UPDATED: February 01, 2015

These pictures are of my recent eBay find and purchase. I have long coveted this particular Ludwig Vistalite drum setup since I was a teenager and learned to play the drums. I first saw it on display at Reik's Music in San Jose in the mid to late 70's, and I made a pest of myself at the store almost daily checking out the drums and wishing one day I could make these drums mine. I was heartbroken the day I showed up to 'visit' the drum set and found out it had been sold. Back in the early 70's, Ludwig marketed drum sets made from acrylic plastic in solid and clear colored shells, as well as various geometric patterns made up of different colored acrylic. Most all of them were very cool, but this particular pattern was my favorite. I never had my own drums until I was out of the house and in college, and I settled on a cheap knock off brand just to use for practice. Fast forward to 1999 and I joined a new website called eBay to check out all the hype behind this newfangled thing called "online auctions". I saw that there were occasionally auctions for Ludwig Vistalite drums, so I added the category to my search list and regularly checked to see what was being offered. I purchased my current set of Yamaha drums 8 or 9 years ago off eBay, as well as all of my pinball machines (8) and quite a number of other items. I have sold quite a few things on eBay as well, and I always checked to see if anyone happened to be selling a "Pattern C Clear and Blue Spiral Ludwig Vistalite Big Beat Drum Set". I only had one hit, a few years ago, but the drums were beat up, and all of the toms were concert style toms; no bottom heads on the drums. They were way overpriced, and the auction died without any bids, and I never saw them re-listed. There is an outfit called RCI Vistalite that makes new acrylic drums true to the old Vistas, but I wasn't willing to spend almost eight grand to buy a set. So my search continued.
Finally, I found this set being auctioned, and the price was reasonable. I had always told my wife that if I ever found these drums exactly as I wanted them, I would buy them, regardless of the cost. That comment was always met with an amused roll of the eyes, and a quick change of subject. I clicked the 'Watch This Item' and waited, since the auction had two days left and no bids. On the day the auction was to end, I saw that one person had placed a bid, and there were 12 hours to go. So began my wait to snipe...
I pulled up the auction page with about ten minutes left. No one else had bid, so I figured my maximum price I was willing to pay, and readied myself to pounce. If my bid was not over what the current bidder had placed as a maximum, then I would lose. Sad, but I figured my max amount was more than I really should have spent on the drums. With about ten seconds left, I made my move. Entered my max bid, and clicked the [Bid] button. Refresh the screen as the auction clicked down, and I was elated to see I got the drums for $25 over what the original bidder had offered; it was way less than my maximum bid, and less than the seller had paid for them when he bought them years before! YES!!
Now these drums are not THE drums from Reik's Music; just the same configuration. They look to be in great shape, and the seller stated there were no cracks in the shells, which were a big problem for the Vistalites, especially the patterned shells. Overzealous tightening of the lugs or tension rods would crack the acrylic, and once a shell was cracked, there was usually no stopping the growth; kind of like the nick in your windshield that grows and grows as you drive your car. The ONLY downside to this whole auction: the matching blue/clear spiral snare drum wasn't included with the kit. Ludwig had an option to add a matching snare, but many people opted for the Ludwig SuperSensitive chrome snare drum because it sounded better than the acrylic version. So, my quest for the matching snare will continue...

August 7, 2011 - Update...

My quest for the matching snare drum is complete! I had written an email to Frank V. of FV Vistalites inquiring if he might have a matching snare in his vast collection of Vistalite drums. He answered yes, but many emails and phone calls were never returned by him. Oh well. I kept my eyes on eBay to see if perhaps a snare drum might pop up for auction. Last month, a complete 5 piece set came up in the listings, but the 'Buy It Now' price was $3500...way too expensive. The price was lowered after each auction period expired without any bids. I noticed when the drums were relisted at $2500, the seller added a 'Make An Offer' option. For grins and giggles, I offered $1999 and he accepted it! So now I had my matching snare, I'd pick the best drums out of all of them to assemble a complete kit, and sell the rest. I am going to keep the Supraphonic 400 snare drum because it sounds so good.
So the drums arrive, and as I am unpacking them, I see that the toms are smaller than my original set. 12 inch, 13 inch...I already had 14 inch and 15 inch toms. The floor tom was 16 inches. like my first. Bass drum in great shape, but the hoops need retouching...someone had tried using a Sharpie to color in the bare spots...lame. OK. Now I can put together a monster kit, and have a spare bass drum and floor tom. I got ahold of a Ludwig Hercules double tom stand, hi-hat stand, and snare stand to round out the vintage kit. Hercules cymbal stands are next on the list. I still have the option of making a 6-piece kit and a 4 piece kit with the stainless snare...we'll see....

Here are the photos of the new, complete kit:

February 01, 2015 - Update...

I now have another matching snare to complete the second full Big Beat kit. I happened to be on Facebook one day and saw a post on a drum related group (might have been the actual Ludwig page...can't recall). Anyway, there was a post from Chicago Drum Exchange offering for sale a 5x14 Pattern C Vistalite snare. They had acquired it from a long time collector who happened to be thinning his inventory. It was also in pristine condition, with original heads and snares. I immediately sent an email to the address provided, as well as calling them first thing the next day. $549 and two days later I had it in my possession. So now I have two complete sets, in collector condition. When it rains, it pours. Only took me 15 years to complete my dream.

March 01, 2017 - Update

I have added to my collection of vintage Vistalites. First new purchase was a 15x12 Tequila Sunrise marching snare with a Super Sensitive snare mechanism and Mach I lugs. It also included the snare harness mount and leg rest still attached.

Most recently, I added a pristine Pattern D Big Beat configuration in Red/Blue with a matching snare. Take a look at the pictures; it is in great shape!

Thanks for checking out this page!