deadletteroffice
Junior Member
I started this thread about a Ludwig Classic Maple kit I bought about 8 weeks ago or something now.
https://www.drummerworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=164794
Ludwig sent me 2 different replacement bass drums, and both (the original included for a total of 3) had the same issue.
What resulted was I finally sent back the entire kit for a different wrap in the hopes that this issue was isolated to the Red Sparkle. The new kit is Vintage Blue Oyster. No issue with the wrap. Some of a the lug screws were very bent though. I swapped those out for good screws from the shells I was returning. As a bonus, the new kit came with a "free" 5x14 snare. Nice! As this was unexpected, and I had planned to buy a snare anyways, I went ahead and ordered a matching 6.5x14 as well so I would have the pair, 5x14 and 6.5x14, all matching.
When the 6.5x14 arrived I started removing the factory snare wire and the bottom head in order to put good heads on it. As I'm situating the rim and the new head I'm scooting the head around trying to get it evenly seated. It won't. I think, "this head must be warped". I grab a tape measure and measure it each way. Nope. Head is fine. Maybe I'm insane, repeat. Same thing. So then I measure the drum. It's 14 inches left to right, 13.5 top to bottom. The freaking brand new shell is warped like an egg.
I email Sweetwater and alert them. This after 3 kick drum failures and a complete replacement kit. They have another of the same snare in stock. I ask them to get that out to me ASAP as I have a session coming up fast.
They respond back "I inspected the other one we have in stock and it is also warped. We'll have to order another from Ludwig".
What a bonkers experience. Bad wraps. Warped snare shells. Bent lug screws. WTH?
I love the history of Lugwig. But all of this is making me very uneasy about the entire kit at this point.
https://www.drummerworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=164794
Ludwig sent me 2 different replacement bass drums, and both (the original included for a total of 3) had the same issue.
What resulted was I finally sent back the entire kit for a different wrap in the hopes that this issue was isolated to the Red Sparkle. The new kit is Vintage Blue Oyster. No issue with the wrap. Some of a the lug screws were very bent though. I swapped those out for good screws from the shells I was returning. As a bonus, the new kit came with a "free" 5x14 snare. Nice! As this was unexpected, and I had planned to buy a snare anyways, I went ahead and ordered a matching 6.5x14 as well so I would have the pair, 5x14 and 6.5x14, all matching.
When the 6.5x14 arrived I started removing the factory snare wire and the bottom head in order to put good heads on it. As I'm situating the rim and the new head I'm scooting the head around trying to get it evenly seated. It won't. I think, "this head must be warped". I grab a tape measure and measure it each way. Nope. Head is fine. Maybe I'm insane, repeat. Same thing. So then I measure the drum. It's 14 inches left to right, 13.5 top to bottom. The freaking brand new shell is warped like an egg.
I email Sweetwater and alert them. This after 3 kick drum failures and a complete replacement kit. They have another of the same snare in stock. I ask them to get that out to me ASAP as I have a session coming up fast.
They respond back "I inspected the other one we have in stock and it is also warped. We'll have to order another from Ludwig".
What a bonkers experience. Bad wraps. Warped snare shells. Bent lug screws. WTH?
I love the history of Lugwig. But all of this is making me very uneasy about the entire kit at this point.