Here is my cleaned up 1924-1928 era Ludwig Universal snare. The throwoff and tension knob butt strainer are not original, but seem to work fine. Thanks to Autopilot's suggestion, I cleaned it up woth Cape Cod polish/cloths and it really brought out the shine. I added a few new hoop clips and all new tension rods.
It sounds really nice. I won a 6 hole COB snare side hoop off eBay and will add that to the drum. I am on the lookout for a 6 hole COB or NOB batter hoop.
And there ya go.......looks great!
Thanks Gar. It isn't is as nice or original as yours, but it sounds pretty darn good.
Thanks again for your help, pictures and motivation!
ConvertedLudwigPLayer - Nice!!! I think the throw off is a fine upgrade and adds to the "players drum" quality! I'm glad you posted the photos. She looks clean.
Cool1
ConvertedLudwigPLayer - Nice!!! I think the throw off is a fine upgrade and adds to the "players drum" quality! I'm glad you posted the photos. She looks clean.Cool1
Thanks 510.
With the extra holes and non-original hardware it definitely is a players drum, but boy does it sound nice.
I showed it off to a neighbor tonight that is an excellent guitarist and aspiring drummer and he asked me to keep an eye out for one for him.
It will be interesting to hear how it sounds once I find the batter COB hoop to go along with the COB reso hoop that I won off ebay yesterday. Any chance it will sound close to a black beauty?
Nice drum,nice resto,in my limited exp a brass hoop will warm it up a bit.A fellow at DFO posted a performance video with his roots/ rock band using one of those and it sounded fantastic,especially in that context.
Thanks Eamesuser. I just won a set of NOB hoops off eBay a few minutes ago. Hopefully they'll be here by next weekend.
Thanks 510. With the extra holes and non-original hardware it definitely is a players drum, but boy does it sound nice.I showed it off to a neighbor tonight that is an excellent guitarist and aspiring drummer and he asked me to keep an eye out for one for him.It will be interesting to hear how it sounds once I find the batter COB hoop to go along with the COB reso hoop that I won off ebay yesterday. Any chance it will sound close to a black beauty?
When I use the term "Players Drum" (It is not an inferior thing), to me it implies that the drum should sound as good as you can make it. Many collectable vintage drums don't sound like a tweaked-out players drum.
My take on the sound of those early hoops is, that they seem more unique for the tone of rimshots. I haven't heard another style of hoop produce this rimshot sound. I love the way a rimshot with these hoops goes right through the shell, very direct and toneful. They will tear up your sticks though.
It's my opinion, that you may be able to get as good as what you prefer from a BB in tone by finding the right heads and tuning. But there are those here on this forum that know better than I. Keep in mind too that as long as the hoops are strong and flat that 6 lugs can be very nice for tuning and with those old hoops to bend inconsistently and not stay flat would take a major force of down pressure because they are like 3/4" from top edge to bottom. Of course they are very flimsy from side to side and harder to keep them round when not on the drum.
