early 70's ludwig supraphonic 5 x 14

[MikeyOdrums]

Just bought this drum for $100 (u.s. buckeroos) and it was in very bad shape (I know should have but a before picture) it is slightly pitted but I took some real fine steel wool cleaned everything tension rods lugs shell. Took maybe three hours to do it right. Then I took a little mothers chrome polish and it looks really good now. IT sounds AWESOME !! A perfect back up to my dw egde OR side snare. Have a feeling I will be bringing a side snare for the next few gigs. Here are a couple pics...
http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t108/mikeyodrums69/0303082031.jpg
http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t108/mikeyodrums69/0303082030.jpg
plus half a dog in the background he is 2 1/.2 his nam is elvis...
Mikey O

[Clubdrums]

Man, and you didnt have to buy any new parts? Thats a great deal. 3 hours of work is totally worth having a snare like that. I've always really really wanted a supraphonic or a black beauty but never have the money for it. That and the DW edge must be awesome. Congrats.

[MikeyOdrums]

I got the drum where I work my boss has been a ludwig dealer for 45 years. He had it on the shelf for a real long time so he gave me a deal on it. the thing rips! Everything is all original no new parts not even the washers (I cleaned them too) It has a lot of pitting but it sounds great! thanks for the kind words~
Mikey o

[volvoguy]

Sweet! Great shape for an early '70's Supraphonic, and a fantastic price!

-Ryan

[rmandelbaum]

ah yes the work horse of snare drums. You will love it I am sure. I love mine

[cjl71178]

Yes....LUDWIG SUPRAPHONIC.

I own a 70's 6-1/2x14 and it's amazing. Great job on cleaning it up. Enjoy!

[Steady Freddy]

Nice drum! It cleaned up nicely. I'm still looking for an older clean one.

Maybe one of these days.

Enjoy!

[MikeyOdrums]

Thanks everyone, always nice gettin' a new toy!!! Can't wait to gig out with it!
Mikey O

[MikeyOdrums]

Steady Fred my boss has a 67 that he took in trade its is BRAND NEW. I will get his ebay auction site and forward it too you he ships anywhere. The thing is brand new F*** amazing.

mikey o

[Steady Freddy]

Steady Fred my boss has a 67 that he took in trade its is BRAND NEW. I will get his ebay auction site and forward it too you he ships anywhere. The thing is brand new F*** amazing.

mikey o

That would be great. Thanks.

[OldStampK]

My first snare drum was a mid-sixties Supraphonic. It never really seemed all that special to me. I always craved the Rogers snare drums. I think the Supraphonics cost about $150 back then and everybody had them. I wish I had hung on to that drum. I really hate the the logos that Ludwig started putting on their drums in the '70s, but I guess for younger drummers they must look pretty classic.

[MikeyOdrums]

Not into the badges they put on in the 70's either but the sound is still classic. Real dry fat sound,. The dynasonic's are real nice drums as well. The guy I work for is a Ludwig dealer but he also bought all of Rogers stock when they went out of business. So he has a bunch of vintage hardware and drums for sale. H His place looks like a drummers grave yard. Its pretty cool.
Not too mention he himself is quite the collector. His set that really floats my boat is his early 70's Rogers green sparkle with 26" bass 14-16-18 with matching 14x6 snare. Original stands pedals and heads. The thing is a beast told him it has to go to me in his will!!!! LOL
Mikey o

[MikeyOdrums]

Steady Freddy I emailed you the item number on ebay.
Mikey o

[Steady Freddy]

Steady Freddy I emailed you the item number on ebay.
Mikey o

Thanks again, Done deal!!!

[Mendozart]

Thanks again, Done deal!!!
So did you pick it up Fred? If you did, can't wait to see it. BTW, I personally like the way the B/O badge looks. I like it better than the newer Monroe keystone, too big. But, it doesn't really matter all that much anyway, what counts is the legendary Ludwig sound.

[MikeyOdrums]

no prob I personally played that drum and the thing is absolutely perfect not a flaw on it. I would have bought it myself but I just got a 10" tom for my dw's so I bought the older one. Which is awesome as well. But truthfully that drum your looking at is WAY nicer its kind of ridiculous!
mikey o
good luck Freddy

[MikeyOdrums]

you buy that drum Stead Fredd? If so that was quick!!! Good for you if you did Dave always has a ton of nice stuff,
Mikey o

[Steady Freddy]

So did you pick it up Fred? If you did, can't wait to see it. BTW, I personally like the way the B/O badge looks. I like it better than the newer Monroe keystone, too big. But, it doesn't really matter all that much anyway, what counts is the legendary Ludwig sound.

This drum has the original keystone badge. Just like the one I had back in the day. I used the buy it now price of $425.00. I thought the price was very fair. If I waited someone was sure to grab it.

[Steady Freddy]

Mikey O,

Thanks for the heads up on this drum. . =)

[Mendozart]

That's a beauty Fred! So, you already went with the aluminum foil covering story, what's it going to be this time,lol.

[MikeyOdrums]

my pleasure, and you did the right thing on grabbing that one while you did. You don't see too many come on in that kind of condition. MAke sure you put it on one of your kits and give us some sound bites to listen too!!! That drum is mint!
Mikeyo

[Steady Freddy]

That's a beauty Fred! So, you already went with the aluminum foil covering story, what's it going to be this time,lol.

I'm saving the aluminum foil story for when I snag a hammered shell. Hummm.......She might go for that if I wait a while.

Ah, let's see.

Hey honey, Remember that black drum I got a while back. Well, I was polishing it and, all the black stuff came off. (pointing to rag covered in shoe polish, paint, whatever.) Don't you think it looks better now?

I'll get some sound clips up at some point. Funny but I decided to pack up the ludwigs last night and started mounting new heads on a DW kit. I guess the DWs can wait.

[Mendozart]

I'm saving the aluminum foil story for when I snag a hammered shell. Hummm.......She might go for that if I wait a while.

Ah, let's see.

Hey honey, Remember that black drum I got a while back. Well, I was polishing it and, all the black stuff came off. (pointing to rag covered in shoe polish, paint, whatever.) Don't you think it looks better now?

I'll get some sound clips up at some point. Funny but I decided to pack up the ludwigs last night and started mounting new heads on a DW kit. I guess the DWs can wait.
See, you've got so many stories, I can't even tell which ones you've used and which are for future purchases,lol. As far as the DW's being out, there's no law saying you have to use a DW snare with your DW set. It's all good.

[Steady Freddy]

See, you've got so many stories, I can't even tell which ones you've used and which are for future purchases.

I almost bought a Pearl Reference kit last week. That would of pushed her over the edge.

She should be OK with the snare.

[Mendozart]

I almost bought a Pearl Reference kit last week. That would of pushed her over the edge.

She should be OK with the snare.
Ooooh, I see how that works. You go way high, then come back with a much lower amount. My new name for you is Sneaky Freddy.

[Steady Freddy]

Ooooh, I see how that works. You go way high, then come back with a much lower amount. My new name for you is Sneaky Freddy.

Not a bad plan huh?

The reference kit was one of fifty. Black on black with red accents. Nice kit, but it was one up and two down. I have a hard time with that configuration. I set up my Ludwigs that way a few times and, it was a struggle. I guess it's all about what you're used to.

I've got more drum stuff than talent, but it is fun. Maybe I'm trying to make up for all the gear I wish I'd had when I was playing. It's kind of an ironic. Back then I had energy for days and beat up gear. Now I have pretty good gear and after a couple of hours I'm trashed. It's still like being reborn though.

I'm looking forward to this Supra. I'd been looking for a while.Well, I guess I'll have a P85 to mess with again.

[volvoguy]

Steady Fred my boss has a 67 that he took in trade its is BRAND NEW. I will get his ebay auction site and forward it too you he ships anywhere. The thing is brand new F*** amazing.

mikey o

I have an "almost new" '67 Supraphonic.... actually had the original (or close to it) head on it when I bought it (the head was pretty darn worn out). Ludwig was still using the "older" chroming technique then (I think they switched around 1968-69?), so they held up much better than so many of the ones from the '70's.

-Ryan

[MikeyOdrums]

Freddy got a real special drum. The guy that traded it in had a Beatles set up Ludwig and he wanted a matching snare. So he brought in a Tama wood snare and the Supra. He said he would trade in the supra for cash and recovering of the Tama snare ( I know why get rid of the thing. Needless to say the guy NEVER gigged with the drum and NEVER took it out of his house he was the original owner. So Freddy is gonna love it . Seems like you have a pretty nice drum as well!
Mike o

[Steady Freddy]

Well... this thing is bought and paid for.

Mike O,

Again, many thanks for the hook up on this one. The drum will be well cared for.

My DWs are almost up and running. A few more head changes. I'll be using a 6 X 14 Edge with this kit this time around. It'll be fun when the Supra arrives. Old school meets new.

[Steady Freddy]

Volvoguy,

That's a really super clean kit. It looks like you've added a new tom holder but kept the original bass drum tom mount. I used to have a kit like that. Brought back some memories.

Thanks for posting the picture!

[Michael G]

Cool coincidence my supraphonic is from 1967 as well. Clean too.

3 makes a party.

[volvoguy]

Volvoguy,

That's a really super clean kit. It looks like you've added a new tom holder but kept the original bass drum tom mount. I used to have a kit like that. Brought back some memories.

Thanks for posting the picture!

Thanks! Helps that I just put new heads on it! The snare is a '67, but the rest of the kit I ordered new in 1997. The tom holder is what they've been using on the classics for quite some time now. It's either that or go for the "modular" mount, which I wasn't too keen on doing. Plus I was pinching pennies then.

Congrats on the "new" snare! You can tell from the perfect condition of the badge that you really got it for a steal of a price.

-Ryan