Hello Vintage Drum Forum,
I’m kinda new to VDF. Over the past few years, I have visited this wonderful web site many times without being registered! I kept coming back because, I love the collective knowledge and advice for vintage drums collecting and restoration. I'm now registered so I’ll introduce myself. I’m OSAHEAD2 and I have been enjoying vintage drums for 30 plus years!
I have several other sets but first here is one of my favorite kit, I think VDF readers will enjoy it’s a extremely cool looking Black Oyster Pearl (bowling ball) Ludwig Jazzette Bop Kit. I believe it’s from the early to mid 1970's. I have never tried to restore it after all these years. It’s in its original condition just like I received it the day I got it in 1986 dust balls and all.
At first appearance my Jazzette is very typical. It consists of a 12x18 Bass Drum, 8x12 Mounted Tom, and 14x14 Floor Tom. The shells are the highly desirable 3 ply clear Maple interior with reinforcement rings. The original Black Oyster Pearl wrap is in excellent condition, and nearly unfaded. No extra holes or problems. Bearing edges are original and in excellent condition, all drums are in round and tune up beautifully. The kit is all original, right down to the Ludwig Weathermaster logo heads!
The serial numbers are: * 12x18 Bass Drum – 1029445 * 14x14 Floor Tom – NO serial number* 8 x12 Ride Tom – NO serial number * and a 5x14 8-lug wooden Jazz Fest Snare Drum – NO serial number.
Now here is the bonus history about my kit. The Music store, I got them from back in 1986 told me that this particular Jazzette kit came with some very special extras!
Look real close they are not the same bass drums. So to make a long story short, I will tell you, I also have a very cool matching 14x16 Black Oyster Pearl Bass Drum/ Rogers mount * NO serial number (plus 4 FT legs on it when used as a FT) and another cool Black Oyster Pearl 14x18 Bass Drum/ Rogers mount * No serial number but it does have a very clear date stamp of Oct 1, 1970 plus it came with another Rogers mounted Black Oyster Pearl 8x12 Ride Tom * also with No serial number.
The drum tech told me that Ludwig Research & Development gave the set to Muse Records in early 1971. Muse Records then gave the set to a Muse Record jazz artist who happens to be from my hometown and that’s how they ended up at a local music shop some years later. The drum tech told me Ludwig gave them to Muse Records on a “test basis” to see if the jazz community would adapt to the new color and if jazz drummers wanted a different size Bass Drums to match the many changes in Jazz music when in 1970 jazz was going more and more into fusion. I have no paperwork to back this up but the drums are groovy!
And for all you true Ludwig collectors and fans... Please don’t ask me how in the h*ll did Rogers swiv-o-matic mounts and Slingerland legs find their way onto a Ludwig drum set, because I have no earthly idea.
Q: Why is the 12x18 bass drum the only drum in this grouping that has a serial number (1029445)? I read somewhere on the web that Ludwig did not offer the Jazzette in wraps until 1974? Did Ludwig ever offer a 14x16 or 14x18bass drum? Was this special order only?
