Trans Badge Kit Arrived!

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Bijan said:
Let me rephrase, and try not to sound like an a-hole...

That wrap was never called burgandy sparkle by any drum company. Slingerland and Gretsch used that finish. It just may be original, but it is not burgandy sparkle.

The 18x20 is cool. They used those shells with the natural mahogany interiors well into the 70's; Ludwig didn't throw that stuff away!
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Ah so, sorry. I thought that was its 'company' name. That's why I was confused. It's a beautiful drum, the wood is drool-worthy. I've played trans badge kits a few times over the years. They always sounded resonant, rich and warm. I can't wait to tune these guys up and have a good go at them. Many, many times! ;-)
 
marko52 said:
The interiors on those drums are killer!....marko
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I've only had them for a few hours but I've already got the bass drum apart for detailing. As I was rubbing Novus 2 onto the shell my wife said to me, "You -really- love that drum!"

I must have had a look on my face while I was working on it like I wanted to make love to it. lol
 
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Hey, you guys were absolutely spot on about the wrap. I found two examples: Slingerland's Smokey Pearl Sparkle and the Gretsch Starlight Sparkle. (see photos)

This is the wrap that is on my drums. Did Ludwig use it in the late 50's? Maybe they were assembled in one of the custom shops you guys mentioned using Ludwig shells and hardware with the Gretsch or Slingerland wrap as a custom option. Either way, these cans are beautiful and I'm really looking forward to playing them.
 
Judging from the fact that your wrap doesn't go into the scarf joint- they were probably re-wrapped sometimes in the 60's. Remember- Precision started selling wrap in 1961!!!
 
Beautiful. Enjoy and a very happy birthday to you! I have to check but I believe my 1957 WFL kit was made on Jan 24 too. My birthday is Jan 30th.
 
The Ludwig Burgundy and Gretsch Burgundy are the same color. (Exactly the same, or really close.)
Slingerlands smokey sparkling pearl is different. Most examples are a lavender or purple like the snare in the picture above. Slingerland also sent out some smokey sparkling pearl that looked grayer, similar to Gretsch's starlight sparkle.
 
Thanks all and yes, the B-day thing was a freaky coincidence. Made getting the drums even more fun if that's possible.

It would just be nice to know the origins/history of this admittedly oddball kit. The unusual bass drum size, the wrap, the four legs... what I need is a drum detective! I probably won't learn squat, but I'm going to write to Ludwig with a few questions, see if they can shed any light on it.
 
Rich K. said:
The Ludwig Burgundy and Gretsch Burgundy Spk are the same finish. (Exactly the same, or really close.)
Slingerlands smokey sparkling pearl is different.
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I concur with Rich, Ludwig and Gretsch Burgundy Spk are the exact same finish... To the best of my knowledge, Slingerland never offered a Burgundy Spk... they did however make Sparkling Smokey Pearl, a finish very close to Burgundy Spk with a gray hue...
 
Of the drums I've had, the burgundy sparkle Ludwigs (have had 3 kits, 2 snares) have been a lighter shade than burgundy sparkle Gretsch (have had 3 kits, 3 snares). But this isn't enough to make a general statement...could have been different shades of batches or fading.

-Bill
 
mlvbs said:
But this isn't enough to make a general statement...could have been different shades of batches or fading.

-Bill
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That's why companies like Precision change the wrap samples they send out every time a new batch arrives. They can't send out say, a sample of vintage WMP from a previous batch, because of slight differences from run to run. It's probably a fairly tight range of color variation, but there _is_ going to be small differences from batch to batch. 'No two wraps are created alike!' :rolleyes:
 
How does the bass drum sound?

Congrats by the way, a very cool, very unique kit!
 
Ok, 'purists' can stay home! I've cleaned, repaired, and assembled the drums so I can (finally) get to play them. I've been playing since 1963. I have rarely in my life had the chance to play drums that sound as sweet as these do. The toms are deep, rich, resonant. I turned into melted butter when I heard them. They tune up beautifully, full, open throated toms.

New paragraph for the bass drum... OH MY GHOD IN HEAVEN!

Deep, you can feel it in your chest! Has a tone like nothing I've heard in ages. Melted butter and syrup dripping down a stack of pancakes. I want to eat the sound.

I'm waiting for a rail mount to arrive from Tom/Vadrum. I'll post another picture when the mount is attached. Enjoy
 
Been awhile (97') since I played a gig. These days it's mostly me and several old boomer farts jamming away for our own pleasure. But if there is another stage in my future, I'll take these puppies out with me so I can sound my best.
 
Just an FYI, but about 4-5 years ago I scored an early 60s Ludwig Oyster 18x20 bass. I'll have to dig around for pix, but I thought I considered it as a cocktail drum that never became and that later went with a kit. It didn't have floor tom leg mounts, and I can't remember if it was drilled for a rail consolette... but for sure it was 18x20 and I sold it for big buck$ later on!
 
I don't plan on selling this kit. This one is a keeper and it's for me.

Update:

I'm in the middle of getting the 'history of ownership' of my kit from the last owner! I am owner number three since the kit was made. It's been fascinating, not to mention fun, tracking down any info I can. I will share this much now... When I opened the rack tom to repair those two holes from the extra mount, I found the inspection work order from the music store inside the drum. It had the name and phone number of the drum's owner. (who was having the kit evaluated for sale to the store.)

I called the number last week and left a message. The fellow returned my call yesterday. His name is, Michael and it turns out that he's a very bright, articulate young man of 19. Michael informed me that he had to sell the drums to pay his college tuition and that it really pained him to have to do it. He loved the drums. He comes from a musical family and he's been playing since he was 10 years old. Those drums were a gift from his drum teacher who happens to be a music professor at the local university. The school that Michael now attends. His teacher, "used to play with Miles Davis," he told me. (I'll withhold the name for now, until I get his permission to post it publicly,) And that a close jazz musician friend (of his teacher) had died, and that was how he came by the drums. The drums were left to his teacher, and his teacher 'gifted' them to what must have been, his ace student. BTW, it was a 14 year old Michael who drilled those two holes in the rack tom to add a more secure tom holder.

I asked him if he could please find out the name of the late jazz drummer whose drums I now have in my possession. I'm dying to find out who these drums belonged to. I've had a feeling about them since I first laid eyes on them. I pulled the trigger on them without a second thought. My birthday is stamped in the bass drum shell. It seemed a complete no-brainer, I had to have it. It's just such an oddball kit, and it has this -vibe- about it. The drums are, bar none, some of the richest, fattest, killer drums I've ever played. No not true, I've never sounded so good! The cans have a lot to do with that. The drums have been well-taken care of, (with the exception of Michael's assault at age 14,) for 50 years. 'Somebody' took real special care and must have loved that kit. I want to know who it is so I can honor the cat's memory every time I sit down at the kit. If I can find a photo of him online once I find out who it is, I'll hang it on the wall by my drums like he's watching over my shoulder. I'll play them for both of us. Add a little more meaning to sessions. Cool.
 
How about them apples.....cool story. The inspection work order was just floating around inside the drum or taped on the side etc?

The drum diameters are 12, 14 and 18?
 
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