ABOUT ME : A tiny footprint with considerable thump. Simply put I do not buy much. And the focus of what I do buy falls mainly within the 1960's, sometimes delving further into the past. And then I only buy the best and what I think can be transformed into something far better than its present state. I love winding the clock backwards as much as possible which means fully detailing without ever modifying. The considerable time and effort from dismantling to cleaning to polishing to prepping and putting everything back together again can be daunting. But when all's said and done and another cap gets flicked off the Guinness, well, the toils 100% worth it.

Speaking of not getting any better ... of the handful of vintage drums and guitars available in my shop, some of which you are simply not going to be able to find a commensurate instrument anywhere else. Except, maybe, in a museum or the finest private collections.

Check back ... you never know what might show up next.

And now a little something about this listing ...

Ludwig OYSTER BLACK PEARL Downbeat Kit 1963-64

12/14/JAZZFEST/20
237543/PRE-SERIAL/105288/12475

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The wrap has EXTREMELY LIGHT to NO fade/darkening. ALL PIECES ARE IN COLLECTOR CONDITION. No modifications or extra holes. The hardware has been cleaned & polished with Simichrome polish. Hardware is in VERY GOOD + TO EXCELLENT condition. The wrap has been polished with NOVUS 1 & 2 and it is extremely smooth with a few light scratches that could not be completely buffed out.

1964 Jazz Festival 5x14" {actual shell depth is 5 3/8"} 
#105288

SHOWROOM CONDITION and well within mint range.

ALL vintage Jazz Festivals are special orders. If you see a Jazz Fest with any kit it was a special order. Oyster Black Pearl Jazz Fest (or Pioneer) snares are not all that common. If you were in a drum shop in the 60's and wanted a kit you were going to get Supraphonic UNLESS you requested a matching Jazz Fest, Downbeat or Pioneer.

The hardware has been cleaned & polished with Simichrome polish and is in VERY GOOD+ TO EXCELLENT condition with light micro-pitting to a few lugs. Extremely light fading to wrap. The wrap has been polished with NOVUS 1 & 2 and it is extremely smooth with a few light scratches that could not be completely buffed out. Bearing edges excellent. Original COB hoops, original red muffler, original Ludwig heads and snare wires ALL in excellent condition.

8x12" RACK TOM # 237543 ~ OCT 12 1964

One of the greatest oddities I've come across in nearly 25 years of dealing in vintage percussion in terms of the badge # and the date stamp. One would expect to see a later date stamp with the badge. So what to make of this peculiarity? Simplest explanation is that the system at the Ludwig factory was not too stringent and that what likely happened is that the shell was made and the stamp was slapped on and then the badge was weirdly placed on what should have had an earlier #'d badge. Quite simply : this is merely an anomaly and if you've been in the vintage business long enough, this is nothing.

Original red muffler. Very light darkening. Original COB hoops in fantastic condition. Hardware with some micro-pitting/wear. Wrap excellent, but small nicks/scratches could not be completely buffed out. 1 "thumbnail" ding above tom mount. Bearing edges great.Batter head's original Ludwig with modest wear; original Ludwig reso is in excellent condition.

14X14" FLOOR TOM PRE-Serial ~ AUG 26 1963

AN EXTREMELY RARE 1963 OBP FLOOR TOM WITH ALL THE CORRECT POINTS FOR RINGO'S #1 KIT ~ NOTE THE PRE-SERIAL BADGE IS CENTERED RATHER THAN BEING DRILLED IN THE UPPER 3rd OF THE TOM. TOM HAS BEEN FULLY DETAILED AND IS IN STELLAR COLLECTOR CONDITION.THE DATE STAMP IS SMUDGED BUT LEGIBLE AT AUG 26 1963. THE "3" IN "1963" IS A NOT A "2" WHEN COMPARED TO THE "2" IN "26" as "3" is rounded.Original red muffler. Top hoop is COB, bottom COS, both in VERY GOOD condition. Hardware in VERY GOOD+ condition with some light pitting and wear consistent with being over 56 years old. Wrap excellent with few light nicks & scratches remaining with NEAR-ZERO to ZERO FADING. Bearing edges are clean & the drum is in the round. THE WRAP FOLLOWS THE SEAM INTO THE SCARF JOINT. Hardware is in VERY GOOD condition. The wrap has been polished with NOVUS 1 & 2 and it is extremely smooth. A few light scratches and nicks remain that couldn't be buffed out.

Original Ludwig heads - resonant in good used condition, batter in excellent condition. 

14X20" BASS DRUM # 12475

Very light darkening to wrap. Some slight nicks/scratches remain. 1 heavier scratch by badge. Heavier ding by cymbal mount. Very feint red DATE STAMP that's illegible. Hardware VG+ to EXCELLENT. Claws EXCELLENT; some T-rods have weird pitting as if chroming process was off. Bearing edges excellent. Interior clean. I have NOT touched up the hoops as they're not bad. If requested, I will touch them up. L cymbal arm is in great condition but the top mechanism is wobbly.Original Ludwig head in excellent condition. Some tape residue on batter head.