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Founded in the early 1900s, Ludwig is a company that's been on the radar for well over a century. But if you were to ask any music historian what really made Ludwig famous, they'd tell you that it's the snare. The first Ludwig snare drums were introduced in the 1920s, and word quickly spread about the impressive sound and build quality coming out of the modest Chicago workshop. That word never really stopped spreading, and almost a century later, drummers are still excited to talk about these world-class snares.
Without a doubt, the most well-known of all Ludwig snare drums are the Black Beauty series. Although they've been around since the '20s, to this day no other manufacturers have managed to successfully duplicate their tone. It's not for lack of trying - they're just that good. A few examples of these drums would be the Ludwig Supraphonic Black Beauty Snare Drum and Hand Hammered Black Beauty Snare Drum with Imperial Lugs. Based on the same nickel-plated brass shells as the original vintage models, they have a sound that's all their own.
Of course, as impressive as the Black Beauties are, they may not be every drummer's cup of tea. If you're looking for the warmer sound of a wood-shelled snare, for instance, you'll like the Ludwig Epic Brick Birch 20-Ply Snare Drum. Not all of Ludwig's metal drums are brass, either - they've also got the Ludwig Steel Snare Drum and Acrolite Limited Edition Aluminum Snare Drum, each of which can give you a completely different character of sound.
Whether you opt for the legendary Black Beauty or any other Ludwig snare drums, you can rest assured that they'll deliver amazing performance. Choose the material and size of snare based on the tone you're looking for, get the drum tuned up the way you like it, and let Ludwig handle the rest - their century of experience certainly proves they can handle it.