review of ludwig usa maple

[howard]

Hi,

Can anyone compare the sound of a Ludwig USA maple kit to DW vertical ply?

[Steady Freddy]

I have a set of Ludwig Classic Maples and a DW collectors set. My DWs are not the VLTs. Vertical grain.

The Ludwigs are nice drums. The look and sound great, but they are not DWs. My DWs just sound fuller and produce a better sound than the Ludwigs. The DWs are better built and the hardware is about as bullet proof as it gets.

For what I paid for the DWs I could have had two Ludwig sets, but I'd rather have one DW set than two Ludwigs.

I'm sure there will be many who claim that DWs are over rated and that you're only paying for the name.
I've brought this up before and I'll bring it up again. How did DW get the name in the first place?

[howard]

thanks for that.

I saw a 1/2 price new Ludwig USA maple which looked great and although I love my DW and bought vlt I find the sound sometimes too loud and not responsive for small jazz/trio gigs. I wondered if the Ludwig would be more suitable. However all the advice I have had from UK dealers is exactly like you have said.

[fourstringdrums]

thanks for that.

I saw a 1/2 price new Ludwig USA maple which looked great and although I love my DW and bought vlt I find the sound sometimes too loud and not responsive for small jazz/trio gigs. I wondered if the Ludwig would be more suitable. However all the advice I have had from UK dealers is exactly like you have said.

Well if you're thinking DW and want something more responsive for jazz, I would check out the DW Jazz series. http://www.dwdrums.com/drums/jazz/index.htm Even the Classics series should fit the bill http://www.dwdrums.com/drums/classics/index.htm

[howard]

You are right.

I am waiting to hear a jazz series kit. A local dealer is getting one in mid ' end of the month.

It will also be much easier to carry around!!

[fourstringdrums]

You are right.

I am waiting to hear a jazz series kit. A local dealer is getting one in mid ' end of the month.

It will also be much easier to carry around!!

What sizes are you looking for? I just went to a smaller kit 18/12/14/14 with flat based lightweight stands and I can't wait to eventually gig out with it, just for the shear joy that it will be a breeze to transport and setup :)

[howard]

was thinking 18x16/12x8 /14x14 with lightwight dw 6000 stands

or maybe 20x14 / 20x16 etc. I hope it will sound good.

at the moment I have 22x18, 10x8, 12x9,14x12,16x14. Lots of cymbals and 9000 heavy hardware. I never take it all out and will have to sell it which is why I think a bigger bass drum will be better if not playing jazz. What do you think?

[fourstringdrums]

was thinking 18x16/12x8 /14x14 with lightwight dw 6000 stands

or maybe 20x14 / 20x16 etc. I hope it will sound good.

at the moment I have 22x18, 10x8, 12x9,14x12,16x14. Lots of cymbals and 9000 heavy hardware. I never take it all out and will have to sell it which is why I think a bigger bass drum will be better if not playing jazz. What do you think?

For jazz I'd personally go with a 14x18 or 16x18 bass drum. I play funk, rock, and jazz and I use a 14x18 and it's very punchy with the pre-muffled heads I have on it and the tuning I use. I never thought I'd like the size for anything other than jazz but it really is the magical size for my style.

I love the DW 6000 Flat Base hi-hat stand. It has two different length rods (I use the shorter...16" I think) and it's perfect. It only has tension adjustment, no footboard angle adjustment, but that's what I wanted. Just a smooth, no frills hi-hat. It doesn't hold the bottom cymbal in place either so you get more movement out of your cymbals, which I like, it gives me more control.

I went with Gibraltar 8600 Flat Based cymbal and snare stands over the DW only because I think they're a tiny bit lighter, and they were cheaper. The only thing I wish they had that the DW does is memory locks.

[howard]

ok. I will test it all out when the kit arrives. Thanks