I had a mahogany cortex wrap 3 ply,great kit.The cortex wraps are not real desirable,and 6 ply even less so,concert toms bring the price down even more.The difference in price on a 3 ply silver sparkle or WMP wraped kit as opposed to the same kit wrapped in a cortex,especially a feaux wood one is about 200.00 to 400.00 bills.You just won't get the same price,Alot of sellers want to get the same price as a vintage style wrap,or a maybe a hundred less,just not going to happen,even if the potential buyer likes cortex wraps IMO

Cortex was intended for use on countertops, so it wears better than any other wrap. It's also thicker than other wraps. This can sometimes be problematic for some 70's drums because when Ludwig went to their newer maple/poplar/maple 3-ply shell layup, the shells were made to the specific diameter and then wrapped. Sometimes, it made the drums hard to fit with heads other than the (then) current Ludwig Weathermaster "dB" series heads. And a Cortex wrapped drum was the largest diameter of all. I can often see the lug screws splaying INward from the sides of the shells on those drums!

That's one problem. The only other "problem with them is fashion. They are not in-fashion...in much the same way that other colors of that era are no longer in fashion. That's why you don't see Harvest Gold or Olive Green appliances anymore...pink toilets and turquoise colored bathroom sinks...shag carpeting, etc......but stick around long enough and that will all change. Car Driving2:p

Hmm. Walnut cortex......jus' don't sound right.

B

Yes O-lug's is so right on the older Cortex wrap the older wrap was thick.But back in the mid 90's we at the shop found this new Cortex that goes by the name of B-6 it's are thin as plastic wrap but holds up just like the thcker older cortex,,And comes in alot of cool color's....Mikey

Thanks for the info. Luckily i only payed 500 for the set, doesn't sound like such a bargain now but I did get a bunch of old cymbals, stands, cases and I almost forgot a 70's black beauty so I don't feel so bad.

I love the reference to harvest gold appliances.

$500, drums, stands, old cymbals, cases AND a B/B?.....you done real good!

Why can't I find one like that? 70s B/Bs are very desirable and worth, in good condition , a couple of grand, I do believe.

Butcher Block falls into the same melamine laminate e.g. Formica, WilsonArt category.

Current laminates also come in "vertical grade", which is .031" thick, about the same as most plastic wraps and present no issues, plus they are much hipper and better-looking nowadays, plus easier to work with in the reduced thickness.

Several years back, Ludwig reintroduced this as "Ludwig Laminants" on their now-defunct Classic Birch line, but I believe they still use it on their marching drums. They actually insert the finish panel into the shell mold as the first (outer) ply, and the result is a perfect, butt-seamed finish joint that will NOT go anywhere, plus they looked real cool. They are now using black laminate to make their bass drum hoops in the same manner, so they won't chip and scratch as easily as their painted counterparts. A brilliant idea if you ask me.

Older Cortex drums were viewed as a bit of a white elephant, and many people have cussed-up a storm trying to strip them for refinishing, so you usually will not hear anything good about them. However, they DID wear like firiggin' steel!

I love my Ludwig six-ply kit in white Cortex. They sound huge and still look great because of the nearly indestructible wrap. Since they have the modular hardware they're even less valuable, but they're worth way more to me than they're worth, if you know what i mean.

And yes, that is a Coliseum snare with it. For maximum head explosion.

Who am I to criticize? I owned and played a set of Flat Jacks in a rock band in the early 60's. The Cortex Ludwigs and faux wood Rogers wraps did have a good run of popularity. They hold up well. I speculate that they will escalate in desirability and value in the future. So, I would gladly buy a a bargain priced set of Rogers with original Swivomatic hardware. I might even buy a bargain priced Ludwig faux wood set for trade bait since I really don't like that brand for my own usage. I know that I'm in the small minority for my opinion about Ludwigs.