From a lifetime of experience, we set out to bring drummers the sound that makes them confident, and inspired by their drums.
As the only living Ludwig in the drum business today, Bill Ludwig III (B3 to many of his friends) is bringing back the craftsmanship and legacy of America’s First Family of drum building. Bill III had parted ways with his former company, Ludwig Drum Co. , in 1991, and later on began from scratch with his own company.
Starting in 2016 with little more than a dream and the experience of over sixty years in the industry, Bill III set out to redesign the classic drums of his family’s past using traditional processes for modern drummers.
In the Beginning
It all started with a pedal...
William F Ludwig Sr. founded Ludwig & Ludwig™ in 1909 with his brother Theobald. The company’s first major product was the bass drum pedal, invented by the brothers, drummers themselves, to meet the increasing needs of drummers worldwide.
By the 1920s, the company had become the largest drum company in the world. They had supplied the silent movie industry with many versatile instruments to achieve sound effects such as gunshots, horse hooves, rain, and of course, drums! The end of the 1920’s was a turbulent time for not only the music industry but the country as well. The country was entering what would become the worst depression in its history and the new advent of “talking movies” was putting theater drummers out of work.
In 1930, William Ludwig decided it was time to sell his beloved company. Then, in 1937, with a burning desire to continue innovating for the drummer community, Ludwig Sr. along with his son Bill Ludwig II, co-founded a new company and named it WFL Drum Co.™
Due in large part to this new company’s success, the Ludwig family was able to buy back their original company in 1955. The Ludwig Drum Company™, under the leadership of Bill Ludwig II and Bill Ludwig III, would go on to become the most dominating drum company in history through the 1960’s and 70’s before it was sold in 1981.
Today
At 59 years old, Bill Ludwig III was unfulfilled in his work and longing to re-enter the drum business that he so loved. As a young man, B3 saw the fortunes of the American drum industry rise and fall and he knew the difficulties of starting a new company. That along with having two young daughters to raise, he saw having his own drum company as just a dream. However, like his grandfather before him, B3 knew that he was meant to build drums.
Soon, he turned to his good friend and drum designer Mike Dorfman to create a unique and classic metal snare drum. Then the 1909 series of aluminum snares were introduced. Using the model number ‘1909’ , in recognition of the year his great grandfather started making drums, they were designed with the laser-cut "III" cut through the shells. Critics have called these drums reminiscent of the classic snare drums of the past, with an incredibly modern tuning ability.
In 2014, taking a cue from his grandfather, Bill III named his company WFL III Drums™ and set a course to continue his family’s legacy of innovation and world-class drum manufacturing. In 2021, Bill joined forces with UK-based rockstar-entrepreneur and lifelong drummer Paul McManus. Known as much for his sharp business instincts as his passion for music; he has since been an invaluable member of the III family. Paul’s journey behind the kit spans decades, performing with a range of European rock bands, including the critically acclaimed powerhouse rock band GUN, out of Glasgow, Scotland. Together with Paul and his two daughters, Bill III continues the drum building tradition that has been etched into their family history.
The next line was the classic 1728N series of maple snares, using the old Ludwig Drum Co. address for the model number, Bill III recreated the classic thin ply maple shells developed by his grandfather.
The current WFL III line is a full bodied, 100% American Hard Maple shell, harvested in Michigan, and constructed in Lenexa, Kansas, where the WFL III factory is. Due to their custom-made thin plies, and lightened density without the mahogany, these drums have been described as “classic”, “vibrant”, “resonant” and “full-bodied”.
We appreciate all who have helped us get to this point, and all who support us along the way. The best is yet to come!
~The Ludwig Family
Bill III with his two daughters, Maggie and Olivia
"WFL III Drums is more than just a company. It's the resurrection of a family legacy and creation of a new breed of drums that my forefathers would be proud of."
-William F. Ludwig III, Founder & President
