What was that brief 2013 Vinnie Goes Ludwig About?

[Stephen.DeBoard]

well...I was told that Vinnie showed up to play the New Orleans Jazz Festival with Sting expecting drums to be there provided by Ludwig.
VC went to the gig site only to find NO DRUMS waiting for him.Why? I don't know...but it was a BIG SCREW UP on Ludwig's part.
Sooo...Vinnie ended up "renting" a kit in Kenner Louisiana that would meet his needs.HE paid for it.I guess the drums were picked up or returned afterward.
So VC called Ludwig and asked that they REPAY HIM the $ for the rental.Ludwig,in a word,refused.
END of relationship.

Vinnie Colaiuta is an otherworldly, amazingly talented drummer.

However, if this story is true, is it possible that he pulled a diva attitude by expecting Ludwig to provide drums at the jazz fest? How open was the communication? I wonder if his contact at Ludwig was a friend or just a business associate. Most great companies will bend over backwards to provide the best customer support they can especially today when everyone gets an online review. Mix-ups happen and if Vinnie was cool about it, rented the loaner and then asked for reimbursement for the rental cost since Ludwig dropped the ball with a smile and a joyful attitude, if I was the person making the call at Ludwig I would reimburse him without question. If the artist is a continual thorn in the side and a huge squeaky wheel maybe they were happy to be rid of him regardless of his talent. I'm totally speculating since I don't know anything. It's just that I've been on both sides as I'm sure most of us have. If you're pleasant to deal with especially in the mix-up situations people are more inclined to help.

I'm of the opinion that musicians should play an instrument that makes the sound they are chasing. When a musician jumps from brand to brand as an endorsee it seems to me it has nothing to do with whatever the brand's instruments actually sound like.

Vinnie Colaiuta is technically a better drummer but I prefer Stewart Copeland with Sting. Stewart Copeland has a signature sound.

 

[Shawn Martin]

Alledgedly....

And then there was the Sting tour he did with that Heuer custom set Chris made him sandwiched in between Ludwig and Gretsch....I think...

HEUER SOLID OAK SNARE DRUM played by Vinnie Colaiuta | Reverb

HEUER SOLID OAK (single ply oak shell with 1 ply oak re-rings) SNARE DRUM USED BY VINNIE COLAIUTA ON THE STING/PAUL SIMON TOUR - ALSO APPEARED ON THE COVER OF DRUM MAGAZINE - I THINK VINNIE WAS BETWEEN GRETSCH AND LUDWIG ENDORSEMENTS AT THE TIME AND HAD CHRIS HEUER (look up article on Chris Heuer...

reverb.com

I recall a short period on Heuer’s site when Vinnie was listed as an endorser or “player.”

 

[hawker]

I was just raising a curiosity in posting the thread, was really just puzzling over how brief a stay Vinnie had with Ludwig. I was, I thought, asking about the drums

Appreciate the good guidance from those with enough info not to share it, and to steer us back to a calmer conversation.

I'm not gonna even ask when he raised his seat....

We could always talk about Buddy's quick turn-around from Vox.

 

[Shawn Martin]

We could always talk about Buddy's quick turn-around from Vox.

Buddy was PO’d at CBS for not recording his band so he left Rogers. Trixon (Vox) “supposedly” gave him around 50k to play them. I believe he had already discovered the Fibes snare, which he obviously loved, so after 6 months with Trixon he went to Fibes.

He loved the snare but hated the drums, so after a few months he was with Slingerland…but still played the Fibes snare a lot of the time.

 

[bpaluzzi]

Has Bernard jumped a lot? As long as I can remember he’s endorsed Sonor, but I hear him a lot more than I see him.

He used Sonor for a long time when he was making his reputation, but since then, he's been around a bit.

I seem to recall seeing him on Mapex, Slingerland, Ludwig, Taye, DW, Dixon, George Way, and others. He's with Bucks County now.

 

[TheDrummerFromAmsterdam]

He used Sonor for a long time when he was making his reputation, but since then, he's been around a bit.

I seem to recall seeing him on Mapex, Slingerland, Ludwig, Taye, DW, Dixon, George Way, and others. He's with Bucks County now.

Not as bad as Chamberlain

 

[bpaluzzi]

Not as bad as Chamberlain

Ayotte, DW, Yamaha, Craviotto, Ludwig / Dunnett, Gretsch... I'm sure some more too.

His Ludwig / Dunnett titanium kit sure was a beaut, though:

 

[TheDrummerFromAmsterdam]

Ayotte, DW, Yamaha, Craviotto, Ludwig / Dunnett, Gretsch... I'm sure some more too.

His Ludwig / Dunnett titanium kit sure was a beaut, though:

View attachment 595436 View attachment 595437

That one, and these two too:

 

[Matched Gripper]

well...I was told that Vinnie showed up to play the New Orleans Jazz Festival with Sting expecting drums to be there provided by Ludwig.
VC went to the gig site only to find NO DRUMS waiting for him.Why? I don't know...but it was a BIG SCREW UP on Ludwig's part.
Sooo...Vinnie ended up "renting" a kit in Kenner Louisiana that would meet his needs.HE paid for it.I guess the drums were picked up or returned afterward.
So VC called Ludwig and asked that they REPAY HIM the $ for the rental.Ludwig,in a word,refused.
END of relationship.

True or not, that is a believable story!

 

[Paradiddle]

Vinnie Colaiuta is an otherworldly, amazingly talented drummer.

However, if this story is true, is it possible that he pulled a diva attitude by expecting Ludwig to provide drums at the jazz fest? How open was the communication? I wonder if his contact at Ludwig was a friend or just a business associate. Most great companies will bend over backwards to provide the best customer support they can especially today when everyone gets an online review. Mix-ups happen and if Vinnie was cool about it, rented the loaner and then asked for reimbursement for the rental cost since Ludwig dropped the ball with a smile and a joyful attitude, if I was the person making the call at Ludwig I would reimburse him without question. If the artist is a continual thorn in the side and a huge squeaky wheel maybe they were happy to be rid of him regardless of his talent. I'm totally speculating since I don't know anything. It's just that I've been on both sides as I'm sure most of us have. If you're pleasant to deal with especially in the mix-up situations people are more inclined to help.

I'm of the opinion that musicians should play an instrument that makes the sound they are chasing. When a musician jumps from brand to brand as an endorsee it seems to me it has nothing to do with whatever the brand's instruments actually sound like.

Vinnie Colaiuta is technically a better drummer but I prefer Stewart Copeland with Sting. Stewart Copeland has a signature sound.

Not that this has anything to do with anything, but Copeland has a reputations of being a dick as well. He and Sting sure hated each other a LOT.

 

[drummer5359]

Has Bernard jumped a lot? As long as I can remember he’s endorsed Sonor, but I hear him a lot more than I see him.

I remember Bernard being with Slingerland back in the Gibson Nashville era, but that was a long time ago.

He played Sonor for a long time though, and that is the drums that I associate with him.

I think that he is playing George Way these days, or at least there are a decent number of photos of him playing them.

I seem to remember him briefly playing DW, but it could be my imagination.

 

[dsop]

If the artist is a continual thorn in the side and a huge squeaky wheel maybe they were happy to be rid of him regardless of his talent. I'm totally speculating since I don't know anything.

Wow dude.

Or maybe Ludwig... oh never mind...

 

[RobbiefromAtlanta]

I’m playing DW tonight. Next week Oriollo

 

[Stephen.DeBoard]

Wow dude.

Or maybe Ludwig... oh never mind...

I wasn't necessarily talking about this particular artist. He's a phenomenal drummer! I was just speculating about what could have happened behind the scenes since the people who seem to know aren't willing to disclose. I don't know him or anyone at Ludwig.

 

[dingaling]

I just noticed Vinnie’s signature Gretsch snare has 8 lugs, not 10. They don’t put that on their site and any listings don’t mention it. Must not be that important to advertise?

 

[drummer083]

I really struggle believing that Ludwig can't provide proper backline support. Especially when compared to Gretsch. Ludwig endorses several of the biggest touring rock bands out there still. That just doesn't seem like the entire picture.

Until Vinnie has jumped as many companies and Buddy, Bernard, or Vinnie A he's in the minor leagues....LOL

Ginger Baker jumped to DW after Ludwig failed to provide a kit for a gig in New York City, so I find it totally believable.

 

[Matched Gripper]

well...I was told that Vinnie showed up to play the New Orleans Jazz Festival with Sting expecting drums to be there provided by Ludwig.
VC went to the gig site only to find NO DRUMS waiting for him.Why? I don't know...but it was a BIG SCREW UP on Ludwig's part.
Sooo...Vinnie ended up "renting" a kit in Kenner Louisiana that would meet his needs.HE paid for it.I guess the drums were picked up or returned afterward.
So VC called Ludwig and asked that they REPAY HIM the $ for the rental.Ludwig,in a word,refused.
END of relationship.

That would explain it! Disappointing but not surprising! Would love to hear an A/B comparison of the Ludwig/Gretsch drums he’s played.

 

[old_K_ride]

Ginger Baker jumped to DW after Ludwig failed to provide a kit for a gig in New York City, so I find it totally believable.

Ginger wanted them to MAKE him a NEW kit...he gave Ludwig a weeks notice prior to the engagement...Ludwig couldn't stop everything for his request but informed GB they'd provide a kit in his configuration from a NYC dealer...he didn't take that news sitting down so-to-speak thus his calling Rupp's Drums in Denver who got him with DW...or something like that

 

[paulwells73]

I really struggle believing that Ludwig can't provide proper backline support. Especially when compared to Gretsch. Ludwig endorses several of the biggest touring rock bands out there still. That just doesn't seem like the entire picture.

Until Vinnie has jumped as many companies and Buddy, Bernard, or Vinnie A he's in the minor leagues....LOL

You may be right - they may have better backline support if you’re looking for rock kits. My experience touring in the past 10 years is strictly as a jazzer, so I’m requesting 12/14/18 kits. In 10 years of very constant touring (I did 77 gigs on the road this year), I’ve never once gotten a Ludwig kit. Occasionally a Supraphonic or Black Beauty snare here or there, but never a full kit.

I would also say (and many other touring drummers I’ve spoke to agree) that no company is more committed to backline needs than Yamaha. There seem to be more Yamaha kits at more backline companies throughout the world than any other brand. There are a fair amount of Gretsch out there, too. But when I get them, they often come with Yamaha hardware. Oddly, I don’t see much Sonor, even though I tour in Germany a lot.

I remember hearing rumors when Vinnie left Ludwig that he was going back to Yamaha. That would have been cool, but I respect that he went with the sound he really loves. However, I think Vinnie on a PHX kit would have been awesome!

 

[Deafmoon]

At and around the time Vinnie left Gretsch, Gretsch site had an adjunct Forum called Gretsch Drum Shed of which, as a Gretsch player, I was a member. I recall reading all of this same speculation on there as to why Vinnie left Gretsch abruptly and went to Ludwig. Backline support was mentioned as an issue. I think Vinnie was getting import kits delivered and that wasn't what he expected or cared to play. As for Ludwigs backline support issues for Vinnie to go back to Gretsch? I never heard that.