Let’s have a look now at some numbers. Below is Ludwig 1960’s Serial Number Time Chart #1. It contains particular number/date stamp pairs chosen from our original serial number index because they serve as good representations of the chronological trend of the serial number sequence. By using this chart, you will be able to know in most cases the year, and time frame within the year, that your 1960’s Ludwig drum was made. For additional clarification we have included a few serial number/date stamp pairs provided by helpful collectors.
Ludwig 1960’s Serial Number Time Chart #1
DATE
SERIAL NUMBER
1960 to late 1963 —-no serial numbers
February 24, 1964…………………..12,219
April, 1964……………………………..31,505
April, 1965……………………………142,581
July 6, 1965…………………………..171,268
October, 1965……………………….233,838
March 19, 1966……………………..308,863
August 30, 1966…………………….361,292
November, 1966……………………390,690
March, 1967…………………………. 427,211
June, 1967…………………………….493,426
November 15, 1967…………………519,728
February 6, 1968……………………578,990
June 21, 1968………………………..604,865
November, 1968…………………….650,521
January, 1969………………………..673,078
February 26, 1969………………….689,430
September 4, 1969………………….743,080
Here’s how to use the chart:
Ludwig drums could also be identified even further, than simply from the badge, into a specific time period of the 70’s by the construction of the shell, and the hardware used throughout the drum. Ludwig shells from 1970-1975 carried the 3-ply maple/ poplar/ maple with the re-enforcement ring construction of the late 60’s. The drums with these date codes had B/O badges with serial numbers ranging from 825000 to about 979000 and Standard serial numbers in a range from about 49000 to 67000. Based upon the serial number/date stamp research, the link between date and serial number is generally linear. We have an extensive collection of Ludwig history; Ludwig Badges, Ludwig Serial Numbers, Ludwig Drum Set Catalog Scans, Ludwig Snare Drum Catalog Scans, Ludwig Jazzette History, Ludwig Standard History, Ludwig Acrolite History, Ludwig Black Beauty History, Ludwig Finishes, Ludwig Products and Ludwig Memorabilia dating back to the companies.
Taking as an example a non-date stamped drum with the serial number of 718,321, lets first find the proximate serial numbers to 718,321 – which are 689,430 and 743,080 respectively. Next, check the corresponding dates to these serial numbers – which are February 26, 1969 and September 4, 1969. These two dates indicate the general time frame when our non-date stamped drum was made.
Keep in mind when using the chart that due to Ludwig’s production, assembly and order-fulfillment procedures during the 60’s (discussion following the next chart) it’s not uncommon to find a moderate margin of discrepancy in the serial number/date stamp relationship. For this reason, the production date of the drum you’re dating could actually be several months earlier or later than the chart indicates.
I once asked Mr. Ludwig why only some of the shells were date stamped? He explained, “The reasons varied over the years. Sometimes it was because we wanted to accommodate certain dealers who didn’t want the dates. Other times it was to keep up our production speed so that we could keep up with the demand. And sometimes it was just because the stamp pads ran out of ink.”
Furthermore, not all of the dates that went on the drums stayed on the drums. Dick Gerlack, who recently retired from the Ludwig Drum Company as their quality control manager/ trainer/ buyer, was with the drum company from 1960 to 2001. He pointed out to me that because Ludwig used non-indelible ink for the stamping of the dates, some dates were inadvertantly smudged or removed – in part or whole after the drums left the factory by drum owners while cleaning their drums.
by Ed Flack © 2017The Ludwig Supra-Phonic is said to be the “most recorded” snare drum of the 1960s and 1970s. I don’t know if that is true but it is plausible, and why not? The Supra-Phonic is a great drum and Ludwig sold a lot of them.
The modern version of this snare drum went into production in 1958 as the “Super-Ludwig.” The first drums named Super-Ludwig with the original Art Deco lug design were made available in 1936 using wood shells. The 1958 Super-Ludwig was made of one solid piece of rolled brass that was formed into a circle and welded. By 1962 Ludwig changed the name to “Super-Ludwig 400” (the significance of the number 400 is not known—likely added as a marketing gimmick?) The next major design and name change occurred in 1963 when Ludwig switched from rolled brass to a spun aluminum shell, calling it the “Supra-Phonic 400.” The aluminum shell has no welds and Ludwig introduced it as the “Acousti-Perfect” shell. At first look, the Super-Ludwig and the Supra-Phonic can be mistaken as the same model drum, yet there are significant differences. Here are some specific features to look for if you want to identify a Super-Ludwig from a Supra-Phonic.
1. As already referenced, from 1958–1962 the Super-Ludwig was made from a rolled brass and welded shell. After the brass models, the Supra-Phonic shell material was made of spun aluminum with no welds. The evidence is seen in the bubbles, pitting, and excessive peeling of chrome from the surface of the early Supra-Phonic snares. Chrome just does not adhere well to an aluminum surface but it works really well on brass. Another obvious characteristic of brass is that it is much heavier than the Acousti-Perfect Ludalloy (aluminum) shell. The Super-Ludwig weighs about 10 pounds.
2. The bearing edge on both brass and aluminum shell models is 45º, these are created by rolling the top and bottom edges inward to form a collar or “flange.” This also serves to strengthen the shell and help support and maintain the shell’s circular shape. However, on the Super-Ludwig models, there is a second shorter flange at the final edge that curls back and slightly under the primary collar.
Ludwig Snare Drum Serial Number Lookup
3. The famous Ludwig Keystone badge on the brass Super-Ludwig and Super-Ludwig 400 never had a serial number. Conceivably, there may be a very few early Supra-Phonics produced in 1963 that have no serial numbers? But since 1964, all Ludwig snare drums have a serial number on the badge.
4. The Imperial lug casings. This attractive Art Deco design originated in 1935 to commemorate the 25th year “Silver Anniversary” of the Ludwig company. The Super-Ludwig lug casings are heavier than the Supra-Phonic lugs. In addition, the design of the Supra-Phonic Imperial lugs was altered very slightly.
If you view an Imperial lug from the side profile you will notice that there are three flat plains or levels that appear as though they are almost stacked on to one another. They create ridges between each successive level so that the top or out-most shape is smallest, the middle level beneath is larger, and the third and final surface is the largest and it forms the bulk of the lug’s shape.
The Imperial lugs on both models are the same overall size, but each of the three ridged plains of the lugs on a Super-Ludwig is smaller than they are on the Supra-Phonic lug. The Imperial lugs on a Super-Ludwig have a smaller inside cavity and shorter spring resulting in more metal mass and lug weight.
5. The counter hoops of a Super-Ludwig are chrome over brass. The counter hoops of the Supra-Phonic are chrome over steel. A magnet will attract to the steel hoops but not to the brass hoops. The magnet test is not useful to differentiate the shells because neither brass nor aluminum will attract a magnet. However, it is possible to find some very early Supra-Phonics with one or both of the hoops being chrome over brass. It is possible to occasionally find an early Supra-Phonic with some or all of its Imperial lugs of the Super-Ludwig style. That is because when Ludwig made a design change, they gradually used up the leftover inventory of previous models resulting in some overlap of components.
6. The snare beds of the Super-Ludwig are crimped. The snare beds of an Acousti-Perfect shell appear less severe and not as obvious because they are gradually tapered away from the snare wire center position and there is no visible crimp to the bed.
Ludwig Vintage Serial Numbers
7. The strainer on the early Super-Ludwigs and Supra-Phonics was the P-83 model and later models received the P-85 strainer. The oldest P-83 strainers were stamped “WFL” and they were gradually replaced with the same strainer showing the script style “Ludwig” logo. The butt plate (opposite side of the strainer) was also stamped “WFL” on the older versions and they also were gradually replaced by the script “Ludwig” logo.
Ludwig Serial Numbers 1960s
How do these two iconic variations of snare drum compare where it really matters, that is to say, in sound and playability? In the opinion of this drummer, I would say both perform spectacularly well, I resist using terms like “warm” or “bright” but I will say the stick response of both shell versions is excellent from the outmost edge of the head surface to the center. I attribute this in large measure to the fact that there are ten tuning rods per head.
Both drums have a good range of tunability from the low end of useful head response up to a high and tight tuning. I do recommend that if you have an early Super or Supra that you will realize the best feel and tuning when using a single ply, coated drum head.
One characteristic of these drums is that the snare wires are quite “buzzy.” Not just from sympathetic resonance from other instruments but also in solo performance. The buzziness of the Supra-Phonic is easier to control with bottom head tuning than the Super-Ludwig. I think this may be because of the Acousti-Perfect snare bed design which is more gradual and less deep than crimped snare beds. The deep snare bed of the Super-Ludwig requires that the rods on each side of the snare beds need more torque in tuning to eliminate wrinkles in the snare head.
I have experimented with a variety of snare wires on both drums including standard Ludwig snare wires, Puresound wires, and the Rhythm Tech “Active Snare System” which is sort of like a fake Dyna-Sonic snare bridge. Each of them have performed well, the differences are subjective but in my opinion, the Rhythm Tech does help dry up some of the buzziness on the Supra-Phonic. I only use Ludwig wires on the Super because those are the snares the drum would have been designed to use and I want the most authentic sound possible.
So, if you do not own a Super or a Supra and you find yourself with an opportunity to get one in good condition, you should do it! The Supers are relatively rare and if they have not been abused or neglected they hold up extremely well. Even a 1960 Super can still look like new and if well maintained it will continue to look good and serve well long after we are all gone.
The Supra-Phonic can look really terrible with the bubbling chrome finishes but that has absolutely zero effect on the sound and playability of the drum. Once upon a time, I considered that to be an ugly flaw and symbol of an inferior drum design but I am no longer so prejudice of their appearance. In fact, I think the pitting and bubbles lend a special character to those drums that is just cool. This may even work to your advantage as a buyer because most folks want to own the “pretty” drum. Another bonus of its distressed appearance is that you don’t worry so much about picking up a few extra scratches, making this drum a perfect workhorse for gigs.
Thank you for taking the time to absorb this tiny slice of Ludwig drum history. I am by no means the highest authority on this subject. I happen to own these two drums and as a valued part of my collection, I conducted some personal research to better educate myself as to what I actually have. This brief article is all I can report with confidence and accuracy. Now go play your drums.
Ludwig Drum Serial Number Identification