)
Posted on 13 years ago
#3
Posts: 1170 Threads: 108

From billnvick

IF you used the following link (http://www.vintagedrumguide.com/serial_numbers.html) to date your drums by serial number, I can see why you came up with 1976.However, look at the 1970 numbers: "out of sequence, unnumbered." Ludwig did "glitch" a little here with their numbering.Since your shells are the 3-ply w/rings and clear interiors, they were produced from 1969 through the very early 70s. By 1973 (I think, but for sure by 1976) Ludwig was using the gray-speckled interiors.I've got the Ludwig book, and I'd check right now except I'm at work at it's at home...Nice looking drums!Hope this helps,Bill

Hey Bill,

Pretty close...just checked the Ludwig book and it says clear 3-ply maple shells ran from late 68 to about late 70/early71, when they started the granitone interior. We all know we can't trust Ludwig for specifics, though. There always one-offs and exceptions. It definitely has to be somewhere in that range of very late 60's-very early 70's.

Sweet kit, Brewkowski! I, for one, would be a happy man to own this one.

- EMD
Posted on 13 years ago
#4
Posts: 1118 Threads: 30

From ElMoonlightDrummer

Pretty close...just checked the Ludwig book and it says clear 3-ply maple shells ran from late 68 to about late 70/early71, when they started the granitone interior. We all know we can't trust Ludwig for specifics, though. There always one-offs and exceptions. It definitely has to be somewhere in that range of very late 60's-very early 70's.

I had a set of 1976 Ludwigs with 3-ply shells and clear maple interiors. It must not be that uncommon...

1970 Ludwig Downbeat
1965 Ludwig Hollywood
1970 Ludwig Jazzette
Posted on 13 years ago
#5
Posts: 1170 Threads: 108

From caddywumpus

I had a set of 1976 Ludwigs with 3-ply shells and clear maple interiors. It must not be that uncommon...

I guess that's Ludwig for ya! They also went to 6-ply shells with no reinforcement rings this year, so maybe they stopped coating the interiors of the remaining 3-ply shells as well?

- EMD
Posted on 13 years ago
#6
Posts: 6583 Threads: 644

OK........

what year did silver/blue/olive badges come out?

I heard 1970..........

"Always make sure your front bottom BD lugs clear the ground!"
Posted on 13 years ago
#7
Posts: 1170 Threads: 108

From blairndrums

OK........what year did silver/blue/olive badges come out?I heard 1970..........

B/O badges first appeared in 1969.

- EMD
Posted on 13 years ago
#8
Posts: 1525 Threads: 127

My 1971 Ludwig Silver Sparkle Hollywood shells were exactly like those.

Posted on 13 years ago
#9
Posts: 1014 Threads: 14

I bought a 5 pc set of ludwigs new in 1978,they were all 3 ply with rings,3 of the drums were clear maple ints,1 was granitone.

My theory is that Ludwig used granitone so that they could mix and match mahogany int drums with maple int drums,either because they had lots of mahog shells left over from the sixties,or found a good price on the mahogany poplar mahogany boards and/or used them up before switching to the 6 ply unimold construction.

Posted on 13 years ago
#10
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