Early 60s Ludwig Jazz Festival snare restoration project

[livingstone]

I posted a thread a few days ago to help me identify this drum I found. Based on the helpful answers I got and my own research, the drum is a Ludwig Jazz Festival snare drum produced between 1960-1963. It was pretty grungy when I found it and the original blue sparkle wrap was covered in some sort of black vinyl. I am in the process of cleaning and restoring this drum to its former glory! I'm having a lot of fun with this project and I'll post pics as I go along. Here are the pictures of the drum as I found it.

Completed project pictures on page 3!! Plus before and after pics.

This drum has a 5.5" deep shell while the Jazz Festival is listed with a 5" shell but according to the vintage drum guide there were some early Jazz Festivals produced with older 5.5" shells the factory was using up. I still can't figure out why there are extra holes under the strainer but perhaps it will remain a mystery.

[erwinner]

I had a feeling that was going to be a transitional badge JF with a replacement P-85 strainer!
Keep your eyes out for a P-83, they're tons smoother and will make the drum really look authentic.
*edit* Just checked your old thread and it's not a trans badge, but a pre-serial, so it's a '60-62.

[livingstone]

Here's a link to my original discovery thread for this snare...

http://www.pearldrummersforum.com/sh...asure-or-trash

[livingstone]

Here are some photos of the shell with the hardware removed, then the bare shell after removing the black vinyl.

[livingstone]

Here are a few more with the old vinyl beside the drum for reference. Also a pic of the butt plate.

[dudewuttheheck]

looks good so far!

[chilledbongo]

btw, did you see this on ebay? gives you some ideas ....

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-1972...item1c2610a164

[livingstone]

btw, did you see this on ebay? gives you some ideas ....

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-1972...item1c2610a164

Yeah I have seen that one. Most of these drums that I have found are selling in the $400 to $600 range. I'm pretty stoked! It's cleaning up really nicely.

[barjack]

Yeah I have seen that one. Most of these drums that I have found are selling in the $400 to $600 range. I'm pretty stoked! It's cleaning up really nicely.

Indeed, if you get this baby shined up and add some nice Pearl or Puresound wires, you'll certainly have a $500 drum. You can use Brasso and some 0000 steel wool to clean up the metal hardware, and you can grab a Ludwig grommet for $3 on eBay if you want to fasten the Keystone back on a little better. It's easy to make a grommet installation tool with about $1.50 worth of parts from a hardware store. From the look of the hardware, it's the perfect kind of wear- calcium buildup and smudging. Easy to remove and return the drum to near-mint condition. If the edge where the wrap ends and the bearing edge begins is rough, you can get a medium grit sanding sponge and smooth out the transition by setting the shell on the floor and moving along the edge in a circular motion.

[Drumbum675]

In the other thread you said that it has 2 extra holes. Where are they? The P-85 and P-83 are direct replacments so no new holes should have been drilled to swap the strainer. If you have extra holes you will drop the value by at least $100. I 've been collecting and restoring Ludwig drums for many years. The tension rods are not really a big deal to a collector neither are the washers. As long as they match and are not rusty. The Jazz Fest drums on Ebay that are LISTED for $600+ are from Lee County Music. Their parts and drums are REALLY overpriced and rarely sell for those prices. Average nice jazz fest will bring $400 to $450. I clean chome with 0000 steel wool ( make sure it is 0000 and nothing else!) and chrome polish. Novus Plastic polish is best for cleaing and polishing wrap. You can get it on ebay for 7 bucks. Your wrap will look like new. Good luck.

[Drumbum675]

Was going to suggest you check out Vintage Drum Forum...but I see you already found it!

[livingstone]

In the other thread you said that it has 2 extra holes. Where are they? The P-85 and P-83 are direct replacments so no new holes should have been drilled to swap the strainer. If you have extra holes you will drop the value by at least $100. I 've been collecting and restoring Ludwig drums for many years. The tension rods are not really a big deal to a collector neither are the washers. As long as they match and are not rusty. The Jazz Fest drums on Ebay that are LISTED for $600+ are from Lee County Music. Their parts and drums are REALLY overpriced and rarely sell for those prices. Average nice jazz fest will bring $400 to $450. I clean chome with 0000 steel wool ( make sure it is 0000 and nothing else!) and chrome polish. Novus Plastic polish is best for cleaing and polishing wrap. You can get it on ebay for 7 bucks. Your wrap will look like new. Good luck.

Hmm, that's interesting about the holes. I just assumed that they would have been drilled to swap the strainer. There is a narrower set of holes between the outer set of holes that currently fit the P-85. I'll attach a couple pics. You can't see it too well in the picture but there is an impression in the wrap around the inside holes, so something definitely was there.

[livingstone]

Was going to suggest you check out Vintage Drum Forum...but I see you already found it!

I did find it! I've learned a lot of useful tips over there.

Here are some pictures of hardware cleaning. It was really interesting taking the lugs apart. I'm learning quite a bit about drums through this project.

[livingstone]

Tension rods before and after cleaning...

[livingstone]

The shell all cleaned and polished up...