So, shoot me. There is a drum company that I love that makes awesome sounding drums, but I yawn at their hardware. Ho Hum . . . They have scarcely made any real change in almost 30 years, and precious few before that.
I looked at some serious competitors for an aluminum snare. Pearl has some really nice snares, nice hardware, solidly built, and it is very obvious that they are trying to innovate. There are some great design ideas.
Then I looked at Tama Starphonic aluminums. Wow! the innovation and detail that goes into these is impressive. They are a marvel of design and functionality. They are beautifully finished, and look like they could howl at the moon!
I looked at a few others also, but not boutique drums. I checked out DW, and a host of others. I came away with the idea that most mainline builders, when it comes to snares, are far more innovative than my long time favorite. I really wanted a great aluminum drum, and one came up on Ebay, so I agonized, hopped up and down, wrung my hands, and bought it. I have had several others of these and sold them. I always regretted it. I bought this one, and am fixing it up, and will never part with it! What drum was it? . . . . . . . . .
I bought another Ludwig Acrolite. Shoot me. Why did I do it? Well, to my ear, as innovative and impressive as all of those other drums were, there was just something missing. It is all about sound. There is just something about sound that a Ludwig metal snare produces, and no one else can duplicate. So I bought another.
Yup, another snare with average hardware, that doesn't have drum key heads on hardware screws, has a cheap, stamped, mediocre throw offs, only has 2 3/16 center lugs on all sizes of drums, so you can see all of that sexy tension rod thread hanging out, cheap bolt heads that tarnish, etc. Why did I do it? I tune them up with good heads and new snares, and that sound that comes out just brings a grin to my face. In the end, its only about, and all about sound. Ludwig metal snares have it!
Post script:
If Ludwig would keep the essence of the drums they produce, the spun metal shells, vintage bearing edges, beds, beautiful finishes, and add even half of the functionality innovations on the Starphonic, they would own most of the market forever. For now, I keep a supply of various wrenches and screwdrivers to work on them. But I keep buying them for that sound. Shoot me!
I looked at some serious competitors for an aluminum snare. Pearl has some really nice snares, nice hardware, solidly built, and it is very obvious that they are trying to innovate. There are some great design ideas.
Then I looked at Tama Starphonic aluminums. Wow! the innovation and detail that goes into these is impressive. They are a marvel of design and functionality. They are beautifully finished, and look like they could howl at the moon!
I looked at a few others also, but not boutique drums. I checked out DW, and a host of others. I came away with the idea that most mainline builders, when it comes to snares, are far more innovative than my long time favorite. I really wanted a great aluminum drum, and one came up on Ebay, so I agonized, hopped up and down, wrung my hands, and bought it. I have had several others of these and sold them. I always regretted it. I bought this one, and am fixing it up, and will never part with it! What drum was it? . . . . . . . . .
I bought another Ludwig Acrolite. Shoot me. Why did I do it? Well, to my ear, as innovative and impressive as all of those other drums were, there was just something missing. It is all about sound. There is just something about sound that a Ludwig metal snare produces, and no one else can duplicate. So I bought another.
Yup, another snare with average hardware, that doesn't have drum key heads on hardware screws, has a cheap, stamped, mediocre throw offs, only has 2 3/16 center lugs on all sizes of drums, so you can see all of that sexy tension rod thread hanging out, cheap bolt heads that tarnish, etc. Why did I do it? I tune them up with good heads and new snares, and that sound that comes out just brings a grin to my face. In the end, its only about, and all about sound. Ludwig metal snares have it!
Post script:
If Ludwig would keep the essence of the drums they produce, the spun metal shells, vintage bearing edges, beds, beautiful finishes, and add even half of the functionality innovations on the Starphonic, they would own most of the market forever. For now, I keep a supply of various wrenches and screwdrivers to work on them. But I keep buying them for that sound. Shoot me!