1960s Ludwig “Hobby/Club Date” outfit

Sized: 20x12”, 12x8” and 14x14”

All Keystone badged.

Serial numbers: 12” - 646152, 14” 645608, 20” is ‘Pre-Serial’.

The 20” would’ve originally come with a ‘Hobby’ or ‘Spotlight’ outfit along with a 13x3” Jazz Combo or a 14x5” Pioneer snare, respectively. Judging by the pre-serial bass drum, this dates it around 1960-63 ish. I suspect at some point, a previous owner wanted to add some toms to this kit. The serial numbers on the 12” and 14” date them to 1969. All the shells match the same 3-ply mahogany spec. (Mahogany inner, poplar inner, maple outer, with maple rerinforcing hoops).

This isn’t a catalogued outfit as default, but I have named it a ‘Hobby/Club Date’ outfit. The ‘Hobby’ refers to its unique 20x12” single tension bass drum, and the ‘Club Date’ refers to it’s 20, 12, 14 sizing and the ‘Club Date’ toms with their double ended lugs.

The rail mount tom holder is original 60s but I suspect this was only added when the toms were added to the set up. There is even the possibility that the bass drum sat in the warehouse for years unused and the toms were added in the factory. We will never know. What we do know is it’s a lovely kit with lovely shells in great sizes.

The toms are both fitted with internal dampeners.

The chrome work has cleaned up very well. The lacquer has flaked in places over the years but previous owners have filled these in with permanent marker.

Not all the tom hoops match but of course still work as they should. The bass drum hoops came to me without wrap inlay. I have sourced gold sparkle inlay and inserted these in after respraying them. The two hoops aren’t a matched pair, (one is slightly lighter than the other), but once on the drum you would have no idea to notice.

The bass drum is single tension design, meaning you adjust the tension from the batter side and that pulls both sides together. The clip on spurs are the small dainty WFL/Ludwig style which are fine until when you add the 12” on the mount. Due to the bass drum being light in weight (due to lack of lugs and hardware), the bass drum slightly lifts on one side unless there is some weighty towels/blankets inside the bass drum. For stability, I would probably recommend adding DW clamp on spurs.

Included in the kit is an original wrench to use on the rail mount and mounting of the 12” tom.

Heads are used but not abused. A mix of Remo batters and Evans resos.

A delightful kit, in delightful sizes and in great condition.