Most orders are eligible for free shipping! It was the first spring driven pedal and was produced in a rented barn in Chicago. One can find drums with the wrong shell, badges, lugs, and other parts that were factory originals due to shortages, old stock, custom builds for artists, etc., so these identifying factors are not written in stone, but it is a fairly reliable guide. The company started with a concept for the design and manufacture of a functional bass drum pedal. It’s no wonder that Ludwig grew so rapidly.”, “Knowing How counts for a whole lot in this world,”, “But there is more than one kind of Knowing How.”, “There is an army of college professors who can tell you all about the theory of sound as it relates to music,”, “But it’s dollars to doughnuts that probably not one of them would know how to scientifically construct any of the instruments they describe. That I bought a month ago. This collection of beautifully constructed drums can't be found in this magnitude anywhere else. “[The salesman] said he’d do it, but asked why, and Ringo said he wanted everyone to know he had Ludwig.”, Later that same year, after Beatlemania had exploded, William Ludwig, Jr., met with one of his UK distributors at a convention, and was asked to add the Ludwig name to all the bass drums on the next big order. Many drum enthusiasts argue that this is truly when the modern drum set was born. Tom 24″ bass shell kit. From then on, we got orders from all over with requests for the name on the front of the bass drum head.”. Ludwig drum kits are built upon an amazing history of over 100 years of drum making. As he also acknowledged in later interviews, “I loved anything American”—which comes as little surprise from a guy who’d grown up idolizing the first wave of stateside rock n’ roll. But no one had as quiet and strong a strainer, because no one else had Danly. If you’re wondering, this is not the same style of kick pedal that Ringo took on that maiden voyage to the states. Many Ludwig drums, including main line (Keystone and Blue/Olive Badges) and Standards, have dates stamped inside their shells or on paper labels. Ludwig has historically been known for its innovations in drum pedals. Ludwig Drums and the Ludwig Drum Company History all on our web site. Among the products they made during that period was the Universal Speedmaster Bass Drum Pedal from our museum collection. “Ringo bought the Ludwig set under the condition that the name Ludwig be painted on the front of the bass drum head,” he said. Thank you.” —Owen Smith, Australia, 2020, “My father was the Chief Engineer there during the 70’s and early 80’s. Any idea of the current value? Ludwig Accent Drive Blue 5-Piece Drum Set (Includes Hardware, Throne, Pedal, Cymbals, Sticks and Drum Key) 4.4 out of 5 stars 33. Available in 5-pc, 6-pc and 10-pc double bass configurations, the Epic series is designed for power sound and high-volume situations. $269.00 $ 269. Conn instrument company. In 1916 the Ludwig brothers followed up with a spring mechanism which is the basis for the current Balanced Action Pedal Timpani. He pointed out to me that because Ludwig used non-indelible ink for the stamping of the dates, some dates were inadvertantly smudged or removed – in part or whole after the drums left the factory by drum owners while cleaning their drums. It was because of Bonham that I first heard of the Ludwig brand when I was 13 and play Ludwig today at 56.” — Jack Kramer, 2020, “ Wonderful factual story, I had often wondered how the “WFL” name was derived. See more ideas about ludwig drums, drums, drummer. He was earning the princely sum of $12/week (about $300 in today’s currency), which was a pretty good gig for a 15-year-old first generation immigrant. And making history with Ludwig snare drums is something we love at Drum Center of Portsmouth. [5] William Jr. had been a professional drummer, playing with circuses and touring vaudeville shows, along with the occasional skating-rink gig. Date stamps are simultaneously the best and worst means to properly date a Ludwig drum from the '60s (use of the date stamp was discontinued ca. Ludwig Drum Company is top drum manufacturer that specializes in high quality drum shells and snares. Just saying. But no one had as quiet and strong a strainer, because no one else had Danly. It is an impressive collection of mostly Ludwig drums but also Gretsch, Slingerland, Ajax, Yamaha, Maya and others. He designed and built his own pedal. From the age of 13, William Ludwig Sr. had built his life around the drums, first playing with his father, a trombonist, in a traveling circus, then later going on to gigs with low-class minstrel shows and high-class opera companies. He designed the one product that set Ludwig & Ludwig apart from the competition: the strainer [tensioning mechanism on snare drum]. Ludwig was soon the largest drum manufacturer in the world, but despite the success, it was never smooth sailing. On top of the Atlas lines of hardware, Ludwig also manufactures many popular hardware pieces and bass drum pedals including the legendary Speed King single pedal. Finishes included mahogany, lacquer (two colour Duco) or pearl. There was a Ludwig factory in LaGrange, IL, up through 2013, but all operations are now based in North Carolina and Elkhart, Indiana. Ludwig-Musser is a top drum brand that is a part of the Conn-Selmer division of Steinway Musical Instruments, Inc.  Ludwig Drums has a rich history and is a very popular brand for vintage drum collectors. This includes, concert toms, various lines of timpani, concert bass drums, marching snare drums. It’s no wonder that Ludwig grew so rapidly.”. Beginning in 1976, the Classic series was made with new molds and a new construction; small (6" and 8") toms were 4-ply and larger drums were 6-ply maple & poplar, with no reinforcement rings. Ludwig LC178X025 Questlove Pocket Kit 4-piece Drum Set-Red Wine Sparkle Finish, inch. Telescoping spurs were apparent on bass drums from 1960 - 1962. Ludwig innovation exists as forerunners to modern drum manufacturing. The Damen factory remained in operation until the mid 1980s, after which the Ludwig family sold out to the modern version of the same company they’d sold to in the 1920s, Conn-Selmer. It is in above average condition. 1970 with the introduction of the “Blue & Olive” badge). It was very expensive, but we did it, and when the day came to present it we went to the Ampitheater as we had been granted five tickets to a press conference. The Element Series drum kit is available in Charcoal Fade, Deep Blue, Deep Red and Deep Brown finishes. This time, it was fear of competition from the electronic drum makers in Asia. Ludwig’s father was also in the same band. Instead, Ringo had hatched the concept himself. We finally found the heavily guarded door, displayed our tickets, and we ushered up the stairs to a small riser and tables for the press conference. . When Bill Ludwig patented the new pedal he laid the foundation for the modern drum business.”, “Robert Danly’s contribution to the firm’s success was critical. The Ludwig Drum Company was established in 1909 by William F. & Theobald Ludwig, sons of a German immigrant to the United States. A drum was stamped when the shell was finished, providing the most accurate depiction of the age of wood due to the fact final assembly came later. Ludwig’s high end drums feature a variety of diverse sounds and styles. During the Great Depression Ludwig merged with C.G. Whichever story is accurate, the result was the same. Before that night, the family-operated Ludwig Drum Company had already been in business—in one form or another—for more than 50 years. U.S.A, Your email address will not be published. I have a 1970s ( I think) Ludwig blank beauty snare drum. Element kits can be picked up new for between $600 and $750. Enjoy the lowest prices and best selection of Ludwig Complete Drum Sets at Guitar Center. They equipped everything from high school marching bands to renowned orchestras and Dixieland jazz outfits, meeting with enough success that even music shops as far away as London were stocking their kits. And in 2010, it resurfaced for the world to see in a display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City (we like to consider The Met a sister-institution of the Made-in-Chicago Museum, even though they most definitely ain’t). Thank you so much for any / all the info you can compile. He said he wouldn’t give us the order without the name, and that he would pay for the decals himself. William F. Ludwig Sr. was a drummer who began his professional career in 1894 drumming at Electric Park in Chicago. We were ushered out of the press conference and went home; it was a terrible let-down. I never pursued it because he was already so famous, I doubt he cared about what the manufacturers of his drums cared about. That’s how I remember, My Story, as relates to WFL . But he still insisted on using Ludwig drums with the name on the front of the head, and he always did.”. Ludwig was founded in 1909 by William and Theobaldner Ludwig when they developed a bass drum pedal cable with better rebound and speed which allowed for faster beats. The 3 hardware lines include the Atlas Pro for the touring professional, the Atlas Classic for the metropolitan professional and the Atlas Standard for the gigging professional. The difficulty in date stamps is, more often than not, that the stam… It's a great time to upgrade your home music studio gear with the largest selection at eBay.com. But, combining his native ability with the resourcefulness discovered during the ‘lean years’ on the road, he soon solved the problem. Required fields are marked *. ♦ With us a drum is not a drum unless it is perfectly constructed, plays easily, and is snappy. When Bill Ludwig patented the new pedal he laid the foundation for the modern drum business.”. I couldn’t believe it! 4.0 out of 5 stars History of the Ludwig Drum Company Reviewed in the United States on May 26, 2013 This was the first book ever written about any of the American drum companies; the scholarship is accurate and the story quite interesting. Fast & Free shipping on many items! The Ludwig Atlas Hardware series includes three different lines of varying durability along with accessories to accompany each line. [Workers at the Ludwig & Ludwig factory on Lincoln Street / Wolcott Ave., c. 1917-18]. Priced around $500 brand new. Serial number 2201069. A year before the Beatles invaded America, Ringo Starr bought himself his first black-pearl Ludwig drum kit, switching from his usual Premier brand. When we were all lined-up I said to Ringo, ‘We made up this special gold-plated drum for you in the honor of this occasion.’ He said, ‘Oh, that’s nice.’ He held the drum and they took pictures, and I introduced him to my daughter who was sixteen at the time and absolutely astounded by the event. I have toured in support of Ronnie Montrose & Sammy Hagar, Mountain and roadied / drum teched for Carl Palmer and Carmine Appice ( my teacher way before Bobby Rondinelli hooked up with him and I am friends with Bobby ) Any insight into this kit will be very helpful as this is a 21st birthday gift for my son who is very into Ludwig and its history. The 5pc and 6pc shell kit variations can be purchased for between $800 and $1000 dollars with the 10 pc kit for approximately double that. One shaggy Liverpudlian’s freelance marketing decision had forged a permanent association between a Chicago drum company and the biggest band in the world. He designed the one product that set Ludwig & Ludwig apart from the competition: the strainer [tensioning mechanism on snare drum]. In Ringo’s version of events, the salesman at the music store—while packing up the new kit—began removing the “Ludwig” decal from the head of the bass drum. In 1955 the WFL Drum Company was purchased by Conn and renamed the Ludwig Drum Company. According to William Ludwig, Jr., who was president of the company at the time, things played out a bit differently. From its humble beginnings in Chicago, Illinois to its present place at the center of the drumming world, A Century of The Most Famous Name in Drums chronicles the ongoing history of the Ludwig Drum Company. In the 1930s and 1940s Leedy Drums and Ludwig & Ludwig Drums were produced side-by-side by CG Conn, the famous US band instrument manufacturer. © 2020 by Andrew Clayman. “The Origins of Ludwig Drums” – Chicago Reader, History of the Ludwig Drum Co., by Paul William Schmidt, National Music Museum, University of South Dakota, The Great American Drums and the Companies that Made Them, 1920-1969, by Harry Cangany, “I’m wondering if the Ludwig family members had any direct contact with John Bonham. Ludwig bullet-pointed these facts for emphasis: ♦ We are professionals—we are practical drummers and have had long experience. I rather imagine it got lost in the shuffle.”, [William Ludwig II (right) and company marketing director R.L. Accent drums are made of 6-ply select hardwood with metallic PVC outers and are available in 4 finishes. These shells were not only stronger but less expensive to make. He designed and built his own pedal. Scroll down to Explore. Fast & Free shipping on many items! Great deals on Ludwig Vintage Drum Sets & Kits. I have very fond memories of visiting him at the factory!” —D. Despite all the work involved in keeping up with that rapid growth, elder brother Bill Ludwig wasn’t willing to completely abandon his old life as a drummer for this new career as a drum maker. Since 1909 Ludwig have been making drum kits and snare drums. The Ludwig Drum Company: 1958-1959 Ludwig Keystone Transition badge. But I’m not really certain if it really hit home with him who I was and what it was all about, because the policeman took the drum away after the photo, and the last I saw of it he had the drum under his arm walking through a door following the Beatles. In his account, Ludwig drums didn’t actually come with any branding or decals at the time. “But there is more than one kind of Knowing How.”, [Photo Below: William Ludwig Sr., in his later years, showing off the original drum pedal he’d designed in 1909], “There is an army of college professors who can tell you all about the theory of sound as it relates to music,” Ludwig continued. I got this very old drum kit. I am restoring it and it one of yours. Markos front Australia. Like other top drum brands, Ludwig makes several high end and custom drum sets as well as drum kits for the beginner and semi-professional drummer. Bass drum spurs Bass drum spurs were also another drum shell hardware component that saw a dramatic change on Ludwig kits throughout the 60’s. “No, no, no, you’ve got to leave that on!” he protested. It was the first spring driven pedal and was produced in a rented barn in Chicago. August 27, 2018DrumBrands.comDrum Brands, Ludwig Drums, Reviews0. When his brother Theo died suddenly during the great flu epidemic of 1918, however, Bill was forced back to the shop, leaving behind his sticks for good. Somewhere along the line, they also hatched the idea of turning this one-off concept into a full-scale business—Chicago’s first music shop focused on the unique needs of the percussionist. Read more: Ludwig NeuSonic Series drum kit Around 1950, Conn was finally compelled to rationalise and for a few years produced a single line, Leedy & Ludwig drums. Disappointed but not defeated, William Ludwig regrouped and eventually worked his way back into the drumverse in 1937, starting a new company with his son William Jr., called the Wm. Vistalite and acrylic offered a synthetic alternative to wood shells and were popularized by rock drummer John Bonham of … I was told we have no need for drummers here.” —Michael Romero, 2018, “I used to work there, it was a great company to work for.” —Carmella Beasley, 2018. Article Continued: How to Date Ludwig Drums – Ludwig Serial Number Chart #2 plus more history ♦ Therefore, no drum, regardless of its price, leaves the house until it has had my personal inspection and proves itself to be a worthy sample of our art. Tradition, Craftsmanship and Visionary Excellence. “I told him we couldn’t do that,” Ludwig recalled, “as we weren’t geared up for such a demand. The Ludwig name was and still is retained under the Conn-Selmer banner. The bass drum pedal that created the snowball was especially prescient. Bill Ludwig, Jr’s daughter’s name was Brook(e?) Nonetheless, the personal experience that William Ludwig brought to the table as an accomplished drummer in his own right would always remain an important selling point for his company. Vistalite drums were a line of acrylic drums produced by the Ludwig Drum company, introduced in 1972. These badges have been found on drums from the 1960's. Today Ludwig manufactures drum shells, snare drums, hardware, pedals, concert and marching percussion as well as other drum accessories. It does, however, start with a bass drum pedal. In 1981 Ludwig was purchased by the Selmer Company. From there, the story becomes a little bit apocryphal. It wasn’t necessarily because he thought Ludwig would be functionally superior, he later admitted, but for slightly more aesthetic reasons.