I second this. I got my 1970 in almost mint for about $70 on ebay. I did change out the strainer because the original accepted cord only. I want to try a mid 60's one of these days as I have heard the original hoops are a bit thinner. I also heard the hoops on the late 70's-now are a bit thicker so I would like to try on of those as well. My only problem is the constant detuning due to my untalented aggressive attack of the rim. I have been too lazy to make some of those lug lock things out of vinyl sheet. Musicgoround usually has a bunch of these for various prices as well. Buy one.Jon

Can you guys keep this amongst us? Little secret... I don't want to drive the price of these up too much...A week and a half ago, I bought my second-ever Ludwig Acrolite. That's the student model aluminum drum they started making some time in the mid-'60s. (I don't remember why I ever got rid of the first one.) You've seen a zillion of them, probably. They look like this:Most of them are 5 x 14 and they're as common as fleas on a barn dog.The one I just got cost me $100. You can get them cheaper or for just slightly more if you're not looking for one of the '60s collectible ones.The thin aluminum makes for a really fat sound. I realize that it's counterintuitive, but heavier materials make for a pingier drum. Check out this brass drum:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ed8Brhh5a4UNow compare that to this Supraphonic, which is the famous Ludalloy Aluminum drum with chrome plating, which is what John Bonham played:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-RWfwsXcPMNow, here's the secret: the acrolite is the same drum, just not chrome plated.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Uax3Pb8DdQif you want the same thing in a 6.5 snare, Ludwig makes a thing called a Galaxy snare, which is a 6.5 x 14 snare with a black glitter coating.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOkShVYEBVUHere's one on eBay for less than $300 shipped.These are good drums, and they're cheap. You don't need to buy a Craviotto (Retail Price: $1,495.00) to get a great sounding snare.My gift to you, my dearest PRF.

OH... and they're fucking ALUMINUM.So, guitar players don't get to have all the fun.

vogelscheuche wrote:damn.. i think the drummer i played with for years played that very drum, and traded it off for a 'chad smith' sig model...people undervalue them because they're so ubiquitous, and quite frankly, aren't that kickass looking.The Chad Smith snare is kind of cool looking...in a glass-coffeetable-with-two-lines-of-blow-on-it kind of way.I think that the fact that everyone who came up though Jr. High band had to play one in 8th grade and that they're flat and gray does kind of undercut their sexy-factor. You can put tube lugs on them, and they look a little more retro and it also opens the drum up some. I couldn't find a picture of one online that someone had done that to, but you start to get this sort of look:Which is sort of cool.I may do that to my acrolite, just to see what I get, tonewise.

polyfoam wrote:I'm thinking of getting a 6.5 Black Galaxy acrolite. Any thoughts on this versus the 5?I've played a couple of 5's and really liked them, and kinda thought the 6.5 would be EVEN GOODER. I love the thick midrange/bassy sound of the 5's, I'm assuming the 6.5 would have that and maybe a bit more resonance...?Thoughts? Experience? The 5's can be had for cheap on ebay, but the 6.5... intrigues me.I say GET IT. I have a Supra that came with my Vistalites, and they're essentially the same drum. Very flexible, very powerful. I love mine.

dude, delete this thread, seriously, I beg you.

I have a 5.5" supra and I might get an acrolite as well, just to have one.

This is my snare, is it similar at all to the one you're talking about? I guess brass is a lot heavier than aluminum and the chrome plating may change things as well.

I stole one of those from my high school band and still have it. I don't really play drums but want to and it is nice to know if I ever do... my snare will rock.