This Ludwig Limited Edition Solid Ply Tulipwood Snare Drum is a very special instrument. This is a result of over one year of development and research. This amazing drum is only available at Drum Center of Portsmouth!
The Ludwig Solid Ply Snare Drum Concept
Ludwig is the undisputed king of snare drums. The Ludwig snare drum legacy typically is with their seamless metal snare drums, like the Supraphonic or Black Beauty snares. Their wood snare drums don't get as much attention despite being very good snare drums. The void in the Ludwig line is the studio staple; a steam bent, solid ply snare drum that has that growl and body, like the old Slingerland Radio King Snare Drums.
The Noble & Cooley Solution
When it comes to steam bending snare drums, Noble & Cooley has likely bent more shells than any other current manufacturer. As America's oldest drum company, their wood working expertise has yielded some of the most classic snare drum sounds ever laid down on tape. When the topic came up for a Ludwig snare drum powered by Noble and Cooley, we decided to try all of their snare drum shells and sent them to Ludwig, who cut the bearing edges and beds, and ultimately concluded that the magic shell was Tulipwood. When Noble & Cooley was producing drums for the Civil War (!), the shells were made of Tulipwood.
The Specs
These gorgeous 14x6.5 solid-ply Tulipwood shells are finished in a Ringo-inspired Golden Slumbers lacquer finish that brings out the subtle grain pattern of the wood. The hardware features rugged diecast hoops, low mass tube lugs, and a spectacular P88AC throwoff. Tremendous care went into every element of this exclusive snare drum, and we believe the result is nothing short of spectacular.
The Heirloom Snare Drum
That's exactly what this is, a slice of American drum manufacturing in present day, captured in time. If we look back at the classic Ludwig Snare drums, especially commemorative ones, it's easy to see that they become highly sought after collector's items. If you consider the fact that this is a co-op with America's oldest drum company, Noble and Cooley, well, it's safe to say that this is not only an outstanding sounding snare drum, but a great investment piece. Take care of this drum, and it will take care of you.