Snare Drums
All of the Snare Drums that I own are built virtually the same. The vintage Vistalite snare drums are made with ten Ludwig classic bow tie lugs, a Ludwig classic tone control, snare butt, throw and wires. The rims are Ludwig standard triple flange crimped and chromed. The shells were cut at a 45 degree angle on the inside edges top and bottom. The snare side edge was cut down flat for a few inches on each of opposite sides of the shell where the snare wire are installed. This “snare bed” is crucial in the sound of the drum. Without a good snare bed, the snare wires will not be good and tight against the drum head. The result is a loose snare sound, which is fine if that is what you want. With the Vistalite snare drums you could get a really tight snare sound. However, with just a couple of turns of the tension adjustment on the throw, you can get the loose snare sound as desired. The bearing edges of the vintage drums were left rough cut. Personally, I like the look of polished bearing edges. They are just as important to me as the rest of the drum shell and with crystal clear drum heads you can really show them off. So, I polish all the edges of the drums I own.
So, being in love as I am with the vintage Ludwig Vistalite snares, it is only natural that I would build drums the same way Ludwig did. So I do.
Vistalite Blue Mini Me Bass Drum Snare
This Mini Me Bass Drum Snare was inspired by the look of the Ludwig Vistalite bass drums – especially the Mach Lug model. The Ludwig Club Date drums were made using the large bow tie lugs on the bass drums. Oh, and also inspired by Mini Me from the Austin Powers movies.
14″ x 7.5″ – new RCI Starlite shell in classic Vistalite Blue with ten new Ludwig classic lugs, new Ludwig tone control, Ludwig throw, butt, and wires, new claws and tension rods, new wood hoops painted semi-gloss black with silver sparkle inlays, new silver dot batter head (can supply with clear or coated white) and clear snare side head.
$699.00
This concept can be repeated in different color shell and / or hoop inlay – given a few weeks lead time.
Florescent Pink
14″ x 6.5″ – new RCI Starlite shell in Florescent Pink with ten new Ludwig classic-style bow tie lugs, Ludwig tone control, throw, butt, and wires, new rims, new silver dot batter head (can supply with clear or coated white) and clear snare side head. This color is the same as the Ludwig Pink Vistalite drum set.
$599.00
Ludwig Vistalite Black and Red Pattern E Snare
14″ x 5.5″ – vintage Ludwig Vistalite shell with ten Ludwig classic bow tie lugs, tone control, throw, butt, and wires in very-good to mint condition. New aluminum alloy cast batter side rim and standard crimped snare side rim. New silver dot batter head (can supply with clear or coated white) and clear snare side head. The shell has no cracks, scratches, seam separation, or other issues. This is a very rare vintage drum that I’ve restored to excellent condition.
$699.00
Coke-Bottle Green Snare
14″ x 6.5″ – new seamless shell with ten new Ludwig classic-style bow tie lugs, Ludwig tone control, throw, butt, and wires, new rims, new clear batter head (can supply with clear silver dot or coated white) and clear snare side head. The second snare pictured is basically the same snare but this one has four round holes evenly spaced around the shell. These holes look really cool as the edges are well polished, showing the shell in a unique way. They promote sound projection. It has a new clear silver dot head but can be supplied with a clear head or white coated head.
$499.00 each
Neon Green
14″ x 6.5″ new .5″ thick seamless shell with ten new Ludwig classic-style bow tie lugs, new Ludwig butt, throw, and snares, and new standard rims. Comes with new batter head clear, clear silver dot, or white coated. New clear snare side head.
$499.00
Purple Snares
Purple Tribute Snare 14″ x 6.5″ – new RCI Starlite shell with ten new Ludwig classic-style bow tie lugs, Ludwig tone control, throw, butt, and wires, new standard rims, new clear batter head (can supply with clear silver dot or coated white) and clear snare side head. The Ludwig badge is from a parted tom and is just for decoration. The second snare pictured (Dark Purple S Hoop) is basically the same snare but is made from a shell different source. They are really close in color, but when side-by-side, one can see the difference. It can be supplied alternatively with a clear silver dot or white coated head. This snare has an S Hoop batter rim and it does not have a Ludwig badge.
$499.00 each
Florescent Blue, Royal Blue, Navy Blue , and Vistalite Blue Snares
Florescent Blue Patriot Snare 14″ x 6.5″ – new seamless shell with ten new tube lugs, Ludwig tone control, throw, butt, wires, standard rims, new clear silver dot batter head (can supply with clear or coated white) and clear snare side head. The Red, Crystal, and Blue acrylic stars are stick-ons that can easily be removed without leaving any mark. The Ludwig badge is from a parted tom and is just for decoration.
$399.00
Royal Blue Snare 14″ x 6.5″ – new RCI Starlite shell with ten new Ludwig classic-style bow tie lugs, Ludwig tone control, throw, butt, wires, standard rims, new clear silver dot batter head (can supply with clear or coated white) and clear snare side head. This drum’s shell is very similar to the Vistalite Blue color, but is a bit darker. It is close enough to play with a Vistalite Blue set. It would fit in really well with a Vistalite Jelly Bean set.
$499.00
Navy Blue Snare 14″ x 8″ – new seamless shell with ten new Ludwig large bow tie lugs, Ludwig tone control, throw, butt, wires, standard rims, new clear silver dot batter head (can supply with clear or coated white) and clear snare side head.
$599.00
Vistalite Blue Snare 14″ x 6.5″ – new RCI Starlite shell with ten new Ludwig classic bow tie lugs, Ludwig tone control, throw, butt, wires, aluminum alloy die cast batter rim, standard snare-side rim, new clear silver dot batter head (can supply with clear or coated white) and clear snare side head. This drum’s shell is very similar to the Vistalite Blue color, but is a bit darker.
$549.00
Trucker Snare
Trucker Snare 14″ x 6.5″ – black acrylic shell with ten new Ludwig classic-style bow tie lugs, Ludwig tone control, throw, butt, and wires, new standard rims, new clear batter head (can supply with clear silver dot or coated white) and clear snare side head. The Ludwig badge is from a parted tom and is just for decoration. The shell came from a DW drum. The LED is a 12VDC and it has a removable power supply cord and AC plug. The light is suspended from the tone control inside the drum and does not effect the sound in any way. The top row of pictures are of my Neon Green set that is glowing solely from the LED light inside the Trucker Snare.
$599.00
Yellow, and Bumble Bee, and White Snares
Yellow Snare 14″ x 6.5″ – new seamless acrylic shell with ten new Ludwig classic-style bow tie lugs, Ludwig tone control, throw, butt, and wires, new standard rims, new clear batter head (can supply with clear silver dot or coated white) and clear snare side head. The shell IS NOT Vistalite Yellow. It is close but has a little bit of an amber tint. The first two pictures are of the snare on top of a vintage yellow Vistalite tom. It would blend in pretty well with a Vistalite Yellow set. Most people would not even notice the difference until it was pointed out. If it were to be used as the yellow part of a Vistalite Jelly Bean set, everyone would assume it was a vintage yellow snare.
$399.00
Bumble Bee Snare 14″ x 7″ – new seamless acrylic shell with ten new Ludwig large classic bow tie lugs, Ludwig tone control, butt, and wires. New Ludwig-style throw, new standard rims, new clear batter head (can supply with clear silver dot or coated white) and clear snare side head. The shell IS NOT Vistalite Yellow. It is close but has a little bit of an amber tint. It is the same shell material as the Yellow snare presented above.
$499.00
White Snare 14″ x 10″ – new seamless acrylic shell with eight new Ludwig classic-style bow tie lugs, Ludwig tone control, throw, butt, and wires, new standard rims, new clear batter head (can supply with clear silver dot or coated white) and clear snare side head. The Ludwig badge is from a parted snare and is just for decoration.
$399.00
Blue Cracked Glass Wrapped and Clear Rainbow Sparkle Wrapped
Blue Cracked Glass Wrapped Snare 14″ x 5.5″ – ten new Ludwig classic-style bow tie lugs, Ludwig tone control, throw, butt, and wires, new standard rims, new clear batter head (can supply with clear silver dot or coated white) and clear snare side head. The Ludwig badge is from snare that I used the shell from and is just for decoration. The blue acrylic shell is wrapped in a film much like automotive window tint but in Blue Cracked Glass finish. The back side of the film can be seen through the acrylic shell and the effect is similar to the look from the outside.
$499.00
Clear Rainbow Sparkle Wrapped Snare 14″ x 8″ – ten new Ludwig classic-style bow tie lugs, Ludwig tone control, throw, butt, and wires, new aluminum alloy die cast rims, new clear batter head (can supply with clear silver dot or coated white) and clear snare side head. The Ludwig badge is from snare that I used the shell from and is just for decoration. The clear acrylic shell is wrapped in a film much like automotive window tint but in Rainbow Sparkle finish. The back side of the film can be seen through the acrylic shell and the effect is similar to the look from the outside.
$499.00