lug specs from the 64R catalog:

A friend of mine calls the B&B lugs "Liberty Bell" lugs! I actually bought enough B&B lugs from JP to do my 12, 13 and 16. I ordered them before they were available and cost me $600 at the time. They are an excellent version that won't crack but he's raised his prices so much that I will never be able to finish the kit so the bass drum and snare still have original lugs. And I thought his initial prices were high DOH

I just received my B&B lugged Louis Belson Citation set on 8x12,14x14,14x20 and 5x14 freshly rewrapped on Delmar's White Mother Pearl by my good friend Agustin Gonzalez from King Drums here in the San Fernando Valley, CA. I bought this set like a year ago from Ray Pizzy and he claims they belonged to Chester Thompson, but I couldn't confirm this. The set was Black Onyx (by the only inlay left on one bass drum hoop) but a previuos owner "Naturalized" them only to discover that the 14x14 has a Mahogany outer ply while the rest was natural maple. I consider it rewrapping them on Black Onyx but the "too new" look of the newer BO wrap made me hesitate. I consulted with Bobby Chiasson and he suggested this beautiful WMP.

I knew about the headache that a B&B set will bring. However, the 14" and 20" Turkish K Zildjian Hihats and Ride made me jump over them.

I know the pros of the set are the incredible shells (flat greys), the fact that its a factory set, the 14x14 and the presence of the original snare.

Now I need to decide what to do with the B&B lugs on the set. I'd say 30% are crackless. I'll use those for the batters I guess, but my question for you guys is: Since the set is already been rewrapped, it would devaluate it even more to re-lug it on Beavertails????

Or should I just go for the tommykat1 reparation way?

Thanks in advance,guys!!!!

I know they are expensive, but I am a big proponent of keeping these kits with B&B lugs.

Ludwig-dude: Thanks for your response but the repros are WAY too expensive for me. Im Leaving that option out of the picture, I know you are a purist but the set its already been rewrap so its originality its been affected. cosidering that fact Im trying to either go for the cracked lug refurbishing or the Bevertail option...(argh! I know this sound blasphemous for you!!!)

This thread is just going on and on... One of my Jazz cat friends has a BB Kit with no broken lugs. Since they were made for Calf heads, you need to put a head that stretches on it!! LOL... Earthtone perhaps? Just don't go putting heavy heads on it and cranking them tight...

I still like the idea of custom made tube lugs.......they USED to be $15 each,and I would think if you ordered a bunch,they would give you a price break.........

No extra holes in your drums,and they would look cool too!

Blair

Go this route if you keep the kit. I call/email Jim on an almost regular basis with questions pertaining to vintage drums or for small parts. He's a madman; a machinist by trade, so he makes damn good stuff.

i'd like to just say one thing. i did just purchase my first rogers kit and i have heard about this "cracks in the lugs" thing before but didn't think anything of it.

it's a beautiful tower kit.

the 12" tom has the center lugs, they're fine.

the 20" kick has the center lugs, they're fine.

the 14" matching snare has the center lugs...just fine.

the 16" floor tom has the bread/butter lugs.......cracked!

i was turned onto the guys site that makes the repros not long ago for something else and i yesterday i went on his website to see if he has these and sure enough he does.

i was thumbing through it and read what i thought the price was (turned out to be the price for each spring) and i figured, well lets see 5 bucks a piece times 16 so that's 80. hm, well, i guess it's worth the investment.

so i call him up and left a voicemail. he called me back and i explained to him and he said "yup, mmhmm, well it sounds like you need the whole set for the floor tom. lets see here so if we add it up 30 times 16 so that would be 480 dollars"

my jaw fell to the floor! i mean, it's his business and he can sell them for whatever he wants. and they look like a finely made piece of equipment. i told him that i'll have to look over my finances and get back to him.

so will i get them? nope! why? cause it can't afford it.

if i could afford it, would i get them? yup!

because i've always been told that rogers had the finest quality shells and now that i have a set i can see that is true. i would love to have this kit and play it but i guess it will have to be a display piece or leave it up to someone else to figure out a way to make it work.

so, i have a rogers kit for sale now...d'oh!