Help me pick out a Black Beauty

[jbsg02]

I'm shopping for a Black Beauty and need a little advice. I know I want a 6.5" and I like the tube lugs and triple-flanged hoops with chrome hardware. What is the main difference between the Supra-phonic snares and the super sensitive snares though?

[grahamo87]

Super-phonics are your traditional snares that you see on pretty much all snares. The super-sensatives are a different throw-off mechanism that actually stretches the wires all the way across the bottom head and out past the hoops. I like the sound of them a lot better, they're much more...well....sensative. Have fun finding a decent fitting case for them though

PS, the hand hammered shell is amazing

[jbsg02]

I was advised not to go the hammered shell route, as that it dries out the drum too much. Although I'm sure it sounds great if that's the sound you're going for.

[hwy145]

I have the hammered version, and it is a great drum. It still has plenty of ring/ life in it.

[grahamo87]

i concur....its a metal drum, there's no way they're going to be dry.

[jbsg02]

So I am ordering a 6.5" with Tube lugs and chrome hardware. I'll post pics when I get it

[dc2]

So I am ordering a 6.5" with Tube lugs and chrome hardware. I'll post pics when I get it

Right on man, I've got a 6.5" with the Imperial lugs, chrome hardware, and the supraphonic snare. It sounds awesome stock, but I've done a few things to mine. I put some Puresound "Blasters" snare wires on it with a Remo CS reverse dot batter and a Hazy Ambassador resonant. I also ordered an adapter plate from Mike McGraw in order to run a Nickelworks throw-off without altering the drum shell.


Like I said man, it'll sound great out of the box, but I just figured I would share what I've done with my BB. We can't wait to see some pics of yours!

[jbsg02]

Right on man, I've got a 6.5" with the Imperial lugs, chrome hardware, and the supraphonic snare. It sounds awesome stock, but I've done a few things to mine. I put some Puresound "Blasters" snare wires on it with a Remo CS reverse dot batter and a Hazy Ambassador resonant. I also ordered an adapter plate from Mike McGraw in order to run a Nickelworks throw-off without altering the drum shell.


Like I said man, it'll sound great out of the box, but I just figured I would share what I've done with my BB. We can't wait to see some pics of yours!

cool thanks. I think the guy I am buying it from is throwing in some new snare wires too, not sure what he is giving me though. I will probably start out with an Ambasador on top

[Wavelength]

i concur....its a metal drum, there's no way they're going to be dry.

Hammered brass Supras are fairly dry.

[KarlCrafton]

Yes, the hammered shell is "drier" sounding than the smooth.
I have a 6.5 Hammered Chrome Supra, and it can be 'ringy', but it's a different sounding ring than the normal shell.
Not as 'open' a ring.


jbsg02:

I have 3 BB's, and you won't be disappointed.

I have found that the rods with tube lugs stay put, and the drums stay in tune better than the Imperial lugs.

Also, if you want a better strainer than the P-85, the Ludwig Millennium stainer is great (IMO).

It's less expensive than buying a retro-kit and a high $$ strainer (not that they aren't good stuff), and you'll keep the drum stock.

I changed all my snares over to it a couple years ago and it works great.
Mine were about $25.

Never sticks, stays in place, and is smooth and quiet.

Looks great too with the engraving on it.

The ONLY thing that could be better is key head screws, but the regular screws don't need a lot of pressure to keep whatever you use on the wires to stay put.
That's a minor thing IMO, & could really only be an issue if you changed the wires all the time and it became a hassle to use a screwdriver.

Have fun with your BB!!

[RogerLudwig]

I have a hand-hammered Ludalloy Supra-phonic LM400KTM with tube lugs and a 7-ply maple LS401. The maple snare is a lot like my old Rogers maple Dyna-sonic: warm and rich. The Supra is loud, with a very distinctive CRACK. I tried the regular and the hand-hammered, and the tube-lug vs the Imperial-lug in the store (hey, Ontario Music is the best for custom ordered Ludwig, the owner used to be the Ludwig artist rep) and the hand-hammered is a little more muted than the regular, but by comparison to the maple, it is still a world of difference: Loud and with a distinct bite to the crack. You won't go wrong whether you pick hand-hammered vs. smooth shell, or tube vs. Imperial lug

In the end, I bought it as much for the looks as for sound, but heck, they are great eye candy!

[jbsg02]

cool looking drum, I don't see too many Supras that look like that

[jbsg02]

My dealer called me and said he can't get a Black Beauty like the one I want for 6 months, maybe longer!

[RobertM]

That delay sounds about right: I tried to order a Ludwig Supra-phonic hand-hammered bronze 6.5x14 snare a while ago, and the wait for it was 4-6 months. And I believe I read on this forum that Shane at Just Drums said it also took months for his shop to get a 6.5x14 Black Beauty hammered in stock. Ludwig is simply back ordered and moving slowly.

By the way, I've tried the 6.5x14 bronze hammered Ludwig and found it to be rather loud--surprisingly loud, given that I've heard hammered shells are supposed to dry out the sound and ring. When I've seen Bill Stewart use his BB hammered 6.5x14 Ludwig, it sounds so amazingly nice: tight, controlled, articulate, not annoying ring. But the hammered shells I've heard in person tend to still be quite loud. (Of course, the bronze shell may be a louder metal than brass--I know it's a bit darker.)

[jbsg02]

My Dad found one, hopefully it will be here in time for Christmas!

[Jeremy Bender]

Now THAT would be an awesome Christmas gift ( sounds like an awesome Dad) !

[mrmike]

My dealer told me that Ludwig is able to only make a certain amount of BB's because the process involved with the nickel plating is bad for the environment. The Black Magic uses the same plating but is not made in the US so there is a more abundant supply.