Reviews: Ludwig Evolution drum sets

Ludwig's Evolution series is an all-inclusive drum-kit that has everything a budding young drummer needs to get started.

Ludwig themselves describe this as an ‘intermediate drum set’, a view that I can't say I share as there are far superior choices in this range (more on that below). I would call the Evolution an entry-level kit, but in that market it is a formidable contender.

Conn-Selmer recently invited me to their UK headquarters to try out a set of Evolutions for myself. The first thing that struck me before I played a note was that it had the classic Ludwig look, reminiscent of the sets of so many legendary Ludwig artists who have played this storied brand over the decades.

Drum enthusiasts will immediately spot the diamond bass-drum tom mounting plate, and the characteristic look of the Evo Elite lugs which, despite being different to those of the company's higher-end kits, still scream ‘Ludwig’. The kit I played had a light green Mint Sparkle finish, but the Evolution series also comes in Copper Sparkle, Platinum Sparkle and Cherry. All of the finishes are wraps, though the Cherry finish is designed to give the appearance of a natural wood grain.

The shells are seven-ply and made entirely from poplar – a good choice for an entry level drum-kit, as it strikes the perfect balance between sound quality and affordability. The drums come fitted with Remo's UT line of heads, single-ply Ambassador coat on the snare, and two-ply clear Pinstripes on the toms. The Taiwanese-made UT heads are not quite built to the same standard as their American-made UA counterparts, but I'm sure Remo themselves would tell you that. Still, these heads are a huge leap forward from stock heads of the past, which were nothing more than place holders that needed to be immediately replaced, pushing up the cost of buying a new kit. With the UT heads fitted, the Evolution kit is ready to be played right out of the box as it even comes with a drum key, allen keys and a pair of sticks. And, of course, the heads could be upgraded at a later date which would make the kit sound even better.

Included with the shell pack is all of the necessary hardware, including snare stand, two hideaway boom stands, hi-hat stand, bass drum pedal and throne, all of which come fitted with memory locks. All of the stands are double braced yet lightweight. I'm not sure how well the stands would hold up to heavy gigging, but they are well built and for a garage-band drummer playing rock covers, or a school music room, they are certainly fine. The bass drum pedal stood out to me as being of particularly high quality. It felt sturdy and had a smooth action, sporting a double chain drive and reversible beater. I'd be perfectly happy using this pedal for gigging on a regular basis. The toms are mounted with a rim mount system, meaning the drums do not have additional holes drilled.

One particularly clever aspect of the hardware is that the wing nuts on the tom mounts and floor toms legs can be moved freely from side to side before locking them into place, making it easier to adjust the drums should the wing nuts bump into each other, a cymbal stand or another drum. It's an incredibly simple and effective solution that I'm surprised we haven't seen earlier.

For the Evolution kit, Ludwig has teamed up with Istanbul Agop to include Agop's MS-X cymbal line with the Evolution kit. Making cymbals that sound good at an affordable price point is always a challenge, but I admit I still felt a small pang of disappointment when I played these cymbals. The crash cymbal, especially, lacked resonance and complexity. To be fair, my expectations were perhaps unreasonably high as I feel Istanbul Agop make some of the nicest cymbals available on the market today. The MS-Xs are still good entry-level cymbals, perfectly suited for beginners and schools; but for any student who is progressing well and is ready to take their drumming to the next level, the cymbals would likely be the first thing I would recommend upgrading.

I spent about an hour with the kit, taking it through a number of different tuning ranges, all of which spoke well at various dynamic levels. The toms were boomy, resonant and fun to play regardless of the range, while the snare drum was pleasantly fat at the low end and produced a nice crack at higher tunings. Entry-level snare drums often have an awkward ‘twang’ and can lack snare response, but I found the Evolution snare drum to be fairly responsive, and mostly free of unpleasant overtones. With the further assistance of a bit of Moongel, tape or a wallet, it wouldn't be hard to fine-tune the sound even further. And, like the toms, the snare head could be changed at some point.

The 22” 5-piece shell pack in Copper Sparkle

I do feel I should point out that for a similar price, or perhaps a bit more, one could put together a true intermediate kit that would have greater longevity, taking a player through their novice years and being useable even as a casual gigging kit, or practice kit for a professional drummer. Other Ludwig kits such as Questlove's Breakbeats come to mind, as well as Yamaha's iconic Stage Customs, and Gretsch's popular Catalina Club range. Such kits range from approximately £400 to £675 for the shell pack. If you then pick up one of the many hardware packs available for £200–£400, and a cymbal pack for £150–£400, you could have a slightly more bespoke kit that will be more versatile and have a higher resale value.

But, with all that said, for a parent buying their child's first drum-kit, or a school music teacher who does not play the drums and may be working to a strict budget, the peace of mind in not having to research any of the options above should not be overlooked. Knowing that you can purchase a solid set of drums by an iconic company, that does everything you need it to straight out of the box, is a huge selling point for the Evolution kit.

All in all, this is a nice drum-kit that is perfect for a beginner or a school. It could also be a good choice for an adult picking up the drums as a hobby. It was fun to play, easy to tune, and has the classic Ludwig look. Assuming reasonable care is taken, it seems durable. And with absolutely everything included, all you really need to do is choose your desired size and color.

The Evolution series comes in three different configurations, all of which come with the same cymbals and hardware.

• LE5200xx 5pc outfit: SRP £949.00
• LE220xx 5pc outfit (the configuration reviewed): SRP £999.00
• LE6220xx 6pc outfit: SRP £1049.00

Prices directly from Conn-Selmer. Find further drum details online.

ludwig-drums.eu/products/drumkits/element-evolution