LUDWIG ATLAS PRO HARDWIRE

98
| FEBRUARY 2013 WWW.RHYTHMMAGAZINE.CO.UK
GEAR REVIEW
Atlas hi-hat stand’ on YouTube. Basicall you
grab the footplate while latching a pin into a
hook on the base. There’s a fi ve-position
spring tensioner, and the double-chain cam
drive gives the pedal a strong, smooth
operation which, as a bonus, matches the
feel of the bass drum pedal.
Setting up the double bass pedal is more
familiar and caused no problems. Both
footboard and beater angles are separately
adjustable simply by locking a drum key nut,
then it’s down to how tight you like your
springs. The auxiliary pedal link drive is
aircraft-grade aluminium with no discernible
lag in the left pedal action, everything feels
L
udwig’s original fl at-based Atlas
hardware was a fi xture of the 1960s
before the arrival of Appice and
Bonham motivated the company to
toughen up. Now, following four years of
development, Ludwig presents three
thoroughly modern Atlas lines: the fl at-based
Classic, semi-pro Standard and this, the
mighty Pro, aimed at the touring professional.
Build
Let’s start with the hi-hat, the most unusual
item in the range. It’s a twin leg design, which
leaves space for your other pedals. Where it is
radically different is in the mounting of the
footplate and the drive action. The base is a
massive casting housing a double chain-drive
which operates rather like an upside-down
bass pedal. As you depress the pedal the short
chain moves over an inverted cam. Ludwig
calls this ‘Progressive Action Linkage’, which
“transfers from speed to power as the pedal
moves through the stroke”.
The footboard itself is hinged at the heel to
a cast tray which forms a tripod with the two
legs. Since it is lifted off the fl oor where it joins
the centre casting this “centroid three-point
stability system” is more stable than other
two-leggers. The cymbal tilter is also a new
design, with the bottom cymbal resting on the
so-called Aerodisc, which you simply rotate
until the cymbal is at the desired angle and
then lock with a drum key.
Next we have two snare drum stands, the
Pro II and the Pillar Clutch. Both these, and the
boom and straight cymbal stands, benefi t
from Ludwig’s Aerodyne, gearless tilter. The
single and double bass drum pedals have
stabilising base plates, handily clipped-on
drum keys and fl exible, non-damaging hoop
clamps. Rounding out the set are two
thrones/stools which have corkscrew height
adjustment and a choice of colourful saddle
or round seat.
Hands On
This is seriously heavy gear, particularly the
hi-hat. Setting it up is unique and has
prompted Ludwig to release an explanatory
video with Ludwig’s Josh Allen and Kevin
Packard taking you through the functions and
set-up of the hi-hat stand. Search ‘Ludwig
£142 to £519 Show-stopping new design ideas on Ludwig’s
updated touring professional standard heavyweight hardware
LUDWIG ATLAS
PRO HARDWARE
WORDS: GEOFF NICHOLLS
CYMBAL STANDS
Cymbal stands benefi t
from Ludwig’s Aerodyne
gearless tilter
DOUBLE BASS PEDAL
Link drive is aircraft-grade
aluminium with no discernible
lag in the left pedal action
STOOLS
The two generously
proportioned thrones are
luxuriously cushioned in
high density foam
RHY212.gear_ludwig.indd 98 12/19/12 12:42 PM