john gerrard
Senior Member
I know that this may get long but I know how most of you like details in stories like this.
I'm playing in a new band and the bass player is playing a upright bass. I was asking him about it and he told me that he was doing some work for an elderly lady and found it in her basement in a bad state of repair. He offered to buy it and then took it and repaired it and refinished it. Now he is very proud of it. While we were talking about the bass restoration I mentioned how sad it is to see older instruments just left to dwindle away. He sheepishly put his head down and said "i know" I have a set of old Ludwig WMP drums that belong to my son stored in my well house. I yelled WHAT ! He said that his son had bought them used and quickly lost interest and he just stored them out of his way. I said Jim you have got to get them out of there. They are in cases right ? He said no. I almost cried. I told him to please get them out of there. I said If they are not ruined and if his son didn't want them that I would clean them up so that he could sell them. I have two sets now and I wasn't interested but I would clean them so he could sell them.
Well a couple days ago he called and I went to look at them. It was bad. I just couldn't believe a musician could let something just go to waste. They were covered in mold and mud and rust. But there was something there. I brought them home. I love restoring old drums and ect. I couldn't wait to start cleaning to see what I could find underneath the grime.
When I started to take them apart I first removed the heads. I couldn't believe it but I grabbed a measuring tape and checked and by some miracle they were still in round. WOW ! Then I got some all purpose cleaner and started to clean all the crud off. I mean mold, mud and just years of dust and dirt. While doing this I noticed all the seams were tight and the WMP finish was tight. How these survived in that environment is way beyond me. The crud came off. Now it took some plastic polish and began to clean. The WMP was yellowed some but that is to be expected in drums that old. I believe that they are early to mid 60's. I took every screw off of the shells and soaked them and the lugs in Dawn detergent for about 15 hours. Then I polished the lugs with NeverDull and cleaned the screws and tension rods with an old toothbrush. I also polished the rims. I believe the rims are chrome over brass. They are pitted and scratch but none the less I'll keep them. The lugs weere pitted some but are still very useable.
Slowly I realized that these were definitely keepers. I have wanted this set for years but was always worried about the condition of a kit that I couldn't take apart and inspect. I had to have them. I called my buddy and made an offer and now they are mine. They are safe and sound and in a good home.
They are 22x14, 13x9 and 16x16. I'm loving the sound. It's the sound that has been in my head since my first set of Ludwigs from a long, long time ago. I have went full circle.
Yes I did take pictures but dummy me I don't know how to post.
Well there you are. The story of my beloved Ludwigs.
I'm playing in a new band and the bass player is playing a upright bass. I was asking him about it and he told me that he was doing some work for an elderly lady and found it in her basement in a bad state of repair. He offered to buy it and then took it and repaired it and refinished it. Now he is very proud of it. While we were talking about the bass restoration I mentioned how sad it is to see older instruments just left to dwindle away. He sheepishly put his head down and said "i know" I have a set of old Ludwig WMP drums that belong to my son stored in my well house. I yelled WHAT ! He said that his son had bought them used and quickly lost interest and he just stored them out of his way. I said Jim you have got to get them out of there. They are in cases right ? He said no. I almost cried. I told him to please get them out of there. I said If they are not ruined and if his son didn't want them that I would clean them up so that he could sell them. I have two sets now and I wasn't interested but I would clean them so he could sell them.
Well a couple days ago he called and I went to look at them. It was bad. I just couldn't believe a musician could let something just go to waste. They were covered in mold and mud and rust. But there was something there. I brought them home. I love restoring old drums and ect. I couldn't wait to start cleaning to see what I could find underneath the grime.
When I started to take them apart I first removed the heads. I couldn't believe it but I grabbed a measuring tape and checked and by some miracle they were still in round. WOW ! Then I got some all purpose cleaner and started to clean all the crud off. I mean mold, mud and just years of dust and dirt. While doing this I noticed all the seams were tight and the WMP finish was tight. How these survived in that environment is way beyond me. The crud came off. Now it took some plastic polish and began to clean. The WMP was yellowed some but that is to be expected in drums that old. I believe that they are early to mid 60's. I took every screw off of the shells and soaked them and the lugs in Dawn detergent for about 15 hours. Then I polished the lugs with NeverDull and cleaned the screws and tension rods with an old toothbrush. I also polished the rims. I believe the rims are chrome over brass. They are pitted and scratch but none the less I'll keep them. The lugs weere pitted some but are still very useable.
Slowly I realized that these were definitely keepers. I have wanted this set for years but was always worried about the condition of a kit that I couldn't take apart and inspect. I had to have them. I called my buddy and made an offer and now they are mine. They are safe and sound and in a good home.
They are 22x14, 13x9 and 16x16. I'm loving the sound. It's the sound that has been in my head since my first set of Ludwigs from a long, long time ago. I have went full circle.
Yes I did take pictures but dummy me I don't know how to post.
Well there you are. The story of my beloved Ludwigs.
