How to Put Together a Ludwig Drum Set
Drum sets have adapted with musical innovations. The trap set---the modern drum set with drums, percussion instruments and cymbals---came out of early innovations in jazz music. The rock era brought a new type of music where the drums were used as the principal rhythmic unit, requiring additional equipment. This article offers step-by-step instructions for setting up a Ludwig drum set. Ludwig Drum Company, named for the founder William F. Ludwig, has a following that includes noted drummers Ringo Starr, Danny Gottlieb and Nick Mason.
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Things You'll Need
- Ludwig drum set
- Hardware
- Drum stool (throne)
- Throw rug or plastic mat
- Drum key
Instructions
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How to Put Together a Ludwig Drum Set
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1
Create a spot for your drum set. The set will be easier to play and sound better if it is placed on a tile or wooden floor. This positioning, however, creates a problem with the drums moving while they are played. Place a thin rug with a plastic backing where the drum set will sit. Consider purchasing a rubber mat to take the place of the rug. Many music supply companies sell special drum mats.
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2
Assemble the snare drum first. The snare drum has two heads and a set of wires on the bottom drumhead. Set up the drum stand with the hardware and carefully remove the snare from the box or travel case.
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3
Assemble the drum stool (also known in rock music as the throne). Most stools are preassembled and require only a release lever to raise the seat and extend the legs.
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4
Test the snare while sitting on the stool. Place the drum stool and the snare stand on the rug or mat. Play a bit. Try different styles of drumming that you enjoy. This will give you the range of physical movement that you will need for your personal drum style. Adjust the height of the snare stand and the stool until you feel at ease.
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5
Set up the bass drum and attach the foot pedal. The bass drum is the largest drum. The space between the snare drum and the bass is left to your personal preference. Sit on the drum stool and rest your foot on the pedal. Adjust the bass drum until your foot easily reaches the pedal without feeling too crowded and without any stretching required to work the pedal. You'll continue to adjust this space as you practice with the drum set. Foot pedals, just like automobile pedals, have different action, so keep playing and adjust the action of the pedal.
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6
Set up the stand and attach the tom on the bass drum. The tom is the small drum without a snare. Some drum sets come with two toms and mounting hardware that fits on top of the bass drum to hold the set. If you don't like the action with the tom attached to the bass, consider adding a second snare stand to hold the tom. Once the hardware has been put in place and the tom attached, practice playing while sitting on the stool. Adjust the position of the tom to your personal preference.
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7
Set up the stand and place the floor tom. Some drum sets have a floor tom while others include a third hanging tom. With a floor tom, attach the legs and, while sitting on the drum stool, adjust the position of the drum. If the kit has a hanging tom, set up the mounting hardware and attach the tom. Test the drum position while sitting on the seat.
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Add the accessories. Some Ludwig drum sets have a bracket or holder for the drum sticks or various percussion instruments. Wait to attach these until you're used to the drum set to determine their ideal location and height for you.
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9
Tune the drum heads. Use the drum key to tune the drum heads. Tuning is a matter of personal taste and requires a bit of practice to perfect this skill. If you're new to drumming, you may want to wait to do this until you talk with someone with more drumming experience. Except for tightening the snare, the drums will be fine to play out of the boxes.
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Tips & Warnings
Visit the Ludwig website (see the Resources section) for advice in tuning drum heads, practice suggestions and style techniques. If you're interested in the history of the Ludwig company, check out Paul Schmidt's "History of the Ludwig Drum Company." The book features vintage photos of drums and famous drummers using Ludwig sets.
Read the assembly sheet. This sounds obvious, but the set looks so easy to assemble that most people just jump in opening everything at once. After the hardware bags are opened, and the identification numbers on the bags are discarded or mixed with other bags in the box, the assembly process becomes much more difficult. Each piece of hardware has a unique method to attach the drum. Resist the urge to rush assembly. Read the diagrams and the written instructions. Before buying a host of tom drums to add to the drum kit, play with the standard configuration. This will give you time to figure out your personal style and the sound you want. It may also save you quite a bit of money in flashy, but unnecessary, equipment.
