By Joe Ciucci
Like many vintage drum enthusiasts, I feel it is great to see a “Born together” kit remain together……Even better when luck and our vintage drum community can reunite (as best as we can tell) a “Minty Fresh” “Born Together” set of spectacularly preserved vintage drums. By way of background, not too long ago, I was invited to view a massive collection of vintage drums near my home in Marietta, GA. As I viewed the 700 or so snare drums and perhaps 100 plus vintage drum kits, a carefully stacked set of vintage Ludwig drum bags caught my eye. All the way in the back of the stack were the bags with drums in them. What the heck kit is in those bags, I asked?
Much to my surprise was an amazing set of Ludwig drums. In the bags were a 12” rack tom, 16” floor tom and 20” kick drum in perfect burgundy sparkle finish with NO fade whatsoever. In fact, the drums still had the original drumheads on them, and did not appear to have been played much at all. I popped off the drum heads and yes, the smell of the painted white interior shells cannot be lost with time in drums with their original heads on them! The 12” rack tom is date stamped NOV 21 1966 with serial number 417441. The 16” floor tom is dated stamped NOV 22 1966 with serial number 417157, while the 20” kick drum is also dated NOV 22 1966, with a serial number of 414588. A beautiful kit, that I had to have, and quickly acquired from the collection.
As the kick drum bag contained an inventory identifying the kit as having a matching jazz fest from an original sale in Milwaukee, I immediately wondered, what happened to the matching jazz fest? Who in the Midwest might have a burgundy sparkle jazz fest? Yep. I texted pictures of the kit to Bun E. Carlos, who let me know that he did indeed have a burgundy sparkle jazz fest with nickel hardware. Bun E. added: “Let me send it to you, I think it’s the snare from the kit. Got it in Milwaukee.”
Bun E. sent me the jazz fest to see if it was a match, and yes, it is a match. Perfect color on the wrap and finish, with the classic white interior and baseball bat muffler like the rest of the kit, and serial number 339037. And, of course, the inside of the jazz fest shell is signed by Bun E. Carlos!
Do not worry fellow vintage drum enthusiasts, we will keep the burgundy sparkle family together.