WFL III Snare Drum - Classic Wood
We believe that the launch of the WFL III Signature Metal Snare Drum is the start of something very special. Our friend William F. Ludwig III (B3), having not been part of the Ludwig Drum Company for several decades now, has taken a leaf out of his Grandfather's book, embarking upon a journey to make drums worthy of the legacy of his family name.
We've been waiting for these! Signature Metal drum? Yes. Collectors Acrylic? Brilliant. Classic wood... FINALLY! Bill is muscling his way right to the top of the tree again with these seriously tasty wood shell drums. Maple? 3 ply. Think late '60s Jazz Fests but with a greater tuning range and a bit more thwack! Mahogany? Think '50s School Festivals but, with the cross-laminated 5 ply construction, more focused and precise. Both Maple and Mahogany shells have a classic Americana tonality that is most famously associated with old Ludwig drums. These WFL III Classic Wood drums are more refined in build quality than their vintage counterparts so tuning range, volume, sensitivity are all greatly enhanced. These drums are however still hand made, in Chicago and B3 wouldn't have it any other way! These drums are still very limited in availability. As with all of the WFL III drums, the rarity of these heirloom grade snare drums are not being exaggerated. We believe that the launch of the WFL III Drums three years ago was the start of something very special. William F. Ludwig III is representing his family's legacy in the truest capacity. High-end build quality made in city that brought his father their success. Bar the laser-engraved German Snare wires, every single piece and part of this Snare drum is made in the USA! Designed by Bill and manufactured in his city, this kind of rewrites the concept in today’s drum manufacturing world, as to what could actually be defined as a real Ludwig drum…
Specifications
Anyway, enough about its rarity! Let's talk about its specification. A choice of either 3 plyMaple or 5 ply Mahogany shells in 5 " and 6.5 " depths. The steam-bent, cross-laminated, hand-made shells feature Maple reinforcement rings and are therefore strong but are designed to produce the warranted seductive tonal qualities. Signed and dated too in black marker pen by the man himself, William Fredrick Ludwig III. Every WFL III Snare drum oozes that all-American high-end build quality you can’t fake by shipping your manufacturing to the Far East. The Maple offers more punch but the Mahogany has greater depth and is a little warmer. It's hard to pick between the two woods. They're both stunning. As for shell size, 5 " will give you a wider tuning range but the 6.5 " will add fatness at higher tunings. Again, tough! Very tough. Although let's be honest with ourselves her, you can't go wrong!
Harking back to the classic Ludwig ‘Bow-Tie’ design, the drum’s high-polished aircraft-grade Aluminium lugs come with the classy ‘III’ signature logo laser-engraved into their surface. Available in a choice of finishes. Check out the similar enhancement on the laser-engraved Trick GS007 multi-step strainer - something you won’t see on a mass-produced drum.
WFL III snare drums will blend into the aesthetics of any drum set worthy of having a Ludwig family made drum sit with it. With 2.3 mm (American) Steel hoops and choice of either Remo, Evans or even WFL III heads, this drum is prepared to take any tuning you want to throw at it, such is its natural versatility; and the icing on the cake?
The initial release of the WFL III Snare drum caused such a stir in the industry that many of Bill’s friends – all endorsed by other drum companies – queued up to buy the first ones. If we mention names like Ringo, Ian Paice, Nick Mason and Nicko McBrain then you’ll realise the pedigree you’re investing with.
These drum are a hell of a thing. They sound beautiful; punchy, deep but with classic American tonality - exactly what you'd expect from Bill having seen his other drums. The build quality of WFL III is something to marvel at and sits comfortably amongst all else at the top of the table. These drums are one of very few that will ever be made and are a thing to behold. Truly stunning to look at; modern yet with an air of classicism. Whether you're buying this as a collector, as an investment or to hit the damn thing, you will not be disappointed.
"WFL III Drums is more than just a company. It's the resurrection of a family legacy and creating a new breed of drums my forefathers would be proud of. WFL III Drums are heirloom-quality instruments that can be passed down for generations."
W. F. Ludwig III
Now go choose your shell finish, hardware finish and head options…
***Please note, each of these drums are made to order so there is a 4-6 week order time after purchase.