Snare Spotlight: Ludwig Black Beauty
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- Опубликовано: 25 май 2018
- We're kicking off a new collection of videos called "Snare Spotlight" where we provide an overview and demo of different drums, starting with some of the staples. We couldn't think of a more fitting drum to kick things off with than the legendary Ludwig Black Beauty.
With it's distinctly recognizable black nickel finish, the Black Beauty is a well known drum, though many drummers aren't actually familiar with what's so special about this snare in particular. When were they first made? What made the second run different? What makes this particular nickel over brass (NOB) shell so special?
👂🏼👉🏼🥁
Leave your questions, comments, suggestions, requests down below!
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I have my husbands Black Beauty. He has had it since the 70's . He used it on his kit right up to a week before he died in 2014. I would never part with it . Or his cymbals for that matter. I knew how much they meant to him.
Suede Dogs sorry for your loss. May he rest in peace.
Suede, thats beautiful.
💚
I´m sorry to read what happened to him...
You are a good woman
I say this for every vid but... best drum content on the internet hands down...
crosses my mind with every vid I watch
Thanks so much for your support! Glad you're enjoying the series.
UPDATE: For Christmas I FINALLY got a 6.5 BB and I gotta tell you it is FABULOUS! What a drum! I put my S-Hoops and RhythmTech Active Snare System on it and it IS, in fact, the snare that dreams are made of. It’s got that raspy pop that I’ve been after for so long-sounds I’ve heard on recordings like Orange Crush by REM, or Mark Brzezicki’s snare sound on Rain, by the Cult, or Malcolm Holmes’ drum sound on Southern, by OMD-all those tracks-it’s the same sound(!) And now I have it! Hallelujah!
I was lucky enough to record with a vintage black beauty recently. By far my favorite sounding snare drum I’ve used so far.
After 40 years of playing i ve just purchased one!!. Very happy … thx for the video, relevant and informative as usual👍👍
"Now we're super duper high". You don't even know... :)
One of the best videos I've seen by the way of explaining a drum. Great video, thank you.
I found one of these from the 70s (if I remember correctly) on Craigslist for like $150, but as I was on my way over to the guy's house (he lived just around the corner from me), he sold it out from under me to someone else. He had no idea what he had. Neither did I. I looked up it's value later and found out that it was worth about $1200. Needless to say, I was a bit butthurt about it. Great video, man. Very informative, and great production value!
I'm new to this channel.....and I'm hooked on absolutely EVERYTHING that you review, discuss, and play. Thanks and please keep it up!!
Welcome and thanks for the kind words! Be sure to share the channel with your drummer friends. Cheers!
Just love this channel. So informative and straight to the point. Thanks guys!
I have an early 80s black beauty super sensitive 5x14. I love it! Great video!
Great vid, clear and accurate review. I bought a BB in the 80s and it saved my wrists (everything was very loud then) but the voice and depth of the thing is just amazing, great snare, and I still have it and pull it out from time to time.
Blows me away that after all your work, and 20K views so far, only 488 could be bothered to hit like.
Love the way you instruct. nice pace with great information. Thanks
Great...now I want to sit here and watch your series...
I really like playing my Black Beauty. It is a great drum for sure. It's one of my fav snare drums. It looks great too. Nice presentation. I also like die cast hoops on my BB snare.
Love the Crazy Army intro!
Thanks for introducing this classic drum! All the best from Finland!
We do not deserve a channel this good
The magical BB's are the 2 piece shells from the 20's to the 40's, especially with single flanged hoops.
Nice video! I appreciate your care in info delivery and comfortable demeanor. Kudos!
The BB is unreal! A must have!
Your videos are great! thanks and keeeep gooooiiiiinnnnggggg
I'm not even a drummer, but I really liked the video. Thanks!
It's funny to hear that an attribute to this drum (via tuning) is that it can sound like a tape manipulated or electronic drum, a versatility beyond Ludwig's dreams!
Very nice buddy! Loving the content
Love that Crazy Army intro, great stuff!!
I’ve only ever tested these never actually got to own one. Super sensitive. It’s actually amazing how a drum 🥁 can be that sensitive. The crack from the snare is absolutely amazing
Presentation so good - subscribed straight away. Excellent
Ludwig snares are always hard to beat..
Love this best on high tuning.
Great featurette on the Black Beauty-I would love to have one of these! I've owned a '74 B&O-badge Supra since 1986 and it's been my primary snare since I bought it-it just really does everything I want, and the only other snare I'd really like to have is a BB. It would be interesting to see a side-by-side comparison with the Supra to better illustrate the sonic differences between these two exceptional snares. Thank you again for making this video-I thoroughly enjoyed it!
These are great sir - you really make this drum sing. I have one and still thought, “I want THAT drum” :)
Thanks again - this video really helped me a lot. Just got around to outfitting her with new heads and I am glad to say I was able to get close to what you did. How did you learn about using a ruler for the bottom head? It makes so much sense and yet no one ever mentioned this to me while I was studying drums.
I bought one a week ago... My first snare ever for studio sessions / Live.
Beautiful snare 🥁
Nice! Love my Black Beauty !! 😎👍🏻
I agree with all the previous speakers on the quality of your content, great job gentlemen. Looking forward to see more videos like this one, celebrating the greats of this industry. I myself love Tama Starphonic line of snare drums, maybe we’ll see some of those too? They’re not vintage, but still would be great to see what you think about them (my personal favorite is the aluminum)
Great info: Thanks 🙏🏻
I bought a Black Beauty in 1976 without knowing how special they were ($350 CAD) which was a bit of money back then. I still have it and it"s in great shape and still sounds amazing. It"s a 6.5 x 14 supersensitive.
I have the 8 lugged version of the 6.5".
Absolutely love that snare...it's sensitive, loud, never choke, ghostnotes are clear and sensitive.
Can't say anything bad about a BB...get one!
Great vid sir. Dead on. I like the intangible knowledge you possess. I own the 100th Anniversary model. It is my prized musical instrument of all my drums.
Thanks so much! That anniversary drum must be a real stunner! Thanks for watching.
-Ben
very loud but very sensitive... just like me
Same here 😂
Aw yeah
Really enjoying the channel.. thanks
Great video dude 👍🥁😎DC
Great 👍🏽 Drum 🥁🛢️ !!
Got this one
That medium tuning reminds me of the snare tone on Audioslaves's "Show me how to live"
Beautiful
Mmmmm - 6.5" Black Beauty. Something about brass shells give a nice tone. Love diecast hoops on snare drums too. Rimshots all day!
Really enjoyed the video, as a non-drumming engineer looking to learn more so I can get the sound I want recorded, the more examples of bands/albums where the snare is used the better... helps me picture the type and range of sounds possible.
Thanks for the comments, David! We'll plan on including more references when they're available. Glad to hear that we've got some audio engineers watching the series. Please do spread the channel among your audio engineering friends. Cheers!
I love the black beauty
Excellent education on this drum 🥁! Keep them coming. I’d love to see you to a demo on the Craviotto Walnut
Stuart, Jr Barrett It’s on the way!! :)
I have a bronze one love it
I've been using the 6.5x14 DW Black Nickel Brass model. It's a fantastic drum with a great price.
The Black Beauty is the first "real" snare for me, after having played the Pearl ELX snare for 16 years. It killed the need for any other snare for me. Even with a lot of dampening it keeps its presence and it reacts so well to any change you throw at it (different sticks, brushes, tunings, etc.). The only thing that is annoying is that playing rimshots will quickly lead to lose tension rods.
Greatest heavy rock snare ever.
Twice the price of the Ludwig Black Magic...twice as good. ?
Absolutely love the bronze Black Beauty..
I received my Black Beauty 3 years ago and it hasn’t left my kit. I kind of feel bad for all my other snare drums just sitting there in the snare rack. Great video on a great snare drum.
Sorry for being a nerd but in 2:35 you say two piece shells are welded in either side which is not true. They're two seperate seamless shells one on top of the other. The center bead is the connection, horizontally, and also they have bearing edges that are soldered-back to the inside of the shell, which I think is the most important. So these three welded circles along the shell does all the job, that's why we hear huge fat sound from 14x4 snares as if they were 14x8. If you ever find one of these gems please make a special video. you're great! thanks for all the info and effort!
I just got a 14x4 two-piece Ludwig & Ludwig NOB w/ 6-lugs. Amazing sounding drum. It can sound like a 4" if you crank it up a little, but it really shines at a medium tuning and sounds more like a 6.5". Having only 6-lugs keeps the pitch low and punchy - but it cracks at the same time. I've also got a 5x14 (8 lug) and 6.5x14 (6 lug) - they all sound way bigger than they look.
I’ve always coveted a Black Beauty, but after seeing and hearing this very thorough demo, I gotta say, my LM-402 honestly sounds better to me in all those tunings. My favorite snare, and I own one, is a brass Black Panther Wraith, and it also blows this drum away (for me, my taste). So I doubt I will be adding one of these to my collection of 31 snares. Thanks for the great demo! Very appreciative
My first encounter with a black beauty was back in the 90s. My buddy has one. It's actually a super sensitive version. Great sounding and playing drum. Just don't ever take one apart. Lol
I don't think a lot of people are aware that when Ludwig brought back the BB in 1977 they had a lot of bronze shells in stock & some BBs are actually bronze, not brass. Sometimes there's a little "BR" for brass or, a "BZ' for bronze stamped in the shell but, not always. The metal does affect the sound & performance of the drum but, not dramatically. I had a bronze BB & loved the sound. A really amazing BB sound is a 2.3 mm triple flanged hoop on the top & a die cast on the bottom. Crazy phat!
nice Cody..i have one!
Crazy army!
Really look forward to see what you cover. You should do a comparison on differeng hoops. Single, double, triple, and rollover.
It's funny you should mention that! We'll be putting something together in the not-too-distant future...
Sounds Like A Drum Couldn't do it without mentioning Gretsch!
Love your videos! Would you consider doing a Snare Spotlight on the Acrolite in the future by any chance? I'd be really interested to hear your two cents on that.
Cheers from Germany!
I believe they have covered acrolites in the past.
nice! want. need
Just a shout out that this is a great channel. Excellent job! I have quite a few snares but no Black Beauty...yet! Xmas is just around the corner so I might have to treat myself to one. ;) Also, being a Seattle native I've got to have a Keplinger too, right? I pulled a stainless steel one up from the basement of the studio we did our last record at and played it on half the songs - it was fab! This year Black Beauty, next year a Kep. I play a 5x14 Supraphonic 90% of the time - something I just find "is home" with 5x14 snares and that drum in particular (I have 2 heh) but it's going to be a tough choice on 5 or 6.5 when choosing which Black Beauty. Like the Supraphonics, I'll probably end up with both so shouldn't sweat it tooooo much. While I agree with the "You Only Need One Snare" video, WANT is a different story ha! :D At any rate, again, brilliant channel - all killer, no filler.
BTW, I went with the 6.5. Found a used 2018 for a steal and normally I wouldn't buy a drum sight unseen without playing but it's mint and well, this is a pretty known entity ;)
I hear people saying "this drum is versatile", but man, in some kind of way every snare could be versatile, there is really not right or wrong on drumming, if you keep the tuning to the "vibe" of the music genre that you playing, so thats pretty acceptable. A shallow wood snare is versatile and this metal made snare also could be used in every situation. i have seen metal guys using 14x5 wood snare and i have seen people from pop music using 14x8 steel snare and so on.
Loving the channel guys! Really great vids! :) It would be great to hear your thoughts on the old Radioking, or newer Craviotto, etc solid shell drums. I have a 14x7 solid shell Crav (which I love) and would be very interested to see how it compares to a radioking or similar.
Thanks- glad to hear it! We love Radio Kings though we don't own any ourselves. We do happen to have three older Craviotto snares between the two of us though that will definitely get some spotlight in the future. We're happy to cover vintage drums on loan.
always old but New Black yet true
Just found me one of these oldies …
Great demonstration of the BB. Do you have any thoughts on some of the bronze versions that snuck in there in the 80s?
❤️🥁❤️
you have to check out the new 8 lug versions. The sound is ridiculous!
Best snare ever period.
It’s definitely a popular one! What’s your experience been with the Black Beauty?
An incredible drum. But I’ve definitely heard better
+soundslikeadrum *The Ludwig® Black Beauty goes back to "between the wars."* Ludwig & Ludwig did the first iteration in 1925 with tube lugs and what would become the P83 release under WFL The second Black Beauty was a tube-lugger that packed a balanced strainer, the direct ancestor of today's P70. I'd like the next Black Beauty to use the seamless brass shell with tube lugs, 19-ply maple hoops, the P87 release, and the P34 butt; the P87/P34 combi was supported with at least two fine-tuneable snare units, and Grover Pro Percussion could build a combination cable snare with bronze- and nickel-would Swedish steel for the P87/P34.
Gadd March!!!
Great video! Would love to see other snares and even cymbals.
Thanks! We'll be doing as many as we can manage. Can't wait to start diving into the topic of cymbals!
thnx..
Great snare for sure loved by many people however the dw collectors series nickel over brass for half the price is probably a better value for your money. i have both and they sound pretty much the same to me with same heads and tuning range.
He's not kidding when he says they're loud, I just got a 5x14 and it's twice as loud as any other snare I have. Suddenly my ghost noting game and attention to touch have both gotten a lot more important.
Thanks (again) for doing your series! (Again!) great explanations...things I sort of 'know' but not at a gut level and your explanations help bring that information home for me. I'm curious why you replaced with die-cast on this one? (and I should definitely look...), I've seen some vids on choosing one over the over but curious about your perspective? Tx.!
Hey there! We actually didn’t do that ourselves, the drum came to us that way - a decision made by Abe or his tech I imagine. Considering what a big guy he is, I’m betting the diecast hold tuning better in addition to the more cutting rimshot :) cheers!!
Sounds Like A Drum Thanks! Funny, Paul’s orders (forgot it was from ALJr)! Lucky you! And cool to know!
Subscribed. I love the content you're producing man. I have a question. I love the positive points you made about the Black Beauty regarding the resonance, higher volume ceiling, and resistance to choking at higher tunings. Is there a snare drum you've encountered that exemplified this qualities but to a larger MAXIMUM? Like, what snare is the maximum version of these qualities?
I'd have to say this drum is your best bet. There are drums that have a higher volume ceiling and some with more resonance, but not really in a good way, The black Beauty is simply the best of these attributes. Once you play one you WILL want to buy one, they're fantastic!!!
Man that’s a good question - in terms of the most satisfying sound when hitting as hard as I can, the Tama Bell Brass is definitely up there too, but I think my Keplinger is my favorite for those kinds of situations. Not sure how, but it really has no ceiling that i can find. I’m very curious to spend some time with Q Drum Co snares too, the few I’ve heard in person were incredible :)
Usually thicker or rigid drums do this job, Pearl reference and pearl Ultracast are the names that come to my mind at first.
Federico Canuti thanks, yeah that seems to be the case. I ended up opting for a custom-made snare drum made from macassar ebony and fitted with all brass hardware and rims. I wanted something closer to the sensitivity of metal while still having that oomf and character of wood. We will see if the experiment was a success when I receive it.
Hi
like the video's and the knowledge
you have about drums. What is your feeling about the black beauty copies pearl ,world max and others? Also I have a 8x14 superlite chrome steel snare drum
What's your opinion of that line of snare drums.
Hey there! You're right, there are a lot of nickel-over-brass snares out there from a lot of different companies. Basically, the two things that can set them apart from each-other is the gauge (thickness) of the shell and whether it is a seamless shell or a rolled/welded shell. Seamless drums like the Black Beauty (and Supraphonics/Acrolites) tend to have beefier tone than shells that are rolled and welded because there is no break in the material anywhere to inhibit resonance. I have a Black Beauty-ish drum built by Chris Heuer for Drum Paradise which I believe is a Worldmax shell (not seamless), and it sounds fantastic but is a little drier and sharper in tone than the seamless Ludwig version. Regarding the Superlites, I love them. They're fantastic instruments for the price and I've actually been considering the 5x15" for my own collection :) I love it when a solid company can make a solid instrument that doesn't break the bank!
Mine is a first reissue from 1979. Has a Tama brass hoop and Tama brass snares. Think I prefer my DW Edge tho
Cody. Any thoughts on when to choose a wood shell snare over metal? I prefer the warmer sound of wood personally.
Hey there! Honestly no, it's an in-the-moment decision for me. Either the sound works or it doesn't. I"m reaching more for metal snares these days just because the sound moves me, but I really don't put them in separate camps fundamentally. My N&C snare is more metallic than my Acrolite and my Acrolite is more woody than a Supra or Black Beauty :) - Cody
The pearl sensitone is the best bang for the buck
Got one on the way!
sensitone aluminum user +1
Hi - great video - why no credits or intro to the chap giving the info and playing nicely? That’s just odd. Just “Hi, I’m ____.” Would do it..
I played the aluminum version of this drum all through high school and beyond, the 5 x 14 aluminum/chrome plated supraphonic, I think? A funky, versatile drum. Your clear, informative video convinced me that I don’t actually need the brass version, the aluminum sound is my sound. A little darker and warmer. So this was really helpful, that you recorded the drum at different tunings and very dry, no fancy EQ or reverb etc. Thank you!
Hey there! Thanks for the kind words and so glad the overview was helpful for you. Definitely no sense having a million drums when you know what works for you, especially expensive ones :) And I appreciate your interest in the the host! My name is Cody Rahn and rather than doing introductions in each video we decided before we began the series to just make a short "Who we are" clip that you can find on our channel. Cheers!
I have a Supraphonic, Acrolite and Black Magic snare from Ludwig and love them all (especially the LM400). I know that it is one of the most versatile snare ever, capable of playing in almost every conceivable situation. I had a question for you (and for anyone else for that matter); is there a comparable wood drum that has that level of versatility, vintage or modern? I'm aware of the rep of the Slingerland Radio Kings and the Rogers Dynasonics, but I have never played either drum. Looking for collective wisdom here, thanks for the input.
That's an excellent question! My personal feelings on this one (and Cody certainly may disagree) is that steam-bent shells often have such a wide tuning range and therefore quite a bit of versatility. We own three solid shell steam-bent Craviotto snares between the two of us (two of them birdseye maple, one in walnut) that have an impressive range and degree of versatility but they still have a recognizable character like the Supraphonic does. That question is definitely worth some consideration! We'd love to hear what everyone else thinks as well. -Ben
Noble and Cooley makes a fine steam bent would snare! I have one, 14/7.5. very versatile goes super dry and super high! Beautiful 10 lug brass and a very reliable throw off! It’s my go to right now. I also have a standard DW single ply but I can never get that Puppy tosound right! I to have a DW Craviotto, one of the timeless timber series in birch. I have no idea how it tunes because I am scared shitless to take it out of its case! Now that Johnny has left us, wonder what that Puppy would be worth today? I mean, I paid a bundle back in 2005! Anyhow, there are lots of great options out there today! Quite frankly, I wish I could find a supra phonic snare that sounds and feels exactly like bonhams! Peace out dudes!
Excellent question. I own a black beauty and love it's versatility. The only wooden drum that I have ever heard that does it is a Brady snare . Im sorry i dont know the exact model as it was a few years ago and i tried 3 different Bradys, however I believe it may have been one of the jarrah wood models. It was amazingly rich in sound.
@@johng7265 I sure wish Brady was still in business. I never got the opportunity to purchase one.That company built great drums.
@@davidsuprenant893 i cant believe they closed. Just jumped on their website to check after reading your post for an amazing read. Awesome handcrafted drums and snares. It is astonishing how many artists including giants in drumming, who are sponsored by large drum manufacturers, have a brady snare in private.
I got my BB back in the 90s, and nothing has managed to usurp it - mainly due to the quality of not choking out at full whack. But this one has cast hoops - any thoughts on the pros and cons of cast hoops on a BB ?? ( I’ve never played a cast hoop in 30 years - what a boring drummer !) cheers !
Hey! I honestly haven’t spent much analytical time with any other BB’s besides this one so can’t direct compare to triple flange, but they sure kill on this drum. Also for what it’s worth I keep diecast on my Ludwig COB always, but my old Acro has the original thin triple flange. I’d say grab a diecast batter hoop only and swap out if only to hear the difference. :) -Cody
Have you ever tried a Remo Gold Crown snare drum? Fantastic drums. A shame Remo discontinued them.
I’ve played a few used ones at some shops but haven’t ever spent serious time with them. They seemed decent but nothing surprising at the time. Would be curious to get to really experiment with one sometime. -Ben
I can't speak to the snare, but I have a very cool Gold Crown bop kit that's available! :)
The only snare you need.
I really don't care for the sound with diecast hoops. I really prefer a triple flange on most drums but especially on the Ludwig Black Beauty's and Supra's.
I just bought a B stock version and the only thing( besides the 300 less dollars) that's different is the badge!!!
Great quality videos, thanks! Bonham had a choice, the Black Beauty was NOT chosen, but to each their own.
I am late to the party, but there is lots of talk about how old Supraphonics and/or BBs are better because of (1) lighter hoops on the older drums, and (2) the lack of gaskets between the lug and shell (for Imperials). Also a bunch of talk about “lug splay” ruining the party on new drums. I don’t think I buy it.
I bet most drummers wouldn’t be able to tell the difference for the same drum, same tuning, and varying the light vs. heavy triple flanged hoops and/or with/without gaskets. Wonder if there is an episode there (I don’t have recording equip/budget/free time to do it myself). Anywho...
I have a 6.5x14 smooth shell with tube lugs from about 2010...it took 8 months to order it (back in the pre-reverb days), but I rarely stray from this rig. It is an INTEGRAL COMPONENT of my very soul. Thanks for the nice vids all around.
Lovely 4:50 5:33
Was the opening piece crazy army
It certainly was!
How do you tell the different ludwig snares apart in person? At my school I have what looks like a black acrolite and a supraphonic, but I can't tell.
Sure, I hear ya, they're all structurally pretty similar. Most likely any Acrolite you find is going to have 8 lugs and be 5" deep and any Supra is going to have 10 lugs. -Cody
Is there any real rationale for the difference in price between a vintage BB and a current one (aside from supply and demand and possible "vintage mojo" preconceptions on collectors parts)?
Came down to the comments hoping this exact question would be asked and answered. Well, it was ASKED, at least... :)
The new ones weigh the same as the old ones, ive checked,so the shells must be the same thickness?,im sure the earlier ones have a slightly bigger flange though.Dont know if the snare beds changed over the years.
Great work, put money and class aside , is the 70’s BB better than 90’s and 90’s better than 2023? Other than lug gaskets, are they exactly the same? Thank you.
The difference is the manufacturing process. The 70s were hand made and the 2023 models are hydroformed which means each drum is the exact same as the last. The handmade 70s versions have variations and some differences in the shells which makes them more desirable as each drum has more character and mojo. I have owned both….the 70s is better imo
How to choose between 5 and 6,5 depth? I play mainly rock music but sometimes jazz and metal too. Can anyone help me pls?
Were the Black Beauties from the 90s different from those of the 70s or the newer ones?
Los black beuty series B, sin número de series, suenan iguales?