Ludwig Factory Tour with Sweetwater
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- Опубліковано 31 тра 2024
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How does Ludwig build some of the most popular drums in the world? Nick D'Virgilio travels to the Ludwig factory in North Carolina to find out.
#Sweetwater #Ludwig
In late March of 1963 I ordered a Ludwig Downbeat set with Avedis Zildjian cymbals from Hoffman Music in Spokane, Washington. They said they were expecting a new shipment soon. Two weeks later they called and said that because of the way I wanted them the factory didn't have them and would build me a set!
In July they called and said my drums were ready.
I was working out in the woods and gone all week so my mother went down to pick them up. When I got home Friday night my drums were sitting on a blanket in Mom's living room!
They were the most beautiful sight I had ever seen!
Didn't take long for me to set them up and damn !!! They sounded magical !!
I just love how he mentions that this lady is doing it flawless for over 30 years!
Yup. Awesome!
Plot twist, she's been there for 50 and fucked up the first 20...... not as much of an accomplishment all of a sudden now is it?
@@tuonglukim8973 😂😂😂😂😂
@@holygeneration7 he was jokin dude. Don’t take it so seriously.
@@holygeneration7 Who hurt you?
Such a difference in factories between DW and Ludwig, DW - using computer aided everything Ludwig - looks like a barrel making factory. Both are awesome drums..... Be proud, America
it's a round shell made of wood. .don't need "computer aided everything" to make . .DW is way overpriced.
Ludwig sound way better than Dw. They make wood sound like plastic. Except that Romanian heartwood. That sounded amazing.
They’re both great brands!
Wait before you see Noble & Cooley... literally 3 people working and they do everything, hardware included. The elder even go out and cut a tree himself sometimes. Process the tree and all, 100% in-house. Phenomenal... 1853, older than even Sonor. They still drill the shells *eyeballing* it. Seriously. No tape, no gauge, no drum builder template, no drill presses. Craftmanship like that will disappear completely from the surface of the world 50 years from now.
@@friedpickles342 Ludwig and DW are both similarly priced per series. A big difference is the DW design series vs the Ludwig neusonic series. Love that the neusonic is more cost effective and made in America
Ludwig and Drum Workshop. Two great American drum companies. They are the best.
Great drums for sure but Sonor is king, end of story.
In 1970, a buddy and I skipped school; took the train into Chicago and showed up at Ludwig. We told them we were both owners of Ludwig kits and were hoping for a factory tour. We got the best tour anyone ever had. Great company. Original owner of a vintage 1969 white marine pearl super classic kit with the speed king and all the hardware.
I wanna buy flowers for Ms. Anne! My Ludwigs are the prettiest things in my house!
Ludwig drums are an American treasure.
indeed!
@@AlexSlavenDrums and I always thought that they were English.
Yes they are.
Chevrolet’s, Harley Davidson, Colt, Ludwig Drums, and Apple Pie is how Ive al always rolled.
tomr World Treasure. Music is universal. It’s staggering to think the contribution this factory has made to world culture: from symphonies to grung to country to music yet to come and everything in between
Ludwig drums started in 1909 , the same year Gene Krupa was born.
A big year for the drum world.
Though I am a Tama player.. I always had a secret love for Ludwig.
I am so grateful to be alive today. My girlfriend saved my life last night. This is a selfie I took in the emergency room after having a severe allergic reaction to almonds. I went into anaphylaxis, meaning my face, my lips, my eyes, my tongue, and my throat all started swelling up rapidly, making it almost impossible for me to breathe. I also had a rash all over my entire body, and I was extremely red. Staying alive had never felt more difficult. At one point, my nasal passage was completely blocked, and it was getting more and more difficult to breathe. They shot me up with Benadryl, steroids, they gave me a breathing tube, and even other stuff that I can’t even remember, and it caused all of the swelling and the rash to go away. Because this was a severe allergic reaction, I need to continue taking steroids and Benadryl for the next week, because it is possible that the allergic reactions could come back at any point over the next week. The steroids and Benadryl make me feel like a zombie, and I really want to take care of my health, so this will be my main focus over the next week. I want to thank my amazing girlfriend, who made the decision to take me to the emergency room the second I started feeling itchy. I was hesitant about going, because I didn’t even want to believe this was actually happening. If it weren’t for my girlfriend driving me to the emergency room only minutes after eating the almonds, there is a good chance that I wouldn’t have made it according to the doctor. This has been without a doubt the hardest few days of my life, but I also look at them as the most important few days of my life. These moments have reminded me about what’s really important in life, and it has made me so grateful to even be here on this earth. I will be prioritizing my health over the next week, and I’ll post updates about how I feel. Thank you all for being patient during these difficult times. This week has been NUTS (too soon for jokes? 😅)
@@doloresstone9927What does this have to do with ludwig?
I have a 1936 Ludwig 10 piece "orchestra kit." It's gorgeous and sounds astonishing. I love it. Priceless.
No you dont
@@Sundaydrumday he does
1936, that means that orchestra kit was built during the C.G. Conn era of Ludwig & Ludwig. William F. Ludwig had sold his company to Conn to get through the Depression in 1929. Then after a handful of years of being frustrated under the thumb of C.G. Conn, Ludwig decided to step back out into drum company ownership in 1937 but couldn’t use the Ludwig brand name, hence WFL Drums. Even the Conn era drums are great though. I have a 40’s era Leedy snare , which was also under the Conn umbrella, and it’s a fantastic sounding drum.
I have owned multiple brand drumsets over the years. Out of those, the only sets that I have bought more than once from the same company have been my Ludwigs. I have owned 3 of them now. They were also the first set that I got for my 14th Christmas from my Mom and Dad. So, thank you Ludwig for the great memories and a lifetime of enjoyment !!!!
I bought my first brand new set of Ludwig Drums in 1982 (Chicago Blue/Olive Badge). Took months to get. It was a 5 piece Maple Chrome-o-wood set. 14x5" Supraphonic Snare. 24" bass, 13x9" and 14x10" Toms and 16x16" Floor Tom for about $1200.
In 1988, I bought a brand new Ludwig (Monroe Keystone Badge) 14x10" Deep Rock Snare and 3 Power Toms (12x11", 14x13" and 16x15") on a Heavy Duty Atlas stand. Also, I believe for about $1200. "Miss Ann" here probably wrapped these drums.
Still a Ludwig fan. Look and sound great.
God. i finally want a Set of Ludwigs. 58 years old. been playing over 40 of those years; many different brands of kits owned...Yamaha, Tama, PDP, Gretch, Rogers, etc...( "Did...once own a Ludwig Colleseum Snare - maple - 8" deep!...early 80's) but never ...an entire KIT> My time will Come.... I must! When i see that famous "logo'...on the front head...i go back to that original 'childhood' tingle feeling...that overwhelming excitement, joy, and 'Wonder....of wishing i could own a set of Drums. It will Be...
I just fell in love with my Classic Maples all over again.
Miss Ann! That was impressive. I thought I was looking at my grandma putting on that wrap. She won't have it! Not one hair...lol That was enough for me to buy Ludwig for my next kit. Legacy Maple! 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, and 22, or maybe 24" bass drum. Just totally awesome!
Buddy Rich played Ludwig from 1946- 59, before Ringo sent sales through the roof from 1964.
Buddy went back to using Ludwig from late 1978 to 1982.
Ya, i didn’t like when he went to Slingerland. Never liked the hardware. Although he could make a set of pans sound professional!
I'm not American but it is great to see something being built there for a change, and by elderly folks no less. Keep it up.
Gerry Blue / Ha ha..."elderly folks" ; thatZ awesome!!!
Lol gotta keep those old folks employed and productive!!
Those "very talented and very experienced" elderly folks are who make the quality drums that people like. The young Chinese workers at sweat factories make the crappy drums.
3:59 - "These drums are alive!" 🤣
Great video, thank you!
My first kit was a Ludwig classic. White. Loved it. Had to sell to pay bills. 83-91. Haven't played in over 22 years. Can't afford anything anymore. Life got all jacked up. Would love to play again. Ill be dead in a year so...
That was awesome! I live in NC about 3 hours away. Wonder if you can buy direct from them? Loved seeing those older folks still performing their craft. Outstanding!!! American pride right there.
Here's a little trivia for you Ludwig junkies.
Ludwig actually made banjos from the mid 1920s to 1931. They gave it up because the brand never took off although they were fairly well made instruments. The Ludwig "Wendell Hall" model banjo ukulele is one of the most sought after models as a collectors item.
Watching the passion from this company makes me feel warm love Ludwig drums, I'm 30 now and I still use my Ludwig classic maple 14x5.5 snare drum that I got in 1998! best wood snare I've ever played.
I bought a set of Ludwig maple classics back in the mid 80's, shortly after the company moved to Monroe, NC. I still own the same set. It still looks, and sounds fantastic. :)
These videos just make me appreciate my ‘84 Rocker more. A 112-year legacy with some of the best drums ever.
I also wanted to mention it's great to see good old Americans making a great American product!
I've worked at a drum shop for years and have played Craviotto, Sonor SQ2, DW Collector's, etc. to vintage WFL, Slingerland, Rogers, and Gretsch. You name it.
We all have our favorites, but by far the Ludwig 3 ply shell is the best I've played. Maple in particular. There's a character about the drums that is just THERE regardless of how you tune it. It's like that on the vintage shells too, they're just more finicky with occasional out of round shells and uneven edges. Legacy maple/mahogany is refined yet has the classic sound.
It couldn't be stated any better about the sound is always great, their adaptive like no other drum.
I have played all kinds but my Ludwigs are what travels with me and what I have in my studio !!
yeahman,.. I have had my 1929 Ludwig Pioneer 14" x 26" All Mahogany, single tension kick drum since 1992. It's been on every record and tour i've ever done. Every last sound engineer ends up with this expression of WTF.. (especially those who are like " dude, where's the hole " ?) No muffling, just an immense, Actual BASS drum. Ludwig are amazing. This and a 6.5 Supra with a Zildjian A Custom hi hat and Paiste Signature 20" Full Crash... you could basically become Godzilla with the very first note. So damn Musically Heavy. Love it. ~ Cheers!
Just ordered a classic maple set fab 22 vintage black oyster : D cannot wait have been saving for 2 years straight for them.
Thanks for congratulating me UnleashTheBlob. Ive been grinding working hard with no happiness you know only working and trying to practice drums its hard its real hard but today i brought some drums ive wanted for 4 5 years so maybe its looking up for me.
Good luck. I ordered the same kit a couple of years ago. Feel free to check out the sound of them on my channel. ua-cam.com/video/BnZxIg4_y6U/v-deo.html
Hey i know you, ive been watching your videos for ages ! I watch your covers when i try to learn tunes ! I appreciate your drums videos alot they are high quality and you are a skilled player.
Congrats man. Enjoy
Thanks man they came today and im in shock im so happy they sound so boomy but the notes are clear, i got a snare stand for the tom going for that classic look i love it. : D
NICK & MR BIG!!!!!
Can't wait to finally order my Classic Maple kit this coming week! I've been waiting for 6 years to buy a set of these beautiful drums, I'll be getting a 26" x 14" Bass Drum, 16" x 16"/18" x 16" Floor Toms, and 13" x 9"/14" x 10" Rack Toms. I'm beyond excited to finally play the drums I've heard in my head after all of these years!
I m a pearl Guy but my dream kit is the Ludwig visalite John Bonham
Long live ERIC CARR! One of Ludwig's Greatest Artists :)
Makes me love and appreciate my ludwig kit even more!
I'm glad that something of value is still made in NC !
Earl Brackett oh yes cabinets and furniture still being mastered in the cackalack
Terry...I was so happy to see you in this video. Effortless delivery on the information! Nick is a terrific musician and I watch him demo a lot of kits! Bravo!
Thanks Don! Great to hear from you!
@@TheRhythmaker Not so many people do know that Ludwig started making those 3ply shells (mahogany-poplar-mahogany with maple re-rings) back into the 20s, But you do! Kudos for that. It sounds like Ludwig finally put the right person in the right place (...well, if you're still working for them...). Anyway many many thanks from an Italian Ludwig 3ply enthusiast and avid collector!
Ludwig drums are the best. I've been playing them for 43 years. Nothing comes close.
I dig this little dude.
Thank you Ludwig. Been playing Ludwigs since the early 80's and still do today. I will never give up my Supraphonic!
Check out Nick. He's turning into the Guy Fieri of the drum world.
Very interesting video! The grandma rules!!!!
Loving the fact that the company has so much respect for an employee to not change the way the drums are laminated because of her craftsmanship! I have played ludwig drums I wanted pearl because they were all the rage when I was young should have bought these instead.
I know it's just because I am an old guy and grew with this sound but I always have loved the Ludwig sound. Thank you so much for the look inside the factory.
Really neat to see how much goes into making Ludwig drums.
Need to have an American made Ludwig kit before I die.
I have a Ludwig set from 1971. I finally got some new Ludwig heads and 60 style cymbal stands.
It's funny, I've seen this video many times and yet no matter how much I seen this or any other videos, I'll find myself coming back and rewatch some previous watched videos.
Dang! I wanted to hear that drum! Thanks for the video!
I have never been a fan of wraps but that woman might of changed my mind! Now I can't decide if I want Ludwig or DW
Can't go wrong with a Yamaha kit. In my opinion, they sound better than either one of these brands and are more reasonable in price than DW. PLUS, their hardware is the best in the business! (I own two Yamaha kits, so I'm a bit biased) But I've played both Ludwig and DW and I was never truly impressed with either.
I still have my original 1968 super classic set of sky blue pearl Ludwig’s.
Great video! I live in NC and have used Ludwig for over 30 years, stopped by once but it was a Sunday (closed). I walked around and took a few pics, would love to take a tour inside someday.
I love Ludwig drums!! My second kit was a Ludwig vistalite 9 pc. All Zildjian Constontalope 6pcs cymbals. I’ve probably misspelled some of these words so, my apologies . Any way, the best kit I ever had. Oh, I also had all Ludwig Speed King pedals and all Ludwig hardware with it also. Like an IDIOT several years after buying I got in a hard way and sold them for nearly nothing.. I’ve many times wanted to kick myself not only now how much I see this stuff is Worth! OMG!!$$$$. But just because I loved those drums and how they sounded and played. I miss them. Props to Ludwig on their Awesome products and staying American Made. Just shows how great and the Pride American Workers take in what they put out! THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS!!!🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🙏🙏
Craftsman and craftswomen working, creating high quality products that artists will employ to entertain us. Brilliant
I have two Ludwig classic maple 7ply drum sets, A 2011 in black oyster and a 2016 in green sparkle and I love them both. It is cool to see what go's into making them and some historical background as well. I am proud to be a Ludwig family member.
Love to have a nice set of cymbles
Pretty neat. Thanks for allowing us to see the process.
I'm so glad I have a set of classic maple.
I've always heard great things about how good the Classic Maples sound. I don't care for Ludwig hardware and the overall look of most of their drums but I'm glad they're still doing what they do.
Ludwig since 1909! I have a Ludwig stainless steel smoke and Fire with 14 15 18 in Toms and 24 Bass with a hammered bronze snare drum. Also have a75 vistalite project kit. A 1948 wfl wood snare with rock maple reinforcing rings, a black beauty that I got at Salvation Army for $30 made in North Carolina and a acrylite
Ludwig is class!
It is amazing wow.
Fascinating tour! The manufacturing process is more detailed, hands-on, and involved than I had imagined.
This was awesome.. what a cool experience for you to have, Thanx Nick!
Loving these factory videos!!! So much fun
I enjoy them, as well, but I always want to see how the wooden sheets come to be. These vids always start with stacks of the sheets, in the factory, ready to go. I know it's a minor detail, I suppose, but let's see something start out as a tree/log and then get to the finished product. Or maybe start with whatever forest or orchard they grow the trees in.
I remember Terry from Sam Ash in Edison NJ .
LEGENDARY BRAND !! FOR LEGENDARY DRUMMERS !!!!......................
An American company, through and through, made with skilled hands and love..... NC strong!!!
I just ordered a Keystone X kit and now i'm even more excited by watching this. Thanks Sweetwater!
Let’s take that drum factory tour right now!
PS. MR.LUDWIG A GREAT MAN AND GREAT DRUM COMPANY.
Thanks Nick, your persistence and courageously attitude about the music and the musical business are be recompensed!🎉
Thanks for this video, very lucky to visit the factory!
LOVE Ludwig ! - Chip Barkhouse The Drummist
Nice video. Really well done. Informative. I bought my Ringo Pearl finish kit in 1973 and it's still a great set of drums.
I live 15 minutes from the Ludwig factory and toured it a few years ago. I will say that the drilling process is now automated unlike this video. I met Terry in the video as well as Anne. My cousin worked here for many years. It’s very much handcrafted and that’s one of the reasons it’s more expensive. In spite of what some will say, they moved here because of the many people with furniture experience. Yes, the labor is cheaper because it’s less expensive to live here. For some reason, people don’t comprehend that you can live just as well making less if it costs less to live in a particular place. For instance, if gas is 3:00 rather than 6:00, you don’t have to make as much to fill your tank. It makes the area much more attractive to businesses to move to a place with a lower cost of living.
Fantastic, Bravo! Ludwig
Awesome video. Ludwig fan since I started learning how to play back in 1965.
Beautiful Drum with a beautiful finish. I remember sparkle blue. I guess you can always go back to an old color.
I toured that factory back in 2014! Very cool
My dad played Ludwig for years. He had a set with the Top Hat, Glove, and Cane finish.
Hey It's Tama's very own Terry Bissette !
Hahaha! Yes. Had a GREAT run with Tama for 10 years. And now I'm here with Ludwig! THX!
@ The Rhythm Maker, Hey Terry! Man I'm curious, if you can talk about it here... Do you have a preference for Tama or the Ludwig? Or is it like you said, you just wanted the sound for the genre? No worries if ya can't talk here. I understand the conflict of interest between companies.
But THE EYE PROTECTION THOUGH! ! What the holy hell?? Cmon Man!! Lol
I want me some Ludwig drums !!!
Great video and insight! More of these videos in future please!
That was fun. Love dem lugs!
Pretty awesome... well done video. Thanks for posting...
30 minutes from my home. Holy crap.
You are so lucky you have no idea. I was just telling my friend this morning that you have the best job in the world. Not to mention your drumming is incredible.
Finally a modern Ludwig video
Watching this makes me appreciate my DW kit even more.
Dw drums are overrated as hell. I owned a collectors and a performance series at one point and there was no difference in sound between the two lines to justify a 1k price hike. Dw are like the Ford mustang of drums. Sonor, sakae, Canopus, noble and Cooley, George way are all better. Also dw lugs are huge and ugly too.
Love this! I own two usa made ludwig kits a classic maple and a vistalite!
You know Nick D is not only an excellent drummer, but an great rep for the drum world. HE is great Insporation for drummers and really good. He could def help me to be a better drummer. Love you Nick. He can teach me anytime, I would be Honored.
Im putting together a ludwig drumset apiece at a time , i love ludwig drums cant wait .
I’m not a drummer, but all my favorite drum sounds recorded are Ludwigs
Great to see Ludwig is still using mostly hands on labor to create their drums, and not a factory line of robots and automated machines. Their shells with reinforced flanges are best sound that's ever been and probly will be...tough to compete with perfection.
after owning 60+ drum sets, 28 at one time!
I've sold them off and kept the yellow Yamaha hipgig and my Vintage silver sparkle! Ludwig with Keystone badge.
22,14,16. Carl Palmer snare with a black acrolite to the left.
outfitted with pAisTe sound formula.. True Drum Porn.
it don't get more Iconic than Ludwig...
Nick interviewing Harvey Keitel at the Ludwig Factory.
restored my faith!
This is good research. I'm gonna be working in this factory soon
Im not even a drummer and this makes me want a Ringo set!
I have one! Not sure if it was worth the price, but the downbeat kits are the best sounding drums you can buy.
Fascinating.
Very interesting.. cool they still use the old techniques..
The best ludwig drumkit in my opinion... is the amber vistalite that john bonham used to play on. Very beautiful piece.
The FOX used Ludwig kit, and i always loved that Ludwig has all the sizes. From 6" all they low to deeper sizes , i love toown one. But than that had to be a mirror chrome finish, like the Chikara series of the Fox :) Damn :)