Just bought a Ludwig Black Beauty

[kevthedrummer]

I've been looking at buying one for a while, and just want to know that I've made the right decision with this one! I almost bought it without looking at the detail (I'd looked at so many it all blurred into one) so I've gone back and looked at it today after buying it last night, the thing that concerns me is the strainer and snares...

Ludwig Black Beauty Custom 14x6.5. Infamous snare drum! on eBay, also Snare Drums, Drums, Percussion, Musical Instruments (end time 16-Aug-08 23:55:04 BST)

what do you think?

I mean other than that I am sooooo excited! Been drumming since I was kid (I was one of those child drummers ) and I'm 21 now, never been able to afford a decent piece of kit but have always got by, but snares always bug me. I've had a chad smith for about a year and it just doesn't do it for me.

[RoundBadge]

Other than the trick throwoff[which can be a good thing] it looks original
..looks like you got a very nice drum.
A great versatile recording workhorse.
congrats and enjoy

..

[peeder]

Nice drum.

I have the Pork Pie "Big Black" knockoff on the way...for $200 all-in (less than half the Ludwig price)...thought it was worth trying...considering I prefer wood anyway...

[kevthedrummer]

Originally Posted by peeder

Nice drum.

I have the Pork Pie "Big Black" knockoff on the way...for $200 all-in (less than half the Ludwig price)...thought it was worth trying...considering I prefer wood anyway...

the child in me just giggled a little on your mention of wood.

I contacted the seller and he said it was the real deal, it's the original snares. (whatever they may be) I was just wondering if they are supraphonic or not, as it didn't mention it anywhere.

I only heard about the knock off drums after really, but I had my heart set. Wanted to treat myself with the real deal. But the others look good, and seem to be a bargain! I do like wood snares, I play a 6.5x14 pearl masters maple, and that has some real nice tones, but brass ones have that aggression I'm looking for.

Oh and what head would anyone recommend buying for it, I'm guessing the ludwig one supplied with it probably isn't that great?

[peeder]

I understand the real Ludwigs have seamless shells and the Taiwan knockoffs (I guess Pork Pie can no longer say "Made by an American") have seams, some of which may disrupt the bearing edge. So I will check that out of course to make sure I have a good one.

I have some Pearl diecast hoops I'll chuck on there and some Puresounds if I really love it. The snare I'm really into at the moment is the dw X-shell birch 14x6.5 though we are supposed to hate dw drums here for some reason.

If the Pork sucks I will go for a real one...Ludwig makes a variety of different ones, including hammered, brass-on-brass, etc...these drums are very reliable recorders that's no doubt.

(Kept the Pork )

[kevthedrummer]

Originally Posted by peeder

I understand the real Ludwigs have seamless shells and the Taiwan knockoffs (I guess Pork Pie can no longer say "Made by an American") have seams, some of which may disrupt the bearing edge. So I will check that out of course to make sure I have a good one.

I have some Pearl diecast hoops I'll chuck on there and some Puresounds if I really love it. The snare I'm really into at the moment is the dw X-shell birch 14x6.5 though we are supposed to hate dw drums here for some reason.

If the Pork sucks I will go for a real one...Ludwig makes a variety of different ones, including hammered, brass-on-brass, etc...these drums are very reliable recorders that's no doubt.

I have to say, (as a newbie) without any influence from this site, I already hated dw (sorry to say) but cannot doubt the quality of the drum!

I have another quick question about muffling, and Ive seen rubber hoop style things stuck to the head and wondered what they are called and if they are any good? I will be mainly using this BB for recording you see...

[BLUElightCory]

I have a 14x6.5 Black Beauty with a Trick throw-off and it's the go-to snare in my studio, having won more shoot-outs than any snare I've ever encountered. I put 42-strand snare wires on mine but that's just my taste. Enjoy that thing!

[peeder]

Originally Posted by kevthedrummer

I have to say, (as a newbie) without any influence from this site, I already hated dw (sorry to say) but cannot doubt the quality of the drum!

I have another quick question about muffling, and Ive seen rubber hoop style things stuck to the head and wondered what they are called and if they are any good? I will be mainly using this BB for recording you see...

I'd go with moongels, which I have used exclusively when I dampen (which is quite rare actually) for over ten years now.

I was a child drummer too (though not famous for it).

[drumrec.com]

Originally Posted by kevthedrummer

I've been looking at buying one for a while, and just want to know that I've made the right decision with this one! I almost bought it without looking at the detail (I'd looked at so many it all blurred into one) so I've gone back and looked at it today after buying it last night, the thing that concerns me is the strainer and snares...

Ludwig Black Beauty Custom 14x6.5. Infamous snare drum! on eBay, also Snare Drums, Drums, Percussion, Musical Instruments (end time 16-Aug-08 23:55:04 BST)

what do you think?

I mean other than that I am sooooo excited! Been drumming since I was kid (I was one of those child drummers ) and I'm 21 now, never been able to afford a decent piece of kit but have always got by, but snares always bug me. I've had a chad smith for about a year and it just doesn't do it for me.

Hi kev!!

Are curious about how you thought it sounded. Personally, I am sold on Ludwig Snare. Bought my second BB a while ago so it has a 6 1 / 2 and 5 1 / 2.

Ludwig BB is a piece of art

[girlthatdrums]

The snares look like Ludwig. But I personally would chuck the snares and put on a set of Puresound blasters anyway.

Also, the trick strainer is a good thing, trust me. The P85 that would have come on this snare is great, unless you like to tighten your snares pretty tight. Getting the strainer on and off is a chore at that point, the action isn't very good in that setting. The P86, forget it. I broke off a screw on the drop lever during a tour and was crawling around on the floor in the middle of a nowheresville pennsylvania hardware store trying to locate a replacement. It's a known defect.

The Trick with that retrofit plate creates no extra holes in the drum, so if you wanted to put the Ludwig strainer back on the drum, you'd be fine. But after using that strainer, you won't want to take it off.

Pick up one of those "import" BBs and then a Ludwig, and you'll see why the Ludwig costs more. Also, Ludwig is now also offering an import version of the BB called "Black Magic" - it has all black hardware and a different badge.

[BLUElightCory]

Originally Posted by girlthatdrums

The snares look like Ludwig. But I personally would chuck the snares and put on a set of Puresound blasters anyway.

Also, the trick strainer is a good thing, trust me. The P85 that would have come on this snare is great, unless you like to tighten your snares pretty tight. Getting the strainer on and off is a chore at that point, the action isn't very good in that setting. The P86, forget it. I broke off a screw on the drop lever during a tour and was crawling around on the floor in the middle of a nowheresville pennsylvania hardware store trying to locate a replacement. It's a known defect.

The Trick with that retrofit plate creates no extra holes in the drum, so if you wanted to put the Ludwig strainer back on the drum, you'd be fine. But after using that strainer, you won't want to take it off.

Pick up one of those "import" BBs and then a Ludwig, and you'll see why the Ludwig costs more. Also, Ludwig is now also offering an import version of the BB called "Black Magic" - it has all black hardware and a different badge.

Just a note - The "Black Magic" also has die-cast hoops as opposed to triple-flanged hoops, which should make it louder than a traditional Black Beauty and also improved the overall performance and tuning-friendliness of the drum. I'm pretty psyched to check one out.

[drastic]

The Pork Pie knockoff is a good drum. I've used it both live and in the studio with great results. There is definitely a difference between the Pork Pie and a real black beauty to my ears though. Comparing the two, the Pork Pie sounds a little choked to me. But it's also half the price, so you can't really complain. Hopefully a 6.5x14 hand hammered Black Beauty is in my not so distant future. thumbsup to both drums.