Anyone tried the new Ludwig Classic Maple drums?

[C/G]

I am buying a new kit and am curious about these drums. I have not read much feedback or opinions on these drums and the Ludwig site tells you absolutely nothing. They don't even say if they are USA made or not. I am looking at the Fab 4 reissue kit as well. Thanks for any opinions.

[84K]

For new drums, I like DW and Spaun kits. Regardless, the Prok Pie Big Black snare is a must have. Inexpensive, and a very good Black Beauty clone.

[C/G]

I already have a custom Ayotte kit that I spent a large sum of $$$$ on. I need a live kit and want maple but don't feel like dropping a large amount of cash. The Ludwigs are a decent price up here, and the other offerings from my local music store are nothing I am interested in. I am looking for a few opinions on them before I commit.

[bleen]

I have a new Ludwig maple kit and it's phenomenal. They make their own shells in North Carolina at the factory and their QC has come WAY up in the past 5-10 years from where they were. Highly recommended.

[Meriphew]

That is a NICE kit Bleen!

[bleen]

Originally Posted by Meriphew

That is a NICE kit Bleen!

Thanks! It sounds even better than it looks, too.

[DigiDutch]

I have recorded the Fab 4 kit (Classic Maple) you are talking about a few times.

Awesome.

Cannot see how any one would regret getting this kit.

[Zarathustra]

Forget the classic, get the SUPER CLASSIC with a natural (no laminate) finish, and 'Rims' mounted... I don't ever break a sweat getting sounds on that kit.

Ludwig = Good Big

Z

[bleen]

Originally Posted by Zarathustra

Forget the classic, get the SUPER CLASSIC with a natural (no laminate) finish, and 'Rims' mounted... I don't ever break a sweat getting sounds on that kit.

The Super Classics came out in the late 80's and were 4-ply maple/poplar. They kinda sucked (I know, I owned a kit...).

The current maples are available in either wrapped or lacquer finishes, same shells for both. RIMS mounts are an option.

[Zarathustra]

Originally Posted by bleen

The Super Classics came out in the late 80's and were 4-ply maple/poplar. They kinda sucked (I know, I owned a kit...).

The current maples are available in either wrapped or lacquer finishes, same shells for both. RIMS mounts are an option.

I've recorded dozens of kits that 'kinda sucked', but I can't see those words applying to a well kept Ludwig setup. Gretsch yes, Yamaha no thanks, Pearl blah...

Z

[junior]

why not find a late-60s set of ludwig/gretsch/slingerland's and have the edges redone? best of both worlds, imo

[84K]

Originally Posted by Colin Gaucher

I already have a custom Ayotte kit that I spent a large sum of $$$$ on. I need a live kit and want maple but don't feel like dropping a large amount of cash. The Ludwigs are a decent price up here, and the other offerings from my local music store are nothing I am interested in. I am looking for a few opinions on them before I commit.

I love Ayotte drums. I would love to see a pic of that kit!! They make the best snares.

Congrats on that Ludwig... I like the green!

Good luck to Colin, if you get one

[C/G]

I do love my Ayotte snare. 14" x 8" 18 ply cannon. The thick shell makes it super responsive. It is not a one trick pony like I suspected. I am not getting the fab 4 kit because I NEED a 24" kick. I have ordered a 24" kick, 16" floor tom and a 12" rack tom in Black Diamond wrap. Those drums are priced very well. I almost had a heart attack pricing out a new Ayotte kit, not the customs like I have but a regular maple kit with steel hoops. $3700 CDN for 3 drums. I almost fell out of my chair. I got a sweet deal on my custom kit and Ayotte prices have shot through the roof over the last 2 years. Premier was about $3300 for 3 drums. The Ludwigs are about $2000 CDN for the 3. Done deal. Thanks for the comments guys. I will post a pic of the Ayotte kit as suggested but I have to borrow a digi camera. Bleen, that is a really nice kit.

[C/G]

Bleen and others, any suggestions on which hardware options I should go for? I know with Ludwig they offer a zillion options like floor tom leg sizes, floortom leg brackets, bass drum spurs ect. Thanks.

[jbuntz]

Originally Posted by 84K

For new drums, I like DW and Spaun kits. Regardless, the Prok Pie Big Black snare is a must have. Inexpensive, and a very good Black Beauty clone.

I just heard one yesterday. It made me want one.

[kats]

I have the Ludwig classic maples, and love them. However, I wanted another kit as well for the studio and went on the cheap and bought a set of Mapex Drums.

I'm a name brand geek and it totally went against my nature to buy these things, but I gotto tell ya - I'm lovin them - your getting twice the drums for the price and they record fantastic.

[bleen]

Originally Posted by Colin Gaucher

Bleen and others, any suggestions on which hardware options I should go for? I know with Ludwig they offer a zillion options like floor tom leg sizes, floortom leg brackets, bass drum spurs ect. Thanks.

I only have Ludwig brackets on my floor toms and their Elite spurs on the kicks; everything else is Tama hardware and Gauger RIMS mounts.

[C/G]

Thanks. The Ludwig rim mount system looks kind of bulky. I realize it is only a cosmetic thing but I would like to find a system that looks a little better. Thanks.

[C/G]

Thanks for the help guys. I am ordering the kit tomorrow. Now if I could only decide what colour of wrap to go with. Can't go wrong with black oyster, but part of me wants the mod orange or blue sparkle. Decisions........

[bleen]

Originally Posted by Colin Gaucher

Thanks for the help guys. I am ordering the kit tomorrow. Now if I could only decide what colour of wrap to go with. Can't go wrong with black oyster, but part of me wants the mod orange or blue sparkle. Decisions........

Blue Sparkle was my second choice - it's lovely! The Mod Orange is great on a small kit, but I'd hate that much orange on a kit the size of mine.

[C/G]

It's only a 3-piece but I know what you mean. Will I like the orange 10 years from now, probably not. Thanks Bleen, scratch one choice off the list.

[coprock]

After recently seeing a red onyx rogers kit similar to mine sell for $3000 on ebay, I decided that it was foolish to be taking my vintage drums to rock clubs to be abused.

I really wanted a 80's era gretsch drop g badge or square badge but after 3 months of searching gave up. Basically, a kit similar to my studio gretsch kit, which I won't take to clubs for the same reason stated above.

I thought about the new gretsch classics (taiwan) which looked pretty nice however are slightly different (thicker shells) than the american classics. I was checking them out at Pro Drum in Hollywood and thought that $2,000+ was a bit much to spend on a 3-piece taiwanese kit. I know the quality is good, but "made in america" in reference to drums still means something to me.

Stan at Pro Drum suggested that I try the new Ludwigs. He set me up with 3-piece champagne sparkle kit 9x13, 16x16 and 22x14 and a DW rail mount consolette tom mount for less than $1,500. This is more than half as much as a similarly equipped gretsch custom kit. Although he did not have any Ludwigs in stock at the moment, he assured me they would sound great.

This is the first brand new kit that I have ever purchased.

I don't know if Ludwig heads are crap or not, but the drums sounded brutally thin out of the box with stock heads. I have since replaced the heads with coated emperors and could not be happier. These sound very similar to my early 80s gretsch kit and have not quite as much, but plenty of low end with a ton of attack. I highly recommend these drums. I backlined an entire show the other night and everyone, including gretsch players, loved the drums. The drums were very warm and focused.

The champagne sparkle finish is drop dead gorgeous and the fit and finish is first rate (not always the case with gretsch and vintage gretsch over the years). When I changed the heads, I took a good look at the bearing edges which are modern by design and not as rounded as vintage. The shells are 9-ply and maybe 1mm thicker than the classic gretsch shells. At 9-ply they are probably alot sturdier than the gretsch shells.

Again, highly recommended at any price range, but at $1,500 I don't think any thing could touch them.

[coprock]

After recently seeing a red onyx rogers kit similar to mine sell for $3000 on ebay, I decided that it was foolish to be taking my vintage drums to rock clubs to be abused.

I really wanted a 80's era gretsch drop g badge or square badge but after 3 months of searching gave up. Basically, a kit similar to my studio gretsch kit, which I won't take to clubs for the same reason stated above.

I thought about the new gretsch classics (taiwan) which looked pretty nice however are slightly different (thicker shells) than the american classics. I was checking them out at Pro Drum in Hollywood and thought that $2,000+ was a bit much to spend on a 3-piece taiwanese kit. I know the quality is good, but "made in america" in reference to drums still means something to me.

Stan at Pro Drum suggested that I try the new Ludwigs. He set me up with 3-piece champagne sparkle kit 9x13, 16x16 and 22x14 and a DW rail mount consolette tom mount for less than $1,500. This is more than half as much as a similarly equipped gretsch custom kit. Although he did not have any Ludwigs in stock at the moment, he assured me they would sound great.

This is the first brand new kit that I have ever purchased.

I don't know if Ludwig heads are crap or not, but the drums sounded brutally thin out of the box with stock heads. I have since replaced the heads with coated emperors and could not be happier. These sound very similar to my early 80s gretsch kit and have not quite as much, but plenty of low end with a ton of attack. I highly recommend these drums. I backlined an entire show the other night and everyone, including gretsch players, loved the drums. The drums were very warm and focused.

The champagne sparkle finish is drop dead gorgeous and the fit and finish is first rate (not always the case with gretsch and vintage gretsch over the years). When I changed the heads, I took a good look at the bearing edges which are modern by design and not as rounded as vintage. The shells are 9-ply and maybe 1mm thicker than the classic gretsch shells. At 9-ply they are probably alot sturdier than the gretsch shells.

Again, highly recommended at any price range, but at $1,500 I don't think any thing could touch them.

[Hamburg58]

Just don't buy a new Ludwig kit and expect to get your "Ringo" or "john bonham" sound....The Ringo Kits they make now at ludwig, the oyster pearl is hardly real...It's nothing close to the original...

THey are making all maple shells as well for the Ringo kits...Anyone that knows something about 60's Ludwig kits knows that they were 3 ply with Mahogony, Maple, and another piece it differs....

Much different than the new 6 ply maple shells they're putting on those kits...The sound is not quite the same...The old ludwig kits have a "in the pocket" pokey sound...Which is lovely, the new kits sound too tight and new...


As far as the John Bonham kits go....The new Green Sparkles they're doing with 26 inch bass drums....They will get you a close "sound." closer than the Beatle kit for sure...But still these are 6 ply kits...The original 3 ply Maple kits in the early 70's, very different sound...

Bonham had a great open bam to his toms...the newer toms can be tuned that way, but as far as the resonance, it's not going to be the same...It's all in what you want to do

Get some 3 ply Keller Shells....Buy some Ludwig hardware, get it recovered by Precision Drum in your favorite finish...You've got a DW quality wood drum kit that is much closer than any reissue Ludwig kit made

Just my 2 cents...I personally own 3 kits from the 60's. They're like old cars....They're cute, and I only play them in the studio....I do have a late 80's ludwig kit which has some not so bad sounding birch ply...great for recording, very workable...would never take the kit out I'd rather keep fooling people with the drumsound!!!

In any case, new Ludwig kit or not...buy a Ludwig Jazz Festival snare from the 60's....will runyou 400 bucks...at least you're getting that old pop that we love on so many 60's records....The Reissue Ludwig Metal Snares like the Supraphonic are great by the way...Not far from the originals at all! Only difference is a little hardware and the strainer....


CHeers,
I'll stop geeking now.

[bdunard]

Ludwig is again making the 3 ply shells.

[coprock]

I don't think anyone was debating the merits of vintage Ludwig drums, but the merits of contemporary Ludwig drums. Sound preference is highly subjective. As an owner of many vintage kits, I appreciate vintage sounds. I have owned and recorded on 60's ludwigs with great success and I have played live with vintage ludwigs with less success...choking and dead tom toms and not enough volume. Of my vintage kits, I would put place the vintage ludwigs behind both my Rogers and Gretsch RB kits in terms of sound. Rogers blows both away in terms of build and finish. The vintage Ludwig kits I have played have been inconsistent in build.

With my new Ludwig, I was looking for something that I could get similar sounds as my early 80's gretsch kit, which I have come very close to accomplishing at half the cost of a new Gretsch kit. My point is that if you are going to buy a new kit, I think the new Ludwigs are a terrific bargain and a fine instrument.

I look forward to hearing the new 3-ply legacy drums, however I doubt they will sound that similar to vintage. Also, I find it odd Ludwig is marketing a vintage drum sound in power sizes.

[Rripror]

Hey bleen, nice set!