I think it's the real-deal. I don't see anything wrong with the provenance provided. Sure, a Morello signed bill of sale would be great, but it was a sale to a student. Maybe just cash and a hand-shake type deal between friends.

I voted 'real.'

John

I used to teach out of that store back in the day. I don't doubt the guy. He was a good friend. If he says it's a Joe kit, I believe him.

Several things bug me about this kit....one, the modular tom mounts on drums with pointed B/O badges. The Modular "proper" castings weren't out until about 1980. Ludwig rounded off the corners of the B/O badges in late 1978/early 1979. Also, some of the drum wrap seams have rivets, some do not. While I'm sure that it is possible it could be a matched set, chances are not likely due to the differences in the way the wrap is attached at the seams. The rack tom has a tone control and the floor toms do not. Also, the serial numbers are rather off from the floor toms to the bass and rack tom. This seems like a pieced together kit to me, rather than something that Joe would have gotten as an endorser, played for a while and then either sold or gave away. Also, if it was in an "air conditioned, smoke free, controlled environment" as the ad states, why then is the wrap pulling away from the shells?

If its an actual Joe Morello kit, then where are the photos of it in use by the man, and not a later kit as shown, or an earlier kit that is eluded to?

I cry foul on this one. Something just isn't right. I don't buy it. The Band

Iam with L/D on this set Fake set..To many things pointing to it.One thing that stands out to me is that is a Endorser would get the best of the best of drums not a set like this.....Mikey

Why did the seller include a photo of Joe playing a totally different set than the one he's selling?The pictured set has different spurs and Monroe Keystone badges. The set being sold on 3bay,in my opinion,is a fine example of Ludwigs' total lack of quality control during this period,whether J.M.played them or not.But I have no opinion regarding it's authenticity-it looks awful.

What IS the value of a set,probably among dozens,possibly played by an iconic drummer?It isn't a"Time Out" backup set(please!).Must be $10,000.Burger Kin

I don't know ... he seems to specify the points made. As far as the "second kit" ... he's talking about Joe buying a second kit to his older Luddy, while making the point that he used the older one on "Time Out". Joe didn't have a lot of Luddy kits. This is logical.

Joe played parts of two kits at times. Heck, he played just the bass (DW) with other toms on the last Brubeck gig he played.

Joe was never a stickler for endorsement stuff. He was a quiet humble man who was a very good friend of B2's and would never take advantage of that. The timeframe of this kit would be an off the shelf grouping for a jazzer (non-rocker) endorser (sans B2) and would be a mix of rivets and glue.

Here's the text. I just don't see the issues here.

Quote

Up for auction is an authentic Joe Morello-owned Ludwig Classic drum set. We acquired this kit from a good friend and great customer, who studied with Joe (see attached picture) from 1986-1989 and purchased it directly from him. The kit is from the early 1980's in Silver Sparkle. Joe actually played this kit on various gigs including one at Carnegie Hall in New York. The other attached picture shows Joe playing the kit with the bass drum and floor toms, (although the two rack toms are likely from an earlier Silver Sparkle Ludwig kit that Joe had prior to this).*Joe got this set as a second kit to the famous Ludwig kit played on the Dave Brubeck "Time Out" record, as well as on other records and gigs.

The bass drum and rack tom were made around the same time, (as you can see by the serial numbers below) and feature Ludwig's wrap rivets. The two floor toms were made at the same time, (see serial numbers) and the wrap on these kits is coming off a bit at the edges. The kit also comes with Joe's personal Ludwig Hercules hardware which is all in great condition. The hardware on the drums is all in great condition as well, especially for drums of this age. The tom-holder is the only non-original piece of the kit. It is a new Ludwig Hercules tom holder that we ordered specially to use for this kit. The original one was lost somehow, amid the drums' few movings.

These drums have always been in a smoke-free, air conditioned environment. Note the awesome, original Joe Morello Ludwig logo head still in excellent condition. This is not a tribute kit of any kind. This was a drum set owned, played by, and gigged with by Joe Morello, himself.

We can provide any additional pictures of badges, heads, or close-ups on any drum at any angle requested.

Sizes and Serial Number Prefixes

9”x13” – 201XXXX

16”x16” – 183XXXX

16”x18” – 183XXXX

16”x22” – 201XXXX

Unquote

I did not vote one way or the other.

I do take issue with a third party trying to 'cash in' on the fact that "so-and-so" had something to do with this. I put it right up there with the slice of toast with the virgin Mary image toasted on it...

Sell the drums for their fair worth. If Joe wanted to sign the heads or personally endorse these were his, and a photo of the new buyer taking possession from Joe was part of that package, that might be a different story. (I think I'd rather have a few hours of lessons from the man, but that's just me)

Otherwise they are just older Ludwig drums, worth a fair price other than the peeling wrap.

I sure ain't buying them!Toilet

If ya gonna sell a kit for 10 thousand, ya better get it right !!

Until someone proves me wrong,...he had ONE BO/pointy kit !!