2:22 That Ludwig logo on the saw was great to see. My '69 Hollywood kit was the first year for that Logo but still have the Keystone badge. The shell constuction was pretty crude back then as they were working 3 shifts to meet the Ringo demand. But, they really do sound good. I would love to watch them build my dream drums in person. Cheers!
@@hermansohier7643 Hi Herman. In the old days, the drum makers only had a front line kit and for beginners, they had student model snare drums. But for a cheaper drum set they had Japan or someone else build kits. Ludwig Standard was their entry kit. The Hollywood drums are top of the line drum kits. It was the name for their first 5 piece kit with 2 toms on the bass drum. 3 ply, Mahogany/poplar/maple. They do sound wonderful!
Ludwig Drums are made in Monroe, NC SE of Charlotte. Gretsch Drums are made in Ridgeland, SC between Charleston and Savannah. The factories are approximately 200 miles apart and it takes about 2 1/2 hours to drive from one to the other. Ludwig still makes their own shells, while Gretsch buys their shells from Keller Shells in Manchester, NH, which is about 35 miles from DCP. On a more personal note, the staff @ DCP flew all the way down to Charlotte, NC to make a video that was less than 7 1/2 minutes long. But then again, Sweetwaters tour of the Gretsch factory was only about 11 minutes, so.......
God, I've always loved Ludwig's. Could never afford them though. Even back during the peak of my professional drumming career, I had to settle for Yamaha rock tour customs. Awesome drums mind you, but never the Ludwig super classics I wanted at the time. Ludwigs are, and always have been, the most well made, greatest sounding drums, period. Why do you think their drums are in true fact the most recorded drums in history? Ah, yes. Perhaps someday.👍🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
According to what source? And you're entitled to your opinion about Ludwig. But to say that they are flat out the best ever is too over the top for me. If they were, no one else would bother making drums. Personally I've heard plenty of other manufacturers drums who sound every bit as good. To each their own.
Willy McCabe. Yes, you are correct. That was my opinion based on my personal preference for a certain tonality and timber. My specific reference was to the old "super classic" shell which they no longer make, to my knowledge anyway. In my younger days I had owned sets by Pearl, Tama, and Yamaha. I loved them all for their own unique, individual characteristics. But none of them had that certain something that I preferred but only heard in those Ludwigs of the time. All top companies make excellent drums, todays technologies make that a fact. I just sonically appreciate those Ludwig drums most. Just as I overwhelmingly prefer the tonality and sonic impact you only get from power size shells which sadly are no longer in fashion. That is all. Peace out and enjoy whatever drums you play/prefer. As long as you keep playing, thats all that matters. 👍
I played my friend’s pearl, Yamaha recording custom, gretsch and a Ludwig at his jam night. I liked the ludwig for it’s tone and pillow feel, so I got a secondhand classic maple and black beauty snare drum. Gorgeous.
I had no idea just how flexible the individual plies are before they are formed into the shell. And I gotta say, having a woman who's been wrapping drums for 30 years say how particular she makes me feel really great about the Keystone X kit I just ordered. Miss Ann seems amazing. Thanks for the tour.
I own a 1972 Ludwig kit with a 26 kick 12, 13, 14in toms, 16, 18in floor toms and a 1982 hammered Bronze 6 1/2 snare..It still sounds better than every other kit I have ever played in the last 35yrs.
Now I know why Ludwig drums are generally more expensive..the great craftsmanship of 'legacy' line drums like Rogers drums from the Ohio days, Gretsch, Slingerland, etc. looks to be carried on in the Monroe factory by employees who care for and are proud of their work. Fascinating video.
I had the Chicago factory make a three piece oversized kit that took two months to make and when I picked them up Buddy Rich was coming up and said "you're going to blow out people's eardrums with those", I told him "yeah I know!", this was in 1978.
Miss Ann is def a great person. I worked there for a bit,She was def is a loyal and loves her job. Kudos to her...she always was so polite. It's a good place for drummers to go see and tour and fans of Ludwig. I didn't stay, place was awful to work for and paid very little. Many worked there because most would say they couldnt find another place to work at and they were comfortable. If you see most employees are past their prime so I understood. Hope things are better now then before but I doubt it. But Miss Ann def is awesome.. there was also another Ann on the assembly dept she was also great.. I always wonder who received the drums I assemble.. mines would have the initials. V.F or Indio.( theres always a card that has 2 initials that goes along with the kits)
Soy Eduardo desde Montevideo Uruguay toque durante mucho tiempo con grupos localas y algunos estranjero y por asuntos economicos me quede sin vateria si en ese pais alguna ayuda como para tener 1 bateria comoesa que me poedan ayudar les siy nuy agradesido gracia desde ya
I have a hunch the care and craftsmanship was not this good in Chicago, at least in later years. I bought a new Ludwig kit in late 70s early 80s. Had one drum that could barely fit a head onto and another that had tons of clearance. Pieces rattled loose. They did sound good tho.
I'm assuming this wasn't shot in order because he sanded that edge, then cut some off and then set the shell down on a pile of saw dust to cut the edge? That's not very cool.
It’s nice to see the wood shells made in house and they’re kicking up their game with the exotic veneers. All the metal shells are made in Taiwan I heard. Just go around back to the loading dock and look for the empty boxes. It’s funny how no one will answer the questions of where the metal shells are made for ANY drum company. It’s just this awkward quietness and a quick change of subject. Whoever is making these metal shells is probably making more profit than all drum companies combined. It’s only the high end botique builders that are making their own shells and it’s with the raw finishes since we all know you can’t do metal plating in most any 1st world country for a reasonable cost due to environmental concerns. Besides the Aviation and aerospace sectors, Snap -On, SK Tool, Stanley and a few other tools makers are the only ones doing it here.
You had a chance to visit the Ludwig Factory with High Def cameras and microphones, and you show us 6 minutes and 50 seconds? Come on, show us the gooods. You could've made it longer!
You had a chance to visit the Ludwig Factory with High Def cameras and microphones, and you show us 6 minutes and 50 seconds? Come on, show us the gooods. You could've made it longer!
Miss Ann...how cool to see the girl who probably wrapped my kit. Thanks for posting.
Miss Ann wrapped my drums. How cool is that!?
I like Miss Ann. She does a great job.
She's a cool cat.
I'm so glad you had Miss Ann in the video. Definitely one of the unsung heroes of the drumming community
🤘🥁
does miss ann still work there now? 2023? I just ordered a wrapped kit and I want her to wrap it
As a Ludwig fanatic I loved every minute of this, so thank you.
I'm 64 yrs old and loved Ludwig Drums since I was 8 yrs old. Thank You for this video, I enjoyed it tremendously!!!
gorgeous looking snares
Enjoyable and informative video.
No frills .... no bullshit.
Looking forward to the next one.
2:22 That Ludwig logo on the saw was great to see. My '69 Hollywood kit was the first year for that Logo but still have the Keystone badge. The shell constuction was pretty crude back then as they were working 3 shifts to meet the Ringo demand. But, they really do sound good. I would love to watch them build my dream drums in person. Cheers!
I had a Hollywood in 1978,bought him from my drumteacher,he said that Hollywood was a sidebranch of Ludwig.Do you know anything about that? Thanks .
@@hermansohier7643 Hi Herman. In the old days, the drum makers only had a front line kit and for beginners, they had student model snare drums. But for a cheaper drum set they had Japan or someone else build kits. Ludwig Standard was their entry kit. The Hollywood drums are top of the line drum kits. It was the name for their first 5 piece kit with 2 toms on the bass drum. 3 ply, Mahogany/poplar/maple. They do sound wonderful!
Man, I started drooling when that Ludwig diamond patterned kit came up. 😍
The Birdseye finish was killer!
Love my Ludwig’s!!!
Love my 6.5" hammered bronze snare!! Thanks Dennis!! Too cool.
Thank you so much. Too quick of a tour. I could live there.
Ludwig Drums are made in Monroe, NC SE of Charlotte. Gretsch Drums are made in Ridgeland, SC between Charleston and Savannah. The factories are approximately 200 miles apart and it takes about 2 1/2 hours to drive from one to the other. Ludwig still makes their own shells, while Gretsch buys their shells from Keller Shells in Manchester, NH, which is about 35 miles from DCP. On a more personal note, the staff @ DCP flew all the way down to Charlotte, NC to make a video that was less than 7 1/2 minutes long. But then again, Sweetwaters tour of the Gretsch factory was only about 11 minutes, so.......
God, I've always loved Ludwig's. Could never afford them though. Even back during the peak of my professional drumming career, I had to settle for Yamaha rock tour customs. Awesome drums mind you, but never the Ludwig super classics I wanted at the time.
Ludwigs are, and always have been, the most well made, greatest sounding drums, period. Why do you think their drums are in true fact the most recorded drums in history? Ah, yes. Perhaps someday.👍🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
According to what source?
And you're entitled to your opinion about Ludwig. But to say that they are flat out the best ever is too over the top for me. If they were, no one else would bother making drums. Personally I've heard plenty of other manufacturers drums who sound every bit as good. To each their own.
Willy McCabe. Yes, you are correct. That was my opinion based on my personal preference for a certain tonality and timber. My specific reference was to the old "super classic" shell which they no longer make, to my knowledge anyway. In my younger days I had owned sets by Pearl, Tama, and Yamaha. I loved them all for their own unique, individual characteristics. But none of them had that certain something that I preferred but only heard in those Ludwigs of the time. All top companies make excellent drums, todays technologies make that a fact. I just sonically appreciate those Ludwig drums most. Just as I overwhelmingly prefer the tonality and sonic impact you only get from power size shells which sadly are no longer in fashion.
That is all. Peace out and enjoy whatever drums you play/prefer. As long as you keep playing, thats all that matters. 👍
I played my friend’s pearl, Yamaha recording custom, gretsch and a Ludwig at his jam night. I liked the ludwig for it’s tone and pillow feel, so I got a secondhand classic maple and black beauty snare drum. Gorgeous.
I had no idea just how flexible the individual plies are before they are formed into the shell.
And I gotta say, having a woman who's been wrapping drums for 30 years say how particular she makes me feel really great about the Keystone X kit I just ordered. Miss Ann seems amazing.
Thanks for the tour.
Thanks for watching. Miss Ann is something else. She talked until all of our batteries died. :)
The Keystone X is very good choice. I like those drum
Amazing that they would let you video their production facility.
I'm surprised they let us in the building.
There is certain equipment that cannot be photographed while on the tour. Much of the work is done by hand.
Here's a link to the photos I took in November. photos.app.goo.gl/VzVK5FCGZGaiUrd18
I own a 1972 Ludwig kit with a 26 kick 12, 13, 14in toms, 16, 18in floor toms and a 1982 hammered Bronze 6 1/2 snare..It still sounds better than every other kit I have ever played in the last 35yrs.
Now i know Miss Ann . She wrapt my lovley little Ludwig Set perfektly .
Drooling over those snare drums...and I want a Legacy Mahogany Kit!
Now I know why Ludwig drums are generally more expensive..the great craftsmanship of 'legacy' line drums like Rogers drums from the Ohio days, Gretsch, Slingerland, etc. looks to be carried on in the Monroe factory by employees who care for and are proud of their work. Fascinating video.
God bless you miss ann
I'll bet Ludwig sure liked it when Ringo showed up on the Ed Sullivan show with that band from Liverpool.
Something tells me Ringo kept Ludwig in business for a long time.
That was really neat! I'm stoked for the Gretsch tour!!!
Crafting drums is an art in itself
I just ordered a Legacy snare in Lacewood from DCP
Awesome, thanks so much Bill! Enjoy that drum!
Cool video. Thanks for posting.👍
They drill the holes in the shells with a CNC machine, not a C&C machine. CNC is an acronym for Computer Numerical Control.
Some of the holes are still drilled by hand, using equipment that Mr. Ludwig built. How cool is that?!?
I learned something today
C&C is a music factory.
@@paulkennedy4920 they make everybody dance. Now.
I had the Chicago factory make a three piece oversized kit that took two months to make and when I picked them up Buddy Rich was coming up and said "you're going to blow out people's eardrums with those", I told him "yeah I know!", this was in 1978.
Miss Ann is def a great person. I worked there for a bit,She was def is a loyal and loves her job. Kudos to her...she always was so polite. It's a good place for drummers to go see and tour and fans of Ludwig. I didn't stay, place was awful to work for and paid very little. Many worked there because most would say they couldnt find another place to work at and they were comfortable. If you see most employees are past their prime so I understood. Hope things are better now then before but I doubt it. But Miss Ann def is awesome.. there was also another Ann on the assembly dept she was also great.. I always wonder who received the drums I assemble.. mines would have the initials. V.F or Indio.( theres always a card that has 2 initials that goes along with the kits)
Was there ever a Part 2 for the Gretsch Factory? Or maybe I just can't find the video.
Its great to know Miss Ann wrapped my Classic maples
What about Vistalites? Did they show you any of those shells being formed?
Awesome👏👏👏🥁🥁🥁🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦
I want me some Ludwig drums !!!! 🙏
As an Engineer .... I see many prime opportunities to improve the manufacturing operations at this Ludwig factory.
I'm sure as an Engineer your family has many recommendations to improve your social skills.
How much does it cost to have one made custom order sizes and depth and choose a finish.Ludwig is my choice of drums 🥁
When The Ludwig give everyone their factory tour?
Awesome video!! When is the Gretsch video coming out? (Unless I missed it)
Makes me want to order a brand new kit.
Soy Eduardo desde Montevideo Uruguay toque durante mucho tiempo con grupos localas y algunos estranjero y por asuntos economicos me quede sin vateria si en ese pais alguna ayuda como para tener 1 bateria comoesa que me poedan ayudar les siy nuy agradesido gracia desde ya
I have a hunch the care and craftsmanship was not this good in Chicago, at least in later years. I bought a new Ludwig kit in late 70s early 80s. Had one drum that could barely fit a head onto and another that had tons of clearance. Pieces rattled loose. They did sound good tho.
35Year i used Supersensitive Alloy!!!Great sand
Were Carl Palmer's drums made here?
Where is this place?
6:17 - 6.22... antique and dusty fan...
Holes drilled via what machine? It was pixelated out.
CNC. They mistakenly used C&C
Noob question: Can you buy directly from them when you go there?
I don't believe so.
Drum Center of Portsmouth Thanks for the reply! Oh well.
Did the Gretsch tour not happen?
It did, but someone released an almost identical video like 2 days before we did.
@@drumcenternh That sucks...but I'm sure its still worth sharing at some point 🤷🏼♂️
I'm assuming this wasn't shot in order because he sanded that edge, then cut some off and then set the shell down on a pile of saw dust to cut the edge? That's not very cool.
Cool
It’s nice to see the wood shells made in house and they’re kicking up their game with the exotic veneers. All the metal shells are made in Taiwan I heard. Just go around back to the loading dock and look for the empty boxes. It’s funny how no one will answer the questions of where the metal shells are made for ANY drum company. It’s just this awkward quietness and a quick change of subject. Whoever is making these metal shells is probably making more profit than all drum companies combined. It’s only the high end botique builders that are making their own shells and it’s with the raw finishes since we all know you can’t do metal plating in most any 1st world country for a reasonable cost due to environmental concerns. Besides the Aviation and aerospace sectors, Snap -On, SK Tool, Stanley and a few other tools makers are the only ones doing it here.
06:21 What?!
EXOTIC SHELLS 🤤🤤🤤
To think this may be the factory where John Bonham's drums were made!
Not the same location, but the very same machines!
C&C machine :D
Karen Carpenter loved her Ludwigs.
Didn't even tell us the name of the city or state the f****** Factory was in
0:42 reading is difficult
Monroe, North Carolina
Drums, just like almost any other drums
To a 12yr old
Always a Ludwig fan , untill i saw a set withthe badge said made in china. Heartbreak.
You had a chance to visit the Ludwig Factory with High Def cameras and microphones, and you show us 6 minutes and 50 seconds? Come on, show us the gooods. You could've made it longer!
You had a chance to visit the Ludwig Factory with High Def cameras and microphones, and you show us 6 minutes and 50 seconds? Come on, show us the gooods. You could've made it longer!
No HD Cameras or microphones. Only a cell phone, so I think it turned out pretty well considering.
@@drumcenternh Still, it could have been longer! Thanks for your work.
@@SLArmstrong kewl