Those serial numbers clearly indicate 1970! The finish is Black Oyster Pearl, AKA Oyster Black Pearl! Do you know the shell sizes? The bass drum appears to be a 14x20, with a 16x16 floor tom. The rack tom is either an 8x12 or 9x13. The Supraphonic snare drum is 5x14. I also see two rail consolette holders on the bass drum. There was most likely only one rail mount originally. Can you find out why there is an extra mount? Yes, $700 - $2000 is a wide range. Try to find out more about the sizes and the dual tom mounts. What condition is the wrap in? Are the overlap seams tight or are they coming up. The more detail you can provide, the better we can nail down a fair price.

Mark

ill most likely get some feed back from this as most o and b badges in pearl would be called bowling ball (slang ), but there is a second gen obp wrap that few acknowledge exist it still has translucent pearl that allows the mahogany shell to show, very desirable mostly in first gen though it looks like 2nd gen to me but you need to get up close and have a gander to see some transparency, good luck either way nice sounding drums and a supra to boot also a classic which is worth more than a holly wood stay around the 750 us. for a good deal there still hard to flip as most o and b badge drums are and look inside for date stamps and re rings if so that's early 70's

Thanks guys for your feedback. I will try to gather more info as recommended, although I think it might be hard to achieve as 1. the drums are kinda far from home; and 2. the guy is in a hurry to sell as he's moving (am supposed to get back to him on Monday with an offer...). However, I can ask my colleague whether she is to get to her parents' again before then and measure these drums and try to spot inner date stamps for me (although I'm not sure you can do that with opaque heads without taking them off, which she wouldn't do).

As regards the presence of two rail consolette holders on the drum bass, my instinctive understanding is that this is all original, as there are two "small" toms to be mounted on top of the bass drum (one rail per tom, nah?): the whole set of drums looked perfectly consistent, as serials appear to show.

I thought this kit was made in 1976 because of serials 957162, 965035, 972407, 1024281 (and one other badge unnumbered) on the five drums, which appear to me to match 1976 as described here: http://www.vintageludwigdrums.com/70stimeline.html

But it is true that numbers show no "sequence" and that one is unnumbered... Anyways, you guys know better, so I just got good news, I guess :)

I would say the wrap is in 8/10 shape; some scratches here and there but nothing bad at all. Just normal signs of wear due to a normal use of the drums. Overlap seams looked tight -- at least, I didn't spot any looking loose.

I will also try to have my colleague spot wether any wood shows up under the wrap or not... ;)

Oh and I have added to my picasa space another picture of the whole kit that I was provided with first, way before I get to see the drums myself yesterday, a picture taken in the 70's with a bunch of nice Fender guitars (the guy used to drum in yet another Shadows cover band...).

I am going to dissent from the 1970 date estimate for these drums. I think that the serial numbers would have more likely be from a few years later. The serial number chart that you reference originally was published in Rob Cook's Ludwig Book. It was the only one that of the several charts that ventured into the 1970s, as the others focused on the Keystone badge. Cook's chart is not very complete or clear. It is based upon a small number of reports of drums, some with date stamps on their shells and some without. It also groups what appear to be several years worth of serial numbers into 1976. I think that most agree that that span of numbers was more likely spread out from 1973-1976.

I have been gathering serial number and date stamps from this era. Date stamps ceased in the 1971-72 time frame and Ludwig had not yet reached the serial number range that your drums have. This leads me to believe that your drums are much more likely to be from the 1973 +/- time frame. That is inconsistent with what the owner recalls, but is more consistent with a large number of drums that I have seen.

Regardless of exactly when they were made, they look like nice drums. If you decide to acquire them, enjoy.

Rick

Concerning the serial numbers vs year, I offer up those from my 1970-71 4pc Super Classic:

14x22 - 769027 - date stamp: Jun 5 1970

5x14 - 812168 - date stamp: Nov 13, 1970

9x13 - 823949 - date stamp: Nov 9, 1970

16x16 - 900260 - no stamp, but now using tag with 60717. Most likely made in December 1970 or January 1971

I would also like to point out that the guide mentioned above, at vintageludwigdrums, is not all that accurate... as evidenced by my kit. Certainly can't argue with shell date stamp vs badge serial number!

Hope this helps to verify that kit! And, yes, there is a "transition" Oyster Black Pearl, which is what the kit your contemplating appears to be.

Mark

I too have a 81xxxx serial that is fall 1970. Oct 3rd. On a Supra.

Hey Moonweasel!

Yep, my 5x14 is a Supra... and in wonderful condition! Just lucky!

Also, as more evidence of shell date stamps vs badge serial numbers, note that my 9x13 has a date stamp 4 days earlier than my Supra, but a serial number more than 10,000 higher! Really proves the fact that the badges were literally tossed into a bin and grabbed at random!

Mark

Based on my findings, I'll say that the kit in question is a 1971-72

Mark

Seeing that you're in Belgium, wouldn't the value be a bit higher than it would be here in the U.S.? Due to availability? Black oyster pearls are highly coveted in any condition. If no serious condition issues get them for as low as you can.