Making a Ludwig Vistalite Jelly Bean Kit

[@rdavidr]

What colors would you put on a jelly bean kit? *THERE WERE ALREADY BEARING EDGES ON THE RESO SIDE*

[@aversilf]

Hi

[@drummerboytay5668]

Green

[@orangesock969]

Pink and red and white

[@orangesock969]

Pink red white

[@SpookySaraMP3]

Purple

[@zacharyshectman804]

Just bought a 6 piece 1976 Vistalite! One of the best kits I've ever heard!

[@zykent]

That kit sounds so rad!

[@gregboring2196]

I was a long-time hater of non-wood drums. But after watching this video and the fibrestar video, i have a newfound respect. Both kits sound really good!

[@lawnmowerdave]

Glad to see this kit again! Love the sound and look!

[@gillesrichard2228]

Great videos! I have a 1977 Blue Vistalite and still love it after all these years. I enjoy watching your videos and it inspires me to try different things with my drums.

[@timrober75]

Not sure those toms could sound more immense! It's like they're in a different room form the rest of the kit. Holy Ludwig Goodness!

[@cameronsheetsshow]

The toms sound sick!

[@L0CV5T]

Ive realized that the quality and somehow homeyness of your content is fantastic. I feel somehow at home watching your videos. You can tell that you really enjoy doing this just by how nice these videos and drums are. Thank you for being here.

[@donovanhowardmusic]

I so wish there was a channel that did this for guitars. Like budget friendly stuff not crazy vintage gear but rebuild budget guitars and gear. Thanks David great video as always!

[@Twominutedevotions]

Ludwig Drums are in the top 5 of most pleasing sounds a human can hear. If I ever build a full studio, the drum kit will be something like this.

[@cgreenfield6655]

Nice groove you played. Thanks for sharing. Love the vistalites

[@johnsoos6907]

I was at a Who concert watching them set up Zak Starkey's jellybean/Vistalite kit, before the show. Looked great!

[@Geo-wc7jc]

My favorite kit build of yours yet!

[@dizzolve]

did you have to put a bearing edge on the bottom of the concert tom or do they come with one ........drums sound excellent

[@rdavidr]

There were edges on the reso side already. I had planned on cutting them but they were there! haha

[@NEALBABBITT]

@@rdavidr I've long been wondering if concert toms came that way.

[@NEALBABBITT]

@Michael Persico I assumed they were cut, are they molded in?

[@AndrewKonkey]

@@NEALBABBITT yes they do. We had a clear Ludwig Octa-Plus Vistalite go through our local Sam Ash for $1500 that sounds amazing. We paired it with new CS Dot heads from Remo and a full set of PaIsTe's.

[@billnicholas1381]

I have a 9 piece smoke Vistalite color power toms single heads. Bass 16x24 toms start 6 8 10 12 13 14 16. Sound is awesome and very powerful. Thought of adding resonate heads but love the way they sound without when miked properly. You did a great job. By the way all Ludwig vistalites came with bearing edges topp and bottom.

[@DrummerGrrrl]

Dude, this music is sooooo relaxing and cool.

[@keithwoodcrest]

I've had 4 Salida crashes in my life, all of them 19", and I loved each one of them. Some of the best cymbals I've ever played

[@bonzoleum]

The RdavidR logo is rad!

[@gabrielszarose5640]

Good impro.on the modification they sound nice tooooo you also have room for a possible splash with a 1/2 cymbal boom stand, mounted off the bass drum for an option.

[@loumonte658]

Sweet sound and playing🍻

[@Michaelsabatello]

I love your channel sooooo much! It is very inspiring! Keep up the great work! ~A young drummer!

[@huntergraybill4937]

it would look cool with LED lights in the bass and the high tom

[@KilaKrumpira]

no.

[@SaneTheBro]

Kila Krumpira yes actually

[@davecheney8501]

Dude... I'm not even a drummer and I love your content... keep up the great work 🤘🤘

[@galleryofrogues]

You ever thought about taking it up as a hobby? It’s SO fun, seriously.

[@e-tube3155]

This fills and licks are SICK!!! Can you make a video and/or series of how to play this and that? Songs even?

[@Geo-wc7jc]

E-Tube 315 just look up John bonham fills

[@e-tube3155]

@@Geo-wc7jc Haha

[@porchestra]

These drums pack such a huge and boomy punch... Nice Job !

[@rodneylee4026]

That's great. It's amazing what can be done with spare parts from Craigslist and eBay. If I had the space I'd be going around collecting this stuff too. Build set's and sell them.

[@chrisrowe6835]

Absolutely LOVE that Saluda. I've been debating picking some up but this is perfect! Great jelly bean kit and playing!

[@Briancox1981]

Sounds 100% legit! The Toms sound so deep but still has a great round resonance and clarity.

[@AntiBOtix]

My dads ex drummer left a 5piece black smoke Ludwig vistalite (just like the floor tom) behind about 9 years ago. This kit was probably from the late 70s and I fixed it up and cleaned them all up last year, greatest drums I’ve ever played in my life. Vistalites really have this quality to them that make them so much louder than your average maple drums

[@MrBrombomb]

I have a set of 1970s Ludwig Vistalite.drums which includes: a 10”, 12”, 13”, 14”, 15”, & 16” concert toms as well as a 22” X “16 bass drum. I purchased the kit for $75 from a junk shop. It is in rather rough shape being that most of the drum shells are split at the seems & the rims are all rusty. Additionally, the drums are all in need of a good cleaning. After all said repairs are made, I plan on possibly using rims mounts on the rack toms, converting the 15 inch and 16 inch toms to floor toms, & maybe converting the toms into regular double-headed toms. Since money and time have been an issue recently, the project has been temporarily shelved and the drums are in storage right now. For drumheads, I plan to use Remo CS Clear Black dot heads. By the way, you’re right about Acrylic drum sets having a unique sound. My first drum kit was an old Fibes Crystalite with Ludwig mounting hardware on it. It was a 12” X 8” rack Tom, a 14” X 14” floor Tom, & a 18” X 16” bass drum. Remo Clear Pinstripe Heads on the top & Remo Clear Ambassadors on the bottom worked best on the toms. The only reason I got rid of that kit was because The bass drum was too small and I felt limited by it because I couldn’t expand the kit if I wanted to.

[@ronaldzeoli7528]

I did the same thing with a Gretsch kit. It had a 16 floor tom with double Hoops with the 12 in the 10 were concert toms. So I converted the 12. To a two-headed Tom and it sounds wonderful next year. I'll probably do the 10 they both had bearing edges on the bottom side already

[@wilfredomendez3450]

Beautiful Dave, just beautiful. Thanks for sharing.

[@johngreen1683]

Sounds good and love the snap of the snare.

[@TheCzlowiekZagadka]

If you want them to be as colorful as possible, you can put remo colortone heads on them and/or some LEDs, and if you want this kit to be a rainbow-like, paiste makes their 900 series also in colorsound version, moreover, they are made from 2002 bronze. Which is sadly only b8.

[@MaelstromMephistoPEM]

The ColorSound 900s sound great though.

[@doughawkins7983]

Paiste has mastered the B8 alloy. In their lineup of cymbals, is shares top tier with the B20’s. Other brands bill them as budget/student cymbals, because they aren’t in the same league as Paiste.

[@Trays7940]

Vistalites RUUUUUUULLLLEEEEE! I have an amber set and owned an original set of blue vistalites back in the early 80's- wish I had not sold them. Great video. I love watching the restoration of drums.

[@luvmedrums4057]

Man You never cease to amaze me.Great Job,love the jellybean look! Thanks again

[@backstagehomestudio]

Wow. I love the sound of the drums. Very good.

[@gazjones8152]

Cool vid. As for colours one up two down, red rack, green floor, yellow floor & orange bass.

[@jonasmacheel]

Hey dude, I just wanted to say that I LOVE your vids man. Keep it up you always make my day👍🤘 Greetings from Germany🇩🇪

[@mrmisfit635]

Great build. Your drumming is no joke! ✌🏼

[@MegaVince09]

You have a few cool kits... But this one is the coolest!

[@vcr210]

I have 2 vintage Ludwig Vistalite kits. One in blue (4 piece) and one Jellybean (Yellow, Red, Blue). No concerts toms in either kit. All original and make a great racket.

[@zackhales8684]

I love the way these drums make you play!! Rock on bro!

[@TJCombo67]

That snare sounds great!

[@billnicholas1381]

I have a 70s pointy edge badge smokey vistilite 9 piece 6,8,10,12,13,14,16,and 16x24, 61/2 supraphonic. All power tom concert sizes. They all have bearing edges. Good luck with them.

[@positiveforpovid1012]

You should set up all of your drums into one GIANT drum set and play it

[@DarrenLloydPDX]

Have a 7-piece that's been in the family forever that I'm slowly updating. Not going to convert the 4 concert toms but definitely going to ditch the terrible side mount. Probably with some Atlas mounts.

[@Henry-uv9xu]

Your production quality has more than doubled in the past year.

[@Sorryslutsimtaken]

So has his force strength.. It has doubled in the past year

[@Sorryslutsimtaken]

strike me down and ill become more powerful than you can possibly imagine

[@joel.website]

WOW those toms sound huge. Love 'em.

[@vistalite-ph4zw]

Great video and I'm glad you enjoy these drums. I own a 6pc clear with matching snare and they are fabulous drums. I can't believe you found orphan vistalite shells so cheap!!!😀

[@b.p.879]

Awesome!!! I just wanna say you are inspiring me to refurbish drums and all of your vids are great!

[@iamwritingabookseries144]

Love that sound. She be poppin'

[@GIGMUSIC-o6z]

COOL Video. Great job and playing my man. The drums sound great.

[@huntergraybill4937]

you should put blue and purple LED lights in the toms and the bass drum it would look cool in the dark

[@crissreznor]

4:39 Oh snap

[@soerenkepler]

That 12" rack sounds awesome! Nice warm and round sound. If you get a chance try the Audix D6 on your floor toms. It´s essentially a bass drum mic that just sounds killer on floor toms.

[@javonaziz5323]

Sounds amazing! Those toms are perfect :o

[@KoosCronje]

hey David! how many drum kits do you have? can you please make a video where you show and play all of them??

[@bielanski2493]

Tastiest demo you've done in a while!!

[@theycallmethemememachine7973]

How I like to start my Saturdays.

[@chuck.oaks1]

Hey Dave! Great videos! Been watching for a few years now, and I was wondering if you’ve ever put out a video about or plan to show your drum tuning process? I’ve seen a lot of different methods, and all usually on more high end kits. I have a DDrum Journeyman kit, and I can’t seem to keep them tuned right. Could you show your process of tuning a cheaper type of drum? Thanks!

[@benjamin-us7mw]

I love the music on the background

[@VETTE_Drummer151]

That beat was so dope. Love your videos bud

[@edgartrejos7226]

You're seriously inspiring me to get my 4th drumkit! 😹 I've always wanted a Vistalite kit!

[@krubosh]

Can someone help me? What’s the name (if it has one) of the fill he plays a 5:39? Chad Smith is my favourite drummer and he plays that all the time and I’ve been trying to learn it but Chad plays it super fast it’s hard to hear

[@dustinreinink5439]

Those hats look like new beats; i have a set of 15s and they look and sound super similar

[@sagiriizumi8079]

Vistalite is DEFINITELY thee best looking drum kit. Not sure if they sound the best, but looks matter when you're in back

[@DomSimpsonDrums]

Pretty sure I have the same old 15" zildjians... Also with no model names but with the hollow logo!

[@dylantothereed]

I could literally watch @rdavidr play drums all day

[@areyoulying4937]

I had a Pro Beat kit in black vistalite while in High. Sold them along with the Rogers a few years ago. (Insert heartbroken sigh here)

[@jettaylor1286]

I have a set of white, 1977 ones that I will pass on to my son.

[@jeffbridges6110]

Toms sound fantastic. The floor tom head has a little ripple in it , but sounds great. As always , your vids are awesome.

[@BruhToasty]

Wow this ended up sounding sounding so amazing

[@stephenlowrie4490]

I’d love to hear Dave play double bass

[@tate_berkey]

Hey Dave! I think the hi hats you’ve got are 15” New Beats. I have a pair of my own that look exactly the same and have the new beat “A” logo written on them. Sounds great man!

[@jayechristian9697]

Glad you had a few good oldies playing from your soundcloud man!

[@stephenhylander9395]

Your Hi hats look like they might be 15” A’s. They sound Great. Nice triplet fill towards the end, between the Phil Collins inspired licks. How would you compare working with the Vistas, compared to maple or wood shells? They are much warmer than people think. For my vistas, I have been mounting my 14” with the Pearl claw Tom mount/with a Pearl top hoop. Works very well, opens up the Tom sound by 20%, and is very easily placed/positioned around the kit.

[@edchaos2679]

I bought a new vistalite kit in the 70s. 1600 bones. They ring forever and the biggest problem with them is the weight of the Tom's on the bass tend to miss shape the bass. I sold it back to the same dealer in 93 for 3600 dollars.

[@davemieze9021]

You are a true craftsman.

[@kevind2409]

those toms sound amazing holy shit

[@ralphbenites1819]

The tom’s sounds asome.relly open tones deep

[@GrahamMurphy525]

Dude!!! 911 EMERGENCY!!! I need a floating snare stand and I don't want to spend $120. There's got to be a solution. My thought is multi clamps, but I can't work it out

[@jaybeebapr1456]

Depends on the snare and how you want to mount it, but you can get a multi clamp with adjustable angles, like the Gibtaltar SC-PUGC, and mount basically any snare basket on it to get a floating snare stand.

[@chrissoloxx2553]

You should got a tama rockstar drumkit

[@euroyen420]

Never heard of a jelly bean set, I call them Frankenstein sets..

[@garydineen7064]

True jellybean sets were a factory option. They're pretty rare to find with similar serial numbers (that's how you know they're original and not pieced together).

[@fuchsia5899]

I wanna see the kids drum kit again

[@conorreedR2C]

Hahaha I recognized that hi hat lathing as soon as I saw them. You've got late-70s/early-80s (78-81) new beats. I've got a 14" pair of em. Vistalites are definitely their own sound. My friend, who I got the "old beats" from, had a set for a while and I got to play on em. Definitely not for the jazz and latin I play nowadays; but they're great for the rock I played growing up.

[@adderon]

Yep. Late 70's to early 80's hollow logo Zildjians. I use 14" new beats, a 18" thin crash and 20" rock ride at band practice

[@anthonylakich1727]

i had a 75 clear vista light i found at a pawnshop make in 2001 wish i would have been able get hold of rdavidr bet i would have save money getting some of the parts by asking questions on this youtube.

[@ryanwilson5782]

When will you showcase that other Ludwig kit?

[@Motherloadrocks]

great sound,nice job.keep them very cool.

[@nicky4917]

Those toms sounds fucking awesome! As always great to see, very well done!

[@escobanhc1307]

Nice another thing i need to put on my endless list of gear to buy

[@stevenstrunk7100]

What suggestions do you have for repairing cracked seams in the acrylic shells? Do you think 2-part is a good choice ? Thanks for being an inspiration!

[@madsnygaard1075]

Is the track from 3:21 - 4:26 available anywhere? And is there a drumless version? As always great content👍

[@DavidLopes4]

5:38 that fill tho 😳you gotta do a tutorial on it

[@rdavidr]

RLKick, nice and simple haha

[@709Kent]

Me being me, I just want to put out I think you got the 12' tom so cheap because it's from the era when ludwig was still using acrylics with a seam (on top of being a concert tom without hardware). Seamless acrylic drums are a lot more durable but the ones with seams were prone to breaking.

[@jabronasaurus]

Pretty sure, based on the sound and the deep lathing, those hats are the 15” Rock Hats.

[@therealspooks]

A blue vistalite was my second kit! 1978 maybe...yes I'm old lol

[@MrHipBop]

Great vid! I've been thinking about buying acrylic drums a bit lately. But, I have a few kits already so this kinda scratched that itch haha And thanks for sharing about the bottom bearing edges on the concert toms. Was curious about that. Oh, last thing, love the music loops you (created?) use. 🥁

[@ninjasandwich3824]

I want to know that too. And the creater of the video liked your comment, so that means he's seen it, but did'nt tell you what they were???

[@evanrosedrumming]

Those hi-hats are vintage zildjian avedis’s those are the hi-hats I use

[@abarragan2973]

I have a 70’s Pearl Crystal Beat jelly bean kit. Love to show it to you.