right|thumb|Ludwig Drums Exhibit at 'The NAMM Show' on January 17, 2020, in Anaheim, California

Ludwig Drums is a United States musical instrument manufacturer, focused on percussion. It is a subsidiary of Conn-Selmer.

Products manufactured by Ludwig include timpani, drum kits, and drum hardware. The company also makes keyboard percussion instruments, such as marimbas, vibraphones, and xylophones, through the Ludwig-Musser brand.

History

The Ludwig Drum Company was established in 1909 by William F. & Theobald Ludwig, sons of a German immigrant to the United States. William Jr. had been a professional drummer, playing with circuses and touring vaudeville shows, along with the occasional skating-rink gig. Since this work was irregular, he and his brother, Theobald, opened a drum shop in Chicago; they called it Ludwig & Ludwig.

The company added new products to its catalog, such as snare drums and timpani, in 1916. In 1917, Ludwig signed a deal to build rope-tensioned snare drums to support World War I. Theobald Ludwig died in 1918, and William continued on his own.

| image2 = Body of Ludwig Big Chief banjo (1930) at American Banjo Museum.jpg

| width2 = 154

| alt2 = Body of Ludwig Big Chief banjo (1930) at American Banjo Museum

| caption2 =The Big Chief banjo was highly decorated, with gold plating, engraving, and decorative inlayed wood patterns.

| image3= Back of of Ludwig Big Chief banjo (1930) at American Banjo Museum.jpg

| width3= 154

| alt3= Back of Ludwig Big Chief banjo (1930) at American Banjo Museum

| caption3=The back, in wood inlay. The banjos are highly prized today, but were ultimately a financial failure, the market having disappeared. The Ludwig logo, displayed on the front of Ringo Starr's bass drum, could be seen by the television audience of about seventy-three million people.

Ludwig acquired the Musser Mallet Company, a manufacturer of xylophones, marimbas and vibraphones, in 1965. In 2002, Ludwig merged with Conn-Selmer, becoming a brand of Conn-Selmer, Inc.

The Musser manufacturing facility remained in La Grange, Illinois, until 2013, and was then moved to Elkhart, Indiana.

Notable artists

  • Ringo Starr - The Beatles
  • Al Jackson Jr. - Booker T. & the M.G.'s
  • Alan Gratzer - REO Speedwagon
  • Alan White - Yes
  • Alex Van Halen - Van Halen
  • Aynsley Dunbar
  • Bill Ward - Black Sabbath
  • Bruce Crump - Molly Hatchet
  • Buddy Rich
  • Bun E. Carlos - Cheap Trick
  • Carlton Barrett - Bob Marley and the Wailers
  • Carl Palmer - Emerson, Lake & Palmer
  • Clyde Stubblefield - James Brown
  • Danny Barcelona - Louis Armstrong
  • Dino Danelli - The Rascals
  • Don Brewer - Grand Funk Railroad
  • Ed Shaughnessy - The Tonight Show Band
  • Ed Thigpen
  • George Formby
  • Ginger Baker - Cream
  • Hal Blaine
  • Hunt Sales - Todd Rundgren, Iggy Pop, David Bowie
  • Ian Paice - Deep Purple
  • Jabo Starks - James Brown
  • Jack White - The Dead Weather
  • Jim McCarty - The Yardbirds
  • Joe Morello
  • Joey Kramer - Aerosmith
  • John Bonham - Led Zeppelin
  • John Densmore - The Doors
  • Jon Hiseman
  • Karen Carpenter - The Carpenters
  • Kenny Clare
  • Max Roach
  • Meg White - The White Stripes
  • Melvin Parker - James Brown
  • Mick Fleetwood - Fleetwood Mac
  • Mitch Mitchell - Jimi Hendrix
  • Mick Tucker - The Sweet
  • Nick Mason - Pink Floyd
  • Papillion-La Vista South High School
  • Questlove - The Roots
  • Ray Bauduc
  • Ray McKinley
  • Richard Allen
  • Roger Hawkins - Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section
  • Roger Taylor - Queen
  • Ron Tutt
  • Roy Haynes
  • Taylor Hawkins - Foo Fighters
  • Viola Smith
  • Patrick Carney - The Black Keys

<gallery>

File:Beatles Ludwig drumset, Vox Super Beatle amplifier, Museum of Making Music.jpg|Ludwig drum set, in Black Oyster Pearl, used by Ringo Starr with The Beatles.

File:1918 Ludwig drum sets.jpg|1918 Ludwig drum set.

File:Ludwig transparent Drum-kit @ FUZZ Guitar Show 2009.jpg|Ludwig Vistalite drum set.

File:Ludwig Amber Vistalite.jpg|Ludwig Vistalite drum set in Amber.

File:Luis Cardenas Ludwig Drums.jpg|114 piece Guinness Book of World Records Ludwig drum set used by Luis Cardenas with Renegade.

File:Ludwig Green Sparkle.jpg|Five-piece Ludwig drum set, in Green Sparkle, as used by John Bonham of Led Zeppelin.

File:Van_halen_drum.jpg|Ludwig drum set used by Alex Van Halen.

File:Vibes joelocke koeln2007.jpg|Musser vibraphone

Ludwig Professional timpani 01.jpg|Ludwig timpani

</gallery>

References

  • William F Ludwig II Interview at NAMM Oral History Library (2002)
  • William F. Ludwig III Interview at NAMM Oral History Library (2009)