1967 Ludwig Downbeat Restoration (Part 1)

[@NickCostaMusic]

Check the other videos in the series here! Part 2 - kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y4GmgH9nlJx7r5I Part 3 - kzbin.info/www/bejne/hpzQmKCPebmeiNU

[@dfgivens]

My first set was a 1962 red sparkle Ludwig kit like this one. It was stolen once, and I got it back! Having restored several kits over the decades, I would add 1 step. After you soak & soften the grime on the chrome hardware, you want to rinse it off really well. This is to make sure no chemicals linger inside or outside the castings or threads. I also use compressed air to blow out EVERYTHING. Then, polish as indicated here. Nice job!

[@NickCostaMusic]

Wow - what a crazy story AND you got it back. That’s a great tip, thank you for adding!

[@jonnygatenby6333]

What an amazing video series. I've just bought myself a 66 champagne sparkle downbeat and I will follow this video to bring her back to life.

[@NickCostaMusic]

Killer - sounds like a great project! Did it come with a matching snare?

[@jonnygatenby6333]

@@NickCostaMusic Its yet to arrive from the States, but yes it has the matching snare which was a big plus! Will send some pics over when it arrives. Regarding gigging with your downbeat, I noticed that the legs on my bass drum don't seem to have spikes but black plastic feet. Just wondered if you ever have issues with the kick drum moving and if you use a drum mat? I've always had spikes on my kits. Cheers

[@NickCostaMusic]

@@jonnygatenby6333 Great I'd love to see it! I always carry a drum rug with me. I cant tell you how much I use to chase my kick drum and hi-hat stand when I was younger!

[@stevelinwood8362]

Very informative video! THANKS

[@NickCostaMusic]

Many thanks, Steve! Appreciate the kind words

[@retrogore420]

Great video series and easy to follow. I’m currently restoring my old Ludwig kit in Avocado Strata. Inside the bass drum shell I can faintly see a stamp from April 2, 1969. Thanks for the tips!

[@NickCostaMusic]

Many thanks. That sounds like an AWESOME project you have on your hands. Have fun with it, and enjoy the kit when you’re finished!!

[@rhythmista7707]

It's not a blue oyster, but a sky blue pearl. 😁 Great job !

[@NickCostaMusic]

Definitely a mistake on my part

[@ikeeptime]

As a teen in the 60s I got ahold of this era bass drum from Ludwig used as a final piece to my frankendrumset. All components bought cheap with my paper route money. I had it for 4 decades and use it occasionally over the years. Great tone.. I had thought to sand off the white inner coat to let the unfinished wood resonate more but never got around to it.

[@NickCostaMusic]

Very cool! Do you still have it? Probably worth a good amount now. They use to do that to cover up the wood - they weren't using the greatest quality wood in order to keep up with the demand.

[@ikeeptime]

@@NickCostaMusic Nope. Gone with the wind like my girlfriend at the time.

[@NickCostaMusic]

Oh bummer (for the drum leaving, not the girlfriend)🤣

[@aaronberg186]

Awesome video. A lot of great tips in there! Thanks.

[@NickCostaMusic]

You’re welcome, Aaron. Appreciate you checking out the series. Best of luck cleaning your collection

[@brewstergallery]

Hey Nick from Ned in Spain, originally from NY State. 5 yrs late to the party but hope you see this comment. I'm pretty sure that's a 1958 - 1960 super classic snare you have, Mr Lucky. I know that because it's similar to one that I got from a band mate who got it for 8 bucks from a junkie on the lower east side. No bottom tension rods and no throw off but relatively clean. I had a correct replacement throw off and got the the snare bed recut. The fattest, sweetest all purpose snare drum I own and have only had to change the snares twice in 30 years. Great looking kit too.

[@NickCostaMusic]

Hey Ned - appreciate the info! The drum surprisingly has great high pitched characteristics, though I do tune my snares a little higher.

[@brewstergallery]

Yeah, those snare drums sound great from low to mid is woody n fat or tuned high it has those sweet swing drummer overtones too. Thanks for the get back, the nifty videos n some tasty playing too. @@NickCostaMusic

[@NickCostaMusic]

Of course - thank YOU for checking out the vids, positive convo, and kind remarks. Cheers, @carrerlluna66 !

[@jerrylehti7230]

fun to watch others that like restoration , its a lot of effort to get good results

[@NickCostaMusic]

Yessir - pretty amazing to see the results. Glad you like the video and I appreciate you checking them out!

[@brianchisnell1548]

Automotive "Srcatch Off" is perfect for polishing the shells. Mine look brand new!

[@NickCostaMusic]

Sweet - I’ll look into it!

[@philipnestor5034]

Hi Nick, Excellent video but the color is Ludwig's Sky Blue Pearl. I have the same color kit in 22,13,16,18, from the late 1960's

[@NickCostaMusic]

Glad you enjoyed the video, and thanks for the info!

[@mattsoliveriDRUMS]

sweet video! can't wait to see the progress in part 2

[@NickCostaMusic]

Many thanks!

[@texasforever3.025]

Holy cow I just found out that headlight restore (to remove fog from headlights ) worked freaking great on my blue oyster pearl (67) kit. Where I took the hardware off I got the rest of it to match. I used the chemical guys one. Happy w the outcome

[@NickCostaMusic]

Great tip! I'll have to look into it

[@RustyKnorr]

I used the same, awesome stuff!

[@adamzaslavsky4283]

just a great video, very relaxing mood........cool

[@NickCostaMusic]

Appreciate it - glad you enjoyed it!

[@drummer083]

Hi Nick! Just a few notes, 1-That flat spot on the shell is typical because of the way the wrap went into the shell. Secondly, the white paint inside the snare drum is not factory. They didn't start painting the interiors until late 1962-early 1963. That snare is 1959 or 1960. It would have had a natural mahogany interior.

[@NickCostaMusic]

Good to know, thank you!

[@danstephensen9032]

Great Job.

[@NickCostaMusic]

May Thanks! Make sure you check out the other two videos to see the completed result!

[@GIGMUSIC-o6z]

Nice job

[@NickCostaMusic]

Hey thanks Greg! Still use this kit today

[@GIGMUSIC-o6z]

@@NickCostaMusic it’s a great and good sounding kit

[@NickCostaMusic]

For sure - it’s the vintage drum sound everyone wants

[@brianchisnell1548]

Wrapped kits starting in 68 were Mahogany, Poplar, Maple interiors. Only natural stain kits, thermogloss maple or Walnut were Maple, Poplar, Maple. My 69 kit wrapped, is Mahogany outer ply. Take a lug off and you can see the plies in the holes. Cheers!

[@NickCostaMusic]

Huh - I’ll have to take a look and see. Thanks for the tip!

[@brianchisnell1548]

@@NickCostaMusic watching your part 3 now. Lol. I would have stayed with the stock 1.6 hoops. Also, I use 2 felt strips, single ply heads and no port. Kaboom! Right? The more muffling, the less volume.

[@skiptrace1888]

Great vid, bro! I really like that Never Dull

[@NickCostaMusic]

Many thanks, Skip! Never dull is a miracle worker when polishing hardware. Thanks for checking out the video!

[@keithcarne1479]

Thanks for this vid. What tool did you use to take the bolts off that hold the lugs in?

[@NickCostaMusic]

Thanks, Keith! It was a 1/4” socket and ratchet.

[@BobbyBlood]

Beautiful work!

[@NickCostaMusic]

Many thanks, Bobby! Appreciate you checking out the series.

[@Journeymanlive]

wow love it ! I found one from 68, supposedly they switched to maple/pop/maple around 67, 68. Do you guy know a way to verify the wood essences? the kit I found it painted white inside, but I really want to confirm it's mahogany, anyway to know for sure ? ( I heard Maple /pop/maple can have white paint too). thanks

[@NickCostaMusic]

Take a head off and look at the bearing edge. Maple plys will be lighter, and mahogany obviously darker. Also, you usually can see the grain through the white paint if it’s mahogany. Maple doesn’t have as prominent grain. Either way, the drums will sound great! Appreciate ya checking out the video - enjoy your 68s!

[@Journeymanlive]

@@NickCostaMusic Thanks Nick ! I need to investigate. I really want Mahog. The guy says his drums are a bit modified, rhodoid ? ( not even sure why, isn't it supposed to be just paint?) and a few holes, also the bearing edges modified. and expensive! too bad, because it's close to my place, a lady drum from jan 68 ;-)

[@NickCostaMusic]

@@Journeymanlive Not sure if rhodoid was a factory finish or not - lot of mixed answers online about it. Interior if they're finished should be just paint. Vintage kits are heavily sought after at the moment - some folks thinking their drums are worth WAY more than they really are. Keep your ear to the ground, and try to find something that hasn't been modified (extra holes, etc). People respond differently to edge work but my opinion - if you're going for a vintage kit, make sure the edges are as close to original as possible. Nothing wrong with true-ing them up for flatness, but a complete re-cut is gonna change the vintage mojo.

[@Journeymanlive]

@@NickCostaMusic thanks a lot man, yeah I'm into drums as a one-man-band and don't really know about modifying edges. A bit sad to let it pass, but like you said: modified so it looses mojo, and value. The guy wants "unmodified - collection" money for it. too bad ! thanks for your tips, keep it up

[@NickCostaMusic]

@@Journeymanlive That's it! Drums are like cars. The "collector" wants unmodified close to original, others want a retro-mod that is turn key with little maintenance.

[@jsmith816]

When you say "blue dawn" for the water & soap mix. Is that blue dawn dish soap?

[@NickCostaMusic]

Yep! Cheap, and effective - just a little drop and you’re good.

[@davidenorth]

I learned to play on a set just like that in 1980.

[@NickCostaMusic]

That’s rad! Such a great kit to learn on

[@Dmoney2times51]

How do u remove rust from drum rims and hardware

[@NickCostaMusic]

If it doesn’t come off after soaking in soapy water and polishing with never dull, it will come off with tin foil and WD-40. Spray a piece of foil with WD-40, and use like sand paper.

[@brianchisnell1548]

Fine steel wool and finish off with chrome polish.

[@JorisPtrs]

i have almost the same kit, 1970. Isnt this also a Sea Blue wrap ??

[@NickCostaMusic]

Someone pointed out it's Sky Blue Pearl.

[@midnightcarscene9948]

I have that same kit

[@stevenbowman761]

Cool video. You said the wrap is blue oyster. I think it's black diamond pearl.

[@NickCostaMusic]

Yeah definitely said the wrong wrap. It's actually sky blue pearl. Check out vid two for the correction! kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y4GmgH9nlJx7r5I Appreciate you checking out the vid.

[@PatrickWitherow]

Quick question - how did you clean your tom rims? Soap and water with the other hardware and then the polish? Thank you!

[@NickCostaMusic]

Yep! Left them in the soap and water solution with the rest of the hardware. If there's surface rust, you can remove that by spraying WD-40 on tin foil and rubbing on the rim. Sounds crazy, but works! Finish up with polishing using Eagle One never dull. Thanks for checking out the vid!

[@johncollins5552]

Those sizes are the same as John Densmore used on all the classic Doors recordings apart from the debut I think.

[@NickCostaMusic]

How bout that - never knew! Thanks for sharing, and checking out the vid.

[@chino9992]

Curious if you know of any good places to get hardware for these? Just picked up a '68 Club Date.

[@NickCostaMusic]

eBay and Reverb are always my first go-to places, or if you have a local mom-and-pop music shop near you check there. Sometimes it takes some searching, but you’ll find everything you need!

[@toptenideas]

Which product you use together with the water for cleaning the lugs?

[@NickCostaMusic]

Just a little bit of blue dawn and warm water does the trick. Finish it off with the Eagle One never dull and that's it!

[@PatrickFrank]

What's the wax product you're using for the shell?

[@NickCostaMusic]

Any carnauba wax will do, but in this video I used Meguiar's Gold Class Paste Wax - amzn.to/30qQgCd

[@awesomefanger]

Really should have checked for some kind of date stamp inside before cleaning. It's doubtful that they were still there due to the resonant heads being gone, it was still worth looking.

[@NickCostaMusic]

I looked and couldn't see any stamps. The insides were pretty dirty when I got them.

[@jessicahansen4852]

Hey Nick, did you find adapters for the hardware that would allow you to adjust the tom mounts more easily-without wrenches?

[@NickCostaMusic]

Sure did! I just got wing nuts that matches the threading of the screws in the mounts. You can find them at any hardware store!

[@peterpiece2102]

It was great

[@NickCostaMusic]

Great to hear you enjoyed the vid. Hope you enjoyed the series, and thank you for watching!

[@bensuarez8688]

Where’s part 2?

[@NickCostaMusic]

Right here - kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y4GmgH9nlJx7r5I You can find part 3 here as well - kzbin.info/www/bejne/hpzQmKCPebmeiNU Appreciate you checking out the series!

[@brucelach4481]

lots of them old set had flat stops ,but the heads was round

[@victorridder1389]

Really dig this video. I also have a 1967 Downbeat kit in BOP that could use some restoration. When is video #2 coming out? I've been using a snare stand for the rack tom and haven't used the kick cymbal mount because both do not function well. I'm curious how your new ordered parts work out. Thanks again for the vid!

[@NickCostaMusic]

Thanks Tory! New video is coming soon - waiting on some of the replacement parts

[@nealsausen4651]

Ludwig back then actually put a stamp. They used to rubber stamp and dated the interior shells of each drum right on the white paint. for instance, With my downbeat set all the drums are stamped on the inside February 17, 1967 it is also a Ludwig “DOWN BEAT”outfit in silver sparkle with a matching wood Ludwig pioneer snare drum Also stamp dated February 17 1967. That’s the easiest and fastest and kind of the most accurate way to date the drums it’s open them up and look inside I know Ludwick dated the insides of their junk shells I do not know about the other companies though. I know Rogers drums did not I never saw any dates stamped on the insides of my Rogers drums.

[@NickCostaMusic]

I'll have to take a look to find the stamp, thanks for sharing!

[@nealsausen4651]

@@NickCostaMusic : yeah usually they would stamp the date next to the inner seam or overlap, the date stamp was parallel to the inner seen I’ve had two Ludwig drum sets. my first Set was a club day outfit from 1965 and it had the date (something 1965, I forget the actual dates) stamped in all the shells from that year as a matter of fact I wish I would’ve kept that set it was a cool little set it had the lugs in the middle and it was the gold up band around the black background great little set but all those shells were date stamped. I now have a Ludwig silver sparkle downbeat outfit from 1967 and all the shells in this set a date stamped February 17, 1967 in plain black letters. If you get a chance to look inside some of those 60s EraLudwig shells you might find the same thing sometimes they get smudged out over the years Or they get painted over but my present day 67 downbeat Has dates In the bass drum, Tom‘s, And even the matching pioneer snare drum. It was their practice I guess. By the way great video very interesting go to watch numbers two and three from now thanks again keep up the good work!

[@NickCostaMusic]

@@nealsausen4651 Yeah I'll have to definitely take a look! I've always wanted a 60s downbeat - love the look of the single lug in the middle. Thank you for the kind words, and I appreciate you checking out the series! Hope to continue this conversation soon.

[@nealsausen4651]

@@NickCostaMusic ; Looking forward to it Nick take care!

[@spamwagon]

Sky Blue Pearl, I believe. I have the Blue Oyster Pearl 5 pc and the Oyster is a tighter pattern, visually.

[@NickCostaMusic]

Definitely mis-identified the finish in this vid, though I announce that in the 2nd vid (which I hope you also check out to see the progress). I appreciate the info on the difference between the blue pearl and blue oyster - didn't know that!🙏🏼

[@jdion79]

man that wrap is so beautiful.

[@NickCostaMusic]

Couldn't agree more - it's in GREAT shape!

[@NickCostaMusic]

Tell me about it - wait till you see it finished!

[@ipguyman108]

Sweet ..!

[@JorisPtrs]

hey Nick, i have the same kit, but from 1970, Bleu Badge. Should that be maple shell? Other question: what did you put into the water to leave the metal parts in? Thanks! Joris (Belgium)

[@NickCostaMusic]

Hi Joris. September/October of 1968 is when Ludwig made most of their shells in the maple/poplar/maple configuration. They also changed to the natural interior finish. In 1970 they would sometimes put mahogany as inner or outer ply, and most drums received the granitone interior. If you have the granitone interior, then most likely you have a Maple/Poplar/Maple finish. As for the water, it's just warm water with a little bit of blue dawn. Thanks for checking out the video!

[@aloisilles8528]

Please just give the name of the product that you use!

[@NickCostaMusic]

Just warm water and blue dawn for shells, goof off for tough dirt/grime on shells, and eagle one never dull to polish chrome!

[@garrycollins1475]

sky blue pearl, not oyster blue

[@NickCostaMusic]

Thanks for the insight - I corrected the mistake in vid 2 kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y4GmgH9nlJx7r5Isi=SWIOiDiLeuSldDwC

[@kodhii3091]

Hey my drum kit (a different drum)

[@NickCostaMusic]

It's a sweet kit!

[@kodhii3091]

Nick Costa your replying to a vid from 2 years ago true legend

[@NickCostaMusic]

@@kodhii3091 I appreciate you checking out a video from 2 years ago.

[@densmoreselim3877]

This not blue oyster! Is sky blue pearl.

[@NickCostaMusic]

Yep - I was mistaken, and talk about it in the 2nd video. Vid 2 - kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y4GmgH9nlJx7r5I Vid 3 - kzbin.info/www/bejne/hpzQmKCPebmeiNU Thanks for watching!

[@elbuzzard4287]

This isn’t blue oyster. It’s sky blue Pearl

[@NickCostaMusic]

Yep - corrected that in vid 2. Check it out here kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y4GmgH9nlJx7r5I Thanks for checking out the vid!

[@nealsausen4651]

The Strainer/Throw Off onthat classic snare drum looks like it’s missing the knurled Adjustment knob that fine tensions the snare wires there should be a round knob on the top of that strainer just under the throw off lever it looks like it’s missing it could be on there the quality of this reproduction is not the best not your video I’m talking about my phone

[@NickCostaMusic]

Yes, it was missing it. Check out video 2 for the progress, and video 3 for the completion! Vid 2 - kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y4GmgH9nlJx7r5I Vid 3 - kzbin.info/www/bejne/hpzQmKCPebmeiNU

[@rainangle]

dude what did you say you had the hardwear soaking in,,hot water and

[@NickCostaMusic]

warm water and a splash of blue dawn

[@danabrown8008]

don't change the tom mount you want original just bring a wrench duh don't touch the edges just lighly sand duh

[@NickCostaMusic]

You should check out vid 2 and 3 to see how the kit came out. Anything that was replaced doesn’t mean I didn’t keep the original parts. Trying to work smarter not harder during gigs.

[@ralphbenites1312]

dana brown changing drum parts on a classic drum kit? Keep it more original just clean the hardware 🤨

[@RustyKnorr]

Use some grammar, go back to school, moron. Duh.

[@mellilore]

2:31 bearing edges re-WHAT??? I'm sorry but I'm done watching. I hope you left them alone. Those are what really makes a drum, soundwise. If you touch them, those are no longer Ludwigs you get that? I'm the proud owner of 4 early to late 60s Ludwig kits, I clean them thoroughly periodically but I never never touch them edges, the only thing I do to my edges is some very light wax-rubbing once in a while. They are not perfect, they were never perfect since they were made (yes, wrap lapped into the actual shell spoiled its roundness, nightshifts to fullfill the demand took their toll on overall quality, bearing edges final touch i.e. the sanding was hand-made, and quite in a hurry) nevertheless those were (and are) Ludwigs, great sounding drums, the drums that made History, despite of (or maybe thanks to) their flaws. I really hope you left those edges alone, or at least that the former loving owner doesn't know what you've done.

[@NickCostaMusic]

So sorry that remark had you tap out not even 3 minutes in, and even drive you to comment about doing so. If you hung in or even skipped to part 3, you would have seen I didn’t touch them and you could have heard the end result. If you’re interested, check out the 3rd vid - kzbin.info/www/bejne/hpzQmKCPebmeiNUsi=k-QJCInQcFPmsb7H

[@mellilore]

Very very happy to hear that. I'm going to have a look at the whole process then, now that I know I'm not going to see those beauties "slaughtered" @@NickCostaMusic

[@NickCostaMusic]

They were saved - I addressed/corrected a few things I said in the 1st video during the later ones (like mis-identifying the wrap, how flat spots on the shells came from the factory). I also came to the realization it didn't make sense to touch edges until I heard how they sounded and tuned up first. They worked, so I left them!

[@jacqueskorb879]

I have a 69. will never sell it!

[@NickCostaMusic]

Great kit to have! Enjoy it.

[@grendelshooter4556]

Too much yapping and not near enough restoration

[@NickCostaMusic]

Then you’re gonna LOVE the other 2 videos in the series. Vid 2 - kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y4GmgH9nlJx7r5I Vid 3 - kzbin.info/www/bejne/hpzQmKCPebmeiNU Thanks for checking out the vid!

[@RustyKnorr]

No one is forcing you to watch. 🖕

[@dcb1138]

SOY