Ludwig Drummer - Ludwig Drum Collectors' Site for Both Vintage and Modern Drummers

Ludwigdrummer.com is sad to report that William F. Ludwig II passed away on Saturday, March 22, 2008. Our heartfelt condolences go out to his family and friends. His son Bill III remarked that his father used to play tympani in their church on Easter and he looked at this as though God needed another tymp player for Easter and his dad got the call. Whenever you hear thunder during a storm let's remember 'The Chief'.

Ludwig Catalogs on CD: Volume 2 is now available in our WebStore. You get 20 more great Ludwig Drum catalogs on CD for only $24.99 plus shipping. Click here for more info!



	Inside: Ludwig The good people at Modern Drummer Magazine have very graciously provided www.ludwigdrummer.com the permission to reprint this Ludwig Factory Article by Clint Dodd from the May 1981 issue of Modern Drummer Magazine. This is quite possibly the last article about the Chicago plant to appear anywhere before the move to Monroe N.C. We are very proud to present this to our visitors. Please show your appreciation to Modern Drummer by subscribing today. Click here to go to the article! Excerpt and image from Modern Drummer Magazine, November 2003 issue. Used by permission. Click here to subscribe to Modern Drummer Magazine.

The Top-10 Greatest Snare Drums!	By Harry Cangany in the November Modern Drummer
	Everyone needs to check this out! In the November issue of Modern Drummer Magazine Harry Cangany has written an excellent article on what he feels are the top 10 greatest snare drums in the past 100 years. I have to agree with Harry on his choices. I was pleased to see that 4 Ludwig models placed in the top 10. Harry also gave honorable mention to the Acrolite (so really that's 5). Though I can't tell you here which drum placed at number #1 (you'll have to pick up the latest issue of MD to find out) I will leave you with this interesting quote from the article. "While it's virtually a household name among drumming enthusiasts today, the fact is that the Ludwig Black Beauty stole that name." Excerpt and image from Modern Drummer Magazine, November 2003 issue. Used by permission. Click here to subscribe to Modern Drummer Magazine. Click here to check out Harry Cangany's DCI (Drum Center of Indianapolis) website.

NSMD Snare Drum Olympics!

The current issue of NSMD magazine is out and has the results of the fifth annual Snare Drum Olympics (SDO). There's good news for Ludwig...several top placings!

Also, if you love those airbrush paintings you see on motorcycles you'll want to check out the article on John Douglas who's specialty is custom painting drums!

Click here to check out the Snare Drum Olympics results (Adobe Acrobat PDF File).

Click here to read a snippet from the John Douglas article (PDF File).

Click here to subscribe to Not So Modern Drummer magazine.

'The Top 5 Most Influential Ludwig Endorsers in the Past 50 Years'

Visitors to ludwigdrummer.com earlier this year voted for who they felt have been the Top 5 Most Influential Ludwig Endorsers in the Past 50 Years. The contest ended on May 31, 2003 and the votes were counted. The contest is over and the results are in. The competition was very stiff with so many great endorsers to have to choose from. If when examining the results you don't see your favorite endorser in the position that you feel they deserve, please remember, I just counted the votes! Now with that out of the way! Congratulations to:

1. Ringo
2. John Bonham
3. Buddy Rich
4. Joe Morello
5. Ginger Baker
...Click here to see the top 25 winners.

To all those that participated in the poll we would like to say, "Thanks!".

To all those that didn't we'd like to say, "Shame on you" and "No bitchin' about the results!".

New! Our webstore now is offering our entire collection of Ludwig Drum Catalogs on 2 CD-Roms or a single DVD-Rom (for PC or Mac). The catalog scans range from the 1920s to the 1980s and are an excellent way to date drums and hardware. There are many pictures of Buddy Rich, Joe Morello and the other great Ludwig endorsers from the past. We're offering the Ludwig Collection on DVD-Rom (25 catalogs) or 2 CD-Roms for a low introductory price of $99.00 Click here to check it out.

	New! Interview with Jim Bonfanti of 'The Raspberries'.
	Interview with Billy Jeansonne of 'Vintage Drummer' magazine!

New! We've knocked out a wall and enlarged our WebStore with many new items. If you're looking for old WFL or Ludwig catalog reprints, catalogs on CD-Rom, or posters please check them out here.

The web store is open! If you're interested in Ludwig Catalogs on CD or reprints then please click this link for the web store.

Bill Ludwig's autobiography 'The Making of a Drum Company' is out and now available through Rebeats (Rob Cook's site).

Click here to view the press release.

Click here to read my review of it.

Click here to order it now!

Thanks for stopping by the Ludwig Drummer web site. This site is devoted to Ludwig drums, drummers, catalogs, and anything else of interest to Ludwig drummers and collectors both vintage and modern. Inside you will find photos, catalog excerpts, and articles on restoring and recovering drums as well as the history of one of the most beloved drum companies in the world...Ludwig.

Picture of the Month

Click here to see more pictures of the kit.

Check this out! This picture was submitted by Clyde Haig of Chesapeake, VA. We've all seen red Vistalite but have you ever seen a Red Vistalite Combo kit. The Combo kits were small budget kits offered in the 70s and until now I have never seen one in any Vistalite color or pattern. If there are more of them out there please let me know. Thanks Clyde!