Ludwig Enormous Vistalite Kit

[@fess04]

The drums sound amazing .suprishingly warm. Your playing is so great too. thanks for doing this one.

[@NewWorldFungus]

This guy's like the Jay Leno of drums. Dig it

[@stevemaxwelldrums]

NewWorldFungus Thanks!

[@Cloud9MediaTv]

@@stevemaxwelldrums where on the website can I find a picture of this drum set. Thankx in advance

[@Cloud9MediaTv]

@@stevemaxwelldrums where on the website can I find a picture of this drum set. Thankx in advance

[@SeaMonkey137]

When I was in high school I had an old red, white and blue Vistalite set with six mounted toms. My bandmates joked that we should get Uncle Sam suits to match them. But those things looked absolutely awesome under stage lights. Wish I still had them.

[@johnwells5314]

Sweet... I love the sound of the snare and the 16" & 18" floor toms.

[@Avedis-G]

My first kit was a blue Vistalite at 12 years old. Saw it sitting on a riser at a drum store and begged my mom for it. 40 years later... still going. I thought I knew a lot about gear but I’ve never seen one like this. Very cool!

[@gabrielszarose5640]

Had the blue 5 piece also but tom stress cracked the kick drum at the top, lost money before i realized the drums are very delicate.

[@WisconsinPeaches]

Ok, that needed to be about 10 minutes longer. And I decided I need a set of Vistas.

[@NMRK91]

Great playing as always Steve.

[@stevemaxwelldrums]

Nmrk91 Thanks! That’s a big kit but was such fun to play it!

[@daffyshakilfur3563]

Really sounds great but that snare has to be one of the better sounding acrylic snared I've heard in a while

[@widows-sun-369]

needs to take the damper off it tho!

[@georgebaggy]

Yeah it sounds fantastic considering it has a ring on the head

[@ghostdrums]

@@demonicsweaters for an acrylic shell it sings like hell, on my speakers. But the toms sound quite dull to me ....

[@gabrielszarose5640]

Agree this set up suits a metalic snaredrum but because it's deep acrylic i'd adapt .

[@Sundaydrumday]

You ARE A KILLER PLAYER!!! Sounded great, love Ludwig drums

[@guillermojimenezcastelblan8456]

Superb and terrific drum kit, big, punchy sound that cuts amazing as well. So remarkable the fact about how the Ludwig`s craftsmen could glued the stripes so accurately. Magic hands, to say so. Vistalites for ever, dear drummer friends.

[@alanduncan1980]

It's like the salesman sample of vistalites. Very cool! 👍

[@glenmallory9982]

Wow does that kit take me back to the 70s. Sitting in front of the TV watching some early glam band from Europe. Someday I’d like to find this museum. Thanks.

[@tonydir5673]

Steve makes every drumset sound great

[@rogerwelsh2335]

Always love the sound of vista lite toms

[@rudytoth]

That's a neat looking drum set . You play it real good too. 🔥👍😎👍

[@GeorgeKam]

Amazing kit sounds so tight and warm. thank you sir your rock!

[@yoshstudio]

First saw this set when I was 10yrs old in my towns only music store. After that I had to learn how to play drums. When I turned 16 my pops got me a 5 piece black Vista lite kit with the remo black dot heads and James Brown greatest hits cassette tape 😍

[@SocialistDistancing]

I remember those kits in the music store in the 70s. As a kid, nothing that I could every afford. But I sure liked to dream about them. LoL

[@SAS-hz5ek]

Fantastic kit. Thanks for sharing.

[@thomastucker5686]

Thank you so much for that visit into history. I like the solo as well.

[@chuckgamatoria8357]

Great demonstration. They also came in blue. Our drummer had a set back in the day.

[@alvarocordova5533]

Steve always surprising and entertaining us beautiful spirit of the 70s vistalite Ludy there rock on ! ! ! ....

[@headman1953]

Brings back memories of my 7 piece blue vistalight set back in 1973. The only problem I had was the high pitched ring when you struck the toms. Micking them was hard and playing in small bars was hard. Still wished I kep them.

[@nautica7084]

He's got that buddy rich thing going on. Did anyone notice?

[@georgebaggy]

Yeah the blistering fast single strokes

[@demonicsweaters]

wow, the matching canister throne!

[@toddcooper3599]

Gorgeous kit

[@crissreznor]

I can taste lifesavers when he is playing the drums

[@poodius7]

An old friend had a rainbow-colored kit, not sure who made it but it sure reminds me of this kit. It was huge!! Like a 12 piece or something with Paiste cymbals!! He bought it new and sold it within a year as he figured he wasn't progressing much as a drummer. I kick myself to this day, not to have purchased it. What a beauty!!

[@WhyTheHorseface]

Thanks for sharing this piece of drum history!

[@cybrunel1016]

I was saying " Life Savers " in my head just before you said it. I 've seen these once before about 40 yrs ago and thought the same back when. It's all in the tuning in the end. What a nice kit, wow.

[@roybeckerman9253]

A packet of candy...fabulous 🙂 Imagine Ronnie Tutt playing these with two bass drums, behind Elvis in the 70s..

[@stevemaxwelldrums]

Roy Beckerman THAT would be cool!

[@rhythmista7707]

I suddenly have a hankering for a lifesaver...

[@donscott763]

Yeah, baby. I had a clear vistalite octaplus 1976. Too bad for me it's long gone.

[@geraldhartley]

Very cool. I had a friend with a kit like that back in the '70's. Good to see one again! Sounds nice too.

[@crlaw75]

I know that production of these got expensive when the oil crisis hit. Is there a Vistalite kit on KZbin that still have the little lights that were in each drum (it was run by a transformer and claimed it was the same lighting that was in the space shuttles. They were known to short out.).

[@davidmcleod1098]

Wow, we are talking about a 1970's kit. Sounds pretty good!

[@ryanglick4597]

Steve love that mean rock beat man on that kit and that set is incredible.

[@stevemaxwelldrums]

Ryan Glick Thanks Ryan! I’m a big band and jazz drummer, but I can really appreciate the sound from this’d set. Huge sound!!!!

[@dougsignorovitch1493]

Very very cool Thanks Steve 👍😎

[@mikec7176]

Very vool kit!! They sound good too! I remember when they came out years ago!👍🥁

[@chrispile3878]

Incredible blast from the past!

[@Crankerny58]

Killer sounding kit! Nice solo!

[@stevemaxwelldrums]

James Ferraro Thanks James!

[@chadstokes6532]

That Snare sounds amazing

[@blakegowan6623]

Stunning looking kit. Loved the sound....especially the bongo/concert toms. I saw a Triband Vista kit from 2017....Clear-Smoke-Black.....that would be my choice for Vista kit.

[@dionchagas]

Loved everything: drums, playing, sound. Thumbs up!

[@stevemaxwelldrums]

Thanks!

[@MrRichiekaye]

I expected it to sound like a toy, but it sounds really very good. 1974?

[@bill72pa]

Thanks for the demo. Awesome kit!

[@ItsJustMeMcKee]

My first kit were some vistalites that were striped with orange and yellow. They are still in my parents attic.

[@BEElaine1008]

What a cool kit!

[@BONHAMOLOGY]

Steve , what size is the bass drum? Didn't hear you say in the video.

[@starspangled2206]

Yeah! The Portillios brothers strike again ! George & Terry What up dudes ? !!!

[@danjuric622]

Just found your channel. Great stuff, thanks for showcasing such cool kits.

[@stevemaxwelldrums]

Thanks Dan

[@korgull8448]

Thats a lovely kit

[@sparrovski]

Yes. What a great kit.

[@timothymckenna1702]

Awesome Steve! Very entertaining to watch you play! Great skills!👍

[@Musikmusikmusik]

Sir you have a tuning video ? the drums sounds perfectly

[@tmaddrummer]

Man they sound good Steve and they look fabulous too! Nice ending..... Thanks and Blessings!

[@wriker36]

This was shot really well. Nice!

[@jglasernyc]

I love the sound of this kit, nice!

[@elmoomle4565]

Loved your playing...thank you Steve!

[@teleemonsta]

You sound great, Steve! And ...OH...would I love to buy that LifeSaver Ludwig Vistalite kit. SO choice!!!

[@vistalite-ph4zw]

Wow a complete set of Lifesavers Vistalites! I own a clear set and fortunately it has no cracks. My snare is 5.5x14 CS black dot batter, and Remo pinstripe heads on the toms. I'm not a big Vistalite fan myself but it is the first set of drums I owned.

[@stevemaxwelldrums]

vistalite 1972 Very cool!

[@nram3930]

Insanely cool kit, don't see many crazy colours flying about on shells like this... I must admit though that that playing was just fire, sounded awesome :)

[@stevemaxwelldrums]

Thanks!

[@AlbertMoyerJr]

Beautiful kit! Lifesavers. I love it.

[@habanerat]

Very nice playing Sir!

[@matthewpaluch777]

Da "lifesavers" vista kit! Cherry was my favorite flavor.

[@polara01]

Steve, absolute fantastic playing as always! Keith Moon would be Green With Envy watching you behind that kit wailing away! This was the configuration Moon had before he left us too early and you really did them Justice. That snare drum sounded really great. it's a really cool looking kit too! I gotta swing by the shop when this craziness finally ends and check out all these awesome kits! Peace, Bob M.

[@albitcapinigro1107]

ah.. the memories

[@matthewbreeden7748]

My mission now is to get a set like this but the red white and blue one if I can find them

[@drumdog]

Love that kit and great demo 👌

[@stevemaxwelldrums]

Thanks!

[@pawelmorrison]

Sounds great!

[@0Imtheslime0]

That snare though..

[@Danfromoverthere]

Love the drums but loved watching you jam out on them man!!!! Awesomeness!!!!!

[@stevemaxwelldrums]

Thanks!

[@toxievope3617]

They're some of the best sounding vistalites I've heard. I'm curious if where the colors join to one another,is it a noticeable conection as far as feeling it,or are they smooth or seemless?

[@misfit2022]

Nice kit and nicely played but any rock drummer I am assuming would go for the amber vistalite for obvious reasons

[@gretschludwigdrummer209]

You were cooking on that kit Steve !!!

[@stevemaxwelldrums]

Gretsch Drummer Thanks!

[@GUIDESPERSPECTIVE]

Those are priceless, what a beauty. I will give my first born for that kit.

[@stevemaxwelldrums]

GUIDESPERSPECTIVE It is a cool set! Blew me away. I didn’t think it would sound as good as it does. Steve

[@johnkingii4511]

THE DRUMS SOUND AMAZING... I LOVE THE SNARE.. YOU GOT THEM SKILLS STEVE...

[@stevemaxwelldrums]

John King II Thanks John!

[@meptune]

Ha! That's the coolest freaking kit!

[@charliecontrino1626]

I had a 75 Quadraplus In Tequila sunrise that i gave away! Nobody wanted them back in the 80's. I wish i held on to them!

[@afischer9540]

Bad move. Worth lots now

[@dorian2112]

quadraplus? do you mean octaplus?

[@romp6969]

I know how you feel. I traded a 10 piece vistalite kit and a small Gretsch kit plus $100 for a seven piece set of Tama swing stars in 1989. You are correct, back then, you could barley give vistalites away. With the 20/20 vision hindsight offers, everyone can see now that it was a bad move (especially considering the drums were the swirl pattern like the kit in the video but in the tequila sunrise colors!) but that is the reality of wheeling and dealing drums in the very late 80’s.

[@charliecontrino1626]

@@dorian2112 No Qaudra plus was with 4 concert toms I had 12,13, 14, 15

[@charliecontrino1626]

@@dorian2112 www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwoodandweatherdrumco.reverbsites.com%2Flisting%2F1970s-ludwig-quadra-plus-blue-vistalite-drum-kit-14x24-16x18-16-15-14-13%2F11425970&psig=AOvVaw0bukuCO5mT5QWCiXwkbEaV&ust=1590961112355000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CA0QjhxqFwoTCJCgjpXG3OkCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAF

[@barberjeff67]

That's a cool kit!

[@tfs4499]

Sweet kit!

[@scottyg5403]

Wow! Very freaking cool! Excellent video!

[@stevemaxwelldrums]

Thanks!

[@rhythmfield]

They sound GREAT - I wonder if any serious acoustic jazz players played Vistalite? The only drum missing the vibe for me is the bass drum, but probably a little extra time tuning/dampening would focus the tone a bit - not to get nitpicky and I really enjoyed the video, thanks guys

[@toxievope3617]

What does having opposed to not having heads on the bottom of the drum for the sound qaulity etc.?

[@tomkelsey2303]

I was thinking the drums would be very loud and harsh, but they are actually pretty "tubby."

[@robertdirocco1885]

And a red kickport!!

[@afischer9540]

What would it take to convince you to let these go to a new loving home?

[@johnsoos6907]

Great kit! Great hands! Great playing & sound! I have a late 70's Red Vistalite. Ever get your hands on a Ludwig Tivoli Vistalite?

[@stevemaxwelldrums]

Thanks John! Tivoli kits are hard to find with the light system working. Funny story: Way back in the late 70s I used to hang with Barrett Deems, who was an incredible drummer and played with Louis Armstrong for years. Anyhow, Barrett had a steady gig at the Blackstone Hotel in Chicago. He was a Ludwig Astro’s at the time, and Bill Ludwig Jr (The Chief) wanted Barrett to play a Tivoli set. Barrett HATED the thing. Not the drums, but the lights. He never put the lights on. If I was at the gig with him he’d always ask me to “look out for the old man (Bill Jr) and if you see him coming let me know and I’ll put the lights on”. I used to sub for him from time to time and once I subbed for him at the Blackstone and played the Tivoli kit. I turned the lights on for the fun of it, and the fist thing I thought of was that this looked like I was on a carnival ride. It was weird!

[@vincentmontagna1711]

want this!

[@scotturban54]

I love this one

[@RiccardoPearlman]

The candy stripe is cool, but the way the see through quality gives the stripes a helical effect. Maaaaaaan...

[@acidbath3226]

man this is so beautiful

[@stevemaxwelldrums]

Thanks!

[@hippydippy]

So Cool. I'd love to hear those mic'ed up. WOW!

[@stevemaxwelldrums]

hippydippy We just had the two overheads and the bass drum mic and it sounds great, so if it were mic’d up completely it would be extra cool.

[@flatbushfox]

ON FIRE.....................I Hear ginger, buddy, panama and louie and steve

[@stevemaxwelldrums]

Joseph Fox Thanks !

[@flatbushfox]

Keep Pounding !

[@drumzguyz]

Awesomeness‼️

[@dorian2112]

wish those concert toms were a little more cranked, ala Neil RIP Professor.

[@MultiSkyman1]

Exactly! Would have been amazing with a 6" tom!

[@ChristopherSmithNYC]

GORGEOUS!

[@frankE91210]

golly.. the throne is the icing on the cake..

[@dhjet2000]

I cant believe How big that kit is and that it is complete. $$$$$$$ How much???? Take my money please...

[@joelclark9944]

That's not a big Ludwig kit I have a big big Ludwig solid black Vista like kit over $30,000 how much money you have?

[@gregc5684]

Looks like a fun kit. I imagine it looked great in its day and under the stage lights. What amazing music that set may have been a part of. Any info on the previous owner and history on this set?

[@stevemaxwelldrums]

Customer of mine bought the set from someone in Canada, but that’s all I know about its prior life.

[@Henry-uv9xu]

Snare drum sounds amazing!