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1967 Ludwig Hollywood Maple Kit   

Kit Number 6

Ringo Let It Be sessions - Gary Astridge.jpg
Most think that Ringo obtained his maple kit at the start of the Let It Be (Get Back) sessions. The truth is that he took possession of this kit on September 11, 1968, the same day the Beatles started work on Glass Onion. 
 
So, why switch from oyster black pearl kit to a maple?
 
In early ’68, The Beatles traveled to Rishikesh, India, to study transcendental meditation with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and a few friends, which included musician Donovan Leitch. There, Donovan shared a thought with John, Paul and George, telling them that a guitar sounded better without a heavy finish. After returning to London, during sessions for the self-titled White Album, both John Lennon and George Harrison sanded the finishes off their Casino model guitars. George said that once they’d removed the finish, they became much better guitars. “I think that works on a lot of guitars,” he explained. “If you take the paint and varnish off and get the bare wood, it seems to sort of breathe.” Paul followed suit by removing the finish from his Rickenbacker bass guitar. Because of this mindset, a natural maple drum kit was ordered. The thought was that the plastic wrap drum finish restricted the sound of the drums. 

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Modern Drummer Logo.jpg
1967 Ludwig Hollywood model Beatle kit #
Photo:
Scott Robert Ritchie
Sonor Drummer's Seat - Model Z-5801
* Ringo used a few drum stools with improvised backrests during the Get Back / Let It Be sessions. He later used this Sonor model during the recording of Abbey Road. Ringo's original has a cream colored seat and backrest.
1967 Ludwig Hollywood
  • 8"x12" - Tom (Keystone badge # 469170 / Black stamp date: MAR 24 1967)
  • 9"x13" - Tom (Keystone badge # 464609 / Black stamp date: MAR 28 1967)
  • 16"x16" - Floor Tom (Keystone badge # 466825 / Black Stamp Date: )
  • 14"x22" - Bass Drum (Keystone badge # 470730 / Black stamp date: MAR 24 1967)
  • 3-ply Shells w/ white interiors. Snare, 2 toms, floor tom, bass: Maple / Poplar / Mahogany
Hardware
More Details
All toms have Chrome Over Brass (COB) rims
Cotton was found inside of the top lugs of the 16"x16" floor tom
A Drum City label was found inside of the bass drum shell. It is located at the top front next to the reinforcement ring
Sixties Ludwig Hollywood model drum kit.
Ringo Starr's Beatles era 1967 Ludwig Hollywood maple drum kit. Historian Lecturer Gary Astridge
Photo:
Scott Robert Ritchie
Gary Astridge with Dick Schory.jpg
Dick Schory, Ludwig’s liaison between Brian Epstein & Drum City remembers working on the order. One interesting point that cannot be explained are the stamp dates on the kit. It was ordered in the summer of 1968 but the stamp dates are March of 1967.
Beatles Roof Top, January 30, 1969. Gary Astridge historian
Don't Let Me Down - Drums
Beatles roof top concert - January 30, 1969. Ringo Starr's drum stool with back support. Gary Astridge historian.
The Let It Be album / movie project was originally called Get Back. They, meaning The Beatles, wanted everything to be like it was in the beginning, very “NATURAL” and recorded live with minimal editing and post-production work. John apparently was adamant about this.
A nice rear view of Ringo behind his Maple kit. The backrest on his seat is homemade. During the Abbey Road album sessions, Ringo began using a Sonor stool.
Apple recording studio w Ringo behind hi
Ludwig Calfskin Heads.png
Well used Ludwig Weather Master drumheads.
The arrow is pointing at the flesh hoop, which is part of the bass drums batter calfskin head. Ringo still has his original calfskin heads.
Though this kit came with calfskin heads, they weren’t always used. When the Beatles rehearsed at Twickenham Studios for the Get Back sessions, and performed on the roof of Apple, Ludwig Weather King heads were used. Calfskins were later used for the Abbey Road album. 
Ringo's 1967 Ludwig maple kit Abbey Road session. Gary Astridge historian, lecturer, curator
She Came In Through The Bathroom Window
Ringo Starr with 1967 Ludwig Hollywood kit recording B. B. King Live In London. Gary Astridge historian.
Ringo during the Abbey Road recording session.
Ringo played on B.B. Kings "B.B. King - In London."
Ringo Starr Concert for Bangeladesh. Gary Astridge historian, lecturer, curator
Concert for Bangeladesh
1972 - Ringo used his Maple kit at the Concert For Bangladesh.
2005 - Ringo Recording Choose Love
Ringo's 1967 Ludwig MapleToms - Zak Starkey. Gary Astridge historian.
Ringo's Ludwig Maple kit Choose Love sessions. Gary Astridge historian
Here's an interesting photo of Ringo's son, Zak, using the toms from the maple kit, post Beatles.
Ringo's maple kit at the Grammy Museum 6
I Me Mine - Drums
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Here is the top section of Ringo's
Ludwig dual tom mount stand, I found it by shear luck, in a box filled with late model Ludwig hardware.
In the above photo I am pointing to the markings that indicate the position of the post to the base mount stand.
2013 - Ringo: Peace & Love exhibit. Here's the Hollywood kit at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles, CA before the protective safety glass was installed.
Ringo's 1967 Ludwig Maple Hollywood road
Ringo's 1967 Ludwig Maple Hollywood bass
Today, as with the other three Beatles drum kits that Ringo has in his position, all are safe and sound in their own custom drum cases. All kits  are housed in a highly secured temperature and humidity-controlled vault.
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