My Latest rescue pad.
Clearly not a museum piece, the repaired split down the middle of the base needed some further shoring up and the rubber had to be re-glued. But it’s not bad now. I made a mute for it from scraps. (Also, while not visible in the photos, I eventually removed the white rubber "feet" and the tiny nails holding them in place. The rubber had hardened and shrunk, causing some of the feet to actually rattle against the wood when the pad was struck. I replaced these feet with some thick neoprene rubber squares, in case I ever want to remove the pad from its mounting bracket. The rattle went away with the old feet.)
My partner certainly likes how quiet it is. It feels great. I LOVE these old Ludwig pads, especially the earlier models made of oak. (Later versions used a lighter weight wood — pine? Fir? Unknown — that had a different feel and resonance. Try to find one made from oak if you can.)
Bonus: the tilt is pretty mellow when compared to other pads of the era, making it a nice pad for the younger player who is still getting accustomed to traditional grip.
These pads often show up at rummage sales and various online outlets (FB marketplace, eBay, etc) for as little as $15-20 plus postage. I got this one for $30 with the stand included. The black rubber they used tends to last a very long time and is still bouncy and responsive fifty years on. Anyone just getting into vintage practice pads will enjoy finding and using one of these without spending a fortune.
