Vintage Ludwigs: Good deal?

[pounder]

I recently ran across a set of Vintage Ludwigs for sale for $1,500 (Canadian) and I'm wondering if it's a good deal. The kit is from 1970/71, and has a white pearl finish. Sizes are 20-inch bass, 13-inch rack tom, 16-inch floor tom and Supraphonic snare.
I already have a Ludwig Supraphonic snare, so he's willing to sell the bass, and two toms for $1,200. I am tempted to buy the whole kit, keep one of the supraphonics and sell the other, and then sell the Taye kit I am currently playing. From the photos, they look like they are in excellent condition.
What do you think? Can anyone tell me if this is a good deal? I would want to use them for gigging.
Pounder
Vancouver, Canada

[Drewbrew]

I'd find as much out as u can and then make your decision. Also u hav to remember ur taking a lot of risks in buying a vintage kit. The drums could be out of round etc. etc. But remember its your decision

[DrumEatDrum]

Depends on what you consider a good deal.

As far as vintage kits of that era go, it's a fair price based on market value. If the kit were a few years older, it would probably demand even more money on the open market.

Now, when you consider that most "vintage" kits can cost as much as a comparable new kit, and certainly far more than they cost when they were new, the term "good deal" becomes very subjective.

[harryconway]

It's a bit on the steep side. The kit "probably" was, in original form, a 20, 12, 13, 16. Somewhere, the 12 got lost. I say that for 2 reasons. The flange usually is a sign of a twin factory rack mount. That, combined with badge placement on the 13. It looks like the badge is facing you, when run on the left. It would be facing the audience, if in the kick/right position. That said, why get the "extra snare" if you're just gonna turn around and sell it? So we go with $1200 CAD = $1106 USD. Still a bit high. A "fair deal", yes. It basically boils down to......do you want these drums bad enough? If the answer is "yes", then pull the trigger. But only if the sizes, and the color......everything.....is what you want. Otherwise, I'd hold out for "the right kit" to come your way.

[pounder]

Thanks everyone for the advice, especially Harry's. Yes, I figured that this kit originally would have had a 12-inch tom. I currently play with one rack tom and two floor toms (14 and 16-inch), so to modify this kit, I would need to order a new Ludwig tom (maybe a 14-inch to be used as a flooor tom) with the same white pearl coating, and then who knows whether it would match the sound of the other two toms. So, much as I love the look of these drums, I will probably take Harry's advice and wait till the kit that was meant for me shows up. Not that I'm unhappy with the Tayes I have. They're decent drums.
Thanks again all.
Pounder
Richmond BC

[elcid]

It's a bit on the steep side. The kit "probably" was, in original form, a 20, 12, 13, 16. Somewhere, the 12 got lost. I say that for 2 reasons. The flange usually is a sign of a twin factory rack mount. That, combined with badge placement on the 13. It looks like the badge is facing you, when run on the left. It would be facing the audience, if in the kick/right position. That said, why get the "extra snare" if you're just gonna turn around and sell it? So we go with $1200 CAD = $1106 USD. Still a bit high. A "fair deal", yes. It basically boils down to......do you want these drums bad enough? If the answer is "yes", then pull the trigger. But only if the sizes, and the color......everything.....is what you want. Otherwise, I'd hold out for "the right kit" to come your way.

Am in full agreement with all of Harry's comments...

-elcid

[mcbike]

sounds good to me! kind of a weird size combo with a smaller kick and large toms. but if those are the sizes you are looking for go for it. you can't beat the sound of old ludwigs from that era. 3 ply with reinforcing rings sound great.

I would check if the drums are round, take head off spin head around, it should spin relatively freely and not get stuck in any positions. check both sides of each drum.

If you want you can also take the head off and put the drum on a flat surface like a piece of glass and check to make sure it is even all around.