LUDWIG BIRCH CLASSIC?

[Stixxs]

Hi all,

Wondering if anyone has looked into these kits.Thinking about buying one, I could use some feedback on the quality, sound etc.

-thx

[razorx]

I can't remember his name but someone on here oredered a set in blue sparkle and when he recieved then they were Late and some of the drums were out of round and had bad bearing edges.

[Stixxs]

Great thanks,

I'll look around...they seem like a great value in American Ludwig line.

[kwolf68]

I am looking at upgrading my kit (currently use a Pearl Export Pro 7-piece and it's time to step up in quality). The Ludwig Classic Birch is a kit I have under consideration, so I'd love to see what other people have to say about this drumset. Other than the Ludwig Classic birch I am also looking at the Sonor 2007 and Gretsch Renowns (maple), but if another kit strikes me I'll put that on the list.

[Cypriss]

As razorx said and quite a few people on this forum (use the search) the quality control at Ludwig has apparently gone down the gurgler. which if true is a shame as it does'nt follow their reputaton.

[kwolf68]

I had heard Ludwig was actually making a comeback, which is one of the reasons I was considering them. Going to the music store today and hopefully get some more info on these drums, the Renowns by Gretsch and the Sonor 2007 series.

[Just Drums]

As razorx said and quite a few people on this forum (use the search) the quality control at Ludwig has apparently gone down the gurgler. which if true is a shame as it does'nt follow their reputaton.

No no no. ;-)

This is basically a myth and quite the opposite is true. And I'm not just saying that b/c we sell them. Ludwig, along with just about every american brand name suffered in the 80's due to the cheaper imports (just like the car industry). As a result, the QC suffered and cutbacks, lay offs, and outsourcing was an ongoing issue. Today, things are different.

Ludwig's QC is prestigious. Top notch. Their product inspection process and packing is awesome. Probably the best packing I've seen from a company.

Ludwig over the past 10 years has been making a big come back and their stuff is great. The Accent 300-400 Series kits are a tremendous buy for the price point considering the quality kit you get. And they've got more stuff coming out real soon that'll blow you away...

Just my 2 cents....

[kwolf68]

I went to my music center over lunch and played the Ludwig CS200s, they sound really good.

He had no Classic birch, but said Ludwigs reputation is back on the rise.

I have basically eliminated Sonor from consideration for my new kit (price simply isn't comparable) and am looking at the

Ludwig Classic Birch or Gretsch Renown (prices around 1800 or so, although he didn't have definitive pricing on the Renowns, so maybe he didn't know right off hand)

v

Ludwig CS200 or Gretsch (name unknown, I thought it was a Birch shell, but I don't see where Gretsch makes a drum with Birch). I thought it was maybe the Catalina Ash (prices around 1100 or so). This drum kit looked so good.

[Cypriss]

No no no. ;-)

This is basically a myth and quite the opposite is true. And I'm not just saying that b/c we sell them. Ludwig, along with just about every american brand name suffered in the 80's due to the cheaper imports (just like the car industry). As a result, the QC suffered and cutbacks, lay offs, and outsourcing was an ongoing issue. Today, things are different.

Ludwig's QC is prestigious. Top notch. Their product inspection process and packing is awesome. Probably the best packing I've seen from a company.

Ludwig over the past 10 years has been making a big come back and their stuff is great. The Accent 300-400 Series kits are a tremendous buy for the price point considering the quality kit you get. And they've got more stuff coming out real soon that'll blow you away...

Just my 2 cents....

Ah that makes me happy to hear a guy from an actual music store saying that there quality control is still good. was very shocked when reading a few threads of people getting there kits with bung bearing edges sending them back and getting another with bung edges(hopefully one that fell through the cracks). I was'nt really talking about the last 10 year but within the last year when these threads came out. But i do think we can trust your opinion owning your own drum shop and seeing and playing all the different kits must give you a world of knowledge.Personally i would go with the renowns over the accent. gretsch USA classic and ludwig classic maple now that would be hard to choose between.

[hyperdrummer]

The quality on Ludwig's high end stuff never once drooped I know of. Now when they first tried to enter the beginner's market, they had some really cheap stuff they used to try and compete with the foreign manufactures that kind of labeled them as a sub par company to alot of people. But their top notch American made drums has always been, well, top notch.

[kwolf68]

Would love to hear some personal experiences with the Ludwig Classic Birch kit. Most can agree that Ludwig is a name of great rep, now lets figure out if this kit is comparable to the Gretsch Renowns. :)

[bonzolead]

Would love to hear some personal experiences with the Ludwig Classic Birch kit. Most can agree that Ludwig is a name of great rep, now lets figure out if this kit is comparable to the Gretsch Renowns. :)
I you do a search of "Ludwig Classic Birch" I'm sure you can find threads too help you out.

Bonzolead

[zambizzi]

In my opinion, Ludwig Classic Maple are the finest mass market drums I've played, so far. I've owned 3 DW kits now and have always gone back to the Luds. My drum teacher has an Ayotte custom kit and it sounds incredible...but not as nice as my Classic Maples. I haven't had an opportunity to play the new Legacy Classic but if I buy another Ludwig kit, it'd probably be one of those.

Their QA is as good as anyone else in the industry...both of the Lud kits I've had have been absolutely flawless.

I'm curious why you'd be comparing maple Renowns to birch Lud Classics?

[aydee]

... but if I buy another Ludwig kit, it'd probably be one of those.


and that will be a really really small 'if '.. right Vin?

[kwolf68]

In my opinion, Ludwig Classic Maple are the finest mass
I'm curious why you'd be comparing maple Renowns to birch Lud Classics?

If you're asking me that I don't really have a great answer, but I’ll try my best.

I’m looking to upgrade to an intermediate/advanced kit (something below professional). I’ve always been a Ludwig fan though I’ve never owned a Ludwig set in my life. I “cheated on” my Pearls back in the early 1990s a couple times with two different Ludwig kits and found I liked them.

So now I am back playing and basically picked up an Export Pearl for next to nothing just to get back to playing. I worked the tuning hard on it, keep those gorgeous Evans heads on there and have surrounded it with a pretty nice cymbal package (mostly Custom As). It doesn’t sound bad.

But I am getting better, my chops are coming back, I am looking at going into the studio later this year and as a reward/need I’m going to give up my sleazy little Pearl Export for a classy, hot, prime-time kit.

That is where my investigation started. I know little of the new products, so I’m trying to get up to speed. My first inclination was simple…Birch + Ludwig. That was my first desire (although I am certainly not adverse to a maple kit given the right circumstances).

So while I am looking for a good advanced birch kit I keep seeing these incredible reviews for the Gretsch Renowns. So I went to Youtube and listened to some videos there of people playing them and they sounded awesome (not to mention they look great). Again, how they’ll sound to my ear in a live situation is TBD.

So basically, I am ‘comparing’ the Luddy Classic Birch because of pre-conceived notions about what I wanted (A Birch Luddy) and new information that I read about the Renowns. I have played one Gretsch piece in my life, a snare. The snare was like a firecracker. I loved it so my liaison with Gretsch, though clearly a quickie, was very positive and I could foresee myself getting involved with Gretsch as well.

I am not ‘brand loyal’ per se so I am very open minded on this, but these two kits are the ones that have me most intrigued.

[clay1g]

I got my Ludwig Birch Classic kit recently and couldn't be happier. The quality looks as good as anything I've seen and the sound is fantastic. I bought an 8-piece kit with a wide range of sizes and they sound good from the 8" tom down to the 18" floor tom and 22" bass. I bought them because they sounded great and were a great deal compared to other birch kits. Check them out:

http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj275/clay1g/Drums21.jpg

[kwolf68]

Pretty kit Clay. Would love that. I'd probably go for the exact thing, but I could get away without the 8" and 10", although it never hurts to have those extra bullets in your arsenal.

Hopefully, I have my own decisions made pretty soon, although the band I am in the lead guitar player is getting delayed on building his recording studio in his house so I may not need to upgrade right away...although looking at that picture is an argument for upgrading. :)

[Stixxs]

Thanks everyone. I missed out on a local deal on these...now looking on Ebay for a gig Ludwig Birch. Hope to get something soon! I've still got the DW's...just don't want to take them everywhere, IYKWIM.

[Buzter]

Ludwig classic birch is evidently going to be discontinued. I'm in the process of getting one or two to finish the set. Just got a floor tom, very well made and sounds great. I got a maple 26" bass off ebay. kaboom

[trkdrmr]

I got my Ludwig Birch Classic kit recently and couldn't be happier. The quality looks as good as anything I've seen and the sound is fantastic. I bought an 8-piece kit with a wide range of sizes and they sound good from the 8" tom down to the 18" floor tom and 22" bass. I bought them because they sounded great and were a great deal compared to other birch kits. Check them out:

http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj275/clay1g/Drums21.jpg

That is an awesome finish! I have always liked transparent blue! Very nice setup!

[stickers]

That was me with the Blue Sparkle Kit.

Yup.

14 x 14 floor was out of round.

Bearing edges not so true on both the rack and floor toms. Edges have been re-cut since then Heres a pic of 8x10 rack tom.

[razorx]

That was me with the Blue Sparkle Kit.

Yup.

14 x 14 floor was out of round.

Bearing edges not so true on both the rack and floor toms. Edges have been re-cut since then Heres a pic of 8x10 rack tom.

Ok.Now i remember you. How's it sound now?