OK, I went back to what tamadrm said in an early post in the beginning this thread.
He said, "Put Ambassadors on them and let the magic happen" I went back in time in my mind and I thought about my 60's era Slingerland kit that I owned in the early 70's. It was almost the same composition as these Ludwig drums are. I remembered how my instructor taught me how to tune it.
I stopped by a music store after work and I purchased Coated Ambassador heads for the tom reso's, and Coated Ambassador X heads as Tom Batters.
I seated them on the toms, I tuned them, and the magic happened!!!
I remembered that you had to finesse the tone from every lug as you tuned these drums.
They don't tune like modern precision drums where you simply tighten the rods until you feel that it is enough. No way, No How!
You have to listen to, and sense the tuning of these drums. These drums have a small sweet spot that lies somewhere in the middle of the tuning spectrum.
My 2012 Club Date can be tuned low of high, but not in between like these 60's Luddies can.
The 13 inch mounted tom sustains so long now that I can hit it, walk away, and return a few mins later to hear it still singing. (just kidding but you all get what i mean)
Thanks, Steve.
Larry, to answer your questions, I probably will not take these drums to gigs.
I play with 4 bands at present.
I play with a Country/Moderate Rock band, A Classic Rock band, A Jazz/Fusion band, and a Jazz Band that does not gig and plays only standards from the Real Books. We meet at my house every Monday night. We have a Trumpet. Tenor Sax, Trombone, Piano, Bass, and myself. I like this last band the best