1976 Ludwig Acrolite

killerbee

New member
I always wanted to own a metal drum and read all about the vintage Ludwig Acrolites. Apparently, cheap and good. Workhorse drum. And it shares the same Ludalloy metal that Supraphonics used in the 60s/70s, except that Supra has 10 lugs with chrome finish, while Acro has 8 with gray finish. More open sound and tone, some punters said.

I am no expert on snares but all those sound rather dandy to me, so I went on eBay to try my luck.

First try, lost the auction because I had a stomachache at the last minute. Bitched to snowflier and mel80! Determined and unfazed with Po Chai pills, I tried some more. Then I met this seller who tagged his drum as 6" x 14.5". Tried asking him to clarify but he insisted that it's a 14.5". I "huh?" Acrolites don't come in that configuration. And I haven't heard of anyone custom-making their drums to 14.5". Where to get drum heads that size???

So bidding was quite low in the beginning. Then don't know how and don't know who went and corrected him to 5" x 14" at the last two days of bidding and it became a bidding war! But I was determined to get the drum, so I won it at US $189.62 including the shipping to VPOST USA. VPOST to SG is SGD $60. I think it's a reasonable price as I read that the market rate for vintage Acrolites go from USD $50 to USD $200 depending on condition. Of course, I also read about drummers getting theirs for USD $5 or $4 at flea markets or garage sales! But what do you know? Like Electrico sings, "we are not made in the USA." No point pining for something that's not happening anytime soon. Majulah Singapura.

After a two-week wait (VPOST is horrendous sometimes!), the drum came!

Everything is in fine order. Chrome still shines like nobody's business. It's like the last 30 years never happened!

One is fitted with Remo Ambassador and Renaissance heads and Puresound Blasters wires and the other is fitted with Evans G2 and Hazy 200 heads and Puresound Custom wires.

Viva La Acrolite!

PS: I also dedicate this post to%2
 
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you are really a very very very good article writer..
loves your writes...
keep up the good job!!


and oh yeah.. FINALLYY!!! IT"S HERE!!!!
hahahahahahah

enjoy your new snare!
 
Yes Lennat, very true. There's no way we'll have a garage sale selling drums at few dollars. Drum sticks maybe.

I want to try your new snare! hehe
 
DANGGGG!

ultimate sexayness attained.

it's like 31 yrs old and it's in better condition than i am.
 
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Lennat that was a great buy....very good condition snare for an Acrolite...My Congrate To You.

My Friend Charlene bought one of these, paid more - the sad part was - The Strainer Broke (check with Nigel - he knew about this she brought the snare to him)...cause Charlene brought it to him to change a new snare strainer - then went to Swee Lee (Helmi) again to do it - cannot get the Original one of course....what a waste.....

Be extra careful with the Strainer (I dont know if I call it correctly - the part that has a lever to lift the spring up and down to change sound) - this is the part that broke for Charlene snare ....be careful when handling this one - cannot get spare parts liao. Yours is in perfect condition like new

Just to share my friend bad experience at e-bay with you...

PS: the Olive Green Badge from Ludwig shows it's Authencity of a 30 year old drum - and it's like new lah....

The Acrolite is a very good snare .... cheers ! Clever Girl Lennat. I'm so happy for you.
 
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gooodness it looks so NEW AND SHINY !!! :shock:

31 years old.... same as me..... hehehehehe *rubs hands* let me try leh... don't worry ... i won't go "sparta" on it :mrgreen:
 
Thanks boys!

And...

Naz: You huh! HAHA!

RD: I will take care of the strainer. I oiled it (oooooh...). Quite smooth now. But the level sure does look fragile sial.

Ah Leng and Alfe: Of course can let you all try. I'll bring it along in November in my cheapo Road Ready bag. But first, like Mel suggested, I need to let a car run over the bag to give it some character...
 
i had my fair share of "turbulent ebay times too"....

wake up 6am in the morning to check... refresh till the last 2nd where i lost the auction by 0.30 cents...

bloody hell!!!! seriously not for the faint hearted lah hahahaha...

congrats sis lennat on the win of this snare...!!!
 
Yes. eBay is evil. All those sleepless nights and heavy eyes. It can get really addictive!

Maybe we should start an eBay "AA" group.

"Hi, my name is XXX and I'm an eBay addict."
 
Nice pristine one you got there, kb! Looks like NOS, or stored in someone's attic for all those years.

When I get some shots of mine, we can start the SAA - Singapore Acrolite Army :lol:

Nice call on the coated amb. In my opinion, there ain' a better head for an Acro because it's already quite dry naturally.

Thanks for the writeup and sharing pictures :)
 
Tats why you use auctionstealer or sniper to have a peaceful sleep/nature's call or watever it is during those last few minutes...
 
Yo

hey lennat, u got a sexy post here and u didnt show me! that looks like a complete steal man, and thanks for ur tips so far on ebay, definitely not for the faint hearted, dont noe how many bids i lost before i got my pedal.
 
Thanks Lennat & Bro Weckl - I've just set up my e-bay account, v-post account and now waiting for the Pay-Pal account (need a few days/weeks) till my staement comes in...

So happy - I can soon go scouting around for some good Vintage-Stuffs (Drum Kits & Snares)....

Yamaha 1960s Kits, Gretsch Round Batch Snares, Ludwig 1920s Snares & some Slingerland old Jazz Kit

Thank You All !...Cheers !
 
eh i got ebay account but no paypal no vpost account. however, vpost sent me some 'VP Card' thing via mail recently. help?

whoa eric eric! i'm also looking for gretsch snares man!

lennat, can i pop by one day and check out the acrolite? :twisted:
 
There are some pretty nice and resonable prices for Snare eg Gretsch Round Batch (so far) at e-bay...and I set my eyes on a 1960s Yamaha 4pcs Kit - I hope me wify will buy it for my Birthday......tonite negotiate with her lah......and yes I like a 1920s Ludwig & Ludwig snare - - - but I know she will probably (if I'm lucky) let me pick one only.

PS: - Wah I bery angey - you know what she say when she look at e-bay - she say "Aiyah drums are cheap stuffs lah - just look at the 1920s snare - how much only for the vintage - less than a 1K "...I am bery bang lah - - - - talk so much - I hope she buy for me tonight. Also she say she will not carry drums back for me though she is leaving for Orlando tomorrow
 
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