Pics of my restored Ludwig Vistalite Combo kit.


Hello all -

Some of you may remember that I bought a Ludwig Vistalite Combo kit a
couple of months ago. These were ther concert tom version of the
"standard" Vistalite. I had intended to have them professionally
drilled for bottom heads, edges redone, lugs fitted, all that stuff.

Well....they're finished. Check them out - before and after pics!

Before : http://tinyurl.com/3d57ux

And in all their double-headed glory, re-headed, hoops repainted,
looking stunning! :) :

http://tinyurl.com/2rfs2g

Now, the on-stage pics :

http://tinyurl.com/2ulubs

and a quick gig report :

First, the lads in the band were MIGHTILY impressed with the look of
the kit, and indeed, under the lights, it looks just incredible.

Now, the general "feel"....

They're a lot bigger than my Saturns. 13 X 9, 14 X 10 and 16 X 16,
with a 22 X 14 BD, Vistalites, as opposed to my usual setup of 10 X 8,
12 X 9, 14 X 11 plus 20 X 18 BD Saturns. It was just wonderful having
those big tubs to hit!!!

Sound....let's start with the bass drum. Brilliant. I was honestly
astonished by the "dig" off it. Pinstripe batter, Ambassador resonant
head. To use our bandleader's expression, it's a lot "clippier" than
the Saturn BD. It's not an especially warm sound, but it has a power
all of its own. I've never played a BD that sounded like it before.
That's not to say it's better or worse than a wood or other material
BD, it's just different. And dear God is it loud. Ther opinion of the
band was that they preferred the attack of the Vistalite bass drum to
the warmer sound of the Saturns. I'm of the opinion that they're very
different drums and each has their place in the overall scheme of
things.

The toms....this is going to sound a bit odd, and I'm in no way
intimating a parallel between myself and Sir John of Bonham
(deceased), but...you know that big Bonham tom sound, intense, not
hugely resonant or ringy, but just...BIG? Well, that's how they sound.
There's no other way to describe it, and I doubt you could replicate
the sound with a wood shelled kit. They're big, loud, not particularly
ringy but full of attack, not harsh sounding but "harder" than wood
shells, big shells giving a big sound....I absolutely loved the sound
of the toms, but I must say they'll not appeal to everyone. The guys
in the band prefer the subtlety of the smaller Saturn toms. Me, I just
loved hitting those big heads, and hit them I did! I must admit, I
haven't enjoyed just hitting drums as much in a long, long time. We
had about 1000 people in the room, and four or five guys came up
towards the stage to check out the Vistalites. I've never had that
happen with the Saturns. Don't get me wrong, I still love my Saturns,
but the Vistalites certainly catch the eye. I had a few chin-rubbers
up at the end of the night, looking round the kit, checking it all
out.

Downsides - I broke the wingnut on the 14 X 10 as I was setting up. I
don't know how, maybe it had been weakened previously, but as I was
tightening it, one of the wings just....broke off! I don't know if it
was an original wingnut or not, but I'll contact the usual suspects
and round up another one.

Otherwise, everything was just great - very comfortable, hugely
enjoyable to play, and......I might hang on to them for a while! But
we'll see. I don't think I'll ever come across such a kit again. A
standard Vistalite has 12 X 8 and 13 X 9, I think, but the Combo kits
were 13 X 9 and 14 X 10. One forgets just how big-sounding a 14 X 10
is as a MID tom! My biggest Saturn tom is just an inch deeper!

I loved playing them on the gig. How they'd fare at a wedding with 60
punters in, I don't know. But for the big gig on the big stage,
they're incredible.

Stephen

.

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