Thanks so much for the replies!!

I'm going to keep and play the kit.

And "Eamesuser", I just kind of set assembled the kit, basically to get a few photos and thoughts.

As I've aged, my taste in drum kits has changed, 18 years ago, I sunk a lot of money into heads, cymbals, hardware and a matching "stainless" bass drum for my CB 1000 kit... It looked and sounded the business, especially in a time when everyone was playing double basses... guitar2

I always wanted a Ludwig kit, when Pearl ruled the "Hard Rock World"...

Well, now I have my Ludwig kit. It's a bit rusty, but, I'm more rusty Yes Sir

I'm going to get new heads, put her together like it should be, maybe later on down the road, restore the bass drum. I like the thought of a 24" bass...

I'd like to get together with some friends of mine and play some good ol' garage rock.

So to hear that it's a nice players kit, is a welcome response...

I've re-headed the snare, it had a crappy broken set of wires on it. Got a new Evans snare "rebuild kit" at Guitar Center. It's tuned to where I want it and has a nice pop to it...

After I mow the lawn tomorrow, I will probably take apart the 13"... I've ordered the Gibraltar 9.5mm legs from Guitar Center, I'll get the ludwig ones when I get them.

The other cymbal that came with it is an Avedis Zildjian. 18" with 6 holes in it, for rivets I assume? It's got two splits in it, that go with the grain... still sounds nice though, I'll get a couple more cymbals when I get the cash, or they pop up on craigslist...

I collect and restore Vintage Vespa Scooters, so I know about waiting for the perfect piece to came along and compliment the whole.

I wish I'd have taken a picture of it sitting in the person's driveway, as a before, but, It'll be good to have a work in progress that I can play.

Thanks again guys for being helpful and not talking down to me, or anyone else really... It's a welcome change from some of the other forums I'm on.

Cool1

But, is the WFL Snare stand worth anything? or the Ludwig Atlas snare stand?

Yes to both, if they are complete and work, no stripped threads, etc. They are frequently sold and traded. Check ebay completed listings for an approximation of value.

Cleaned up and re-headed my bass drum mounted tom...

evans heads, took the lugs off, and the mount off, waxed the shell, used "Blue Magic" chrome cleaner/polish on the hardware, looks and sounds great.

now i'm just waiting for the legs for my floor tom, so, I can finish that up...

sometime this week, I'll take apart the bass drum and get her all polished up and ready for the other stuff I gotta get for her.

played the kit for about an hour today, with just snare, bass, bass mounted tom, high hat and ride, no floor tom...Cool1

felt good, the drums sounded good, but, boy am I rusty!!Eye Ball

Great find! That's a lovely kit. For my money, there's just no rock kit as good as a vintage Ludwig. (And I say that as a lifelong Gretsch devotee.)

You mentioned that you'd gotten Evans Hydraulic heads for the toms. You might find that the toms have more life in them if you fit them with Remo coated Ambassadors or Emperors instead. It's all a matter of personal taste, but many find that Hydraulics have a pronounced muffling effect that can keep these drums from truly singing.

Either way -- enjoy your kit! Welcome back to the drumming fraternity. :)

Yeah brother, that is a nice players set. I think you should TRY to destroy them! Play 'em like you mean it. Garage band! Great idea! Nice large drum sizes, 24/13/18.. It may or may not have originally came with a second floor tom, but based on the fact that they drilled for a central tom mount, surely this set has a history that would be a great story if it could talk!

Anyway, about getting it "restored"--Here's my take on it. You have drills and you have parts missing, so the thing to do is remain true to the cheapness of it and just get the best, cheapest replacement parts you can put on it without having to drill it any more than it already is. Unless you have a line on a low-priced set of Ludwig T-s and Claws, I would go generic. I mean, it would be an OK restoration project, but if you're serious about playing them, investing in nice new heads and cleaning them up as much as possible makes the most sense to me.

I understand that many would disagree with those sentiments, though. It just makes sense to me to "roll with the changes" that the set's gone through rather than try to restore it--the collectibility wouldn't change one iota, and you would have a more direct line to doing what they scream to have done to them--Playing the hell out of them!

I love the sound of a Ludwig 24" bass drum. and the floor tom can sound like another bass, a "tympani", or a powerful tom. Nice sizes. Nice find. Have fun!

Hi, Would you be interested in selling? Looking for a set with a 24" Thanks, [email][email protected][/email]

Just put in 24 inch Ludwig logo bass drum head in google and it will give you some options. That was where I got it the cheapest! Amazon! $30 Awesome kit! Be good to her!

demonlarry:

Vintage White Marine Pearl kits NEVER "yellow". They simply "mellow" with age! I call it giving the kit character.

ENJOY your find. Any wrap good enough for Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich should certainly serve the rest of us well!