OK, let's get detailed here because, if you're dropping this kind of money on a kit, you want to know...
** Packaging **
The kit arrives in 3 boxes which are absolutely stuffed full of protective polystyrene and bubble wrap. Each drum is already fully assembled with hardware and heads already installed. The floor tom legs are not attached, but are provided taped to a piece of cardboard.
** Shells **
The shells are extremely well built. Bearing edges are flawless and silky smooth to the touch. The interior finish of the wood (which I believe receives a thin protective coating) is smooth, consistent, and looks extremely high quality.
Important: If you don't remove at least one head and get in for a good sniff then you are missing out.
** Finish **
Trying to find a word to describe the wrap is very difficult. "Lush" comes to mind. There is a depth to the wrap as if it had been coated with a liquid. It's absolutely stunning.
** Hardware **
Classy bling. It looks great and every tension rod is smooth in operation. I am a huge fan of the simplicity and discretion of the A.T.L.A.S. tom mount: You'd never know it was there and the tom would look great on a snare stand. Floor tom and kick drum legs are rock solid. The brass keystone badges are discrete and exude a confidence that these drums were built by people who know that they are building the best.
** Heads **
The only negative. The supplied heads aren't great, but I had already anticipated this and had ordered replacements for all heads except the resonant kick head. To get the best out of this kit, you'll need to do the same.
** Sound **
Overall, this kit is loud with that beautiful maple providing plenty of sustain. Tuning ranges are wide - even on the 9"x13" tom - which gives great versatility to the kit.
Although shallow at 14", the kick drum is a beast. It provides instant attack with great sustain, there were some overtones, but adding an EQ Pad - which lightly touches both the batter and reso - soon put an end to that. To me it produces the perfect "Boof" sound that I look for in a kick.
Toms tune easily and provide as much sustain as you could ever need. For my personal taste, I found that a 2-ply head and a half a Moongel on each tom gave me the sound I had always heard in my mind.
** Overall **
This is a beautiful shell pack that many will be aspirational for many drummers. At this price point, you expect the best and Ludwig delivers in spades. The only gripe - and it is a reasonable gripe - is that the stock Ludwig heads aren't great and you do need to budget for replacing them.
