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Ludwig Rolls Out Lines toCelebrate 100 YearsLudwig will celebrate its 100th year inbusiness in 2009, but the century-oldcompany has already begun to announceits anniversary products.Its first anniversary series, the LudwigCentennial Series Maple Drums, wereannounced this summer. The series featuressix-ply toms and floor toms, andeight-ply snare and bass drum mapleshells. Centennial’s three “core” shellpacks each come standard with a bass drum,a 12-inch rack tom, 16-inch floor tom andsnare drum. A player can customize the setwith a range of kick, snare and componentdrums. Finish options include transparenthigh-gloss and Ludwig’s new SuperFlakeSparkle lacquers. In addition to the Centennialkits, Ludwig has plans for more sumptuousbirthday goodies. The engraved Black Beautyis a limited-edition black nickel-plated snaredrum. The outer engravings, hand-carved byJohn Aldridge, expose the bright shine of thenatural brass shell underneath. Sold as an editionof 100, the Black Beauty won’t be cheap;but it’s not nearly as lavish as Ludwig’s forthcomingGold Triumphal snare drum. The serialnumbers of the 100 snares, each hand-platedin gold, correspond to each year of thecompany’s existence.“It’s going to be the greatest collector’sThe name, Complex Ride,trumpets the nuance inthese three new ZildjianKs, the second series in Zildjian20-inch Ka line designed with BillComplexStewart. They combine Ridethe classic K drynesswith more untamed shadingsand unlikely responses.Heavy up on the 22-inch and itmight put the brakes on a little. Paint softlyon the 20-inch and listen hard to the colorswhirling. Sting the modest bell on the 24-inchand hear otherworldly overtones open up.The 20-inch seems to be the thickest andheaviest, and it has that classic dark and deepK tone. It delivers crisp sticking sound with awood tip, and the overtones build but don’toverload. The bell is on the small size—playable—and because of the thickness it canget loud. This cymbal has a traditional lathingon top, and a “scratch” lathing—a morerough, large-groove finish—underneath. Iwould play this cymbal on any kind of jazz gig.The 22-inch is a beautiful cymbal for jazz.You can lay into it hard and it doesn’t blowout. It has one of the most beautiful washes—drum that we’ve ever produced,” said JimCatalano, Ludwig band and orchestra director.The company will also produce a line ofspecial drum sets that pay tribute to its keyartists. “One [set] will be what we’re callingour Fab Four Outfit. It’s a replica kit that honorsRingo Starr, one of the guys who put uson the map,” Catalano said.The company is currently creating its 100thanniversary DVD, which features Ludwig factorytours and interviews with Ludwig artistsand company heads.“Our mission is to respect the people wholook at Ludwig as that traditional vintage company,but also to attract the more moderndrummer,” Catalano said. “We still treatLudwig like a family. We’re responsible forcarrying on that tradition.” —Mary Wilcop»More info: ludwig-drums.comyou don’t mind hearing theovertones build up. Thebell design, which has aless-pronounced profile,allows the drummerto control the volumemore. The 22- and24-inch Complex Rideshave a traditional lathing ontop, with “scratch” lathingunderneath almost to the edge—the outer2 inches is unfinished and slightly thicker.The 24-inch is a monster of a cymbal, butit’s a gentle giant. It has the largest “wash” ofthese three, but it is never whiny. Dependingon how you play it, the sound can get big, sorock and jazz players should check this cymbalout. The bell, while not a huge target, is a lotof fun to play around with—it can yield a lot ofdifferent exotic bell sounds, agogo and cowbell-ish,with their own beautiful overtones.The edge of the cymbal has a bowl-like flangedownward, which adds to the excellent control.MSRP: 20-inch Dry Complex Ride II, $559;22-inch, $663; 24-inch, $769. —Robin Tolleson»LudwigCentennialmaple drumsZildjian K Custom Dry Complex Ride II:Stewart’s Untamed ShadingsOrdering info: zildjian.comNovember 2008 DOWNBEAT 65