Now this was not something that was tried before, Ludwig was the first to come out with a multi colored transparent tinted drum outfit. If you notice it is not mentioned in any of the Rainbow Vistalite brochures or literature. Basically it was a finish of it's own, just like the single colored Vistalite finish was. This finish may or may not have led up to the introduction of the Rainbow Vistalite line, but it did give people and drummers a look at all the colors combined into one outfit.

Most Jelly Bean finished Vistalite outfits are usually with a blue Vistalite bass drum. This is how most view them to be. Being the case, you could have ordered your drum to be what ever color or tint you wanted them to be. In smaller sets, some drums will have the same tint or color as another, and some sets will be missing one of the colors or more depending on how many drums are in your outfit. The largest set, the Octa-Plus, you will have each drum each color twice, and duplicated sometime over three times. Anything from the Jazzette to the mighty Octa-Plus could be ordered in the Jelly Bean Vistalite finish. I've also seen them with a green Vistalite colored bass drum and also with a clear Vistalite colored bass drum. Some with all colors used except green and then some colors used except clear! This is usually common on Big Beat Outfits optioned in the Jelly Bean Vistalite finish. As far as smoke, solid white and solid black Vistalite colors were never used in a Jellybean outfit as far as we know.

You first get a glimps of this glorious finish option on the cover of the Ludwig 75'-1 catalog. On the cover shows a drummer behind a Octa-Plus Outfit in the Jellybean finish. Also inside there is a photo of Quadra-Plus Outfit (sort of like the one photographed above) in the Jellybean finish as well, but with a blue bass drum and a clear Vistalite snare.

All concert tom or melodic toms used the P-2246-D Small Classic Lug's. Floor Tom's and bass drums used the P-2246 Large Classic Lugs. For Vistalite snares (if not replaced by the metal 400 Supraphonic Chrome snare) used the P-2240 Non-notch Imperial lugs.

Big Beat and Pro-Beat sets with double headed used P-2246 Large Classic lugs on toms 13x9 and larger, until 1978 when all double headed toms used the P-2246 Large Classic lug. The mounting hardware on single headed toms were the No.779-1 'Sturdi-lok' mounting post with a nylon disc ball in the center of the mouting post to stop the toms from rocking excessivly. Big Beat and Pro-Beat sets used the famous double tom mounting post No.781-2. Floor Toms used the P-1216-D Floor Tom leg brackets for the 23" long floor tom legs. On the bass drum; they started using the P-1306 1/4" small curved spurs and in 1978, the 1/2" P-1308 heavy duty spurs were introduced. All double headed toms and snare drums used the P-4066-2 tone control which used one to up three mounting screws and chrome backup plate by 1978. On the snare drums, Vistalite snare drums, used the P-85 Supraphonic strainer and P-32 Snare butt. Vistalite snare drums that used the Super sensitive snare strainer used was the P-70 with tunable snare wires. Finally for the kick pedal or bass drum pedal the Model 201 Ludwig Speed King foot pedal was standard with the Speed King Spur-Lok Hi-Hat stand. This pedal is a professional world reknowned foot pedal. A true beloved masterpiece of a foot pedal by all professionals. For the drum heads, Ludwig applied their water-clear Weathermaster heads on toms, bass, and snare. If you wanted the snare to be a Chrome Supra-Phonic instead of the Vistalite you optioned M in the prefix which stated you wanted the #400 Model Chrome Supra-Phonic 5x14 snare drum instead, and it was a popular choice because many didn't care for the sound of the Vistalite snare drum. This was a no extra cost option.

It is believed that the Jellybean Vistalite finishes final production year was 1977. By 1978 it was no longer available as a finish option.

Nowdays, these are highly sought after sets. Authentic Jellybean sets are rare and valuable collector outfits.