Ludwig Snare - Can you help me with the model?

[hillborg]

I am a relatively new drummer and I play a Gretsch Catalina Club jazz kit. I don't love my snare and I am trying to get a good deal on a used Ludwig snare. I have played a black beauty and a supraphonic and I LOVED both of them.

I am looking at a local listing for a Ludwig snare and with all of my google searches, I have figured that it is from '79 or so based on the badge. I am not sure of the model. I don't know if it is brass or steel. It has a rocker head, but the badge is not a rocker badge based on what I have found online. Here are a couple of pics. Is there an easy way to tell what model it is? How can I tell if it is brass? I have liked several brass snares, so I am kind of looking for brass, but if steel sounded ok, I would go with it.

http://imm.io/7GAh

http://imm.io/7GAu

Thanks for your help!

Hillary

[Gamelan]

That's an aluminum shell student model very common through the 70's in school band rooms. It's no where near the quality of a black beauty or supra and was ludwig's cheapest snare at the time. Not a bad drum, but nothing special.

[Jax]

That's known as a Ludwig Acrolite, which is the same shell as the Ludwig Supraphonic and Black Beauty, with the exception of being aluminum and not steel, brass, bronze or "Ludalloy".

A magnet won't stick to a brass or aluminum shell, so that's a good test.

A great many drummers including myself think the Acrolite is one of the classic snare drums of all time for the sound it produces. I love mine! Quality wise, I'd put it right there with the Supra and Black Beauty. I believe it's the same drum made from a cheaper material, which doesn't mean it sounds any less good, only different.

Congrats on your find! You have a classic!

[adamcal]

my arcolite gets chosen just as often as the other classics, supraphonic and blackbeauty.

good clear snare.

[biggator6]

Originally Posted by Jax

That's known as a Ludwig Acrolite, which is the same shell as the Ludwig Supraphonic and Black Beauty, with the exception of being aluminum and not steel, brass, bronze or "Ludalloy".

A magnet won't stick to a brass or aluminum shell, so that's a good test.

A great many drummers including myself think the Acrolite is one of the classic snare drums of all time for the sound it produces. I love mine! Quality wise, I'd put it right there with the Supra and Black Beauty. I believe it's the same drum made from a cheaper material, which doesn't mean it sounds any less good, only different.

Congrats on your find! You have a classic!

The Black Beauty is a spun brass shell, not rolled and welded... it's totally different than the Supra/Acro/Supersensitive.

But yes.. the Acrolite is great and just about everyone I know has at least one. They all get used a LOT.

It should be fairly inexpensive.. no more than probably $125 (and more likely less).

[Jax]

Originally Posted by biggator6

The Black Beauty is a spun brass shell, not rolled and welded... it's totally different than the Supra/Acro/Supersensitive.

Ah, I didn't know that, but I was alluding to the shells of each being beaded in classic Ludwig fashion and sharing the same appearance (except for finish). Are the bearing edges and snare beds the same, as well?

[Dr. Mordo]

A few years back I went into a drum store to buy a 6.5x14 Supraphonic. The store also had a 6.5x14 Acrolite that sounded amazing. So, I tuned both drums identically and spent about 30 minutes playing both drums. I couldn't hear the difference. So, I bought the Acrolite in Black Galaxy finish, and it's still my primary drum. It still sounds amazing.

I have since read that both the Acrolite and Supraphonic are made of aluminum (Ludalloy is just aluminum), but the Acro is imported while the Supra is U.S. made.

I later bought a 5x14 Acro in Black Galaxy to match my 6.5, and it also sounds amazing. Got it for $50 at a pawn shop.

But yes, the Black Beauty is a different material and manufactured differently. I'd imagine the bearing edges are the same, as drum companies tend to keep that standard since it affects the sound so much.

[biggator6]

Ludwig just 'gets' metal snares.

[pan60]

Originally Posted by Jax

T
A great many drummers including myself think the Acrolite is one of the classic snare drums of all time for the sound it produces. I love mine! Quality wise, I'd put it right there with the Supra and Black Beauty. I believe it's the same drum made from a cheaper material, which doesn't mean it sounds any less good, only different.

Congrats on your find! You have a classic!

i love mine!

Originally Posted by adamcal

my arcolite gets chosen just as often as the other classics, supraphonic and blackbeauty.

good clear snare.

same here!

Originally Posted by Dr. Mordo

I have since read that both the Acrolite and Supraphonic are made of aluminum (Ludalloy is just aluminum), but the Acro is imported while the Supra is U.S. made.

i wonder when that started, or has it always been?
i have a couple Acrolites here and they see as much work as any of my snare drums.