I love the reviews on this channel. No hype sales crap. Just the strait forward truth about the products they review. Nice drumming, and that kit sounds great!!
I've gotta say, with second rate Remo heads you guys did one hell of a job making this kit especially the kick drum sound really impressive. Well done.🥁
Kind of disappointing, but I think you've hit the nail on the head regarding the price point. I think one of Ludwig's challenges in general is selling their new drums because the old drums still sound so good and are pretty widely available on the used marked at reasonable prices. I'm a big Ludwig fan and own many Ludwig snare drums, a club date kit, and a Breakbeats kit, and a classic maple kick drum. I've switched out all of the snare strainers on my snare drums, and I never use the stock head. To me, there's a certain magic in the Ludwig shells themselves, and we put up with the sub-par hardware and heads because the drums are just that good. I also wish that the 22 kick drum came in a 14" depth.
Never have had any real problems with Ludwig strainers. Now Slingerland's and Leedy's are a different story. Too bad that Ludwigs are so much more expensive in the U.K. They're made right down the road from me!
A nice vintage Ludwig seems better value and a better sound. That’s why vintage is so popular. This is s good honest channel...no usual sales pitch. A great TH-cam asset.
@@hdriderpat22 Remo clear emperor on batter & Remo clear ambassador on resonance side..Aquarian super kick II batter & Remo Ambassador on bass drum. Tried coated 1st in same studio room but to my ear the clear emperors were more open & wet sounding...
Sean Zetterlund hey thanks Sean.. the channel was launched 2 years ago and we have been growing the channel organically. Thanks for watching/subscribing.. DR
This was an extremely fair review, for a kit in this price range I would expect better quality stock heads and cleaner seems. A great review that professionally critically comments on build quality.
I put 2 ply made in the USA Remo clear emperor heads on toms & Remo Powerstroke 3 on the kick and it sounds as good or better than kits that I've owned that cost 3 times as much as this one...super light weight thin-ply shells w/no gimmicky heavy hardware, great tone & timbre , w/warm punchy lows, the cherry plies give it better attack & enable it to slice thru the mix, great for real-world gigging.. btw the skyline blue satin finish reigns supreme on this kit.. I paid $999.00 delivered tax free via Sweetwater...
Once again a great kit let down by poor or average heads. I've contemplated getting a Nusonic but the few reviews I've seen have put me a bit on the back foot. As an older player I have gone back to playing a 4 piece - the days of 6 concert toms over a 5 piece kit are long gone! - wanting a smaller kit to do the work is more important than ever. Sadly the jury's out on this kit - thanks for such consistently great and above all honest reviews. 👍
Considering this drum vs the signet. 900GBP over here in Thailand so makes a bit more sense. Same price for the 4-piece signet though which am beginning to think is better value if am going to do lightweight kit. Any thoughts/comments appreciated! Great to see this perspective though! Keep it up!
Ordered a kit today. The bass drum spurs have been upgraded since this review. Have never placed much weight on stock heads from any drum line. We'll see how it goes, taking a chance. The thin lightweight shells piqued my interest, as these drums will be used for gigs
I respect your honesty pertaining to review, however I disagree with a few points. The price point is not Ludwigs fault, but perhaps the UK laws regarding. Also, flimsy spurs? They are definitely lighter in weight and streamline, but did the kick drum move? Wobble? I bet it didn’t. So, to some, this saved weight might be a bonus and a plus. Especially drummers running around from club to club. Lastly, I did not find the seam that terrible. Especially when you take into account, the exterior wrap on these kits is molded in the jig with the shell. This leaves no overlap and a perfect 100 percent adhesion. Wrap is part of the shell. By doing this, head seats better and drum rings truer. Just my 2 cents. I have heard these kits with American heads and they are hard to beat at any price point.
Even a Mapex Armory, which costs half the price, has rubbered die cast spurs... Not to mention that are laquered and not wrapped -> and that's not just for the personal taste, since painting shells is far way more expensive than attach a paper on em, plus we are not talking about premium wrap like delmar, but a total White one
Duke Nukem you didn’t answer my question. Did they warble? Those spurs are solid. This finish is far more durable than a wrap and applied in a better sonic fashion as it is molded with the shell. It is also far more durable than both a standard wrap and paint finish. I’ve played both and an Armory is not sonically in the same class. They can afford to paint the Armory because of easy to comply environmental laws and cheap labor. Armory is not very much cheaper in the states btw. 999 for the Luddys here. That’s an American made shell pack by a Legend in the drum industry. No offense to Mapex, they make nice products, but considering the kit tested was probably made in the same molds as Ringos kit, I’d say it’s the better bargain.
@@MaguSdelFiasco Your comments regarding the cost of "wraps" versus "lacquered" shell finishes is likely correct in a general sense, but their are notable exceptions, such as the "Vintage" wraps available from Ludwig (including the reproduction "Ringo" wrap) as they are imported to the USA (I've been told that "Ringo" wrap is sourced from Italy) and are "extra cost" finishes on Ludwig's pro-level drums. As well, Classic Champagne Sparkle wrap is currently one of the most expensive, if not the most expensive, finishes that can be put on a drum ... lacquer or otherwise ... as it contains copper and other metallic chips in it ($375 for enough to cover a 14x22 kick drum... just for the wrap).
@Drummer's Review. Thanks for the great reviews. Is there any chance you would review some of the Gretsch Brooklyn and Broadkaster kits, maybe a Ludwig classic maple too?
One thing that one always has to remember regarding Ludwig Classic Maples, or any of their other lines above the Neusonics, is that the kits are "custom ordered" with multiple choices regarding bearing edges, lugs, mounts, brackets, claws, and other hardware, plus a plethora of finishes (there were 40+ finish options when I ordered my Classic Maples in 2013). So how you choose your bearing edges will definitely affect the way that a drum sounds. As well, the chosen hardware may well affect your satisfaction with those aspects of the kits (some folks even think that the sound of drums may be affected by whether or not you have Large Classic, Small Classic or Mini-Classic lugs...or even whether or not there are rubber gaskets under the insulators!). Anyway, one has a wide variety of choices/options with Ludwig. I don't think that Gretsch offers such choices/options with their Brooklyn line.
Certainly cheaper than the Ludwig Classic Maple ext, but it shows. Better off paying for the quality kits if you can afford it. The Gretsch Catalinas sound better, if you are after a good cheaper kit.
I'm in full agreement with many of the comments below that clearly state you mentioned how good the kit "could" sound swapping out heads. But you didn't. What you did was act like a pompous jerk, and in my humble opinion did nothing but talk down about this kit. You are a well versed drummer, great in the pocket from genre to genre. I'm not trying to blow smoke up your ass, I would just appreciate you giving it another going over by swapping out for higher quality heads and let's revisit this drum kit. I'm sure I speak for a lot a fellow drummers as a request to do this. I'll keep watching. Keep up the good work.
Hi Jetty 1502, thanks for watching and for your comments. Just to address your point: we deliberately choose NOT to swap out the heads as we feel that in order to give a fair account of each kit we review we look at it exactly as it would come supplied to consumers when purchased. We feel that this is the fairest option, as if you bought the kit then had to spend a further amount of money on upgrading the heads it affects the value-for-money aspect of any kit (which we feel is a big deciding factor when considering any potential new kit). We also feel swapping out the heads for each review would lead to other issues, including our choice of heads not being to everyones taste therefore leading to more requests to review the same kit with different head choices (brands, coated vs. clear etc.) Our overall ethos is that we feel that the heads supplied should be reviewed with the same approach we take to the rest of the kit (shell construction, hardware etc.) and if an improvement can be made, we certainly feel we should highlight it. In actuality if you watch the full review, this wasn't the only criticism we had of this particular kit, so your comments regarding Nolly (who isn't the kit demonstrator as you alluded to) acting like a 'pompous jerk' or 'talking down' about this kit are, in our opinion, completely unjustified. I hope this helps clarify why we take this approach to our reviews, and again thanks for watching and taking the time to comment! Best wishes, Nick. (Drummer's Review product demonstrator)
@@DrummersReview sorry about the pompous jerk statement that really wasn't cool. However is a 33 year vet behind the drum kit either in the studio or on the road we buy these kits and leave them at certain places and always swap the heads immediately. So speaking for the pro Semi-Pro players here in America who have many different Semi-Pro kits at different studios all over the states the only point I was trying to make is that we always change our heads immediately. You guys have a great day over there, cheers 🥁🤘
Thanks for doing this review. Was back and forth between the 2021 option of these vs the Tama Starclassic birch/walnut. Definitely going with the Tama. (Both sets 20x14, 14x14, 12x8)
An honest review. Thanks for that. You backed up my impression on the Ludwig. For half the money, you could get some Yamaha Stage Custom or Tama Silverstar shellsets and you'd get better drums. Ludwig somehow believes that they can rip off their customers. Let's see for how long this will work.
+ FM S Yes, Ludwig relies on the legacy. But I doubt it would help, if the sales go down. Ask Gibson! That may be the main reason why nowadays the leading drum brands are called Tama, Pearl, Yamaha and Mapex. The simply make better quality, for a much better price. Speaking of it: For this pricepoint I can get a Mapex Saturn V - a real professional drumset.
And the Yamaha Stage Custom will have the same Remo UT heads and have jam screws to secure the the floor tom legs (as will the Silverstars) instead of the clamp-style Triad isolation mounts. Guess which mounting system will last longer? Ludwig discontinued the jam screw mounts back in the late-1960s.
Seems that Neusonic is the new club date class. But I just prefer clubdate….Your analysis of build would be interesting to compare for a clubdate…..thanks for your review…..
as far as I know, the idea for this kit was to combine u.s. production and a pricetag of under a grand. breaking any of this conditions breaks the whole point, I guess..
Everyone in the comments seems to be forgetting that this is a US made kit. They had to cut some corners to manage that price point given this, like the stock heads. If you don't care where your kit is made, yes I can think of a few options that are probably better than this. All that said, yeah... it does sit in that odd spot where you end up regretting not getting a "real" Ludwig for a few hundreds more off the used market. Still... the Neusonic I saw in the flesh impressed me.
Gonna use this kit a lot so as long as it can take the bumps and bruises we will be fine but first change the heads i mean do they really expect you to use the shell pack heads. When I buy drums I gdt them setup at the store before I leave. The clamps on bass drum should be upgraded but this is an intermediate kit so that woukd have to be the players call. Most professional make those adjustments on most kits in thst price range.
Love your reviews! Bit disappointed to see the build quality on these kits and they really need to add more shell sizes and finishes. It would be great if Ludwig sold a cheaper version of the Bonham setup, similar to PDPs Concept Maple Classic, they would have my money in a flash
Ludwig had the Bonham set-up that you seek in the "Centennial" series. U.S.-sourced maple, but made in Taiwan to hold down the costs. The "Centennials" also used the same "micro" Classic lug as the Neusonics. They've been discontinued, but can still be found {just played on some at a local Guitar Center (Charlotte, NC, USA)}. DW is doing something similar with their Design series. Ludwig is still trying to make as many of their drum lines as possible in the United States.
I do agree that the Neusonic's price is quite high for an intermediate-pro level set. But I would that you put quality heads when you review the drums because these cheap UT heads would make any drum sound bad, and I don't think any drummer wants to hear a drum set at it's worst potential. P.s Love your channel really good reviews and style
Hi Stathis Iraklis Mavromatis, thanks for your comments! We intentionally don't change the heads as we feel it's best to review each kit as it would come supplied straight from the manufacturer as it gives a true reflection of what anyone who purchases the kit can expect. Again thanks for your thoughts and for watching Drummer's Review!
@@DrummersReview But don't the Yamaha Stage Customs, and a host of other China-sourced drum kits, come with these same Remo UT heads? All the ones that I 've seen in the stores in my area (Charlotte, NC, USA) have had UTs.
The Bass Drum Spurs are hardly "Flimsy" They are rugged , simple and have style. and original unlike some of the most exclusive boutique brands that use generic 70's cheesy Japanese Spurs. One major appeal of Ludwig is the Components and parts have such a unique style and a sophisticated simplicity that does not get dated , some of it is over 100 years old (the Speed King Pedal 1938) and is professional high quality equipment / Instruments at a moderate price.
Fair review. Decent enough sound....but I would rather save my money for another Ludwig kit I like better. Nuesonic seems like the quality almost of Signet series or even Yamaha Stage Custom. I'm a Ludwig fan....but I'm staying away from this series.
I'd have liked to have heard the bass drum with a mic inside. Generally I feel like you just get a muffled "whumfff" when you put a mic in front of an unported front bass head.
Don't worry about the spurs. they appear to be the same ones that Ludwig used for the Signet series and I know folks that gig regularly with those and the spurs are holding up fine. For 2021; however, Ludwig has gone to a spur that resembles the "Elite" series spur, as used on the Classic Maples, etc (it may be the same one).
@@mjm5081 Btw...regarding "construction.... I've taken several tours of the Ludwig plant and the Neusonic shells are made by the same employees in the same molds and with the same glue and RFST curing as ALL of their USA-made shells, including the much more expensive Legacy Mahoganys. Obviously the rack tom in this test shouldn't have been shipped with the glue residue, but we are talking here about a little glue, not a problem with the shell itself. I would also note that I recently saw a video of the top-line Yamaha kit being played by an endorser in a noted artist's video and was quite surprised to see a very obviously overlapped seam in the the White Marine Pearl finish on the rack tom...a seam that wasn't even lined up to be at least partially concealed by the lugs. I'd hate to think that I had payed $6K for such a kit.
alan duncan they are Remo UT series which means they were made in China and the head is clamped into the rim, as opposed to glued, which is why the don’t hold tune and are considered cheap.
@@21DaHoagie12 At least the drums aren't made in China. The heads can be replaced fairly easily and economically. All the Yamaha Stage Customs and China-sourced kits that I've seen in the USA in the last 10 years had the Remo UT heads. Btw... the upper level Ludwig kits now have Ludwig logo heads made by Remo, except the snares.
For a similar price, I prefer the Gretsch Catalina, which comes with a matching snare. These don’t come with a snare. The Taiwanese made Catalinas, also have a warmer sound. These are USA made...not that it really makes a difference these days.
i could deal with the 'no rubber under the bass drum claw' thing, my kits have the old school vintage-y wing claws with no rubber. it's not unforgivable (especially if it's a cost cutting measure so we can afford them easier, etc), but it doesn't seem to be seeing as how expensive they still are. and i suppose it's peculiar that they'd put them on the lugs AND skip the claws. like, why not both, or neither? but the real issue for me is the bass drum hoops; that harsh friggin' blunt cut is a deal breaker. and leaving it unprotected like that? just exposed, porous wood? cold and moisture will seep right up in there and eat those hoops. it's insidious. and seriously, it looks like you just chopped off the bearing edge of your hoop and said 'fuck it', and threw the claws back on. tragic. it makes no sense. and again, even if it were a cost thing, no. that is not how and where you make concessions (and also, again, too, as well, it doesn't make sense because it doesn't seem to have cut any costs). i don't know, maybe i just don't get it...
I do think the Ludwig neusonic are good but they do need to be improved and a bit more improved Hardware especially the legs and I also agree with you on the rubber between the claws in the hoop. I did think the shells and color applied need to be better quality . Perhaps they need to build them in asia, the quality might be better And they would also be at a setter price point. This was a good honest review.
The 2021 Neusonics have Elite spurs, just like the ones available on the Classic Maples, Legacy Maples, etc. The color isn't "applied." It's part of the finish ply... like a Sonor SQ2.
Yamaha has made some great drums and has gotten even better drums from Sakae that they labeled as "Yamaha;" however, ask yourself why so many Yamaha endorsers, including Steve Gadd and Larry Mullen, have used Ludwig snare drums? And just try to get replacement lugs, mounts or other hardware for a 10 or 15 year-old Yamaha kit. It's very likely that they have been discontinued and the newer replacements will likely require you to drill new holes in your shells (ran into this several times while working for a local Guitar Center). I'm currently rehabbing a 1969 Ludwig Standard kit and I can get NEW replacement hardware from Ludwig that fits the existing holes like the kit was made yesterday! In fact, I know a guy who had a 1950s-era WFL kit and the new Ludwig replacement hardware fit it the same way. Good luck!
I liked the sound of this kit , but something about it looks cheap. The Sakae kits sound similar and have a great selection of finishes , so there’s strong competition at this price point. Shame about the cheap skins.
The "cheapness" that you're perceiving may well be because of the color/finish on this kit. Take a look at the Satinwood finish: www.ludwig-drums.com/en-us/ludwig/products/drumkits/neusonic
@@ohrid59mk76 And the Yamaha will come with Remo UT heads too and have jam screws to secure the the floor tom legs instead of the clamp-style Triad isolation mounts.
@@ohrid59mk76 Depending on the exchange rate, 100 Euros and you may be able to get Classic Maples. My point is that while you're hyping the Yamaha Stage Custom, it has the same head issues as the Neusonics, as well as jam screw floor tom brackets, and the Ludwig has a much better tom bracket,/suspension/isolation system with the clamp-style Triad isolation mounts. I haven't looked at the Tama Superstars lately, but a friend had to return one of them recently due to unresolvable finish issues.
@@volodia1140 You're asking me? Depends. Do you like Maple kits or Birch kits? I really like the Yamaha Stage Custom Birch kits. Excellent sounding and very affordable. Cascio Interstate Music has shell kits for around $600! PDP has Maple kits for about the same amount. Mapex has Birch kits, Gretsch has Mahogany. I suggest watching lots of TH-cam videos and also going to your favorite drum shop and playing different kits from major brands.
@@volodia1140 If I were in your shoes and $1k was my budget I'd buy a used Classic Maple or used Keystone X kit. You would always get your money back if you ever wanted to sell it. CM's and especially the Keystones sound really good. Try a 24-in Ludwig kick and you'll never want to play anything else.
@@DrummerGrrrl But all of the Stage Customs that I've seen in the last 10 years were equipped with the same Remo UT heads that are so heavily criticized here. Most of the China-sourced kits that I've seen in the same period were also similarly equipped.
Ludwig are living on past glories. There appears to be no pride in their product, and the finish on that kit looks crap. There's just too much good, well-priced competition out there to try and sell kits such as this in that price range. I had a Ludwig kit back in the 80s, and it was pretty good. Now I have one single Ludwig drum, a recent Black Beauty, and even that is pretty shoddily finished.
I never thought about playing Ludwigs until I played a friend's kit a few years ago. I sold my Starclassics and bought a new Classic Maple kit. The Classic Maples are the best sounding drums I've ever played and the fit and finish was perfect. Sound guys like them- just mic and go.
@@hipgroove68 I still love my Classic Maples, but I probably need to amend my previous statement because I also love the sound of the Keystone X drums. The Keystones are more powerful and fatter. The Classic Maples may have slightly more tone though. If you're in the market for new drums try playing a Keystone X with a 24-in kick.
Just had a friend that returned his Superstars due to recurring issues with the wrap. Unfortunately, no company is totally immune from QC issues, but maybe ya'll get better assembled Superstars in the U.K.
You guys couldn’t be more right about those cheap Remo UT heads. They’re horrible. They come stock on Mapex Armory kits as well. They were just dreadful to say the least. Switched them out for some real Remo Emperors and those drums sounded amazing. I’ve heard this kit with good heads and it sounded great! I just don’t understand why any company, regardless what level the kit is, don’t come with decent heads? Heads to me are probably the least inexpensive thing on a kit and these companies like Ludwig get them at a huge discount! For $1000 here in the U.S., for a 3pc. kit, they should definitely come with better heads. Another thing you mentioned in the review was the lack of protection between the bass drum claw and hoop! I don’t understand it either? Even their pro level kits don’t have that but you can get the for mentioned Armory kit and it has all the bells and whistles! That said, I still love Ludwig just wish they would Up their game a little?
Excuse me, but Ludwig's upper-level kits come with insulators/rubber pieces on the claws. My 2005 Classic Maple kick has them (Elite-style die-cast claws) as does my 2018 Legacy Mahogany (Classic-style claws). Where do you do your research?
@@Paisteconvert you’re talking the cream of the crop when it comes to the Legacy series and the classic maple. I had a classic maple kit a few years ago, and more recently a Keystone X, now rebranded Classic Oak, and neither of them had rubber insulators to protect the hoops. Maybe it was because they were wraps and not lacquer finishes? But for the money I shelled out for them, you would’ve thought they would’ve came with it? They may have recently changed this but in 2017 when I bought the Keystone kit they did not. The Neusonics also don’t have them. I don’t care what manufacturer you are, besides your entry level kits, the rest of the lines of drums should have them!!!
@@drumfanatik316 Funny, but I'm looking at three Ludwig Elite-style die-cast claws, one off my 2005 Classic Maple kick and two in a parts package that I picked up on "clearance" at Guitar Center. The one off my 2005 Classic Maple kick has felt squares glued on where the claw would bear on the hoop, while the two in the parts package have no felts or other insulation. The 2005 kick has been in my family since it was originally purchased and I know that it's claws came with the felts as OEM. It may be a difference in sub-contracted sourcing of hardware. My 2018 Legacy Mahogany (Classic-style claws) definitely has rubber insulators and are one of your claw choices for both the Classic Maple and Classic Oak (former-Keystone series) on the Ludwig "Outfitter/Configurator. And btw...whether your Ludwig drums are wrapped, stained or lacquered the claw options are the same...you can definitely have claws with rubber insulators. After all, all the Ludwig drum lines above the Neusonics are "custom ordered" and you now have choices for the bearing edges of the individual drums in your kit... a truly "custom" feature.
@@Paisteconvert that may be the case now, I’m just saying when the Oaks were Keystones, there were no custom options! Had there of been, I may have kept mine? Just something missing about them?
@@drumfanatik316 One of the "improvements" in the Keystones now becoming a "Classic" line is the range of options and hardware quality available from Ludwig. The Keystones were originally a lower-priced line of USA-manufactured drums (less expensive hardware...like no insulators on the claws), but as price-points have moved and with the advent of the still lower-priced Neusonics, the Keystone's shell have been moved into the "Classic" category. The molds used are the same ones used for all of Ludwig's "Classic" lines (and even the Neusonics) and are, actually, the ones that were used in the original Ludwig plant in Chicago from the early-mid 1970s until the entire operation moved to Monroe, NC in that early 1980s. Tympani production; however, remained in Chicago until about 2010.
The toms sound like cardboard boxes??! Were you listening on earphones? Because they in no way sound like cardboard boxes! I plugged in my Skull Candy earbuds and enjoyed the hell out of the sound of this kit.
To my ears, this drum kit doesn't sound anything wike that I'd expect a Ludwig kit to sound like. It's totally devoid of any character. I know it's a different wood configuration than their classic maple series and is obviously aimed at a lower end of the market (despite it's price) but it does nothing for me at all and that's coming from a Ludwig fanatic!
This was a bad move from ludwig,I think.Most of there SALES these days come from a couple of there snare lines and the Ludwig classic drum kits.If they think these will sell just because it says made in the usa,there wrong.For a 1000 dollars you can buy a really good 3 piece kit brand new from over seas.These folks from tama,pearl,and mapex have really stepped up there game.And don't forget DW performance kits if you need it to be built in usa.for a few hundred more.
@@volodia1140 pearl session studio is a great kit.made from mahogany and birch.optimount tom mounts,and beautiful lacquer finishes.For the money it's one of the best buys out there.check them out.
@@davidsuprenant893 Optimounts? The least adjustable mounts in the industry (they've certainly helped sell more rack systems than any other mounts)? Optimounts that require not one, but Two side-by-side holes in the kick drum shell (since I gig with my drums I strongly prefer kick-mounted toms...not attached to cymbal stands). And if you get a Pearl wrap kit (I like the sparkly wraps...and they're much more serviceable than lacquer), be aware that they're not fully glued onto the shells, even in their "Masters" series (that was a real shocker when I started working at a Guitar Center). The NeuSonic's "color" ply is an actual ply, like a Sonor SQ2. An btw...the DW Performance kit is priced (in the USA) competitively with Ludwig's Classic Maple line...not the NeuSonics...and the Classic Maple line is custom ordered with at least two styles of lugs, multiple claw choices, mount choices, spur choices and up to 40+ finish choices...totally opposite to DW's Performance series.
The DW Performance kit is priced (in the USA) competitively with Ludwig's Classic Maple line...not the NeuSonics...and the Classic Maple line is custom ordered with at least two choices for lugs, multiple claw choices, mount choices, spur choices, even bearing edges and up to 40+ finish choices...totally opposite to the "packaged" DW Performance series.
About the same as Gretsch Catalinas, which I think sound better. Poor heads don’t do Ludwig any favours. Not a good comment for Ludwig...they should be embarrassed.
Gretsch Catalinas? A well-priced kit, but ultimately just another PRC-sourced drum set. And don't give me that propaganda about "the great Gretsch sound." I'm old enough to remember the round-badge classics and I'm also well-aware that Gretsch stopped making their own shells in the early-1950s. They bought them from Jasper and Keller, just like a plethora of other drum makers over the decades. Gretsch has been a "drum assembler" as opposed to a "drum manufacturer" since the mid-1950s. Nothing really special. And btw...the sacred "silver sealer" is nothing more than galvanized post paint.
Got a close look at these drums, and there's not much to be desired. This is coming from a ludwig fan, and drummer whos owned 60s, 70s and 80s ludwig kits..I even had a 1st genration Rocker series kit with the classic lugs, standard depths, and ludcoat interior finish, and it sounded way better than these. The finish on this kit looks cheap, but Ludwig claims it's incredibly durable, hardware is decent and lightweight, but looks like a cheaper version of the classic hardware. Definitely NOT worth the price point. Many drums out there that sound 100x better and for a lot less. Case in point, Yamaha's Stage Custom drums, and Sonor's AQ 1 and 2 series at around the same price as this kit. People who will purchase this series from Ludwig will soon be selling them used at less than 7 or even $600. Would make a nice rehearsal kit, or even a spare for smaller venues or gigs. But to claim this is a high quality, pro sounding kit at a low cost, is plain false advertising.
Sure, Rhythmista (if I had a sarcasm font I'd use it here). I've been a Ludwig admirer since the 1960s and a player of their USA Classic Maples since 2014. I'm currently rehabbing a 1969 Ludwig Standard kit with large Classic lugs, arch spurs, "Rocker" tom mount, etc Those Yamaha Stage Customs will come with Remo UT heads just like the Neusonics (I have a Yamaha brochure that talks about them as if they're an "upgrade") and jam screws securing the tom legs (Ludwig discontinued those in the late-1960s) and without the clamp-style Triad isolation tom brackets. The finish ply on the NeuSonics is the same sort of ply finish as Sonor uses on their SQ2, though I agree with you that the matte finish on the white and blue ones isn't very attractive (the Satinwood looks a LOT BETTER!) ... but it does look to be a lot more durable than a lacquer or stained finish. And YES, the hardware on the Neusonics is likely a lighter and cheaper version of Ludwig's hardware (though the 2021 Neusonics have Elite-style spurs) ... just as your early-1980s Rocker series kit had cheaper lugs, claws, and other hardware in order to meet a price point (but using the same molds that were used in Chicago with updated glues and curing). Your Rockers were even made in the Monroe, NC plant in an effort to keep labor costs down. As for sound; however, I've heard and played on the Neusonics and even with the OEM Chinese Remos they sound good. They sound much, much better; however, with better heads....even "pro" level? And btw...Ludwig only offered their proprietary WeatherMaster heads when I ordered my 2013-14 "pro-level" Classic Maples (the only higher-level Ludwig kit offered at the time was the Legacy Maple series) and I IMMEDIATELY took them off, put them in a box, and replaced them with Evans G2s on the toms and an EQ4 on the kick batter. And while we're talking, if I'm going to purchase a Sonor anything, it'll be a Sonor made in Germany....NOT China. What's the point of buying Sonor if it's just another China-sourced kit (not to mention the PRCs oppressive societal/economic issues)?
The "UT" in Remo UT stands for "Utter Trash". The have all the sonic alacrity of a sandwich bag. I'm honestly sick to death of sloppy quality drums. The only "intermediate" drums I trust are probably Tama and Yamaha. The rest all seem to have obvious shell flaws and cut corners too much. Even Sonor force has shipped some subpar shells. Entry/intermediate level pearl hardware is fragile too. This kit isn't on the same level as a Yamaha stage custom or Tama Superstar classic. Hardware, quality etc. are too compromised.
Excuse me, but I'm VERY familiar with the Yamaha Stage Customs having worked at a local Guitar Center for awhile and being in and out of music stores on at least a monthly basis. Yamaha Stage Customs come with Remo UT heads just like the Neusonics (I have a Yamaha brochure that talks about them as if they're an "upgrade?!") and jam screws securing the tom legs (Ludwig discontinued those in the late-1960s) and without the clamp-style Triad isolation tom brackets. Does anyone really think that YESS is comparable in isolation to a RIMS-type mount? The Ludwig Triad mount is...by oscilloscopic and sonic measurement. And to what "shell flaws" are you referring...a little glue where the finish ply seam meets? There are no indications that the Neusonic shells themselves are of "sub-par" construction. I've taken several tours of the Ludwig plant and the Neusonic shells are made by the same employees in the same molds and with the same glue and RFST curing as ALL of their USA-made shells, including the much more expensive Legacy Mahoganys. You're correct; however, that the Neusonics AREN'T on the same level as the Stage Customs...they're MUCH BETTER...especially with upgraded heads.
Love the honest comments...very refreshing.
Not a sales pitch, like most.
I love the reviews on this channel. No hype sales crap. Just the strait forward truth about the products they review. Nice drumming, and that kit sounds great!!
I've gotta say, with second rate Remo heads you guys did one hell of a job making this kit especially the kick drum sound really impressive. Well done.🥁
I finally realized that you are the bass player for Periphery. I love this channel, you guys do incredible reviews!
Kind of disappointing, but I think you've hit the nail on the head regarding the price point. I think one of Ludwig's challenges in general is selling their new drums because the old drums still sound so good and are pretty widely available on the used marked at reasonable prices. I'm a big Ludwig fan and own many Ludwig snare drums, a club date kit, and a Breakbeats kit, and a classic maple kick drum. I've switched out all of the snare strainers on my snare drums, and I never use the stock head. To me, there's a certain magic in the Ludwig shells themselves, and we put up with the sub-par hardware and heads because the drums are just that good.
I also wish that the 22 kick drum came in a 14" depth.
Never have had any real problems with Ludwig strainers. Now Slingerland's and Leedy's are a different story. Too bad that Ludwigs are so much more expensive in the U.K. They're made right down the road from me!
A nice vintage Ludwig seems better value and a better sound.
That’s why vintage is so popular.
This is s good honest channel...no usual sales pitch.
A great TH-cam asset.
Really appreciate how honest you guys are in your reviews.
It would be cool if you guys put on some good heads and showed what it sounds like with some on the drums
Great idea, I agree !!!
Yup. 1st thing I did . And it sounds effing amazing
which heads did you use ? @@bb.70
@@hdriderpat22 Remo clear emperor on batter & Remo clear ambassador on resonance side..Aquarian super kick II batter & Remo Ambassador on bass drum. Tried coated 1st in same studio room but to my ear the clear emperors were more open & wet sounding...
b b super kick ll is a must!! Lovely head
how does this channel not have 100k subscribers? blashphemy. great video and review guys!
Sean Zetterlund hey thanks Sean.. the channel was launched 2 years ago and we have been growing the channel organically. Thanks for watching/subscribing.. DR
@@DrummersReview just found the channel and love it! Not enough honest drum reviewz on youtube, if any!!
This was an extremely fair review, for a kit in this price range I would expect better quality stock heads and cleaner seems. A great review that professionally critically comments on build quality.
Excellent honest review. Thanks for your work
I put 2 ply made in the USA Remo clear emperor heads on toms & Remo Powerstroke 3 on the kick and it sounds as good or better than kits that I've owned that cost 3 times as much as this one...super light weight thin-ply shells w/no gimmicky heavy hardware, great tone & timbre , w/warm punchy lows, the cherry plies give it better attack & enable it to slice thru the mix, great for real-world gigging.. btw the skyline blue satin finish reigns supreme on this kit.. I paid $999.00 delivered tax free via Sweetwater...
Thank you for doing a review on Ludwig drums. I agree, with quality drum heads these would sound much better.
Great, honest review. The detail is appreciated!
I was excited about this kit. Thanks for the honest review. I think I prefer the natal café racer.
Once again a great kit let down by poor or average heads.
I've contemplated getting a Nusonic but the few reviews I've seen have put me a bit on the back foot. As an older player I have gone back to playing a 4 piece - the days of 6 concert toms over a 5 piece kit are long gone! - wanting a smaller kit to do the work is more important than ever.
Sadly the jury's out on this kit - thanks for such consistently great and above all honest reviews. 👍
You guys should throw on Evans G1/Remo Ambassadors/Aquarian Texture Coated for your reviews to give the full potential of the shells
Good job telling the truth. Refreshing. I too have often wondered why the cheaper heads? It’s not as if the kit is at a budget price. Thank you.
just a terrific review and presentation, thank you
What can you say there Luddies great sounding drums always were always will be
Considering this drum vs the signet. 900GBP over here in Thailand so makes a bit more sense. Same price for the 4-piece signet though which am beginning to think is better value if am going to do lightweight kit.
Any thoughts/comments appreciated!
Great to see this perspective though! Keep it up!
Ordered a kit today. The bass drum spurs have been upgraded since this review. Have never placed much weight on stock heads from any drum line. We'll see how it goes, taking a chance. The thin lightweight shells piqued my interest, as these drums will be used for gigs
So, what do ya think?
I respect your honesty pertaining to review, however I disagree with a few points. The price point is not Ludwigs fault, but perhaps the UK laws regarding. Also, flimsy spurs? They are definitely lighter in weight and streamline, but did the kick drum move? Wobble? I bet it didn’t. So, to some, this saved weight might be a bonus and a plus. Especially drummers running around from club to club. Lastly, I did not find the seam that terrible. Especially when you take into account, the exterior wrap on these kits is molded in the jig with the shell. This leaves no overlap and a perfect 100 percent adhesion. Wrap is part of the shell. By doing this, head seats better and drum rings truer. Just my 2 cents. I have heard these kits with American heads and they are hard to beat at any price point.
Even a Mapex Armory, which costs half the price, has rubbered die cast spurs... Not to mention that are laquered and not wrapped -> and that's not just for the personal taste, since painting shells is far way more expensive than attach a paper on em, plus we are not talking about premium wrap like delmar, but a total White one
Duke Nukem you didn’t answer my question. Did they warble? Those spurs are solid. This finish is far more durable than a wrap and applied in a better sonic fashion as it is molded with the shell. It is also far more durable than both a standard wrap and paint finish. I’ve played both and an Armory is not sonically in the same class. They can afford to paint the Armory because of easy to comply environmental laws and cheap labor. Armory is not very much cheaper in the states btw. 999 for the Luddys here. That’s an American made shell pack by a Legend in the drum industry. No offense to Mapex, they make nice products, but considering the kit tested was probably made in the same molds as Ringos kit, I’d say it’s the better bargain.
@@MaguSdelFiasco Your comments regarding the cost of "wraps" versus "lacquered" shell finishes is likely correct in a general sense, but their are notable exceptions, such as the "Vintage" wraps available from Ludwig (including the reproduction "Ringo" wrap) as they are imported to the USA (I've been told that "Ringo" wrap is sourced from Italy) and are "extra cost" finishes on Ludwig's pro-level drums. As well, Classic Champagne Sparkle wrap is currently one of the most expensive, if not the most expensive, finishes that can be put on a drum ... lacquer or otherwise ... as it contains copper and other metallic chips in it ($375 for enough to cover a 14x22 kick drum... just for the wrap).
Those spurs, and this kit, suck.
Those are some great observations! Love the videos!
Thank you for review
@Drummer's Review. Thanks for the great reviews. Is there any chance you would review some of the Gretsch Brooklyn and Broadkaster kits, maybe a Ludwig classic maple too?
James Lovatt we have put the requests out James. Stay tuned! Best wishes, DR
One thing that one always has to remember regarding Ludwig Classic Maples, or any of their other lines above the Neusonics, is that the kits are "custom ordered" with multiple choices regarding bearing edges, lugs, mounts, brackets, claws, and other hardware, plus a plethora of finishes (there were 40+ finish options when I ordered my Classic Maples in 2013). So how you choose your bearing edges will definitely affect the way that a drum sounds. As well, the chosen hardware may well affect your satisfaction with those aspects of the kits (some folks even think that the sound of drums may be affected by whether or not you have Large Classic, Small Classic or Mini-Classic lugs...or even whether or not there are rubber gaskets under the insulators!). Anyway, one has a wide variety of choices/options with Ludwig. I don't think that Gretsch offers such choices/options with their Brooklyn line.
Certainly cheaper than the Ludwig Classic Maple ext, but it shows.
Better off paying for the quality kits if you can afford it.
The Gretsch Catalinas sound better, if you are after a good cheaper kit.
I'm in full agreement with many of the comments below that clearly state you mentioned how good the kit "could" sound swapping out heads. But you didn't. What you did was act like a pompous jerk, and in my humble opinion did nothing but talk down about this kit. You are a well versed drummer, great in the pocket from genre to genre. I'm not trying to blow smoke up your ass, I would just appreciate you giving it another going over by swapping out for higher quality heads and let's revisit this drum kit. I'm sure I speak for a lot a fellow drummers as a request to do this. I'll keep watching. Keep up the good work.
Hi Jetty 1502, thanks for watching and for your comments. Just to address your point: we deliberately choose NOT to swap out the heads as we feel that in order to give a fair account of each kit we review we look at it exactly as it would come supplied to consumers when purchased. We feel that this is the fairest option, as if you bought the kit then had to spend a further amount of money on upgrading the heads it affects the value-for-money aspect of any kit (which we feel is a big deciding factor when considering any potential new kit). We also feel swapping out the heads for each review would lead to other issues, including our choice of heads not being to everyones taste therefore leading to more requests to review the same kit with different head choices (brands, coated vs. clear etc.)
Our overall ethos is that we feel that the heads supplied should be reviewed with the same approach we take to the rest of the kit (shell construction, hardware etc.) and if an improvement can be made, we certainly feel we should highlight it. In actuality if you watch the full review, this wasn't the only criticism we had of this particular kit, so your comments regarding Nolly (who isn't the kit demonstrator as you alluded to) acting like a 'pompous jerk' or 'talking down' about this kit are, in our opinion, completely unjustified. I hope this helps clarify why we take this approach to our reviews, and again thanks for watching and taking the time to comment! Best wishes, Nick. (Drummer's Review product demonstrator)
@@DrummersReview sorry about the pompous jerk statement that really wasn't cool. However is a 33 year vet behind the drum kit either in the studio or on the road we buy these kits and leave them at certain places and always swap the heads immediately. So speaking for the pro Semi-Pro players here in America who have many different Semi-Pro kits at different studios all over the states the only point I was trying to make is that we always change our heads immediately. You guys have a great day over there, cheers 🥁🤘
Very high quality content.
Nice work! Thank you!
Thanks for doing this review. Was back and forth between the 2021 option of these vs the Tama Starclassic birch/walnut. Definitely going with the Tama. (Both sets 20x14, 14x14, 12x8)
@@traviswoodall6547 I appreciate that input. Looking forward to when I get mine.
Thank you for such an honest review.
Great sounding drums
Could someone please share the model of Meinl Crash being used? Sounds exquisite.
What is that ride? I checked Meinl website but couldn't be sure what model it is.
Anyone know which Meinl crash is being used here? Sounds so buttery smooth and smoky!
I don't know if the price has simply gone down since this video, but this kit is sold in the US for $999
Nolly mentioned the price in pounds sterling vs. US dollars. Exchange rate checks out.
Wonder how it compares to a DW Design Series considering such similar price points.
An honest review. Thanks for that. You backed up my impression on the Ludwig. For half the money, you could get some Yamaha Stage Custom or Tama Silverstar shellsets and you'd get better drums. Ludwig somehow believes that they can rip off their customers. Let's see for how long this will work.
+ FM S Yes, Ludwig relies on the legacy. But I doubt it would help, if the sales go down. Ask Gibson! That may be the main reason why nowadays the leading drum brands are called Tama, Pearl, Yamaha and Mapex. The simply make better quality, for a much better price.
Speaking of it: For this pricepoint I can get a Mapex Saturn V - a real professional drumset.
And the Yamaha Stage Custom will have the same Remo UT heads and have jam screws to secure the the floor tom legs (as will the Silverstars) instead of the clamp-style Triad isolation mounts. Guess which mounting system will last longer? Ludwig discontinued the jam screw mounts back in the late-1960s.
These drums are lame and cheaply made compared to other kits of this caliber.
im a lite player using 7a sticks , and im lookng for a new kit, was wondering what you have found to be the best for this type of playing style
A kit with smaller shells would probably work since they would still sound clear at lower volumes due to the higher pitch
Seems that Neusonic is the new club date class. But I just prefer clubdate….Your analysis of build would be interesting to compare for a clubdate…..thanks for your review…..
What ride cymbal is that?
as far as I know, the idea for this kit was to combine u.s. production and a pricetag of under a grand. breaking any of this conditions breaks the whole point, I guess..
Everyone in the comments seems to be forgetting that this is a US made kit. They had to cut some corners to manage that price point given this, like the stock heads. If you don't care where your kit is made, yes I can think of a few options that are probably better than this.
All that said, yeah... it does sit in that odd spot where you end up regretting not getting a "real" Ludwig for a few hundreds more off the used market.
Still... the Neusonic I saw in the flesh impressed me.
I think they sound really good.. Prob sound better with Emps and ambassadors.. I wish they offered a 24" bass drum.
They offer a 24 now
This VS SIGNET?
That drummer is simply amazing. Even the single hits he does with the perfect angle, rebound and velocity.
Stop yourself. No hate, but if his a amazing drummer Lars Ulrich is Dave Weckl.
I don't really care for dave weckl
The timing, for example dude.
Gonna use this kit a lot so as long as it can take the bumps and bruises we will be fine but first change the heads i mean do they really expect you to use the shell pack heads. When I buy drums I gdt them setup at the store before I leave. The clamps on bass drum should be upgraded but this is an intermediate kit so that woukd have to be the players call. Most professional make those adjustments on most kits in thst price range.
Love your reviews! Bit disappointed to see the build quality on these kits and they really need to add more shell sizes and finishes. It would be great if Ludwig sold a cheaper version of the Bonham setup, similar to PDPs Concept Maple Classic, they would have my money in a flash
Ludwig had the Bonham set-up that you seek in the "Centennial" series. U.S.-sourced maple, but made in Taiwan to hold down the costs. The "Centennials" also used the same "micro" Classic lug as the Neusonics. They've been discontinued, but can still be found {just played on some at a local Guitar Center (Charlotte, NC, USA)}. DW is doing something similar with their Design series. Ludwig is still trying to make as many of their drum lines as possible in the United States.
liked every sound but the snare.
I don't like the snare, either. To my ears, the kit sounds like a cross between Bonzo's kit and Ringo's.
I do agree that the Neusonic's price is quite high for an intermediate-pro level set. But I would that you put quality heads when you review the drums because these cheap UT heads would make any drum sound bad, and I don't think any drummer wants to hear a drum set at it's worst potential.
P.s Love your channel really good reviews and style
Hi Stathis Iraklis Mavromatis, thanks for your comments! We intentionally don't change the heads as we feel it's best to review each kit as it would come supplied straight from the manufacturer as it gives a true reflection of what anyone who purchases the kit can expect. Again thanks for your thoughts and for watching Drummer's Review!
@@DrummersReview But don't the Yamaha Stage Customs, and a host of other China-sourced drum kits, come with these same Remo UT heads? All the ones that I 've seen in the stores in my area (Charlotte, NC, USA) have had UTs.
The Bass Drum Spurs are hardly "Flimsy" They are rugged , simple and have style. and original unlike some of the most exclusive boutique brands that use generic 70's cheesy Japanese Spurs.
One major appeal of Ludwig is the Components and parts have such a unique style and a sophisticated simplicity that does not get dated , some of it is over 100 years old (the Speed King Pedal 1938) and is professional high quality equipment / Instruments at a moderate price.
Fanboy talk. Those bassdrumspurs are lousy. And the set s ugly. Deal with it.
By the way they already have the keystones kits that are less money than the classic kits.
Fair review. Decent enough sound....but I would rather save my money for another Ludwig kit I like better. Nuesonic seems like the quality almost of Signet series or even Yamaha Stage Custom. I'm a Ludwig fan....but I'm staying away from this series.
The snare is worth getting
£1250?
Ouch!.
It's a $1k over here in the states.
Yep, seems very pricey for what they are IMO.
Do they come with a Ludwig snare to get the complete Ludwig sound .
That snare is a bit “ ringy “...
Put an e-ring on it or some Moongel... or your handkerchief.
@@Paisteconvert
Shouldn’t need it..
@@roybeckerman9253 Hah! You need some "ring" for projection if you're performing without miccing everything. Just ask Kenny Aranoff!
@@Paisteconvert
I agree, some, but not too much..especially for this demonstration.
Now thats how you review drums.
d'ou est ce qui sort lui ?
I'd have liked to have heard the bass drum with a mic inside. Generally I feel like you just get a muffled "whumfff" when you put a mic in front of an unported front bass head.
Queremos oir lo que venden tom de 12 tom 16 y bombo 20
Why do these companies put crap heads on their drums from the factory? Just ship them with NO heads…..
I dig the look and sound...Too bad about the construction...And those bass drum spurs give me the Willy's! 😨
Don't worry about the spurs. they appear to be the same ones that Ludwig used for the Signet series and I know folks that gig regularly with those and the spurs are holding up fine. For 2021; however, Ludwig has gone to a spur that resembles the "Elite" series spur, as used on the Classic Maples, etc (it may be the same one).
@@Paisteconvert Thanks for the info 😃
@@mjm5081 Btw...regarding "construction.... I've taken several tours of the Ludwig plant and the Neusonic shells are made by the same employees in the same molds and with the same glue and RFST curing as ALL of their USA-made shells, including the much more expensive Legacy Mahoganys. Obviously the rack tom in this test shouldn't have been shipped with the glue residue, but we are talking here about a little glue, not a problem with the shell itself. I would also note that I recently saw a video of the top-line Yamaha kit being played by an endorser in a noted artist's video and was quite surprised to see a very obviously overlapped seam in the the White Marine Pearl finish on the rack tom...a seam that wasn't even lined up to be at least partially concealed by the lugs. I'd hate to think that I had payed $6K for such a kit.
@@Paisteconvert 😃 👍
Are the heads really that bad? They're made by Remo, aren't they just Ambassadors with the Ludwig logo on them?
alan duncan they are Remo UT series which means they were made in China and the head is clamped into the rim, as opposed to glued, which is why the don’t hold tune and are considered cheap.
@@21DaHoagie12 At least the drums aren't made in China. The heads can be replaced fairly easily and economically. All the Yamaha Stage Customs and China-sourced kits that I've seen in the USA in the last 10 years had the Remo UT heads. Btw... the upper level Ludwig kits now have Ludwig logo heads made by Remo, except the snares.
Are these in competition with the Gretsch Catalinas.
For a similar price, I prefer the Gretsch Catalina, which comes with a matching snare.
These don’t come with a snare.
The Taiwanese made Catalinas, also have a warmer sound.
These are USA made...not that it really makes a difference these days.
i could deal with the 'no rubber under the bass drum claw' thing, my kits have the old school vintage-y wing claws with no rubber. it's not unforgivable (especially if it's a cost cutting measure so we can afford them easier, etc), but it doesn't seem to be seeing as how expensive they still are. and i suppose it's peculiar that they'd put them on the lugs AND skip the claws. like, why not both, or neither? but the real issue for me is the bass drum hoops; that harsh friggin' blunt cut is a deal breaker. and leaving it unprotected like that? just exposed, porous wood? cold and moisture will seep right up in there and eat those hoops. it's insidious. and seriously, it looks like you just chopped off the bearing edge of your hoop and said 'fuck it', and threw the claws back on. tragic. it makes no sense. and again, even if it were a cost thing, no. that is not how and where you make concessions (and also, again, too, as well, it doesn't make sense because it doesn't seem to have cut any costs). i don't know, maybe i just don't get it...
The edges of the hoops are sealed with polyurethane, just like the Classic Maples. It's NOT raw wood..at least in the U.S. models.
How much in dollars & cents?
A 3-piece kit is $999 in the US.
I recently saw one (blue) at our local GC specially marked for $899.
I came here for the kit, but I stayed for the snare.
I do think the Ludwig neusonic are good but they do need to be improved and a bit more improved Hardware especially the legs and I also agree with you on the rubber between the claws in the hoop. I did think the shells and color applied need to be better quality .
Perhaps they need to build them in asia, the quality might be better
And they would also be at a setter price point. This was a good honest review.
The 2021 Neusonics have Elite spurs, just like the ones available on the Classic Maples, Legacy Maples, etc. The color isn't "applied." It's part of the finish ply... like a Sonor SQ2.
The snare sounds great but overpowers the kit. A 5.5 or wood shell wood have been a better match. Otherwise very helpful.
LUDWIG: the best reason to play Yamaha
Yamaha: the best reason to play Yamaha 🤣
Yamaha has made some great drums and has gotten even better drums from Sakae that they labeled as "Yamaha;" however, ask yourself why so many Yamaha endorsers, including Steve Gadd and Larry Mullen, have used Ludwig snare drums? And just try to get replacement lugs, mounts or other hardware for a 10 or 15 year-old Yamaha kit. It's very likely that they have been discontinued and the newer replacements will likely require you to drill new holes in your shells (ran into this several times while working for a local Guitar Center). I'm currently rehabbing a 1969 Ludwig Standard kit and I can get NEW replacement hardware from Ludwig that fits the existing holes like the kit was made yesterday! In fact, I know a guy who had a 1950s-era WFL kit and the new Ludwig replacement hardware fit it the same way. Good luck!
I liked the sound of this kit , but something about it looks cheap. The Sakae kits sound similar and have a great selection of finishes , so there’s strong competition at this price point. Shame about the cheap skins.
The "cheapness" that you're perceiving may well be because of the color/finish on this kit. Take a look at the Satinwood finish: www.ludwig-drums.com/en-us/ludwig/products/drumkits/neusonic
¿this or Gretsch Catalina Maple?
Catalina 150% all the way
TAMA Superstar classic or YAMAHA STAGE CUSTOM !
@@ohrid59mk76 And the Yamaha will come with Remo UT heads too and have jam screws to secure the the floor tom legs instead of the clamp-style Triad isolation mounts.
@@Paisteconvert thats true but all drums in this price range comes with bad heads , 100 € or $ more and you are ready to go !
@@ohrid59mk76 Depending on the exchange rate, 100 Euros and you may be able to get Classic Maples. My point is that while you're hyping the Yamaha Stage Custom, it has the same head issues as the Neusonics, as well as jam screw floor tom brackets, and the Ludwig has a much better tom bracket,/suspension/isolation system with the clamp-style Triad isolation mounts. I haven't looked at the Tama Superstars lately, but a friend had to return one of them recently due to unresolvable finish issues.
Shit are we supposed to say ludvig
Yes, I am disappointed at the high prices of Ludwig drums. For what they're asking, one could buy several other really excellent top tier drumsets.
I'm looking for a good kit under $1000 so what you recommend to me?
@@volodia1140 You're asking me? Depends. Do you like Maple kits or Birch kits? I really like the Yamaha Stage Custom Birch kits. Excellent sounding and very affordable. Cascio Interstate Music has shell kits for around $600! PDP has Maple kits for about the same amount. Mapex has Birch kits, Gretsch has Mahogany. I suggest watching lots of TH-cam videos and also going to your favorite drum shop and playing different kits from major brands.
@@volodia1140 If I were in your shoes and $1k was my budget I'd buy a used Classic Maple or used Keystone X kit. You would always get your money back if you ever wanted to sell it. CM's and especially the Keystones sound really good. Try a 24-in Ludwig kick and you'll never want to play anything else.
@@DrummerGrrrl But all of the Stage Customs that I've seen in the last 10 years were equipped with the same Remo UT heads that are so heavily criticized here. Most of the China-sourced kits that I've seen in the same period were also similarly equipped.
They should’ve made that 12 rack tom 9 inches deep to really complement that 16x16
Not a traditional USA drum size. 8x12 is.
why do these people just read advertising and act like they have knowledge of the product.
Ludwig needs to be independently owned & run.
Aren't they?
Ludwig are living on past glories. There appears to be no pride in their product, and the finish on that kit looks crap. There's just too much good, well-priced competition out there to try and sell kits such as this in that price range. I had a Ludwig kit back in the 80s, and it was pretty good. Now I have one single Ludwig drum, a recent Black Beauty, and even that is pretty shoddily finished.
I never thought about playing Ludwigs until I played a friend's kit a few years ago. I sold my Starclassics and bought a new Classic Maple kit. The Classic Maples are the best sounding drums I've ever played and the fit and finish was perfect. Sound guys like them- just mic and go.
@@MyDyerMaker I agree...USA maple sound killer!
No 1 drums used in Nashville recordings.
@@hipgroove68 I still love my Classic Maples, but I probably need to amend my previous statement because I also love the sound of the Keystone X drums. The Keystones are more powerful and fatter. The Classic Maples may have slightly more tone though. If you're in the market for new drums try playing a Keystone X with a 24-in kick.
The floor Tom is a major disappointment, especially when considering the great boom of the bass drum.
For the only about $80 more than the price of this you can get a MUCH better executed 7 piece Tama superstar classic kit, with a snare drum!
Just had a friend that returned his Superstars due to recurring issues with the wrap. Unfortunately, no company is totally immune from QC issues, but maybe ya'll get better assembled Superstars in the U.K.
You guys couldn’t be more right about those cheap Remo UT heads. They’re horrible. They come stock on Mapex Armory kits as well. They were just dreadful to say the least. Switched them out for some real Remo Emperors and those drums sounded amazing. I’ve heard this kit with good heads and it sounded great! I just don’t understand why any company, regardless what level the kit is, don’t come with decent heads? Heads to me are probably the least inexpensive thing on a kit and these companies like Ludwig get them at a huge discount! For $1000 here in the U.S., for a 3pc. kit, they should definitely come with better heads. Another thing you mentioned in the review was the lack of protection between the bass drum claw and hoop! I don’t understand it either? Even their pro level kits don’t have that but you can get the for mentioned Armory kit and it has all the bells and whistles! That said, I still love Ludwig just wish they would Up their game a little?
Excuse me, but Ludwig's upper-level kits come with insulators/rubber pieces on the claws. My 2005 Classic Maple kick has them (Elite-style die-cast claws) as does my 2018 Legacy Mahogany (Classic-style claws). Where do you do your research?
@@Paisteconvert you’re talking the cream of the crop when it comes to the Legacy series and the classic maple. I had a classic maple kit a few years ago, and more recently a Keystone X, now rebranded Classic Oak, and neither of them had rubber insulators to protect the hoops. Maybe it was because they were wraps and not lacquer finishes? But for the money I shelled out for them, you would’ve thought they would’ve came with it? They may have recently changed this but in 2017 when I bought the Keystone kit they did not. The Neusonics also don’t have them. I don’t care what manufacturer you are, besides your entry level kits, the rest of the lines of drums should have them!!!
@@drumfanatik316 Funny, but I'm looking at three Ludwig Elite-style die-cast claws, one off my 2005 Classic Maple kick and two in a parts package that I picked up on "clearance" at Guitar Center. The one off my 2005 Classic Maple kick has felt squares glued on where the claw would bear on the hoop, while the two in the parts package have no felts or other insulation. The 2005 kick has been in my family since it was originally purchased and I know that it's claws came with the felts as OEM. It may be a difference in sub-contracted sourcing of hardware. My 2018 Legacy Mahogany (Classic-style claws) definitely has rubber insulators and are one of your claw choices for both the Classic Maple and Classic Oak (former-Keystone series) on the Ludwig "Outfitter/Configurator. And btw...whether your Ludwig drums are wrapped, stained or lacquered the claw options are the same...you can definitely have claws with rubber insulators. After all, all the Ludwig drum lines above the Neusonics are "custom ordered" and you now have choices for the bearing edges of the individual drums in your kit... a truly "custom" feature.
@@Paisteconvert that may be the case now, I’m just saying when the Oaks were Keystones, there were no custom options! Had there of been, I may have kept mine? Just something missing about them?
@@drumfanatik316 One of the "improvements" in the Keystones now becoming a "Classic" line is the range of options and hardware quality available from Ludwig. The Keystones were originally a lower-priced line of USA-manufactured drums (less expensive hardware...like no insulators on the claws), but as price-points have moved and with the advent of the still lower-priced Neusonics, the Keystone's shell have been moved into the "Classic" category. The molds used are the same ones used for all of Ludwig's "Classic" lines (and even the Neusonics) and are, actually, the ones that were used in the original Ludwig plant in Chicago from the early-mid 1970s until the entire operation moved to Monroe, NC in that early 1980s. Tympani production; however, remained in Chicago until about 2010.
So all in all not worth the value? Shell itself is great but horrendous heads and hardware.
The clamp-style Triad isolation mounts are considered to be "breakthroughs"... hardly horrendous.
The toms sound like cardboard boxes. Bass was okay. I would never pay that price for them.
Thank you for your frank review.
The toms sound like cardboard boxes??! Were you listening on earphones? Because they in no way sound like cardboard boxes! I plugged in my Skull Candy earbuds and enjoyed the hell out of the sound of this kit.
actually they do... And i'm listening with Sennheiser Momentum 2.0 OVER EAR
To my ears, this drum kit doesn't sound anything wike that I'd expect a Ludwig kit to sound like. It's totally devoid of any character. I know it's a different wood configuration than their classic maple series and is obviously aimed at a lower end of the market (despite it's price) but it does nothing for me at all and that's coming from a Ludwig fanatic!
Wow, I can't believe how terribly done that seam was
Judging these kits w the shitty stock heads is not right. Ya'll know damn well 99% of everyone will change the heads....so dumb...
Every other review does. These just sound bad and missed the mark
This was a bad move from ludwig,I think.Most of there SALES these days come from a couple of there snare lines and the Ludwig classic drum kits.If they think these will sell just because it says made in the usa,there wrong.For a 1000 dollars you can buy a really good 3 piece kit brand new from over seas.These folks from tama,pearl,and mapex have really stepped up there game.And don't forget DW performance kits if you need it to be built in usa.for a few hundred more.
Could you recommend me one in particular?
@@volodia1140 pearl session studio is a great kit.made from mahogany and birch.optimount tom mounts,and beautiful lacquer finishes.For the money it's one of the best buys out there.check them out.
@@davidsuprenant893 Optimounts? The least adjustable mounts in the industry (they've certainly helped sell more rack systems than any other mounts)? Optimounts that require not one, but Two side-by-side holes in the kick drum shell (since I gig with my drums I strongly prefer kick-mounted toms...not attached to cymbal stands). And if you get a Pearl wrap kit (I like the sparkly wraps...and they're much more serviceable than lacquer), be aware that they're not fully glued onto the shells, even in their "Masters" series (that was a real shocker when I started working at a Guitar Center). The NeuSonic's "color" ply is an actual ply, like a Sonor SQ2. An btw...the DW Performance kit is priced (in the USA) competitively with Ludwig's Classic Maple line...not the NeuSonics...and the Classic Maple line is custom ordered with at least two styles of lugs, multiple claw choices, mount choices, spur choices and up to 40+ finish choices...totally opposite to DW's Performance series.
The DW Performance kit is priced (in the USA) competitively with Ludwig's Classic Maple line...not the NeuSonics...and the Classic Maple line is custom ordered with at least two choices for lugs, multiple claw choices, mount choices, spur choices, even bearing edges and up to 40+ finish choices...totally opposite to the "packaged" DW Performance series.
Ouch.... Ludwig didn't do their job....
About the same as Gretsch Catalinas, which I think sound better.
Poor heads don’t do Ludwig any favours.
Not a good comment for Ludwig...they should be embarrassed.
please Roy , stop about Gretsch Catalinas , please !
OHRID59MK
They are big sellers these days, so must be doing something right.
@@roybeckerman9253 nothing wrong with Catalina , but this is video about Ludwig Neusonic drums .
OHRID59MK
Yes, I play 60s vintage Ludwig...great sounding drums.
Gretsch Catalinas? A well-priced kit, but ultimately just another PRC-sourced drum set. And don't give me that propaganda about "the great Gretsch sound." I'm old enough to remember the round-badge classics and I'm also well-aware that Gretsch stopped making their own shells in the early-1950s. They bought them from Jasper and Keller, just like a plethora of other drum makers over the decades. Gretsch has been a "drum assembler" as opposed to a "drum manufacturer" since the mid-1950s. Nothing really special. And btw...the sacred "silver sealer" is nothing more than galvanized post paint.
Got a close look at these drums, and there's not much to be desired. This is coming from a ludwig fan, and drummer whos owned 60s, 70s and 80s ludwig kits..I even had a 1st genration Rocker series kit with the classic lugs, standard depths, and ludcoat interior finish, and it sounded way better than these. The finish on this kit looks cheap, but Ludwig claims it's incredibly durable, hardware is decent and lightweight, but looks like a cheaper version of the classic hardware. Definitely NOT worth the price point. Many drums out there that sound 100x better and for a lot less. Case in point, Yamaha's Stage Custom drums, and Sonor's AQ 1 and 2 series at around the same price as this kit. People who will purchase this series from Ludwig will soon be selling them used at less than 7 or even $600. Would make a nice rehearsal kit, or even a spare for smaller venues or gigs. But to claim this is a high quality, pro sounding kit at a low cost, is plain false advertising.
Sure, Rhythmista (if I had a sarcasm font I'd use it here). I've been a Ludwig admirer since the 1960s and a player of their USA Classic Maples since 2014. I'm currently rehabbing a 1969 Ludwig Standard kit with large Classic lugs, arch spurs, "Rocker" tom mount, etc Those Yamaha Stage Customs will come with Remo UT heads just like the Neusonics (I have a Yamaha brochure that talks about them as if they're an "upgrade") and jam screws securing the tom legs (Ludwig discontinued those in the late-1960s) and without the clamp-style Triad isolation tom brackets. The finish ply on the NeuSonics is the same sort of ply finish as Sonor uses on their SQ2, though I agree with you that the matte finish on the white and blue ones isn't very attractive (the Satinwood looks a LOT BETTER!) ... but it does look to be a lot more durable than a lacquer or stained finish. And YES, the hardware on the Neusonics is likely a lighter and cheaper version of Ludwig's hardware (though the 2021 Neusonics have Elite-style spurs) ... just as your early-1980s Rocker series kit had cheaper lugs, claws, and other hardware in order to meet a price point (but using the same molds that were used in Chicago with updated glues and curing). Your Rockers were even made in the Monroe, NC plant in an effort to keep labor costs down. As for sound; however, I've heard and played on the Neusonics and even with the OEM Chinese Remos they sound good. They sound much, much better; however, with better heads....even "pro" level? And btw...Ludwig only offered their proprietary WeatherMaster heads when I ordered my 2013-14 "pro-level" Classic Maples (the only higher-level Ludwig kit offered at the time was the Legacy Maple series) and I IMMEDIATELY took them off, put them in a box, and replaced them with Evans G2s on the toms and an EQ4 on the kick batter. And while we're talking, if I'm going to purchase a Sonor anything, it'll be a Sonor made in Germany....NOT China. What's the point of buying Sonor if it's just another China-sourced kit (not to mention the PRCs oppressive societal/economic issues)?
The "UT" in Remo UT stands for "Utter Trash". The have all the sonic alacrity of a sandwich bag. I'm honestly sick to death of sloppy quality drums. The only "intermediate" drums I trust are probably Tama and Yamaha. The rest all seem to have obvious shell flaws and cut corners too much. Even Sonor force has shipped some subpar shells. Entry/intermediate level pearl hardware is fragile too. This kit isn't on the same level as a Yamaha stage custom or Tama Superstar classic. Hardware, quality etc. are too compromised.
Excuse me, but I'm VERY familiar with the Yamaha Stage Customs having worked at a local Guitar Center for awhile and being in and out of music stores on at least a monthly basis. Yamaha Stage Customs come with Remo UT heads just like the Neusonics (I have a Yamaha brochure that talks about them as if they're an "upgrade?!") and jam screws securing the tom legs (Ludwig discontinued those in the late-1960s) and without the clamp-style Triad isolation tom brackets. Does anyone really think that YESS is comparable in isolation to a RIMS-type mount? The Ludwig Triad mount is...by oscilloscopic and sonic measurement. And to what "shell flaws" are you referring...a little glue where the finish ply seam meets? There are no indications that the Neusonic shells themselves are of "sub-par" construction. I've taken several tours of the Ludwig plant and the Neusonic shells are made by the same employees in the same molds and with the same glue and RFST curing as ALL of their USA-made shells, including the much more expensive Legacy Mahoganys. You're correct; however, that the Neusonics AREN'T on the same level as the Stage Customs...they're MUCH BETTER...especially with upgraded heads.
Meinl cymbals with Ludwig drums....WRONG!!!!!!....
Just a brand, relax.
I am sure they are the lowest price USA made drums. They have up graded spurs. Different finishes too.
Today....3000€.😮
I finally realized that you are the bass player for Periphery. I love this channel, you guys do incredible reviews!