drum-tec is LUDWIG dealer.
We are as excited as Ringo Starr!
”…he had our name on the front of his bass drum head … he was so proud to play an imported drum set from America, from such a famous company, that he insisted on having the name Ludwig painted on the front of the drum head when he bought it.“
(Quote from W. Ludwig’s grandson)
We are now an authorized LUDWIG Drum Company dealer in Europe.
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Here are some interesting facts about music history and the special history of Ludwig Drums:
The Ludwig Drum Company was founded in 1909 by Theobald and William F. Ludwig, the sons of a German immigrant, in the USA. William was a professional drummer, playing in circuses and vaudeville, and occasionally even performing on ice rinks. Due to irregular work and income, he opened a drum shop with his brother Theobald in Chicago and called it Ludwig & Ludwig. The small company began by developing a functional bass drum pedal and soon expanded its catalog to include products such as snare drums and timpani. After Theobald's death in 1918, William Ludwig sold the company to the instrument manufacturer C.G. Conn, for whom he continued to manage the business. Eventually, he decided to leave Conn and start a new company of his own. However, he could not use the name Ludwig, as “Ludwig & Ludwig” continued to be marketed as a drum brand by Conn.
Thus, in 1937, the WFL Drum Company was born, named after the initials of his name. That same year, the soon-to-be-legendary Speed King pedal was introduced, which, in a slightly modified form, is still in the lineup today. The pedal, with its then-innovative drive technology, soon earned the nickname “Squeak King.” If the mechanism was not regularly lubricated with a drop of oil, unwanted squeaking noises would occur, which can still be heard on some old recordings.
During World War II, production was minimal, but after the war, William revived his dream of turning the company into a large and globally known drum manufacturer. A major competitor remained Ludwig & Ludwig as well as a second brand from the Conn company. Both brands were merged into Leedy & Ludwig by Conn in the early 1950s, before Conn shortly decided to discontinue its drum division. In 1955, William and his son Bill Jr. were able to repurchase the brand name and advance the development of Ludwig Drums again.
Despite growing success, the real worldwide breakthrough came on February 9, 1964, when the Beatles made their historic television debut on The Ed Sullivan Show. The Ludwig logo on the front of Ringo Starr's bass drum was seen by an estimated 70 million TV viewers. Starr chose the drum set because he liked the black pearl look of the kit.
From the beginning of its history, Ludwig has been an innovator and pioneer in drums and hardware. The first hi-hat stands and bass drum pedals were developed and produced by Ludwig. By enabling the use of feet for the first time, it allowed the big band, bebop, and jazz drummers of the time to play multiple instruments, such as hi-hat, bass drum, snare, and ride, simultaneously.
Here is a timeline of the most important Ludwig drums and hardware developments:
- 1920s
The first shells and kits are built, later known as Black Beauty and Super Ludwig. - 1930s
The Speed King pedal makes its debut. - 1950s
Introduction of the Super Sensitive snare drum and the Club Date series. - 1960s
Introduction of the Downbeat drum sets and the Super Classic series and development of the Acrolite snare drums. - 1970s
Ludwig introduces the Vistalite series with acrylic shells. The Octaplus and Thermo-Gloss series also debut. - 1980s
Introduction of the Rockers and the Classic Maple series. - 1990s
Ludwig launches the Accent, a new entry-level series. The Epic series is also introduced. - 2000s
With the Legacy drums, the manufacturer delivers a homage to the classic Ludwig drums. The Element series is also introduced. - 2010s
The development continues with the Evolution and the New Sonic series. - 2020s
The Centennial series is introduced, celebrating Ludwig's 100th anniversary.
The Ludwig Portfolio at drum-tec
Our mission is: LIFE IS DRUMS. And that means: At drum-tec, we want the best. We find the best from the global drum offerings, provide you with our best expertise as a reliable advisor, and create the best for your vision of the perfect drum set for YOU.
With Ludwig Drums, we have a renowned source in our portfolio. From the broad catalog of Ludwig drums, we offer you a selected range of Ludwig snare drums as well as handpicked and configured complete Ludwig sets.
Ludwig Vistalite Amber Shell Set
With its 26“ bass drum, 14“, 16“, 18“ toms, and the Supraphonic snare, the set is made for a grand performance. In the typical acrylic orange look, the Vistalite Amber is a tribute to the legendary John Bonham. With us, you can get the Vistalite Amber with or without the Supraphonic snare.
Ludwig Vistalite Amber 4-piece Shell Set
Ludwig Vistalite Amber 5-piece Shell Set
Ludwig White Abalone Drum Set
This is where style meets rhythm. Every beat conveys timeless elegance, both visually and acoustically. The small masterpiece, limited to 85 sets worldwide, is available with us. We carry the classic cocktail shell set with a 22” bass drum, 13” tom tom, and 16” floor tom.
Ludwig Maple Classic White Abalone 3-pcs
Ludwig Snare Drums at drum-tec
In addition to the handpicked Ludwig drum kits and shell sets, we have a selected range of Ludwig snare drums in our snare boutique. The snare drum is the most important instrument for a drummer.
Ludwig White Abalone Snare Drum
Ludwig Bronze Phonic Snare Drum