Ludwig Acrolite or Ludwig Standard Aluminum - which is better?

[@jeffschultz6813]

Terrific comparison, Nick! I am so happy with my little Standard and have never had buyer's remorse for the $75 I paid for it last year. BTW, it was great running into you at Lowe's today!

[@NickCostaMusic]

That was a great find for $75 ! Great meeting you too, hope to cross paths again soon ✌️ 🥁

[@phillbr51]

I have my first Standard coming next week. I can't wait. I love the way they sound.

[@NickCostaMusic]

Nice! I was surprised by it in this video - enjoy it!

[@phillbr51]

@@NickCostaMusic I ended up loving it, but I also got my hands on a 71 Acrolite this week which I love even more. That "thunk" you get from rimshots, HNNNGGG!!

[@Dad.son_drums]

Great comparison, Nick! I have some comments of what I hear: - The Standard sustain the overtones much longer. Almost a full quarter note when the dampener is off. As opposed to the acrolyte that is probably only an 8th note long. That might explain the preference of the acrolyte for studio. Should be much easier to control. - It could be because of the different snare wires and the drum head, but it seems to me the Acrolyte will have a lower pitch in same tuning while having a crispier cut. The Standard will always be a little higher with less wire response as you explained. - My preference is for the Standard. Much longer resonance, higher pitch, balanced wire response and a much longer sustain. It’s more like a snare DRUM than a SNARE drum. But I do understand that for a studio, the Acrolyte offers much better control that to my tasting, the dampener will resolve on the Standard. I’m so glad I bought a Standard and saved money. Although mine is an S101 which is chrome over aluminum.

[@NickCostaMusic]

You made some great points here, @Dad.son_drums ! I agree - the standard just sang compared to the acrolite. Odd thing about the pitch, you can hear a cleaner tone from the standard in the lower tunings where the acrolite growled a bit. It's safe to say that even when @ludwigdrumshq markets a line of drums as "more affordable" - they still have a fantastic sound!

[@boinknook]

Both sounds absolutely great. Only thing, I can hear the snares vibrate on the rimshots of the standard.

[@NickCostaMusic]

I didn't even notice that until you mentioned it - good ear!

[@kicksnarehats11]

SO glad I found an S-102 in pristine condition like five years ago. It's been my go-to for everything but real heavy music ever since (I wish they'd made a 6.5" deep model back in the day!). Great sound, especially with some meatier 2.3mm hoops and some high quality wires!

[@NickCostaMusic]

Someone else said they did the same with hoop and wire upgrades. I gotta try that out!

[@sam-drums]

Thanks for another great video. To my ears I prefer the 1960's Acrolite for two reasons. The Acrolite shell and the bead gives it that special Ludwig sound that I did not hear from the standard. Also, the hardware particularly the lugs on the Acrolite have a better quality. Nick I have a suggestion if I may. If you have access to a Ludwig Acrophonic Hammered 5x14 LA404K snare, it would be great if you can create a video for it sometime in the future. That is a very unique Ludwig snare with a hammered Aluminum shell and ten Imperial lugs. Thanks.

[@NickCostaMusic]

Thank you, @sam-drums ! I cannot thank you for the continued support, and for following along. I agree, the acrolite definitely has the better lugs - I've heard folks say standard lugs can pop under tension, though I've never experienced it and got the drum pretty high in tension. Thanks for the snare suggestion! I don't have one, though I'll look into one and see what I can do.

[@alsdrumhang]

About 10 years ago I was offered an Acrolite in exchange for a piccolo snare drum I owned... and it turned out to be NOT an Acro, but a Ludwig Standard Aluminum. I love this drum, it's got so much versatility, and records amazingly well. Somehow, even with being in school band through high school, I've never owned an Acro... and if I'm honest, with the Standard on my shelf, I really haven't felt the need to get one. Great video!

[@timm1139]

Sounds like a fair swap to me!

[@NickCostaMusic]

What type of piccolo? Regardless, you got a great drum out of the trade!

[@alsdrumhang]

@@NickCostaMusic It was a Peace steel piccolo with (no kidding) 12 lugs per side. If you're into Mexican banda music, it's perfect! I got it during that whole embarrassing period in the late 90s when that's what we all thought sounded cool as a primary snare. And I fully disclosed to the guy that this was not an even trade and offered him money on top of the trade.

[@NickCostaMusic]

@alsdrumhang hey my 1st legit kit was early 2000s - floor model starclassic birch with a 13" piccolo. Traded in a Pearl International with 1 bass drum spur, no bottom hoops or heads, and a set of roto toms to get $50 off. I too, wanted that piccolo snare sound!

[@gnosticnomad8389]

I feel like ludwig just has the market for aluminum snares. My #2 snare is a 70s acrolite.

[@NickCostaMusic]

Totally agree! They just know how to make amazing metal snares - often imitated, and never duplicated

[@GolddenWaffles]

Bill Ward from Black Sabbath played the Ludwig Standard! If you think it can’t work for recordings, then think again people! It’s a Great Snare!

[@NickCostaMusic]

Totally agree - it's fantastic

[@NelsonMontana1234]

VERY close. I'd say the Acrolite had a tad more "bite." The Standard was a bit lifeless. But that's really splitting hairs.

[@NickCostaMusic]

Totally agree. I thought the standard had a bit more sustain though

[@timm1139]

Agreed, they are very similar sounding drums. I think that the Standard has a bit more ring or sustain to it in all of the tunings, whether the dampener is on or off. Maybe it would cut through the band/mix a bit more than the Acrolite? Thanks, for the vid, Nick.

[@kicksnarehats11]

Can't really talk about the Acro, as I don't own one and only played one once. But I do own the S-102 and believe me, that little thing CUTS! I put 2.3mm hoops and 24-Strand Puresound wires on mine and it's actually great for moderate to even louder and somewhat heavier music.

[@NickCostaMusic]

It was so interesting to hear how the acrolite began to dry itself out the higher it was tuned. Hopefully this vid showed viewers if they like higher tuned snares with a bit more ring, that the standard would be the choice!

[@NickCostaMusic]

I think I'm gonna have to try different hoops on the drum and see how it responds - I bet it gives it a great punch!

[@coryrace2017]

The acrolite has more of a usable tuning range it sounds to my ears as the standard doesn’t respond the same at super low tunings; not that I would tune that low personally but it shows what it’s capable of. I myself own a 90’s black galaxy acrolite and it might be the most versatile snare I’ve owned

[@NickCostaMusic]

Very accurate observation, and exactly why I try to create a broad tuning range for the videos. I love the 90s blackrolite, it was my first snare and I agree - it's super versatile!

[@nelsontorres1694]

Can you do a video of Lugwig 14”x 5” Questlove Snare is it worth it. Or can I up grade the snare wire or hoops. Wood or 2.3mm hoops chrome. I now this drum has potential I can make it sound better. I have batter side coated control by Remo and button the clear head that came with it. It’s sound nice but I feel something is missing. I have a cheap 10”x 6” snare by Griffin I up grade this snare top hoops to 2.3 Chrome hoops. And replaced the wire to 16 wire. Remo coated control. This baby really sings it’s my mean snare now. Even with clear dot by remo sounds beautiful. I know that the Lugwig can sound great if I up grade it.

[@janmalec7349]

you mean snare from the questlove signature kit?

[@NickCostaMusic]

The one that comes with a breakbeat kit? That's a pretty solid drum you definitely can "upgrade" with hoops and snare wires. Not sure if they come with 2.3mm hoops already, I'd recommend new wires and heads first to see how that helps - then try hoops (maybe a 3.0 triple flanged, or die cast to get more body out of the drum)

[@BrooksTheDrummer]

For some reason you can get a 60’s ludwig supraphonic for $400 but you can’t get a 60’s acrolite in good condition under $650

[@NickCostaMusic]

How crazy is that?!? Perfect example of supply and demand

[@BrooksTheDrummer]

@@NickCostaMusic I found a Ludwig 60’s acrolite for $400 and also a Supra for the same price and I’m struggling to decide on which one to get. What do you recommend?

[@NickCostaMusic]

The supra for that price. Hold when it comes to acrolites, they always pop up and can be found for much cheaper than $400

[@bryanherward4679]

@@NickCostaMusic a supra can do everything that an acro can do...low tuning, muted..taped to death...but an acro can't do the best of a supra

[@eademsedaliter]

Didn't watch the video yet but I assume he will say it depends on the sound you want and also it depents on the environment. Let's see...

[@eademsedaliter]

Not even close. They pretty much sound the same.

[@NickCostaMusic]

I try my best to avoid telling people which is better, but to have them make that decision for themselves. Everyone has difference preferences, plays different styles, hits differently, etc. and there really isn't a right answer. Whatever works!

[@NickCostaMusic]

Safe to say if they produce the sound you're going for, then either would do!