Ludwig Acrolite student kit

[timmdrum]

My latest acquisition: first Acrolite I've had my mitts on since high school in the late 80s- a friend gifted me her now-adult son's student kit. Sounds pretty good today, but needs a little TLC- new snare wires, some soapy water & aluminum foil to remove rust & chrome pitting on the rims, and the muffler felt needs to be re-glued.

Should I sell it to a metal player, based on the serial number?

Do I need any particular glue to repair this, or will typical super glue suffice?

No matter how I wedge this section of the stand in its place, this corner of the... center plate (?) sticks up above the platform in the case where the drum rests. Is this normal? Am I doing it wrong?

Height adjustment wing nut is missing.

 

[MrInsanePolack]

Should I sell it to a metal player, based on the serial number?

If I were in the market for an Acro, I'd buy this one BECAUSE of the serial number .

What a lovely gift. That's fantastic.

 

[harryconway]

Great little drum. These punch waaay above their weight. Classic sound.

Just yesterday, was hanging with a drummer bud of mine, and remembering a show we were at. Openning act drummer had this KILLER snare sound ..... and we went to the side of the stage to take a peak ...... and there it was ..... an Acro, he was using.

 

[yammyfan]

Score!

 

[harryconway]

........ not that I'm in the market for one.

Funny how that works.

 

[timmdrum]

If I were in the market for an Acro, I'd buy this one BECAUSE of the serial number .

Per https://www.ludwig-drums.com/en-us/ludwig/serial-guide, this is 1970...?

 

[harryconway]

Per https://www.ludwig-drums.com/en-us/ludwig/serial-guide, this is 1970...?

Rounded corners on the B/O badge started in 1979, I believe. The large Ketstone/Monroe badge started in 1985. So I'd roughly date this drum between '79-'85.

MrI.P. is probably referring to the 666 "number of the beast/end of times" as his desire.

 

[timmdrum]

Rounded corners on the B/O badge started in 1979, I believe. The large Ketstone/Monroe badge started in 1985. So I'd roughly date this drum between '79-'85.

MrI.P. is probably referring to the 666 "number of the beast/end of times" as his desire.

So the site's info is incomplete... And yeah, I got the 666 gag, hence my comment that he replied to.

 

[harryconway]

So the site's info is incomplete... And yeah, I got the 666 gag, hence my comment that he replied to.

If your badge was the early Keystone, or the pointy cornered B/O badge, then the chart would pretty much apply. But the Ludwig site, in several areas, has led me astray with some "erroneous" information.

Here's a badge reference that I'm using to date your drum ....... http://www.vintagedrumguide.com/ludwig_badges.html

 

[timmdrum]

As seen in the first pic, is that a P-85 that's somehow missing the late 70s / early 80s chrome-lettered-on-black-background Ludwig logo, or might this be a generic replacement? (I doubt the latter, as this drum wasn't played very much.)

 

[harryconway]

As seen in the first pic, is that a P-85 that's somehow missing the late 70s / early 80s chrome-lettered-on-black-background Ludwig logo, or might this be a generic replacement?

Just a slightly later model P-85. I think the change was around '82.

 

[timmdrum]

Well, I did a tiny bit of preliminary tweaking & tuning... I pulled the felt off the muffler and just re-positioned it using the same sticky... rubber cement-looking adhesive that's on it, and it seems to be holding. It was also mounted slightly crooked, so I straightened it. It works fine; there is a very fine line between backing it off the head, and when the mechanism gets rattle-y. If it becomes problematic, I'll just remove it; I have Moongels. The muffler on my Tama Mastercraft shown here is better designed anyway, with macro & micro adjusting knobs- maybe I'll find another and retrofit it, or just leave the extra holes. I may also get new-to-me used rims, as some of the larger rust spots seem to be where the chrome is chipped away- no cleaning that, I presume. I also had to center the snare wires, which was a PITA with cords and flathead screws (I'm gonna upgrade the strainer), and do some bending here & there to get them to align straighter when engaged. I gotta say, I wasn't looking to be impressed by these old cheapo looking things, but- PureSounds, they ain't, but they sound decent! After putting the batter head back on, I gave her a fine tuning, and it sounds pretty sweet as-is. I'm going to replace the wires and put them away with the old strainer, in case I have to rainy-day sell it (to a collector, it's worth a little more with the OG parts, eh?).

Just a slightly later model P-85. I think the change was around '82.

10-4. I was unsure because it doesn't have the Ludwig name on it anywhere.

 

[Supraman5x14]

Just a slightly later model P-85. I think the change was around '82.

Either this, or, the black and silver insert fell off (?).

 

[harryconway]

10-4. I was unsure because it doesn't have the Ludwig name on it anywhere.

Oh ..... angle of picture and my eyesight ..... did not see that.

Either this, or, the black and silver insert fell off (?).

Possibly. I've never seen one without. But yeah, after blowing up the photo, that's probably the case. The black insert fell out. I figured it was the newer model, like what's on my Supra.

 

[timmdrum]

Update: cleanup!

 

[timmdrum]

So, I found a butt plate with drumkey-headed screws that fit the drum's hole spacing (after bending a bit), so, the next step is to get a P-88 and a new or gently used batter hoop (I don't feel like cleaning off the rust- the chrome is flaked off anyway.)

*Unless*, I sell this one to go toward a Black Galaxy Acrolite...? I think I like the look of those better. Is mine more valuable- older, original gray finish, those weird "PAT. 2517124" snares- than the Blackrolites...? Do any of you percieve any better or worse tone from each type? All advice is welcome, please.

 

[timmdrum]

Bump! Opinions/advice, please! Edit: never mind about the PAT. 2517124 snares. I broke one of the plates trying to bend it back flat (they were both slightly U-shaped).

 

[yammyfan]

I have a Black Galaxy Acrolite which I love but I've never compared it to an older model. I think the differences would be so minimal as to be irrelevant. If you want the black model, go for it.

 

[pinstripe]

I recently bought a black acrolite. My impression of the current market is that the black ones and grey ones, both of which are powder coated, tend to be priced about the same. The ones with brushed aluminum finish sell for more. The highest priced are the ones with brushed aluminum and early features like the keystone badge and lever type damper control. My guess is the finish wouldn't affect the tone noticeably.

Here's a timeline of how the features and finish changed over the years:

The Ludwig Acrolite

Since the Acrolite generates respect among those who have played them I thought I would give an overview of its “career” for those who may not be familiar with the venerable 404 (5 x 14) which is still readily available. I won’t clutter up this thread with all of the...

www.drummerworld.com

BTW, my metal stand has the same corner that sticks up from its slot in the case. It almost comes into contact with the drum but not quite. There's just enough clearance that they don't touch when the case is laid flat. I'm guessing they can rattle together slightly when the case is being carried though.

 

[Brianziggy64]

Well since I was unable to make a deal with my son to get my 1976 Acrolite back from my son, I had to go searching for another one. So……….after a lot of searching online, I found one at a music store named “Music Go Round.” It was listed as a 1979 Ludwig Acrolite. I included the ad from their site that I found. It was in Colorado and luckily my son lives there in the Denver area and went to go look at it for me to see what the condition was. He said it was good, and it looked good on FaceTime, so I pulled the trigger to buy it. It came with the original plastic clam shell case, rubber practice pad, and original books. I just got it from my son and man oh man did I get a phenomenal condition Acrolite in its original form! I would put this drum next to a brand new Acrolite and I doubt you could tell which one is new!! It’s that clean and great condition!! No pitting anywhere on any chrome parts, no scratches on the chrome or the aluminum shell !! It looks like someone bought it and played on the head for 5 minutes and then put it away all these years!! The best part is that the store was only asking $199 !! Pictures are below. Good deals are out there!! Be patient!!