*spoiler alert/time saver* (very long winded post about comparing two drum sets for purchase, details of two sets near bottom of post)
Hi, everyone. I'm new here. You all will probably be happy to know that when I googled "best drummer forum", drummerworld was the top result.
Typically, I just lurk when I do my information gathering on the web. But at this point, I may need to do the opposite.
For the record, I've been quietly researching a bunch over these last few weeks. But I need to ask a few questions. I'm about to buy a brand new drum set (shell pack, no snare). I'm not an expert. I decided to buy a good quality new American made set. I haven't had a chance to talk to an uninvolved party about my choices. Just the salesman at the store. Frankly, he seems friendly and helpful, but I'd still like to hear more opinions if at all possible.
I wish Slingerland still made drums. ...would be nice to finally scratch that itch from childhood. I still remember the smell of the brand new set I dreamily admired over the course of many weeks in my local music shop. Same as this set, even same color:
Not sure if it was the potent cocktail of fumes gassing off that beautiful new yellow drum set, or just my deep instinctive caveman lust for those drums, but something made me dizzy when I looked at them. OK, back to now.
I also had considered Gretsch, of course. In fact, I almost bought a set of Brooklyns, as Gretsch recently had a 25% off coupon that was working at Guitar Center.
Bringing my situation fully up to date, I had recently officially decided on Ludwig Legacy Classics. Being over 40, I've had many years to dream of owning a Ludwig set.
I read some opinions that Ludwig is allegedly lacking in innovation and even quality control these days. While others seem to insist one "can't go wrong" with a set of Ludwig Legacy Classics. I can't help but suspect they'd provide the sound I know and love, being born in 1969 and being raised on 70's rock. Like Slingerland, Ludwig is a brand of drums I spent part of my childhood dreaming about, so they definitely have that going for them.
I decided on the Ludwigs. I set out to custom order a set, to get exactly what I want.
I had already noticed a certain black Ludwig wrap that I liked. I placed my order. A couple days later, I got a note in my email. It explained that Ludwig would not make my drums in their "Black Glass Glitter" wrap after all, due to confessed quality control issues with that wrap. While I genuinely respect (and appreciate!) their good decision to steer me away from a wrap that might have proven to be very disappointing for me, I also can't help but hear the warnings of those people faintly echoing in my mind regarding quality control issues with new Ludwig drums. So while I'm thankful for Ludwig warning me, and doing the right thing, it also leaves me nervous about what other odd and unexpected problems might crop up that I might have to perhaps more painfully discover all by myself, much later.
The problem with the wrap put me off buying the Ludwigs for the moment. I've put the order on hold for a day two, while I decide what to do.
My mind now (*sigh*) begins to shift toward DW. I feel like I've never even heard of them before several weeks ago. I had decided to ignore them as a possibility while doing my shopping, though they do fall within my basic criteria of being good quality American made drums. Lots of people seem to be singing their praises. But I've never known about them. They're just not part of my history, per se.
But now I'm kind of leaning toward DW.
I found a set that compares with the Ludwigs I had configured.
Here:
http://www.guitarcenter.com/DW-Coll...ll-Pack-w-23--Bass-Drum-106677248-i2355717.gc
They're a lot like the Ludwig kit, on the surface. The Black Ice wrap is similar to the Black Glass Glitter I had originally selected. I'm old school, and I don't like the idea of both tom toms being lumped together on one side of the bass drum. If I could order the same DW set with a double tom holder built into the bass drum, I think I would. ...unless someone could convince me it was a really bad idea, of course.
And that's why I'm here, after all. Obviously, I don't know much about these things, and I need to hear the ideas of other people who do know.
Thanks in advance for ideas and comments!
Here's the two sets to compare, Ludwig being about $300 cheaper:
Ludwig set specifics (no snare):
Legacy Classic 4-piece ("Big Beat" configuration, except no snare)
12x8 tom tom
13x9 tom tom
16x16 floor
22x16 kick
all drums Black Glass Glitter
all drums Large Classic Lugs
all drums Legacy Vintage Keystone badges
Internal Tone control for all 3 Toms
Vibraband with Ludwig Classic Bracket for 2 Tom Toms
Ludwig Classic Legs for Floor Tom
Elite Kick Spurs for Bass
Ludwig Classic double Tom Holder for Bass
T-Handle tension rods for Bass
Made in the USA
vs
DW set specifics (no snare):
DW Collector's Series 4-Piece Shell Pack w/23" Bass Drum
all drums Black Ice wrap
6-ply and 7-ply tom shells
7-ply bass shells
Chrome hardware
DW suspension tom mounts (for increased drum resonance)
True-Pitch rod system w/5mm threads
10 x 8" VLT tom tom
12 x 9" VLT tom tom
16 x 14" X-Shell floor tom
23 x 18" X-Shell kick drum
Made in the USA
Also I read a thread with posts like this:
"The Legacy series doesn't have much going for it. Modern sizes and finishes with a stupid price tag." and "Yes they have the 3 ply shells, but they're offering modern sizes." To me, they seemed to be suggesting that the sizes for the Legacy Classics were not authentically vintage enough. ???
What do they mean? And what exactly are the authentic vintage sizes they would prefer to see configured into Legacy Classic shell packs?
Hi, everyone. I'm new here. You all will probably be happy to know that when I googled "best drummer forum", drummerworld was the top result.
Typically, I just lurk when I do my information gathering on the web. But at this point, I may need to do the opposite.
For the record, I've been quietly researching a bunch over these last few weeks. But I need to ask a few questions. I'm about to buy a brand new drum set (shell pack, no snare). I'm not an expert. I decided to buy a good quality new American made set. I haven't had a chance to talk to an uninvolved party about my choices. Just the salesman at the store. Frankly, he seems friendly and helpful, but I'd still like to hear more opinions if at all possible.
I wish Slingerland still made drums. ...would be nice to finally scratch that itch from childhood. I still remember the smell of the brand new set I dreamily admired over the course of many weeks in my local music shop. Same as this set, even same color:
Not sure if it was the potent cocktail of fumes gassing off that beautiful new yellow drum set, or just my deep instinctive caveman lust for those drums, but something made me dizzy when I looked at them. OK, back to now.
I also had considered Gretsch, of course. In fact, I almost bought a set of Brooklyns, as Gretsch recently had a 25% off coupon that was working at Guitar Center.
Bringing my situation fully up to date, I had recently officially decided on Ludwig Legacy Classics. Being over 40, I've had many years to dream of owning a Ludwig set.
I read some opinions that Ludwig is allegedly lacking in innovation and even quality control these days. While others seem to insist one "can't go wrong" with a set of Ludwig Legacy Classics. I can't help but suspect they'd provide the sound I know and love, being born in 1969 and being raised on 70's rock. Like Slingerland, Ludwig is a brand of drums I spent part of my childhood dreaming about, so they definitely have that going for them.
I decided on the Ludwigs. I set out to custom order a set, to get exactly what I want.
I had already noticed a certain black Ludwig wrap that I liked. I placed my order. A couple days later, I got a note in my email. It explained that Ludwig would not make my drums in their "Black Glass Glitter" wrap after all, due to confessed quality control issues with that wrap. While I genuinely respect (and appreciate!) their good decision to steer me away from a wrap that might have proven to be very disappointing for me, I also can't help but hear the warnings of those people faintly echoing in my mind regarding quality control issues with new Ludwig drums. So while I'm thankful for Ludwig warning me, and doing the right thing, it also leaves me nervous about what other odd and unexpected problems might crop up that I might have to perhaps more painfully discover all by myself, much later.
The problem with the wrap put me off buying the Ludwigs for the moment. I've put the order on hold for a day two, while I decide what to do.
My mind now (*sigh*) begins to shift toward DW. I feel like I've never even heard of them before several weeks ago. I had decided to ignore them as a possibility while doing my shopping, though they do fall within my basic criteria of being good quality American made drums. Lots of people seem to be singing their praises. But I've never known about them. They're just not part of my history, per se.
But now I'm kind of leaning toward DW.
I found a set that compares with the Ludwigs I had configured.
Here:
http://www.guitarcenter.com/DW-Coll...ll-Pack-w-23--Bass-Drum-106677248-i2355717.gc
They're a lot like the Ludwig kit, on the surface. The Black Ice wrap is similar to the Black Glass Glitter I had originally selected. I'm old school, and I don't like the idea of both tom toms being lumped together on one side of the bass drum. If I could order the same DW set with a double tom holder built into the bass drum, I think I would. ...unless someone could convince me it was a really bad idea, of course.
And that's why I'm here, after all. Obviously, I don't know much about these things, and I need to hear the ideas of other people who do know.
Thanks in advance for ideas and comments!
Here's the two sets to compare, Ludwig being about $300 cheaper:
Ludwig set specifics (no snare):
Legacy Classic 4-piece ("Big Beat" configuration, except no snare)
12x8 tom tom
13x9 tom tom
16x16 floor
22x16 kick
all drums Black Glass Glitter
all drums Large Classic Lugs
all drums Legacy Vintage Keystone badges
Internal Tone control for all 3 Toms
Vibraband with Ludwig Classic Bracket for 2 Tom Toms
Ludwig Classic Legs for Floor Tom
Elite Kick Spurs for Bass
Ludwig Classic double Tom Holder for Bass
T-Handle tension rods for Bass
Made in the USA
vs
DW set specifics (no snare):
DW Collector's Series 4-Piece Shell Pack w/23" Bass Drum
all drums Black Ice wrap
6-ply and 7-ply tom shells
7-ply bass shells
Chrome hardware
DW suspension tom mounts (for increased drum resonance)
True-Pitch rod system w/5mm threads
10 x 8" VLT tom tom
12 x 9" VLT tom tom
16 x 14" X-Shell floor tom
23 x 18" X-Shell kick drum
Made in the USA
Also I read a thread with posts like this:
"The Legacy series doesn't have much going for it. Modern sizes and finishes with a stupid price tag." and "Yes they have the 3 ply shells, but they're offering modern sizes." To me, they seemed to be suggesting that the sizes for the Legacy Classics were not authentically vintage enough. ???
What do they mean? And what exactly are the authentic vintage sizes they would prefer to see configured into Legacy Classic shell packs?
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