Ludwig Fan Club

  • Thread starter Jusstickinaround
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Hi Ludwig Fans, Just introducing myself and sharing one of my Ludwig sets that I have played for the last 40 yrs. This is a '69 champange clear 3ply, 5pc Buddy Rich sizes 22. 13. 16. 16. 14x5 snare, original Hwd, stands + speedking pedal . I also have a 14x14 floor and a 12x8 tom. I haven't played a better sounding set and I've played a lot over the years. Infact they are sounding better with age! Hope you dig em.

You know...the more I look at that simple-clean looking classic kit, the more I realise the vast potential of musical styles that it captures. Everything from Big-Band swing to Modern Rock. That drum kit spans about five-decades of popular music !
 
Hi Ryan, Thanks for your interest, Yes, since they were new. I have actually gigged heavily with them in the past but always moved them myself (no roadie or stage hands throwing them around) and always cased so they have stayed in pretty good condition. These days they are mostly played at home or at times in a studio.

Thanks! It's always comforting to see someone else with a pair of 16" floor toms!

-Ryan
 
Here's an early 90s Ludwig 4-ply Super Classic kit finished in Black Marble. Sizes are 9x10, 11x12, 13x14, 14x16, and 16x22 with matching 5x14 snare.

I tried lots of head combinations on these and found that Evans clear EC2s on top and EC Resonants on bottom produced a very clean, pure tone on these drums.

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My Ludwigs

1966 Ludwigs that I bought in 1967 just before I got married. Included the Ludwig Standard Paiste Cymbals:

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My 1999 Ludwig Maple Classics that I bought just after I retired:

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My latest find a 2002 Ludwig Maple Classic in Champagne Sparkle. Just cleaned them up and ready to set up in my family room.

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Some of my Ludwig Snares to the left including my 1980's Black Beauty with supersensitive strainer:

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Here are my other Ludwigs! I think I am a terminally ill Ludwig guy! Things have gotten a bit out-of-hand in my house over the past 45 years of collecting and playing drums!
 

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What the **** are you doing with a pair of tympani in your house???
How big are they?
I play a pair of 26 and 29 inch at our orchestra (other type, but they're Ludwig) and I like them!

Bram
 
What the **** are you doing with a pair of tympani in your house???
I play a pair at our orchestra (other type, but they're Ludwig) and I like them!

Bram

I originally had a complete set of four tympanis 24, 26, 29 and 32. I found them on a Kijiji classified ad site in Calgary. The owner wanted $1500 for the four, but I bought them for $1000. I could not keep the four so I kept the 29" and 32" and sold the smaller ones for $690. So they were a good deal! I just love the sound of them and love to play them, even though I am not a concert musician all. My wife is just fine with these being in my family room. Sometimes the Tympani parts of the theme to Space Odyssey 2001 breaks out in my house and scares cats and dogs alike!
 
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Awesome kits guys, love the 26" kicks. I want one! Here's my new 100th. Anniversary Classic Maple:

22x18" bass drum
16x16" floor tom
12x10" tom
14x6.5" Black Beauty snare w/ tube lugs

Now that is a beautiful kit! I am green with envy!
 
There hasn't been enough Ludwig porn as of late, so I figured this thread needs a punt! :)

Since this is the "Ludwig Fan Club", I figured I'd throw in my $0.02 on Ludwig's new Retro Element SE line, now that I finally have the kit tuned and tweaked to my liking. The shells are made out of cherry and gumwood. Sort of a rounded over bearing edge. They're made overseas with a mid-range price point. On par with the Centennials, with the same hardware as far as I can tell. I just got the bass and three toms as a broken up "2 up, 2 down" kit. The toms have coated Emperors over coated Ambassadors and the bass drum has a Fiberskyn PS3 on the batter, and for the reso I got a smooth Ludwig heavy Weathermaster to replace the stock coated power collar head.

As I have it set up, these drums have a fantastic warm sound. I've been having more fun playing these than my classic maples lately. Sort of the "newness" thing, but also it's just such a pleasant, mellow sound.

They're really worth checking out. Ludwig is definitely back in a big way.

-Ryan

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I am thinking of ordering a Legacy classic. How do they stand up against other models?

I saw a Legacy kit in WMP and was really impressed. Really impressed! It sounded great. A joy to play and look at. Ludwig is making some great drums again. The only thing I could not get over was the price. The Classic Maples looked the same from the outside and sounded just as good. Nice hardware, especially the new bass drum claws!
 
HAHA I found these old pictures of my old ludwig kit!

70's modular hardware

24x14 (one virgin, one with mounting hardware) x2
15x15 rack!
16x16 rack!
18x16 floor
14x5.5 steel shelled tama something or other.

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HAHA I found these old pictures of my old ludwig kit!

70's modular hardware

24x14 (one virgin, one with mounting hardware) x2
15x15 rack!
16x16 rack!
18x16 floor
14x5.5 steel shelled tama something or other.

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That is incredible! I bet those are incredibly loud...
 
Wowza! How on earth did you move those around?
they filled the back of my truck. I'm not going to lie though I think I actually sold the kit because I was so tired of lugging that thing around. It was way to much work. I kind of wish I still had that kit because it was like lifting weights for drummers. Whenever I would switch back to a regular kit I was really fast and everything was easier to play.
 
Here's by beloved Ludwigs:

1st up: 80's Chicago Keystone Badge Big Beat Kit (Not using the 13" tom at the moment).

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And a really dark grainy pic of my '68 Downbeat kit in blue sparkle on stage at Johnny Brenda's in Philly:

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I use my 68 Supraphonic with both kits... Def. my favorite snare.
 
Here are my new Classic Maples (Charcoal finish). 22x16, 13x9, 16x16 (with a Pork Pie Black Brass snare). Great drums. They came with the 100 year anniversary badges, although I wanted the normal Keystone badges (the anniversary badges are great, but it may make adding on to the kit a little tougher down the road). I kind of wish I would have gone with a 24" kick, but I have a vistalite kit in the same sizes, so I can use the same bags.

Cymbals (All Zildjian): 14" New Beats, 16"/18" A Crashes, 20" K Dark Ride)
 

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