WFL III Drums:
WFL III Drums is the latest chapter in the Ludwig Family’s legacy and love affair with drums and drum building. Since my last review, William F. Ludwig III has again raised the bar and made these drums even better.
For this review, I received a lot of drums to put to the test. As before, I wanted to see the Natural Maple finish as I tend to look at this particular finish as one that really sets the standard for how many of the “non-wrap” finishes will go.
The difference between the new version of the Natural Maple finish and that of the review kit from my last review was truly night and day! The old version was of a more aged and golden hue, (a really great look!) while this new version was bright, very clear, and clean, bringing out the very best of the wood grain. This finish was really well done! It also showed more character and color while under stage lights than the previous version.
WFL III Drums have beefed up all their categories of finishes, offering stains that can fade and burst, standard and premium paints that also fade and burst, as well as standard and premium wraps and sparkles.
SPECS
All toms and the snares were furnished with chrome hardware and standard 2.3 mm triple-flanged counter hoops. The snare featured a Trick 3-step strainer and butt, and 20 strand snares. WFL III’s metal badge features a unique open vent system that incorporates a vented Roman numeral “III” logo to allow air to pass freely through the shell. Hand-finished, 45 degree round-over bearing edges also help provide for that coveted vintage sound.
The Generations Series maple shells were made of a decades old and time-tested shell formula that sandwiches a ply of poplar between two thinner plies of maple. The raw shells are custom made by Keller to Bill’s specifications while all woodwork is done in-house by WFL III craftsmen.
This formula was created by Wm. F. Ludwig, Sr. and has been up-dated by Bill III to modern tolerances and specs. This thin quarter-inch, three-ply shell is reinforced top and bottom by five-ply maple glue rings (that’s eight plies top and bottom, three plies in the middle!), a shell construction that effectively allows the shell to richly resonate with a real fullness.
Also new are the up-graded Custom Deco Lugs. As if a nod to his Grandfather, Wm. F. Ludwig, Sr. and the original WFL Drums, WFL III Drums have again gone back to the 1930s for inspiration for the design of these lugs. Bill III designed a lug that is actually smaller than the “box-style” 30s inspired lug he formally used, and they actually look stronger! Bill incorporated a long Roman numeral “III” down the center of the lug while maintaining a “three-step” empirical look common in 1930s design.
One detail I noticed was that Bill moved the central anchoring of the kick drum lugs about one inch further back on the shell from the bearing edge, as opposed to the traditional positioning that WFL III Drums was initially using. Placing the lug about an inch off the bearing edge is a practice utilized by some current drum builders and was also a common practice in several vintage drum designs.
Placement of the lug further back on the kick shell increases the amount of wood area between the lug and the bearing edge, thus providing more stability and strength in that part of the shell. I have to believe that this would create less stress on the edge of the shell and result in a slightly lower fundamental shell pitch.
SOUND
I found, whether playing these drums acoustically or mic’d, the sound was full and rich with a clean earthiness and power. The drums responded very well to different tunings with a variety of different heads. They fit very well with all styles of music. If you’re after a rich, “vintage” sound, these drums are a very good place to start. You won’t go wrong!
OUTRO
Having been sent more than enough drums to adequately provide a competent review, I was able to put together different configurations of kits. I started with a standard four-piece kit of traditional sizes and built right up to a large, double-bass kit reminiscent of the “power rock kits” of the 1970s and 80s. This is something that “B III” knows a lot about! In keeping with the larger sized set-ups, a gong bass drum is also available in different sizes. This drum is a real thumper!
After writing several reviews for WFL III Drums over the past few years, the one thing I’ve noticed, and truly appreciate, is the commitment to constant improvement. Every time I come in contact with William F. Ludwig, III and this ever evolving drum legacy, I’m reminded of the incredible love and commitment, knowledge and experience that go into each detail. Every time I sit down to review this company’s instruments, it just gets better! These are world-class drums. Check them out at wfliiidrums.com.
From Lancaster County PA, Thoughts From The Shop….
Brian Hill