My Ludwig bass drums all have the thick washers on--like 1/4" or 3/8" thick.
What did yours come with? If they are thin (regular) washers, I can see how a tension rod might bottom out with the Mini-Classic lug (I have the Large Classic, or Mach lugs on my drums).
I didn't really care for the look of the M-Classic, so I've never bought them, but, personally, I can't imaging that the little bit of size difference between those lugs could make a difference on the very resonant shells Ludwig makes. My Mach lug drums are real resonant too.
I've never had a problem with any brand head on my old 14x24 3 ply with metal washers and t-rods though.
The PS3 head may have not done it because it's a pretty thick collar with the 2 plies of head there. It takes a lot to get it to sound high pitched, so that is probably why you never got to bottoming out a rod. If you wanted a higher pitch on the front, and the head is tightened down, there probably isn't much space inside the Mini-Classic lug.
Before anyone "blasts" Ludwig for this horrific oversight in design, that's why the washers are thick. So you can do whatever you want tension-wise.
When I bought new die cast claws to change over some drums, they came with two thicknesses of washers in the package.
I like the CA because it is full, natural, and a great blend of tone and punch.
Since it's a 26, it sounds full and all that at any volume I play. It's very easy to play the 26 at lower volumes as Bo has also stated in his posts on this size drum.
My muffling is a "reverse Simon Phillips" method--that's even how I described it to Simon when he asked me how I got my bass drum sounding so great
It sits between the posts and the head. I can move it around for more or less dampening of tones in the head just by reaching down.
One thing I think adds to the sound also, is the patch I use. It's a 3"x4" piece of Coated Ambassador taped to the head. It sounds like there is no patch because it's the same material (and coating).
I can't use a pre-muffed head anymore. Not after 17+ years of un-muffled glory
Front heads I have used are Smooth White Remo, Smooth White Ludwig, Coated Ambassador, and Coated Ludwig (heavy-their 10 mil. head).
I like all of them. The Ludwig SW head is pretty solid sounding, with maybe a little more clear sound than the Remo SW. CA is a good in-between, sounds great, no problem front head. The Coated Ludwig sounds good, and gets a deeper sounding than either Remo style.
I don't use a felt, or anything on the front head. There's a medium sized piece of foam taped to the bottom of my shells to stop the sound from bouncing around. It doesn't touch either head.
I had a Remo Ebony head on front for a minute, but don't really like the sound of that head.
Ludwig heads do have a sound of their own, and I liked it for a bit, but went back to CA's--but, there's a new Legacy kit with the Ludwig Medium coated heads at the shop that sounds reeeeeaaallly good.
Ludwig heads need less tension on them compared to other brands (to get the same type of sound), and you can't play super heavy on them before they start kinda "boing-ing out".
Good luck with your drum!!