You can never go wrong with Ambassador-weight heads top and bottom. I really like Ludwig's X-Thin snare-side head. Very responsive! A coated Ambassador-weight head from any of the major makers should work well.

As for sound, while the Pioneer and Jazz Festival are the same shell, you'll get a lower tone from the Pioneer, due to those 6 lugs. If your idea is to crank up the tension to achieve a higher pitch, you might want to consider 2.3mm hoops to be able to handle the extra torque without flexing. Original Ludwig hoops were 1.6mm and the 6-lug hoop can really start looking wavy with too much torque.

Thanks so much for the quick reply, I currently have the Ludwig X-thin on the reso side of the snare, with the coated ambassador on top, but I think you are right and I may achieve a meatier sound with a slightly thicker resonant head, so I'll give the ambassador reso a try.

I don't really need a high crank necessarily, I just really want to get the most out of the drum. I'm doing side by sides with my 10 lug sling at the moment. Both sound great, the Pioneer is dryer sounding but in a good way. I'm gonna bring 'em both out tomorrow night on the gig to see which one suits me best.

I may also try the heavier rim as well, that sounds like a great idea to achieve more of a crack to cut through in the mix.

Also, the keystone badge I recently got, I think it may be the classic from 68 or 69 only had the 22" kick and 13" tom with it, so if you hear or see someone selling a 16" blue sparkle floor tom that matches lemme know, I just missed one on ebay couple days ago. (an unsuccessful snipe) :mad:

Once again, thanks for the input and I'm glad to be a part of this forum. I think I will learn a lot here! -D

Are you the one who got the WFL Blue Sparkle mounted tom with rail mount and bass drum in PSL. The person listed it in the south FL forum instead of the local one. It was on there 4 days before I saw it and you beat me to them by a couple hours. What happened to the floor tom. I also saw that matching floor tom on the bay. Looked like a couple nice drums you got. I was peeved that the person advertised out of our area. I lived in the same neighborhood. Couldn't believe it. I also offerd her $100. then more when she said she had just sold them. DOH

Ha, what a small world it really is! Yep, that's me. Picked 'em for a staggering $75.00 Score!

Really nice guy selling them, he was the original owner from '69. He said that his place was broken into and he thinks that he may have startled whoever it was by coming home because they only got a few pieces, the floor tom being one of them.

The two pieces are in pretty rough shape tho, the hardware is pretty heavily pitted and the wrap on the kick is starting to peel a bit. Nothing that can't be fixed by someone who knows what they're doing.

I just naval jelly'd the bass drum claws today and they look much better.

But the pieces were all there, the shells are round with good edges and most importantly they sound real nice.

The seller really wanted them to go to a good home and I could tell that there was a lot of sentimental value there, so I told him if he ever wanted to come out and sit in on them he was more than welcome.

Yeah he did advertise in the wrong section, I just happen to scan both sections every day and got lucky, there was no contact number and usually when you send emails off CL on deals like that you never hear back, or you were ten people too late...

It's cool that you are in the area, PM me if you want. I'm in the Jupiter/WPB area myself. -D

I have an Aquarian Studio x on the batter and ludwig reso. The muffling on the studio x helps control some of the ring that you get with a six lugger. Still sounds pretty open but with a low kinda beefy Peter Criss "Christine Sixteen" tonk. I don't really crank the batter or the reso. Using a drum dial it's 86 over 78. I prefer a kind on low 70's thud vibe. Kept the plastic end snare wires on. Sixteen or 18 strand i think.

Thanks bry, good tips, I have the Aquarian Studio x on my GMS snare and like the mileage I'm getting off that head along with the sound of that head, so I may give 'er a go and see. Thanks again.

Well, in all fairness I do have a early 60's full 4 piece Ludwig Classic in gold sparkle just like the blue ones you got. They are fine drums. The rail alone was worth about what you paid for them. If I hear of or see someone trying to sell that floor tom I will let you know. Maybe we can catch the thiefs. I was wondering if he had the front rods and claws and hoop for that bass drum. So someone broke in and stole some stuff. That is a little unsettleing since I live in the same town.

Try soaking those claws in blue dawn dish liquid with warm water to clean the small stuff. and in vinegar to get rid of the rust.

Thanks for the tip on the soaking, I was reading about that yesterday on a couple of earlier threads.

It did come with the front tension rods, claws and hoop although he did not have them on the kit in picture, that may be one reason they lasted without a sale for as long as they did.

As far as your neighborhood, it is very nice and I'm sure that it was an isolated incident. I wouldn't worry too much. Could happen anywhere.

Yes, please let me know if you see a floor tom listed somewhere. As of now I am using my silver sparkle floor tom from my b/o Maple kit and they just don't match up in sound the way I want.

Thanks again for your advise. -D