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I just ordered a "stock" pre-configured Fab 22 which is virgin 14x22, 9x13, 16x16. That's all I would have wanted anyway. Not looking for vintage build-out, don't like curved spurs. I got the whole vintage thing out of my system. I have played 1 up/down configuration 95% of the time for the past 10 years. Maybe the only custom thing I would have added is a center tom mount on the bass drum but that's about it.
Rather than "customized (which sounds decadent)", I should have said "configured".
I went into this with all eyes open. T-rods look cool and I have them on my vintage kit which I'm selling. I found that optimum tuning is often with varying angles of the T (meaning less than half turn increments) , making it difficult to maintain as the rods move when transporting in a soft case. That's why the wisdom of product improvement over time was to ditch them. I found this out the hard way. I've played my vintage Ludwig rig since 2003, time to move on. Small lugs, large lugs, whatever. As long as they are not DW lugs, LOL. I won't need any mounts, will more than likely use a snare stand for the rack tom, I have plenty of stands in my "inventory". And the stock spurs are fine. I never cared for the way curved spurs looked. I've lived with gull wing spurs for the last dozen years or so, they work ok but not as functional as modern spurs. So I don't think I would have cared to do much configuration beyond the stock Fab 22. Different strokes but I appreciate your perspective.
I hear you about INDe, I commented why I chose Ludwig instead in an earlier post. My kit cost about the same as an INDe with 18% off MAP.
I wondered that too. But it's not likely that different an effect compared to the factory paint that Ludwig used in the mid-late 60s. My theory of what's wrong with the drums is that the glue in the ply layup may have voids. I can't proove it. I just know the floor tom sounds dead no matter what I've tried, all the toms have a very small sweet spot that's very hard to find, even after new edges, countless head combos and tuning machinations. I finally reached a point of frustration after living with it for 16 years when I said "I'm done, this is not a musical instrument". That's why I haven't offered it for sale on DFO.
I simply ordered a "stock" Fab 22 setup which has no mount. Yeah I know, I could have ordered everything custom with the Classic Maple Series but I did not want to. I like is just the way it is and the price was right.
The standard Fab 22 setup is Keystone badges (I think they only make the CM that), no T-rods, large classic lugs. I wouldn't want T rods, love the look but they move too easily during transportation. I looked into the Atlas arch, adds 10 lbs, ouch. Will post pics and a review when I get them.
The CM's are wonderful gigging drums. Way different than the 3-ply vibe. Drum Center NH did a shoot out of all the USA Ludwig lines, and the CM's have a much better "room sound" than anything else that Ludwig is selling. Arguably a better room sound than a lot of other company's drums.
That's one of the reasons why I chose Ludwig over a boutique brand. Ludwig CMs are a "standard" with a big consensus of proponents = potential resale value down the road.
