Date it. Price it. Restore it. Tune it. When in doubt—let the Austrian Drumhead Company make it sing.
Why the Supraphonic still rules
From Ringo Starr to John Bonham, Ludwig’s seamless beaded-aluminum LM400/402 has defined back-beat tone for six decades thanks to its explosive attack, bright “bell” ring and chameleon-like tuning range.
Spot-on dating in seconds
| Era | Badge style | Typical serial # | Tell-tale details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | Keystone | up to 7 900 | No serial, brass hoops, white felt muffler |
| 1964-66 | Keystone | 90 000 – 449 ××× | First red felt muffler (’65), still 5 × 14 only |
| 1967-68 | Keystone | 450 ××× – 665 372 | “Pointy” Ludwig logo, first 6½ “ LM402 shells |
| 1969 | Blue/Olive | 670 ××× – 741 215 | B/O badge appears, mixed strainer screws |
| 1970 | Blue/Olive | mostly un-numbered | One-year serial gap, P-85A throw-off |
| 1971-73 | Blue/Olive | 835 ××× – 916 ××× | Rounded lug castings, clear interior coat |
| 1976-78 | Blue/Olive | 917 ××× – 1.29 m | LM402 outsells LM400 2 : 1 |
| 1979 | Rounded B/O | 1.30 m – 1.54 m | New rounded badge, last Chicago shells |
Sources: Ludwig Serial Guide
What to pay in 2025
A scrape of 200 completed Reverb listings (June 2024 – June 2025) – It always depends on the condition, which is why there is a fairly broad price range that includes everything from a player instrument to a collector’s piece.
| Model & badge | Current range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| LM400 Keystone (’63 – ’69) | €450 – €850 | Mint ’68 sold €620, June 1 2025 |
| LM400 Pointed B/O (’69 – ’79) | €400 – €700 | Late-’70s rounded badges hovering €700+ |
| LM402 6½″ B/O (’69 – ’79) | €700 – €1 100 | ’70–’75 “Bonham” drums regularly > €1 200 |
| Super-Ludwig COB (’60 – ’63) | €1 400 – €2 000 | Chrome-over-brass example accepted at €1 620, Apr 2025 |
First aid for chrome pitting
- Strip it – remove all hardware first.
- Degrease – naphtha (lighter fluid) lifts decades of tape goo without harming chrome.
- Foil – crumpled household aluminum dipped in diet cola; rub small circles. Aluminum oxide fills micro-pits and the phosphoric acid loosens rust.
- Burnish – rinse, dry, then lightly polish.
- Seal – paste or micro-crystalline wax retards new corrosion.
These are just a few tips. For professional maintenance and cleaning of your Supraphonic, please contact us.
Calfskin vs. modern Mylar
Modern Supras leave the factory with Ludwig Weather Master coated Mylar, emphasising the drum’s brilliant top end. Swapping to calfskin headsradically reshapes both feel and tone:
| Head type | Attack | Sustain | Overtone control | Feel | Watch-outs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coated Mylar (10 mil) | Fast, glassy | Long | Needs gels/rings | Firm | Pronounced high-mid ring |
| Thick Mylar (12 mil) | Rounder | Medium | Slightly drier | Medium | Slower response |
| Synthetic calf | Warm | Medium-short | Built-in damping | Softer | Minor pitch drop after first play |
| Real calfskin | Velvety | Short | Naturally controlled | Butter-soft | ENJOY 😉 |
Tuning troubleshoot
| Symptom | Quick fix |
|---|---|
| Metallic “gong” | Detune two opposite rods ⅛-turn; slip a ½-moon felt under batter edge |
| Excess snare buzz on toms | Raise reso head a half-step; back off wire tension until decay matches drum |
| Dead center, lively edge | Even out head seating—lug-to-lug tension variance < ±3 Hz |
| Throw-off slips mid-song | Upgrade to P-88AC |
Upgrades that keep collectors happy
- P-88AC throw-off / P-35P butt plate – direct drop-in for P-85 holes, smoother lever, wave-lock knob; originals store safely.
- Brass or die-cast hoops – focus the attack, but bag the factory hoops for resale.
- 20-strand wires – typical for the LM402 B/O (Bonham Sound) wider end-plates keep outside strands alive.
All mods are reversible and period-correct parts are widely available.
Need a pro-level restoration?
If your shell still looks like a lunar surface, if lugs rattle, or if you crave genuine hand-fleshed calfskin heads cut to your shell’s exact collar diameter—hand it over to us.
✦ Austrian Drum Head Company – Vintage Restoration Service
- Loving restoration and preservation of the original condition
- Custom calfskin heads matched to your shell—no more slack collars
- Full hardware strip-down, micro-polish, protective waxing etc.
📩 Get a no-obligation quote: -> HERE <-
or hit the contact form. Let’s give your Supraphonic another 60 years of stage life—and record-ready tone.
