This month I’m looking at a snare drum that is becoming very popular here in the UK, the Ludwig Pioneer.
The Ludwig Pioneer snare drum first appeared in the 1960 Ludwig catalogue, marketed as a lower priced student drum. It soon became a market leader in the USA at the lower price range, outselling its brand competitors that had similar models. Today it no longer has the budget tag – here in the UK the drum is becoming a very popular choice for use in the studio.
Limited Edition 30th Anniversary Drum Set Mapex Partners with Jimmy Pemberton Supporting Benny Beats Animated Series The new year is starting off on a high note for two music.
The drum is made up of a 3 ply shell with maple reinforcement rings. It featured six self-aligning lugs and triple flange hoops. Originally the drum featured a ‘Large Pioneer’ throw, and was available in depths of 5.5 and 6.5”. Finishes included mahogany, lacquer (two colour Duco) or pearl. According to the 1960 catalogue, these drums had no internal muffler / dampener.
By the time the 1964 Ludwig catalogue came out, many of the drum’s features had been upgraded. The interiors were finished with Ludwig’s exclusive (white) ‘Reza Cote’ with the claim that “this new Acousti-perfect shell design provides superior tone and response found in more expensive models”. The snare throw had been updated to the P83, the drum also featuring the classic ‘baseball bat’ tone control / muffler. At some point in the mid 1960’s the hardware changed to chrome.
Pioneer Strainer P83
Fibes Drum Company
Some of the early 60’s drums have transitional hardware and features from the late 1950’s WFL drums, so as always don’t rely totally on catalogues to determine the originality and/or date of your snare. There are quirky drums out there that just came out of the factory that way. We have several Pioneers in the shop as I write, none of them are catalogue correct and show no signs of being tampered with. The first is a pre-serial in white pearl with nickel hardware and a rough ‘reza-cote’ interior date stamped 1960. The strainer is the later P83 in chrome, but its fitted with the late 50’s round knob muffler. Another is in natural mahogany with nickel on brass hardware and a red felt dampener (but a serial number that dates it to 1965)! As I always say, there are drums on the market today that are original but don’t match the pictures and descriptions in the catalogues. These drums were built to be played, mainly by students, in the 1960’s; it wasn’t considered that 60 years later we’d be discussing the colours of the muffler felts and whether a snare strainer matches the date on the shell interior!
The drum remained in production into the 1970’s, with features following the same pattern as other drums – updated lugs, snare strainer change from P83 to P85), Tone control muffler updated to round knob etc. It’s usually the 1960’s drums that pop up on the UK market, however, and they are becoming very popular among players. More and more players that call into the shop are asking after these drums for their tonal qualities; a lot don’t care what muffler is fitted or whether the hardware is chrome or nickel. They’re after that sound, and it is a different sound to the 8 lug models that were marketed back in the day as professional and today are considered more collectible.
These snares produce a nice warm tone; that typical vintage Ludwig vibe but with a brighter response than 8 lug models such as the ‘Jazz Festival’. Due to less tuning rods, these snares give a much more open sound and obviously you have a little less control over the tuning. They can offer great response and brightness when tuned high; tuned down low, with the snares buzzing a bit and your favourite damping, and youre hitting that lovely fat, but crisp, vintage thud. They all have a unique voice, and obviously some sound better than others; some just have that vintage Mojo straight off the rack at any tuning, some need a little work to find their sweet spot. I’d encourage you to go somewhere where you can try these drums and find one that suits the sound you’re searching. These drums are becoming a classic alongside another ‘student model’ snare drum from Ludwig, the Acrolite.
Current market price for a drum in good condition is £250-300.
Items in search results
Fibes Drum History
FIBES type sticker/decal (white on black vinyl for heads or case) x2 COPIES. *
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FIBES type sticker/decal (black on white vinyl for heads or case) x2 COPIES. *
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Vintage ‘70’s Fibes Drums - Excellent Original Condition
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Fibes Drum Shell Set 22,12,16,14 Snare,Schlagzeug,similar Ludwig,Gretsch,Sonor
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Fibes Austin Era 13' Snare
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Fibes 70s Vintage Acrylic Smoke 14” Snare Drum Shell
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FIBES DRUM VINTAGE CATALOGO DEPLIANT E LISTINO PREZZI ANNO 1972 RAR0 IN INGLESE
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FIBES DRUMS NEW OLD STOCK BASEBALL CAP / TRUCKER HAT
- EUR 45.32
- + EUR 23.58 postage
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- Customs services and international tracking provided
FIBES 'SFT 690' FiberGlass Snare 14' x 5,5' UltraRare VINTAGE
- EUR 695.00
- + EUR 100.00 postage
- From Germany
Vintage 1970's Fibes 3pc Acrylic Drum Kit Shell Pack Black
- EUR 725.25
- + EUR 244.37 postage
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Vintage 1970's Fibes 4pc Drum Set Kit Shell Pack White
- EUR 634.59
- Postage not specified
- From United States
VINTAGE MUSICAL INSTRUMENT CATALOG #10221 - SUMMER 1972 FIBES DRUMS
- EUR 63.45
- + EUR 21.76 postage
- From United States
Vintage 1970's Fibes 10x14 Fiberglass Tom Black
- EUR 123.29Previous priceEUR 145.04
- + EUR 79.73 postage
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- EUR 123.29
Vintage Pearl 13' Snare Drum Hoop 8 Lug for 13' 8 Lug Snare Drums Batter Side
- EUR 16.76
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- EUR 10.34
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Vintage Pearl 14' Snare Drum Hoop Batter Side Hoop 8 Lug for Pearl Snare Drums
- EUR 16.76
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100 pcs Nylon Washers (Black or White) Prevent Drum Kit Detuning + FREE DRUM KEY
- EUR 6.99
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Toontrack EZX Americana - Expansion for EZ Drummer (Serial Download)
- EUR 58.08
- Free Postage
- From United Kingdom
Vintage & Rare John Grey Aqua Marine Pearl Pancake Piccolo Snare Drum 14' X 1'
- EUR 218.00
- + EUR 7.77 postage
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Felt Sheets - 150mm x 150mm - Various Colours & Thicknesses for Drum Kit Repairs
- EUR 3.91
- + EUR 2.79 postage
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Toontrack EZX Americana - EDUCATION (Serial Download)
- EUR 33.54
- Free Postage
- From United Kingdom
Vintage 14' Remo PTS Ambassador Bright Marching Snare Drum Head Pre-Tuned U.S.A.
- EUR 16.76
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Drum Kit Cymbal Felts + Sleeves + Wingnuts + Washers 38 Pieces +SELECT A COLOUR+
- EUR 9.50
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ToonTrack EZX Custom Shop EDUCATION (Serial Download)
- EUR 33.54
- Free Postage
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Vintage TRAK 12' X 10' Mounted Tom HRK Drum Institute from 1980's with TRAK Head
- EUR 27.95
- Free Postage
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REMO Pinstripe® Clear Tom and Snare Drum Kit Heads ~ Quality Remo Encore Range
- EUR 13.69
- + EUR 3.91 postage
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ToonTrack EZX Custom Shop (Serial Download)
- EUR 58.08
- Free Postage
- From United Kingdom
Vintage Tama Imperialstar King Beat Kick Bass Drum Pedal Made in Japan 1980's
- EUR 39.13
- Free Postage
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Drum Kit Remo Ambassador Encore 10' Coated Top + 10' Hazy Bottom Snare Head Set
- EUR 18.45
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Manfred Mann's Earth Band – Solar Fire - Vinyl,LP,Album, Reissue,Gatefold Sl
- EUR 14.02
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MAPEX Bass Drum Pedal with Original Beater and in the Original Box
- EUR 27.94
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Drum Kit Cymbal Felts + Sleeves + Wingnuts + Washers 38 Pieces - SELECT A COLOUR
- EUR 9.50
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Vintage Pearl Export 12' Triple Flanged Chrome Steel Hoop 6 Lug for Pearl Toms
- EUR 11.12
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Vintage Pearl Export 13' Triple Flanged Chrome Steel Hoop 6 Lug for Pearl Toms
- EUR 11.12
- + EUR 4.42 postage
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REMO Pinstripe® Clear Tom and Snare Drum Kit Heads - Remo Quality Encore Range
- EUR 16.77
- + EUR 3.91 postage
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Cymbal Felts + Sleeves + Wingnuts + Washers - 38 Pieces - Colours - for drum kit
- EUR 9.50
- + EUR 2.79 postage
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Drum Kit Cymbal Felts + Sleeves + Wingnuts + Washers 38 Pieces +SELECT COLOUR+
- EUR 9.50
- + EUR 2.79 postage
- From United Kingdom
Cymbal & Hi Hat Seat + Clutch Felts for drum kit - 14 Piece Set - Colour Choice
- EUR 4.75
- + EUR 2.79 postage
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Cymbal Felts + Sleeves + Wingnuts + Washers - 38 Piece Drum Kit Set @ COLOURS @
- EUR 9.50
- + EUR 2.79 postage
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REMO Pinstripe® Clear Tom and Snare Drum Kit Heads > Remo Quality Encore Range
- EUR 14.25
- + EUR 3.91 postage
- From United Kingdom
Drum Kit Remo Ambassador Encore12' Coated Top + 12' Hazy Bottom Snare Head Set
- EUR 20.40
- + EUR 3.91 postage
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Drum Kit Cymbal Felts + Sleeves + Wingnuts + Washers 38 Pieces ~SELECT A COLOUR~
- EUR 9.50
- + EUR 2.79 postage
- From United Kingdom
Drum Kit Remo Ambassador Encore 13' Coated Top + 13' Hazy Bottom Snare Head Set
- EUR 22.92
- + EUR 3.91 postage
- From United Kingdom
REMO Ambassador® Clear Tom and Snare Drum Kit Heads - Remo Quality Encore Range
- EUR 9.50
- + EUR 3.91 postage
- From United Kingdom
REMO Ambassador® Coated Tom and Snare Drum Kit Heads > Remo Quality Encore Range
- EUR 13.42
- + EUR 3.91 postage
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REMO Ambassador® Coated Tom and Snare Drum Kit Heads - Remo Quality Encore Range
- EUR 12.86
- + EUR 3.91 postage
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Drum Kit Remo Ambassador Encore 14' Coated Top + 14' Hazy Bottom Snare Head Set
- EUR 24.87
- + EUR 3.91 postage
- From United Kingdom
REMO Ambassador® Coated Tom and Snare Drum Kit Heads ~ Quality Remo Encore Range
- EUR 12.86
- + EUR 3.91 postage
- From United Kingdom
REMO Ambassador® Clear Tom and Snare Drum Kit Heads > Remo Quality Encore Range
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- + EUR 3.91 postage
- From United Kingdom