Did Ludwig's Psychedelic Red Wrap Ever Appear in Bowling Ball Finish?

[richardh253]

Was thumbing thru the 1973 Ludwig Catalog [ http://www.drumarchive.com/Ludwig/1973_LUDWIG.pdf ] and noticed on p. 8 & p. 12 Oyster Black and Oyster Blue have already migrated to bowling ball finish, and the Psych Red shown on p. 9 looks a little bowling-ballish...but I've never seen an actual in-person or photo of Psych Red wrap that was bowling ball. Is this just a bad photo on p. 9? The back page samples are just forwarded from prior catalogs before bowling ball appeared, so Psych Red, like OBP and OBP, still show as the original style.

Was Ludwig just running out its supply of Psych Red by '73, deciding it wasn't worth it to re-do in bowling ball finish?

There is this thread that suggests that somewhere in late 60s early 70s Ludwig obtained a different type of Psych Red but still not bowling ball - http://www.vintagedrumforum.com/showthread.php?t=22955

Thanks, all!

 

[JDA]

you know there is in Life some things you just not supposed to talk about.
this is one of them.

 

[K.O.]

The sample on the swatch page looks much more pearlish than any actual PR wrap I've ever actually seen on a drum. In other words it seems that PR was opaque from day one. Ludwig continued, of course, to use that swatch picture throughout the time they offered that wrap. They did change the formulation of the wrap around 1974-75 going to a much different looking version while keeping the name. It was more of a dark, almost black, background with streaks of green, blue, and red in it. I suppose this could be considered the "bowling ball" version of Psych Red. The greens on that version are more stable and a bit more of a neon color. It's not a bad looking wrap but not really the same as the original version.

 

[JDA]

Vintage Snare Drums online Ludwig, Slingerland, Leedy, Camco, Gretsch, Sonor

Vintage Drum History is all about history for Ludwig Drum HIstory, Slingerland Drum History, Rogers Drum History and the History of Vintage Drums, Vintage Snare Drums amd Vintage Drum Sets.

www.vintagedrumguide.com

gorgeous isn't it... all of it...

If Ludwig went back to "making" that (exact or more close than what they have today) catalog...
They'd almost be as Great as Gretsch! Again!

 

[Bun Carlos]

The sample on the swatch page looks much more pearlish than any actual PR wrap I've ever actually seen on a drum. In other words it seems that PR was opaque from day one. Ludwig continued, of course, to use that swatch picture throughout the time they offered that wrap. They did change the formulation of the wrap around 1974-75 going to a much different looking version while keeping the name. It was more of a dark, almost black, background with streaks of green, blue, and red in it. I suppose this could be considered the "bowling ball" version of Psych Red. The greens on that version are more stable and a bit more of a neon color. It's not a bad looking wrap but not really the same as the original version.

The last rolls of psych red got real "dark and gloomy". That's when they discontinued it, I was told by a former Ludwig employee.

 

[wflkurt]

Psych red lasted all the way up to the rivet era as I have saved pictures of a six ply shell with rounded corners and the later version of Psych Red.

 

[richardh253]

Psych red lasted all the way up to the rivet era as I have saved pictures of a six ply shell with rounded corners and the later version of Psych Red.

View attachment 493457

Thanks, that sure looks like a bowling ball Psych Red. But oh, that brief rivet era.

 

[JDA]

there's colors like that

in the Haunted house at Kennywood Park.
Could get used to it.

 

[K.O.]

Kurt posted the late version of PR there. That's what I was calling "bowling ball" but really the original version would technically be " bowling ball" (It was never officially called that, the name is drum collector slang to differentiate between the two versions of oyster Blue and oyster black). The original versions of the oysters had translucent sections that gave the pearl "depth" and allowed some of the color of the shell to peek through. In 1969/70 the formulation was changed so that these wraps were opaque with a solid black or blue backing. Making them look like linoleum or a bowling ball. The mod wraps never had that translucency to begin with so you might consider that they were always BB versions.

This is original Psychedelic Red in pretty much unfaded condition...

This version that turns up occasionally on MIJ drums is more bowling ballish but neither version has the translucent areas like the original Oysters had.

 

[JDA]

Which does Ludwig offer today...what's it look like
don't say none.. or I'll go all Gretsch 145th anniversary on them.

Surely Ludwig offers psyc. Red today

 

[JDA]

There were no results found. Please try another keyword or phrase.

 

[K.O.]

Which does Ludwig offer today...what's it look like
don't say none.. or I'll go all Gretsch 145th anniversary on them.

Surely Ludwig offers psyc. Red today

Nope!

Maybe down the road. They brought Psych Red back around 2000 in a computer printed version with a repeating pattern (if there were a bowling ball version perhaps that is it). That was a "limited edition". They did a similar version of Mod Orange a year or so later. There was a splotchy version of Psych red offered on the Element series several years ago but it didn't migrate up to the high end drums (you can buy it from Jammin Sam). It looked the least like the original of the three "Mod" colors offered.

A couple years ago Ludwig brought out a more authentic version of Mod Orange on their top line drums...maybe Psychedelic Red is next....who can say?

 

[JDA]

who's running that place : ) !

(rhetoric..)

 

[rsq911]

Hi-
Just adding to what everyone else has said, but there were/are I believe five versions.
1- 1967 the original
2- 1973 the black etch a sketch
3- 2001 the computer one
4- 2008 the element limited
5- 2010 the pysch red glass glitter

I am lucky to have a snare in each but not the element.

No psych red on their site or outfitter, but there is the option if you send the material to them, Miss Ann will put it on the shell.

 

[K.O.]

Hi-
Just adding to what everyone else has said, but there were/are I believe five versions.
1- 1967 the original
2- 1973 the black etch a sketch
3- 2001 the computer one
4- 2008 the element limited
5- 2010 the pysch red glass glitter

I am lucky to have a snare in each but not the element.

Is your snare in the original PR wrap a Jazz Fest? That's a big ticket item.

 

[Iristone]

I actually quite like the Bowling Ball Psych Red finish as long as it's not a particularly splotchy specimen.

 

[wflkurt]

I will say this about psych red. Even some of the original stull changes from batch to batch. I have seen sets that have loads of green areas and some with lots of blue. Even my 1968 psych red rock duo changes a little in the toms. The 8x12 has more dark colors in it than the rest of the set. The 9x13 has a lot of green area as do the bass drums. The floor toms is about even. My set would probably have been mint as far as the color goes but a previous owner must have let the light hit them from a slight angle. From sitting behind the set, both bass drums and the 9x13 on the right side have a little bit of fade. The 8x12 and floor tom are pretty much untouched. The opposite side of the set looks unfaded. The faded parts are still green but not as deep of a green as the unfaded parts. It's a REALLY hard color to match when you have orphans.

 

[Chopsnbops]

I will say this about psych red. Even some of the original stull changes from batch to batch. I have seen sets that have loads of green areas and some with lots of blue.... It's a REALLY hard color to match when you have orphans.

It does seem like from pictures of the old kits I’ve seen online each one has its own character for sure

 

[rsq911]

KO it is a pioneer all original heads wires and case.

OP Richard, I would call version 2 a “bowling ball” because the sort of consistency and length of draws of the colors, as opposed to swirls and splatters.

 

[JDA]

hey how'd these sneak in here...

Hard to Find! Ludwig Classic Maple 14 x 6.5 Snare Drum Deep Red Swirl Tiger Stripe | Mick's Drum Swap | Reverb

Amazing Snare Super Rare Finish 14 x 6.5 All Maple Shell 10 Lug Brand New Will Do Hard Rock to Reggae SOLID!This is in the IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND Deep Red Swirl Tiger Stripe finish (Ludwig's Technical Name for it is "Red Swirl - 61"......See 2nd pic from their archive website gallery) Matches ast...

reverb.com

ah no no. out. out

Ludwig WLF 6.5”x14” Snare Drum 1950’s Red Psychedelic Mod Fade | awdrums | Reverb

WFL 1950’s 6.5”x14” snare drum. Mahogany shell, original nickel hardware including original keystone badge. Drum has been wrapped in a cool faded Red Phychedelic mod finish. Original snare wires, and all tension rods. looks very cool and has that fat vintage sound. I could look at this drum for d...

reverb.com

any of you guys know anything about these two?