Ludwig 1970s 80s Era 6 Ply 16x16 Floor Tom Shell Project Shell

This is a project shell that I recently rescued. The reso side needed a little bit of gluing/clamping of some of the inner plies and some slight wood putty from getting bonked around without a bottom head on. I sanded the wood putty to match the original edge profile. I haven’t recut the edges. I don’t believe that to be necessary.

The bottom end of the drum is ever so slightly out of round from the reso-headless years, but not bad. An Evans head spins freely on both sides (keep in mind this is without wrap). A Remo spins freely on the top and spins, but needs a little encouragement on the reso side. It’s definitely possible to pull it back in round if you’re handy in that way. If you’re not, and you plan on wrapping the drum with a thick wrap it might be smart to slightly cut back the reso side wrap and use an Evans reso head just to make sure it can tune 100% freely.

See pics for general condition. This was the era where Ludwig for some reason riveted the wrap to the shells, so there is evidence of that. Also a few floor tom leg mount holes are slightly oblong. Not a huge deal. All in all a great project shell that Is begging to be brought back into service.