Check out this Vistalite Floor Tom. This badge is definitely fake. Bad stamping of the serial # too. But I wonder If the shell is also fake. Meaning it's not a real Ludwig vista shell. Never seen one it Christmas colors. I'm starting to think the seller is selling knock off Ludwig Drums but of course can't prove it. I just hate to think people are buying them thinking they are getting a GENUINE Ludwig Vistalite when they may be not. Any thoughts?????

[ame]http://www.ebay.com/itm/70s-Ludwig-Pattern-C-16x16-Floor-Tom-Green-Red-White-Christmas-Santa-theme-/251599088447?pt=US_Drums&hash=item3a94796b3f[/ame]

The one way you can distinguish a genuine Ludwig shell is at the seam. RCI shells have a 'butt-joint' seam and Ludwig shells from the 70's have a 'V' shaped channel at the seam. If the drum has the 'V' channel, it's a Ludwig shell.

The badge on that drum looks legit to my eyes. If they are using Ludwig logos with the copyright registration mark, Ludwig's lawyers can have a field day with anybody pushing fakes. I don't think it's a fake, but I'd have to see the drum up close so I can check out the seam and to determine if the grommet has been tampered with.

John

http://www.vistalitedrum.com/article_fake_drums.htm

Here's a brief comparison of the badges. The ones sold on ebay now seem to be a better quality where the "USA" now lines up better with the "Ludwig" type logo. Still seems the color and texture are off a bit too.

I can't believe that there is a large enough market for vistalite drums to warrant such a scheme. Were they ever really that popular? It doesn't look like he's getting much for them. With a line on wholesale pricing for parts, these drums can't turn much of a profit.

The one on this drum seems to fit your description. The USA is not in line with the G. And If you look around the serial # the hazy part which isn;t hazy on this badge. Looks more like it was scratched in. And of course the serial # itself. It's not lined up and the style of the Numbers looks wrong.

This might explain why the pics are so blurry.

I'm not trying to say it's a scheme. I'm just bringing it to the attention of Vintage drum collectors like yourself that something doesn't seem right about the drums he's selling.

...or no profit at all. I can't imagine there would be any money in doing that.

That white, red, green drum is something I have never seen before.

http://www.vintagedrumguide.com/ludwig_vistalites_1975.html

The 75 catalog here shows the patterns and color options on the last page. Looks like anything goes up to 5 different colors and pattern depending. Maybe a special order 1 off for someone? Makes you wonder where the rest of the kit is? Maybe Santa has it up North? I'm NO Ludwig buff at all so please take this with a grain of salt. I did price a RCI drum and if I selected my options correctly it was almost $600 for a 16x16 floor tom complete. So I too can't see the profit margin unless there's a deep discount somewhere. It's possible this was just a odd ball drum someone has kept and maybe scavenged the badge from for something else. Thus the repop replacement badge. As John noted a clear pic of the seam should reveal what the shell is.

That's a very good point you made.