I’ve always been a fan of the blue and black “bowling ball” oyster finishes that Ludwig introduced in 1971. The blue is my favorite and I have had a couple of Hollywood kits (12, 13, 16, 22) over the years, but I’ve always wanted a Downbeat kit (13, 16, 22) with a rail consolette.
I recently came across a beautiful Downbeat kit online; it checked all the boxes from my bucket list so I pulled the trigger and purchased them. This set was made in 1972 and is in excellent condition. The only issue is some minor shrinkage at the seams of the wrap, which is not uncommon. The drums appear to have been played, but well cared for prior to being put into storage. When I received them, they definitely needed a thorough cleaning; however, the kit was complete and all original even down to the heads.
A beautiful 1972 Supraphonic snare drum was included with the kit along with a bass drum petal, snare stand, and two cymbal stands. Interestingly, all the hardware is from the Ludwig Standard line. There were also a set of ‘60s era Zildjian cymbals consisting of a 20-inch ride, an 18-inch crash, and a pair of 14-inch hi hats.
After a bit of restoration and cleaning work, the drums look great and sound awesome. I am very happy to finally add this bucket list kit to my collection.