Self-aligning lug inserts will "correct" some of the problem of mis-drilled holes if the spacing is not too far off axis. This is another George Way gift to drummers.

that's a good idea. looks like it already has them though..

mike

Thanks all! Really appreciate it.

Paid $220 for this - if it were you, how would you handle it? I have a sneaking suspicion seller knew precisely t/ it had skewed lugs, but failed to mention it (don't ask how, I am just fairly confident).

If it's the case that these lugs need some drilling to correct would this qualify as a modified vintage drum? I realize that something like recutting bearing edges immediately knocks it to a player drum ... but w/ something like this situation???

chris

Have you tried to just loosen the lug screws and see if there's enough play to make them straight? I have had a few drums (non ludwig) I could do that with. If you do need to modify the holes slightly to get them straight a rat tail file works fine in most cases. The lug screw washers should hide things. While not a ideal situation the seller should have disclosed this. Maybe refund a little $$$ to help things.

I know a drummer in Nashville with a late 60's Ludwig set with that same issue on the rack tom. He says he can't get the drum in tune. In that vein, I had a 1971 set with dual tone controls on the toms, all a little out of line with each other.

I`ve got a 1979 Black Beauty snare that has the muffler attachment abit off line causing the felt to touch the bottom of the batter head on a slight angle.I`ll not try to correct anything here as it was factory installed in this manner and that`s the way she`ll stay complete with that imperfection.Still sounds beautiful tho`!

Wayne

Thank you kindly to all who chimed in!

Chris

Factory wrong or not, if you bought it from someone who should know better, then they should also know to mention it. If you bought it from someone who is not commonly trading in drums, and vintage drums in particular, it is a bit more of a problem.

In any event, I would register dissatisfaction and request a refund. As a seller, I would always rather refund on a purchase if the customer is unhappy and the defect was latent or even potentially latent to the buyer. At $220, it is not as if you paid a shabby price and could live with a shabby drum.

Most of us never face this issue because we try to disclose details so as not to earn a bad reputation. Over the years I've had very few problems receiving and no issues registered with what has been sold.

I take that back. Bobby has had to teach me a lot about Rogers hoops and rods and lugs because of all the variants they issued over the years graduating from making rods to buying in bulk and trimming down the lugs season after season, rounding corners that are barely noticible...................on and on.........

But he is very forgiving!

To tell you the truth, I've never inspected my kits that close, I wouldn't had even noticed the slight slant on your drum. The seller probably didn't notice it either.