Founded in Chicago in 1909 by the Ludwig brothers, German immigrants, Ludwig is now a percussion instrument manufacturer owned by Conn-Selmer. In the 60s of the twentieth century, the rock music craze from England swept the world, which directly promoted the development of the drum kit industry. In 1964, Ringo Starr, the drummer of The Beatles, played on a television show using Ludwig's drum kit. This spontaneous publicity saw Ludwig's sales soar to $13 million that year, cementing it as the most important drum kit manufacturer in North America.
Unlike DW and Sonor, which specialize in high-end custom drum kits, Ludwig focuses on laying out a large product line. From the high-end Classic and Legacy collections produced in the United States, to the avant-garde Signet, to the entry-level Element, KeyStone, and the BreakBeats and Ludwig Jr for kids, Ludwig is one of the manufacturers with the most drum kits in the industry. The products cover different levels of needs, which is an important reason for the longevity of this century-old brand.
The Classic Maple is Ludwig's most iconic American drum kit, delivering the best performance, tone and look in the industry. Produced after 2013, the Classic Maple uses the innovative A.T.L.A.S suspension system, which uses the lugs to be inserted directly into the drum chamber, so that no additional holes have to be drilled into the drum chamber. Combined with 6 mm, 7 layers of North American maple wood, after 45 degrees cut, it creates a strong and stable drum cavity. Its voice is sharp, sensitive, and has a large, open tone. Ludwig describes it as "ideal for big tours and high-volume performances", including but not limited to rock 'n' roll performances. The price of the Classic Maple basic 5-piece set is around 27,000 yuan.
Since 2011, there has been a craze for vintage drum pieces, and Ludwig has taken the opportunity to launch a drum kit Legacy, which mimics the style of the '50s. In the 50s, Ludwig (then known as WFL due to trademark issues) introduced a three-layer Mahogany/Poplar/Mahogany drum with heavy rims. The new Legacy Mahogany drum kit reuses this design and adds five different options for vintage veneer and matte paint. It is worth mentioning that the drum cavity of this set uses a baseball bat bearing edge design. Under this design, the overtones produced by the drum cavity are much smaller than the common 45-degree angle and 30-degree angle design, and the mid-low frequency vibration is rich, the timbre is warm and rich, and the retro taste is very prominent.
The Signet 105 series drum was released at NAMM in 2014. With professional-grade quality and mid-range pricing, the Signet 105 has received a lot of praise in the industry and in the market. Like the Classic Maple and Leagacy, the Signet 105 is made of North American maple and also has an A.T.L.A.S suspension system. The Signet 105 is Ludwig's first series of drum sleeves designed with quick-release lugs, which are made of high-density alloy for lighter and more durable lugs, and do not require screws to be fastened, making it easy to mount directly using a clip-like structure. In 2014, the kit won first prize for Best Acoustic Drum at the MIPA Awards, which is part of the Frankfurt Music Festival, one of the two largest music fairs in the world. For drummers who have reached a certain level but whose budget does not allow for the option of buying a top-of-the-line drum kit, the Signet 105 is an option they should not miss.
Among entry-to-advanced drummers, Ludwig's KeyStone and element have always been highly regarded. They have the basic drum parts and hardware of a full drum kit, and they deliver stable performance, a warm and impactful sound, and an excellent value for money. The price is around 10,000 RMB.
Ludwig's official website shows the specifications of the various series of drum kits currently on sale, as well as the technical characteristics and sound performance they have.
