Seeing Joe Morello playing his Ludwig drum kit in London was an event never to forget. Minutes before the concert he walked onstage and did a quick check with the Supraphonic just with his left hand. His presence shook up the drumming community big time. Some wonderful times during the 1960s.
I just got my first Black Beauty this month. I'd wanted one forever but just didn't have the extra cash lying around to get one. I went for the 6.5" with a hammered shell and I just love it. I've also ordered some black nickel hardware in the form of the old school, Slingerland style "stick saver" rims top and bottom, tension rods, tube lugs, and a butt plate. I'm leaving the strainer as-is because I always position it facing me, and because I love this new take on the P-series strainer that Ludwig is using now. ( Thank you Josh for redesigning all of the Ludwig hardware during your 5 year stint with the company! )
25:46 I'm glad this was brought up. I noticed my '65 Acrolite seemed to feel slightly heavier than my '78 Supra that has COS hoops. I took the hoops off my Acrolite and sure enough both top/bottom hoops are COB. Hit them with a stick and they ring a pure tone like church bells forever. It's one of the best sounding snares I have. I've also got a '48 WFL kit and several WFL snares - and they are all built very well. Steve Jr. is right...when you look inside a WFL shell it looks factory new. You can tell they had lots of quality control in the WFL days and took pride in that.
I saw a WFL silver sparkle snare in good but dirty shape in a used instrument store (Atomic Music) and they wanted 300 bucks for it. I said to myself I'll come back tomorrow and buy it as I wanted to think a bit about spending the money for yet another snare drum. Derp. Came back the next day and it was gone.
That was very informative. I have a white marine pearl 5 piece pre-Beatles 1962 "Hollywood" double 8X12 tom-tom kit that my father bought for me when I was 15 years old for $513.35 plus tax. I played many a gig in a rhythm and blues and later Beatles cover band with them back in the '60's and even assorted gigs with other groups up until 2001. I still bang on them today and they are in excellent shape.
My favorite drummers in my youth played Ludwig! Great drum company! I bought a set of Slingerland drums in 1970 and still have them! Great sounding cans! An asside,, I order my Slingerlands with antique brass covered and they tarnished badly and they wanted to make good on them and offered new shells so I asked for all 3 ply maple with counter hoops !! They made them for me unfinished and I stained and laquered them. Bright powerful drums ! 14/22,13/9 and 16/16 !!
This is pure gold! I could just listen to you guys talk vintage drums all day. Now I need to find your Rogers podcast. Rogers are my favorites and still trying to find a nice original pre CBS kit.
Vintage Ludwig snare drum best snare ever made... I owned .. 20's : Black Beauty 5x14 Nickel over Brass 2 piece shell 1958 WFL 401 60'' COB 6.5 60's transitional badge Rare, 1970'S Ludwig Acrolite NYC Music Dept. 6.5x14 1972 Ludwig Acrolite with 10 lugs COB 5x14 70's black beauty 5&6.5 80's smooth bronze snare drum 50's transitional badge mahogany shell with maple reinforcements rings Love them !!❤🥁🥁
Thank you Steve Jr and Steve Sr! I really enjoy your podcasts and appreciate your time.....I've got to find my Rob Cook Ludwig book! I believe I ordered it back in 1997 from Barnes and Noble and haven't put my hands on it in probably 15 years. Take care and peace and love to you guys, your family and all!
My first pro level drum was a used, battered but fully functional Ludwig 16x22 bass drum (I built my kits one at a time, funded by paper route & summer jobs). I had ‘graduated’ from those cheap Japanese drums at last. Ironically, I now play Japanese drums exclusively: I endorse Canopus, which I believe arguably are the finest drums produced on the planet today. Another interesting twist: my main set is the NV60-M1 line: 5-ply maple-poplar-Inspired by those great 1960s Ludwigs! Also: Strangely, I grew up on Poplar Place in New Rochelle, NY (whoooo...cue spooky Theremin soundtrack ...)
1728 North Damen Avenue is still standing and it's flats now. I've been looking from time to time for some free apartment right there to move in with all my 4 Ludwig early-mid 60's sets, kinda "bringing them back to where they were born" stuff... only issue is I'm from Italy LOL XXXX)))))
Lots of great info guy's! I really enjoyed hearing about the Ludwig company history. I have a "Ludwig Super" snare that is in great shape except for a couple rim clamps that are missing, is there anywhere I can find these parts to make this drum complete? Thank you, Dennis from Michigan 👍
Great job on this Ludwig podcast. Really good info delivered in great style. Really made me proud to still have the Ludwig Acrolite I learned to play drums on in 1969 and to have a 1976 Ludwig Supraphonic. Surprised you recommended the chrome over aluminum version, as I always thought the chrome over brass was the one to own. After hearing your comment, I am definitely keeping mine. Will be looking forward to more podcasts from you both. Thank you!
I remember in the 1960's Bill Ludwig met with Ringo and presented him with a "Gold" supraphonic snare Did you ever hear/read of this and if so what ever happened to the snare?
I have a 6.5" wood, orange sparkle Supersensitive which seems to be an anomaly as I've never seen another wooden one. It's a 3 ply with re rings and a clear lacquer maple interior and pointy Blue Olive badge so I'm guessing early to mid 70s. It's my favorite sounding snare and I've used it a lot for recording. But do I have a unicorn?
Hi Darryl. Now that IS rare. A few things are odd though: 3 ply with rings with clear maple interior would have been keystone badge era, very late 60s. Generally speaking, Blue/Olive would be the 6 ply maple and no rings. But, nothing is ever 100%. Very possible that this drum was made as a special order so it has a keystone-era shell but the B/O badge that was in use when the drum was built. Would love to have one myself!
Seeing Joe Morello playing his Ludwig drum kit in London was an event never to forget. Minutes before the concert he walked onstage and did a quick check with the Supraphonic just with his left hand. His presence shook up the drumming community big time. Some wonderful times during the 1960s.
Í ú 77⁸qú
I just got my first Black Beauty this month. I'd wanted one forever but just didn't have the extra cash lying around to get one. I went for the 6.5" with a hammered shell and I just love it. I've also ordered some black nickel hardware in the form of the old school, Slingerland style "stick saver" rims top and bottom, tension rods, tube lugs, and a butt plate. I'm leaving the strainer as-is because I always position it facing me, and because I love this new take on the P-series strainer that Ludwig is using now.
( Thank you Josh for redesigning all of the Ludwig hardware during your 5 year stint with the company! )
25:46 I'm glad this was brought up. I noticed my '65 Acrolite seemed to feel slightly heavier than my '78 Supra that has COS hoops. I took the hoops off my Acrolite and sure enough both top/bottom hoops are COB. Hit them with a stick and they ring a pure tone like church bells forever. It's one of the best sounding snares I have. I've also got a '48 WFL kit and several WFL snares - and they are all built very well. Steve Jr. is right...when you look inside a WFL shell it looks factory new. You can tell they had lots of quality control in the WFL days and took pride in that.
I saw a WFL silver sparkle snare in good but dirty shape in a used instrument store (Atomic Music) and they wanted 300 bucks for it. I said to myself I'll come back tomorrow and buy it as I wanted to think a bit about spending the money for yet another snare drum. Derp. Came back the next day and it was gone.
That was very informative. I have a white marine pearl 5 piece pre-Beatles 1962 "Hollywood" double 8X12 tom-tom kit that my father bought for me when I was 15 years old for $513.35 plus tax. I played many a gig in a rhythm and blues and later Beatles cover band with them back in the '60's and even assorted gigs with other groups up until 2001. I still bang on them today and they are in excellent shape.
My favorite drummers in my youth played Ludwig! Great drum company! I bought a set of Slingerland drums in 1970 and still have them! Great sounding cans! An asside,, I order my Slingerlands with antique brass covered and they tarnished badly and they wanted to make good on them and offered new shells so I asked for all 3 ply maple with counter hoops !! They made them for me unfinished and I stained and laquered them. Bright powerful drums ! 14/22,13/9 and 16/16 !!
This is pure gold! I could just listen to you guys talk vintage drums all day. Now I need to find your Rogers podcast. Rogers are my favorites and still trying to find a nice original pre CBS kit.
love love love Ludwig!!!!
I have 2 snares, a supraphonic and a dust collector
Sweet! Just purchased a Club Date reissue and it’s awesome!
Thanks Sr & Jr! That podcast was really enjoyable!
Thanks again, guys! Looking forward to the Gretsch episode. Keep up the good work!
Vintage Ludwig snare drum best snare ever made... I owned ..
20's :
Black Beauty 5x14
Nickel over Brass 2 piece shell
1958 WFL 401
60'' COB 6.5
60's transitional badge
Rare, 1970'S Ludwig Acrolite NYC Music
Dept. 6.5x14
1972 Ludwig Acrolite with 10 lugs
COB 5x14
70's black beauty 5&6.5
80's smooth bronze snare drum
50's transitional badge mahogany shell with maple reinforcements rings
Love them !!❤🥁🥁
Absolutely Love these webisodes!! Learned so much over the years!!
Super informative! Great information.
Thank you Steve Jr and Steve Sr! I really enjoy your podcasts and appreciate your time.....I've got to find my Rob Cook Ludwig book! I believe I ordered it back in 1997 from Barnes and Noble and haven't put my hands on it in probably 15 years. Take care and peace and love to you guys, your family and all!
My first pro level drum was a used, battered but fully functional Ludwig 16x22 bass drum (I built my kits one at a time, funded by paper route & summer jobs). I had ‘graduated’ from those cheap Japanese drums at last.
Ironically, I now play Japanese drums exclusively: I endorse Canopus, which I believe arguably are the finest drums produced on the planet today. Another interesting twist: my main set is the NV60-M1 line: 5-ply maple-poplar-Inspired by those great 1960s Ludwigs! Also: Strangely, I grew up on Poplar Place in New Rochelle, NY (whoooo...cue spooky Theremin soundtrack ...)
Great information for anyone interested in collecting and playing vintage American drums... Thanks!
Thankyou guys that was very interesting.
just when had my FILL of polit/social/health news & vintage tv sitcoms starting to REPEAT, along comes STEVE MAXWELL DRUMS to rescue!!!
Amen to this.
Fabulous show....looking forward to Slingerland..
You guys are awesome! Great video!
1728 North Damen Avenue is still standing and it's flats now. I've been looking from time to time for some free apartment right there to move in with all my 4 Ludwig early-mid 60's sets, kinda "bringing them back to where they were born" stuff... only issue is I'm from Italy LOL XXXX)))))
Lots of great info guy's! I really enjoyed hearing about the Ludwig company history. I have a "Ludwig Super" snare that is in great shape except for a couple rim clamps that are missing, is there anywhere I can find these parts to make this drum complete? Thank you,
Dennis from Michigan 👍
Thanks, really great!!!
I'm loving the 68 Supra I bought from you!!
Great job on this Ludwig podcast. Really good info delivered in great style. Really made me proud to still have the Ludwig Acrolite I learned to play drums on in 1969 and to have a 1976 Ludwig Supraphonic. Surprised you recommended the chrome over aluminum version, as I always thought the chrome over brass was the one to own. After hearing your comment, I am definitely keeping mine.
Will be looking forward to more podcasts from you both. Thank you!
Wish it was 12 hrs long 32:34
...Mentions in the beginning of video the competitors Slingerland and Leedy, but NOT Gretsch.
I think that was just because the three that were mentioned were all very close in location. Gretsch was much further away
Is there a different sound and quality, in today’s Ludwigs and WFL. 3rd. ?
I remember in the 1960's Bill Ludwig met with Ringo and presented him with a "Gold" supraphonic snare
Did you ever hear/read of this and if so what ever happened to the snare?
I have a 6.5" wood, orange sparkle Supersensitive which seems to be an anomaly as I've never seen another wooden one. It's a 3 ply with re rings and a clear lacquer maple interior and pointy Blue Olive badge so I'm guessing early to mid 70s. It's my favorite sounding snare and I've used it a lot for recording. But do I have a unicorn?
Hi Darryl. Now that IS rare. A few things are odd though: 3 ply with rings with clear maple interior would have been keystone badge era, very late 60s. Generally speaking, Blue/Olive would be the 6 ply maple and no rings. But, nothing is ever 100%. Very possible that this drum was made as a special order so it has a keystone-era shell but the B/O badge that was in use when the drum was built. Would love to have one myself!
When in the 60s, did LUDWIG get back to normal, as far as the mad rush went, after The Beatles..
I've been playing Ludwigs for over 40 years. And, wouldn't buy anything else. All my drum heroes play Ludwigs...😊