![[DFO] Drum Forum](/styles/drumforum/xenforo/logo.png){kind=logo}
Back in the late 80s my high school band had a set of Ludwigs for the school kit. We never really liked it as it was poorly maintained, tuned bad, etc (you know - the school kit).
Anyway, I always kept in contact with the band directors and tabs on the school band program. Over time drums came and went - ok, more came that went. Anyway new kits arrived over time to replace the "old Ludwig" kit and it disappeared into back lockers. I was talking to one of the directors about a year ago and asked about the old thing. Turns out it had been shipped down to the middle school and was getting no action there either as they had a newer drum kit. I put the bug in their ear that I would be interested if they ever decided to get rid of it. It was an old (I didn't remember the model) kit but I did remember it was 12-13-16-18 with a 22 BD and SILVER SPARKLE!
Time passed.
Today I got a message out of the blue that the final director I knew was retiring from the middle school and wondered if I was still interested in the drums as she was cleaning out all the old stuff that likely would just end up in the garbage. I said sure. I knew they would be in rough shape after (I'm not telling how many years) of school use and abuse, but I thought they would be worth a go. I gave them a cursory look over as I was loading them up. Yup they were in some poor shape, but the bearing edges looked really good through the clear pinstripes they had on them. They were not cracked or split. The BD had 3 casings broke off, but they were there with the T rods. Someone had replaced the tom mount on the BD and toms with Tama mounts (wasn't really surprised as the old mount was barely functional when I was in high school. The BD rims are good with the exception of some obvious wear spots and the spurs were replaced as well. The wrap is in surprisingly good shape for the age with the exception that the silver sparkle looks more like champaign now. No badges on any of the drums but I could see the shadow from where they used to be.
We couldn't find the tom mount or the 18" Floor tom anywhere. My suspicion is it was probably scrapped years ago unfortunately. I had a really good laugh when I saw the BD still had the SAME Silver Dot head on it that was on it when I was in high school.
so this really was my FIRST Ludwig Kit. I now have it in my drumshed - and a lot of work to do to get it back in shape.
Anyway, I always kept in contact with the band directors and tabs on the school band program. Over time drums came and went - ok, more came that went. Anyway new kits arrived over time to replace the "old Ludwig" kit and it disappeared into back lockers. I was talking to one of the directors about a year ago and asked about the old thing. Turns out it had been shipped down to the middle school and was getting no action there either as they had a newer drum kit. I put the bug in their ear that I would be interested if they ever decided to get rid of it. It was an old (I didn't remember the model) kit but I did remember it was 12-13-16-18 with a 22 BD and SILVER SPARKLE!
Time passed.
Today I got a message out of the blue that the final director I knew was retiring from the middle school and wondered if I was still interested in the drums as she was cleaning out all the old stuff that likely would just end up in the garbage. I said sure. I knew they would be in rough shape after (I'm not telling how many years) of school use and abuse, but I thought they would be worth a go. I gave them a cursory look over as I was loading them up. Yup they were in some poor shape, but the bearing edges looked really good through the clear pinstripes they had on them. They were not cracked or split. The BD had 3 casings broke off, but they were there with the T rods. Someone had replaced the tom mount on the BD and toms with Tama mounts (wasn't really surprised as the old mount was barely functional when I was in high school. The BD rims are good with the exception of some obvious wear spots and the spurs were replaced as well. The wrap is in surprisingly good shape for the age with the exception that the silver sparkle looks more like champaign now. No badges on any of the drums but I could see the shadow from where they used to be.
We couldn't find the tom mount or the 18" Floor tom anywhere. My suspicion is it was probably scrapped years ago unfortunately. I had a really good laugh when I saw the BD still had the SAME Silver Dot head on it that was on it when I was in high school.
so this really was my FIRST Ludwig Kit. I now have it in my drumshed - and a lot of work to do to get it back in shape.
Attachments
Last edited:
