1968 Hybrid Hollywood Vintage Kit
Marc...Ludwig...& Zildjian
PROUD... to be making 44 years of great music together!
"Ludwig and Zildjian...the best musical marriage I've ever heard!"-Marc
Marc playing his kit...New Years Eve 2010
Purchased September 28, 1968 at Eastern Musical (Cressey & Allen) Portland, ME.
I consider my kit a "hybrid" or "transition kit" between the Ludwig "Hollywood" kit...discontinued in late 1968 with the original "Keystone" badges...and the "Big Beat" which was introduced in late 1968 and carried the new "Gold and Olive" badges beginning in mid-1969.
In 2007 I had a major reconstruction job done to bring the kit back to life. My good friend Mike Sangello of Portland Percussion did the recon job for me. Additionally I added new Ludwig hardware to replace my old worn-out hardware which had actually exceeded it's expected life...some of it no longer properly functional.
The Ludwig Logo at the top of the page is from my personal drumhead on the kit.
I am very proud of my association with both Ludwig and Zildjian during my playing career. The equipment is top-notch...sounds incredible...and I've made friends with wonderful people in both Companies over the years. I look forward to many more years of active performing...good Lord willing...and continuing to use my beautiful drums and cymbals. They are indeed..."the best musical marriage I've ever heard!".
An important note here is during the reconditioning...we did NOT alter the bearing edges of any of the drums.
For Vintage Enthusiasts and Collectors here are my Serial Numbers and manufacturing dates:
14 x 22 Bass Drum S/N 567653 N/A...I suspect near the same date as the Toms
8 x 12 Rack Tom S/N 567631 January 11, 1968
9 x 13 Rack Tom S/N 566564 January 11, 1968
16 x 16 Floor Tom S/N 565933 January 11, 1968
5 1/2 x 14 Supraphonic Snare S/N 564391 December 27, 1967
Original Hardware I still use:
#781 Double-Tom Holder
#1305 Bass Drum Spurs
According to the "Ludwig Book" my drums are the original 3-ply Mahogany/Poplar/Mahogany...and one of the last original manufacturing runs of this 3-ply. In mid-1968 Ludwig changed over to maple (the "wooden kit" as Ringo called it and used in "Let It Be"). I have replaced all my original cymbal stands (#1400) with the new Ludwig 126CS flat-based stand. I replaced my original 1123-1 Hi-Hat stand in 1984 with a Pearl Hat stand...and in late 2006 replaced that with a new Ludwig L-3053 Modular Hi Hat Stand. Currently I am using my third Speed King pedal. Although it's worn I am also keeping my original Ludwig Oval seat for the time being. It has long been discontinued and though I don't have a model number to refer to....I can tell you I purchased it in May of 1968. I plan to replace it with a model LR246TH Rocker throne sometime in the near future as my original throne is very near the end of a useful life.
In late February 2010 I finally retired my original #1363 Snare Stand and replaced it with an LM822SSL Single Brace Stand. The original stand no longer did the job and the arms were too loose to support the snare...not too bad after over 41 years of use! Here are two views of my new stand with my kit.
I use Ludwig WeatherMaster heads on all my drums except where noted on the snare.
MY "A ZILDJIAN" CYMBALS
I play the original..."A Zildjian"...exclusively. Over the years they have developed a truly remarkable warm "marriage"...and I've used them in just about every type of musical situation. They have never been cleaned in over 40 years! As a tribute to Armand Zildjian the "Armand Rides" were introduced recently to reproduce the sound of those beautiful cymbals. I am so very proud to still own...and play...my originals! Their history is noted below.
22" Medium Ride Purchased with my kit
20" Medium Ride Purchased with my kit
18" Medium Crash Purchased in 1971
16" New Beat Hats Purchased in 1984
The Zildjian Visit...Friday November 13th, 2009
This day turned out to be an incredible day in the life of this drummer as 2 years of planning and coordinating schedules worked out and Kathy and I went to Norwell, MA and visited the world famous Zildjian Cymbal Company. During our visit our friend and Host John Pappone, Sales Communication Manager...gave us the royal VIP treatment.
I won't detail much of our actual visit to the Factory itself...other than to say it was great...we got some "hands-on" experience and I got to see how the Zildjians are made. A wonderful visit and made me appreciate...even more...the beautiful musicality I've enjoyed for over 40 years!
Hope you enjoy all the photos...truly a memorable visit and a most gracious host!
The beginning...Zildjian sign at entrance to the factory.
This sign greeted us in the Lobby before we even set foot in Reception. What an honor!
Mock-up of Ringo's kit.
Ringo autographed every drumhead on the kit in 2006.
On the other side of the room from Ringo's kit is the double-bass Louis Bellson kit...autographed on the bass drum.
Louis Bellson autograph. He was married to Pearl Bailey and was her Bandleader for many years.
At the entrance to the world-famous Drummers Lounge is a tribute to the one and only Buddy Rich and one of his 1950's Slingerland Kits on display. John had me get behind the kit for a photo.
Our friend and Host for our visit...John Pappone on the kit in the Drummers Lounge. John is an excellent drummer and very...smooth with the brushes!
Kathy and I on the platform in the Drummers Lounge. The Lounge has a full bar...tables and lights shaped like cymbals...and a host of amenities...include carts to transport cymbals in and out for testing...and many cymbals as you can see. And...the posters on the wall say it all...
Here I am concentrating on the Kit in the Drummers Lounge. I'm thinking of all the world famous drummers who have sat behind this kit and on this throne and trying not to make a fool of myself! I had to pinch myself a couple of times to make sure I was not imagining this visit!
Concentration!
The Factory was originally in Quincy, MA and moved to the much larger facility in Norwell in the early 1970's. The hallways and walls of the plant are filled with many autographed photos...letters...drumkits and cymbals from the many Zildjian Artists...present and past. One of the most unique pieces of history we saw is the door to the original plant which is part of the wall leading to the Factory itself. Here is Kathy in front of the door of the Quincy plant.
Avedis Ziljian iu front of the same door at Quincy earlier in the 20th Century.
At long last I was able to show my vintage cymbals to John. He was very impressed...and Armand keeps a watchful eye over the proceedings.
Celebrating my 40th Anniversary in 2008
To help me celebrate my 40th Anniversary Ludwig and Zildjian sent me congratulatory letters and signed presents...The Ludwig Book and the History of the Zildjian Cymbal Company.
Marc and Kathy celebrate his 40 years with Ludwig and Zildjian in 2008.
The Recon Project...April 2007
Mike Sangello owns Portland Percussion and I've know him since shortly after opening his store in the early 1980's. Mike knows how near and dear to my heart the kit is...and he knows he's also the only person here I would trust to do the job to my satisfaction. Within my budget...Mike did an outstanding job! He knows his stuff and goes the extra mile to insure it's done right.
Many thanks Mike for an outstanding Recon job!
A photo from June 2005 showing great deterioration of the Bass hoops
Side view of completed kit showing my original 20 inch Medium Ride and 22 inch Medium ride in the background.
Mike and I at Portland Percussion after the Recon
First Gig with reconditioned Kit April 28, 2007.
At a Chapparals Gig in early 2008.
Supraphonic 400 Snare (LM 400)
Mike completed the reconditioning of my entire kit with my snare being the final drum to be finished. He told me it's condition is excellent for a drum 40 years old and could not believe how well it has aged. There are pits on it of course and a lug or two is worn on the outside...but overall in remarkably good shape.
To give the snare a fat sound we deviated a bit and put on a clear Aquarian resonant head and top of the line Pure Sound Percussion 20 strand snares. These are the only two non-Ludwig items on the entire kit. We wanted the snare to have clear projection.
Completed recon...beautiful job!
Aquarian Head and new snares. Mike cleaned up both top and bottom hoops and also cleaned up the inside and tightened up the inside muffler.
Top view of completed recon.
In late 2009 I got Ludwig's beautiful 100th Anniversary Snare drum case to protect my 1967 Supraphonic 400. The case even has a protective bag to cover it. On the front is the 100th Anniversary Logo and inside the case is lined with thick felt.
Some of the Drum Literature I've collected over the years. My oldest book is the Ludwig Instruction book on Jazz Drumming I found cleaning out Mom's music hassock last year...dating back to January 1959. The newest so far is the 2011 Ludwig Catalog.
Our Friends at Ludwig and Zildjian
In the drum world we have two very special friends at Ludwig and Zildjian who have been very nice to us and I wanted all Vintage enthusiasts that visit this page to meet them.
Todd Trent was Ludwig Artist Relations Manager for 25 years...retiring from that position in September of 2008...and is good friends with some of the greatest drummers in the world. Todd met Kathy and I met at the NH Drum Expo in October of 2007. He is featured in Rob Cooks Ludwig Book. Todd is now working with Taye Drums.
Our good friend John Pappone, Sales Communication Manager on the platform in the Drummers Lounge. John was a most gracious and very informative host during our visit!
You can also find us featured on the Classic Drums Ludwig Players website. The kit is number 5 on the page. I am also a Member of various Vintage Forums on the Web.
Click on the link here for the Classic Drums page. The kit was entered in 2008.
I look forward to hopefully meeting many of you on the Web...and perhaps at some future time...in person at some of the Vintage shows in the Northeast.
Kathy and I attended the NH International Drum Expo in October of 2007. There was lots of vintage drums and memorabilia to make everyone happy! Of course my two life-long instruments were well represented. Here are some photos from our visit.
Kathy and I at the Kurt Ekstrom display.
Zildjian was a Sponsor for the show and gave away these beautiful cymbals on the last day.
Todd and some of the snares he brought at his display.
The highlight of the Saturday night show was Steve Smith...drummer for his group Vital Information...and former drummer with Journey...who played on all their Megahits in the 1980s. He was kind enough to autograph Kathy's Journey Greatest Hits CD for her.
Cindy Blackman closed the show. She went to Berklee in Boston and had wonderful stories of growing up and her love of drumming. She is most famous for working with Lenny Krativz. Cindy put on a spectacular performance to close the show. We all left exhausted from watching her. Cindy is featured in the June 2008 issue of Modern Drummer. She kindly signed for us and also posed for the two photos above.
Updated January 1, 2012
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