After 50 years the diamond plate bass drum mount on my 68 Ludwigs has stripped out. I ordered the newer ludwig version with a wing bolt to replace it and decided to add wing nuts to the tom brackets as well to avoid having to use the little 7/16” wrench with every setup. I’m considering a modern tom arm to complete the package. Most likely either a more modern Ludwig Rocker or a Gibraltar setup with 9.5mm L rod balls. Anyone have a setup they prefer or a setup they’ve tried with unforseen drawbacks? Thanks in advance
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Anyone using a more modern tom arm with vintage ludwigs?
- Thread starter 1988fxlr
- Start date
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I replace the Ludwig classic style brackets with an Inde BR-2 bracket which works better and adds some isolation qualities. It works fine with the 9.5mm Ludwig L or ball arms. In some instances I have needed to replace the Inde T nut with a smaller T because the larger Inde one won't clear the holder (usually when using a rail mount). Not a big deal to do (6mm thread T nut from Pearl does the trick). The Inde accepts anything up to a 12.7mm arm so it opens up other possibilities for the actual tom mount. I find the old Ludwig design sufficient but anything with a 1" down tube could be substituted.
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FLratrodder
DFO Master
INDE now makes one that retrofits the Ludwig base plate. https://www.indedrum.com/ultralight-tom-holders/low-profile-plate-mount-tom-holders
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Atlas lug mount does the trick for me.
I have a '69 sky blue pearl 20". I have a modern single tom holder. I switched out the wing nuts on the diamond plate and the Vintage Tom mount on the 12" Tom to black plastic handled ones I picked up at Ace True Value. They're way easier to adjust and "modern" now.
JDA
DFO Star
I have Lud brackets and post on an old RB set .
Rocker Mount have not found L arm ball's that (too large) fit very original old (Lud Classic) Brackets.
Maybe haven't looked hard enough but no match- new L arm neoprene ball to small old Classic bracket.
Just bad luck on my part.
12.7mm is for Gretsch
10.5 mm is for I don't know what
9.5 must be (but not sure they're small enough) ? for the old small tom Ludwig brackets I just haven't had them I guess
Rocker Mount have not found L arm ball's that (too large) fit very original old (Lud Classic) Brackets.
Maybe haven't looked hard enough but no match- new L arm neoprene ball to small old Classic bracket.
Just bad luck on my part.
12.7mm is for Gretsch
10.5 mm is for I don't know what
9.5 must be (but not sure they're small enough) ? for the old small tom Ludwig brackets I just haven't had them I guess
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Appreciate all the input so far. I’m happy enough with the classic tom brackets, just updating the hex nut to wing. These drums and my Ovation Magnum bass are kind of my family heirlooms from my dad so I’m not big on change for changes sake with them but after stripping the bass mount recently and having the tilter crack on the last of the old flat based stand that came with the drums I want to put the old tom arm away and gain tool less adjustability.
Which tom holder are you using? Any thoughts on it?
Tom holder is the vintage 1216 shell mounted. It works great with the new wing nut. No need for a wrench....and it is not visible from the front. I can post a few pics later. Take the hex nut to Ace and they should have plenty of choices under $5.
From the best I can gather there was a now discontinued rocker tom mount available in double and single versions with 9.5mm (3/8”) rods. I’m not sure if they were actually used on Rocker series drums or if its just the name for the hardware line. The late 80’s rockers I had used a longer version of the early 70’s style tom arm, and I’ve seen later ones with pearl style arms. Gibraltar sells double and single ball mount platforms with 1” downtubes and has 9.5 ball rods available separately. I’ll probably end up with one of those options
edit- part #lr2980mt for the double version
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I’m set on the actual tom brackets. The same 1216 have always worked great, I did splurge for the Ludwig branded 5/16 nuts. I’m using “tom holder” to refer to the actual tube from the bass drum that includes the L arms the tom brackets clamp to. Sorry for any confusion
Pics....not great but......
I am confused....I don't know the tom holder. It is a single arm Ludwig with the ball joint is all I know....
JDA
DFO Star
the Rocker holder is as good as any and if the L arms fit the old Bracket holes on the small tom brackets you're done!
My original one is pre ball joint, where the L rod is held in another eye bolt that is on a toothed piece that adjust for angle with a carriage bolt. I’m probably just overthinking which ball style to buy. They probably all come out of the same factory
CaptainCrunch
DFO Veteran
You're probably going to want memory locks on the tom arms - it can be hard to tighten wing nuts enough to keep them from wiggling loose.
The gibraltar ball arm platforms (single and double) are pretty much identical to what Ludwig offered at that time (unsure what they currently sell). They use a 1' down tube that fits the traditional Ludwig bass drum diamond base plate. Put in 9.5mm (3/8ths inch) ball arms and you're good to go with the vintage shell mount brackets.
I like to just use one tom on top. On my sets that have the center post mount I use the single Gibralter post with a Ludwig extended length 9.5mm ball arm (which, unfortunately, appears to be NLA) which works with either the original brackets or an INDe replacement. The extended arm puts the tom in about the same spot as a rail mount would, which is my personal preference. Of course a regular 9.5mm ball arm from gibraltar (or Ludwig) will work too but the tom is closer to the center of the bass drum.
Additionally, I replace the bass drum bracket (diamond base) with a new one because, 1: the originals are usually worn, and 2: the new one is set up with slots for a memory lock which makes whatever holder you are using much more stable and makes the height easily repeatable.
I can post pictures later if need be.
I like to just use one tom on top. On my sets that have the center post mount I use the single Gibralter post with a Ludwig extended length 9.5mm ball arm (which, unfortunately, appears to be NLA) which works with either the original brackets or an INDe replacement. The extended arm puts the tom in about the same spot as a rail mount would, which is my personal preference. Of course a regular 9.5mm ball arm from gibraltar (or Ludwig) will work too but the tom is closer to the center of the bass drum.
Additionally, I replace the bass drum bracket (diamond base) with a new one because, 1: the originals are usually worn, and 2: the new one is set up with slots for a memory lock which makes whatever holder you are using much more stable and makes the height easily repeatable.
I can post pictures later if need be.
Here is the setup described above
These are the Gibraltar "platforms" I mentioned which are identical (or nearly so) to what Ludwig was selling, at least at one time.
single SC-SP - Gibraltar Hardware
Double SC-DP - Gibraltar Hardware
ball arm for above SC-LBS - Gibraltar Hardware (this is not the extended one shown above, which was a Ludwig part and appears to be no longer be available...c'mon Ludwig you had something unique....make some more).
These are the Gibraltar "platforms" I mentioned which are identical (or nearly so) to what Ludwig was selling, at least at one time.
single SC-SP - Gibraltar Hardware
Double SC-DP - Gibraltar Hardware
ball arm for above SC-LBS - Gibraltar Hardware (this is not the extended one shown above, which was a Ludwig part and appears to be no longer be available...c'mon Ludwig you had something unique....make some more).
Another obsolete part to hunt down. That looks perfect
Here's a close-up of the one I'm using. I think it was $30 used on eBay....
