Stainless steel drums . . .

[BellsOfRhymney]

Modern ones like old version? ...same specs?

[GRUNTERSDAD]

Is that a question,................?

[crazyhorse]

I've got 2 shells being made as prototypes right now so I'll be able to tell you pretty soon. Hope they sound good... lol

[BellsOfRhymney]

I meant recent Ludwigs vs 70's ones ...gauge, material, plating ..etc etc.

[dblinkhorn]

I played on a Tama stainless steel drumset about a week ago and didn't like the sound at all. They sounded dead, like I was beating on cardboard. It may have been the pinstripe heads or the low tuning, but still I just couldn't hear any natural resonance or tone to the drums, even trying to "hear beyond the heads" so to speak. Even a nice maple shell with mediocre heads or bad tuning will still have some natural resonance and tone to it that you can hear.

If you like neutral sounding drums, though, these probably take the cake.

[ludwigvondrumcrazy]

While I can't speak to the difference, if any, between the 1970's Stainless and the new version, or the "neutral sound" of the Tama Stainless, I can say that my 1970's Ludwig SS Outfit has resonance to spare, in spite of the fact that most of my Toms are the Concert type. When I first got this Outfit I thought that I had better go with a single-ply head due to what I had thought would be a lack of resonance but quickly found I was mistaken so switched to Aquarian Texture Coated Response 2's, which gave me what I was looking for. Resonance without too many overtones............

http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL725/3888856/12076720/176548118.jpg

I got this Kit from a friend for a very good price who had them in storage for years, so, having never heard Stainless Drums prior I didn't know if I would like them or not. They are probably the best sounding, although quite loud, Drums I have ever heard having a nice clear tone, much clearer than my 6 or 3-ply Ludwig Kits. I do prefer the sound of the double-headed Toms over the Concert type so have since picked up a 13 double-headed and will probably run this Kit as a 13, 18, 24 as opposed to the original configuration, possibly using the original 15 & 16 Toms to add a "little" bottom end. The Concert Toms do have reso bearing edges so it would be an easy matter to add bottom heads but won't do so because there is only a 10 digit serial number spread between the six original drums, meaning it rolled out of the Factory as a true Quadra Plus and wasn't pieced together by someone else....................

After reconditioning my Kit I followed up by doing another that had all double-headed Toms - 13, 14, 16 w/24" Bass and was so impressed by the difference in this guy's 13, 14 & 16 Toms over my Concert Toms that I decided to add the 13 I mentioned above to my Outfit. They definitely have more depth. Speaking of depth, when I first tuned my 18 Floor Tom all I could do was smile it sounded so good, reminding me of a Tympani, so much so that I ran & grabbed my Timp-Tom Mallets, then spent well over an hour just playing the Floor Tom, grinning from ear to ear the whole time......................

http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL725/3888856/12076720/188907477.jpg

LVDC

[hauk]

Unless you intend to sell the kit, I would go ahead and install bottom hardware. I can see how you want to keep them "factory," but I think in this case sound takes precedence over that, especially since you said you were very impressed by the difference between the concert and regular toms. But that's just me. Nice kit, either way.

[ludwigvondrumcrazy]

Unless you intend to sell the kit, I would go ahead and install bottom hardware. I can see how you want to keep them "factory," but I think in this case sound takes precedence over that, especially since you said you were very impressed by the difference between the concert and regular toms. But that's just me. Nice kit, either way.

I hear ya hauk, thanks! While I don't intend to sell it anytime soon, you just never know. One thing I do know, and that is, once I drill holes for the bottom rims they won't be coming out, ever, so I'll keep my eye out for either a 12" or 14" and will add one of those in time. I was lucky to find the "middle" size first.
While I can't say that keeping it original will add any value to it, it can't hurt because the "option" of adding the bottom heads will still be there, and, to some, options are a plus................

Having played a 13, 16, 22 Outfit for many years (1969-78) in the past I still find having more Drums than that "too many" even though one can't have "too many" Drums as long as you have the room eh?

LVDC

[harryconway]

Beautiful drums. Keep those bad boys stock. Your chances of finding either a 12 or 14 rack are pretty good. Personally, I'd be looking for a 16" floor, but I'm a 1 up, 2 down kinda guy. But I agree with what you said about once you start drillin' holes, they ain't comin' out.

[ludwigvondrumcrazy]

Personally, I'd be looking for a 16" floor.

Thanks Harry! Actually a 16" is my first choice since it would allow me to have my Ride placed where I like it, as opposed to using a Boom Stand.
I'm just going to wing it and see what comes along..................

One modification I did do was swap out the stock 7/16" Spurs with the larger 1/2", but this can be reversed as the only thing that needed modifying was the inside Mount Plates as the holes in the Bass itself were large enough to accept the larger Spurs. When "dressing" both Bass Drums after reconditioning those "small" Spurs reminded me of a Bodybuilder with massive upper body strength but having skinny legs. The new Spurs, which Ludwig still offers, seems to fit the Bass much better. The next time I have the Kit set up I'll have to get some current pic's with the new silver sparkle inlay Hoops and those new Spurs......................

LVDC

[hauk]

I hear ya hauk, thanks! While I don't intend to sell it anytime soon, you just never know. One thing I do know, and that is, once I drill holes for the bottom rims they won't be coming out, ever, so I'll keep my eye out for either a 12" or 14" and will add one of those in time. I was lucky to find the "middle" size first.
While I can't say that keeping it original will add any value to it, it can't hurt because the "option" of adding the bottom heads will still be there, and, to some, options are a plus................

Having played a 13, 16, 22 Outfit for many years (1969-78) in the past I still find having more Drums than that "too many" even though one can't have "too many" Drums as long as you have the room eh?

LVDC

Well, those are definitely good reasons for keeping the drums pristine. I hope you find the toms you're looking for.

[Skitch]

Thanks Harry! Actually a 16" is my first choice since it would allow me to have my Ride placed where I like it, as opposed to using a Boom Stand.
I'm just going to wing it and see what comes along..................

One modification I did do was swap out the stock 7/16" Spurs with the larger 1/2", but this can be reversed as the only thing that needed modifying was the inside Mount Plates as the holes in the Bass itself were large enough to accept the larger Spurs. When "dressing" both Bass Drums after reconditioning those "small" Spurs reminded me of a Bodybuilder with massive upper body strength but having skinny legs. The new Spurs, which Ludwig still offers, seems to fit the Bass much better. The next time I have the Kit set up I'll have to get some current pic's with the new silver sparkle inlay Hoops and those new Spurs......................

LVDC

Those are pretty pristine looking! The only stainless shell Ludwigs I have ever seen have been pretty beat up. I don’t think that I would modify them with bottom heads either! I do think the bigger spurs are the way to go as they are a bolt on modification and will only add sturdiness to your kick drum. I changed mine out as well. Are these drum heavy?

Mike

http://www.mikemccraw.com
http://www.dominoretroplate.com

http://www.youtube.com/drummermikemccraw
http://www.myspace.com/drummermikemccraw

[ludwigvondrumcrazy]

Are these drum heavy?

Actually they aren't as heavy as one would think Mike, and are comparable to wood shells, weight wise...................

Thanks for the comment on their condition. They were in less than "pristine" condition when I got them but they came back nicely with a little elbow grease and Flitz Metal Polish, the same with the other Kit pictured in a previous post above, which used to belong to Matt Chamberlain. The guy who owns them had the original Badges on one of the Mounted Toms, the Floor & Bass swapped out, installing "standard" Blue & Olive's just to match the add-on he picked up later, something I wouldn't have done myself. The original Badges on Chambelain's old Kit were a variation on the Blue & Olive, having the same shape but slightly different color design. They also had hand etched serial numbers (3 digits.) I told the guy that B & O Badges are a dime a dozen but you don't see a whole heck of lot of those "Endorsee" Badges. I only wish he would have waited until after I reconditioned them before the "swap-out" so I could have taken some photo's of them............

Here's my Bass right after "strip down." The hardest thing to remove were those stick marks on the top where someone used to keep spare sticks, something I don't recommend doing unless you don't care if you mar up your Bass since this isn't the only BD I've worked on that had stick marks.........................

http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL770/2917504/13184962/254236824.jpg

Here's a shot of my Bass after installing the new Hoops, made by Matt Sinyard at Bonzo Drum Co..................

http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL770/2917504/13184962/254241259.jpg

LVDC