DW is arguably the most popular drum manufacturer in the world.  It is the most searched drum company on the internet and on top of drums, also make hardware, sticks and re-brand heads made by Remo.  Custom drums can be ordered from DW on top of their prepackaged and mass produced drum lines.  DW also offers specialty drums including a cocktail kit, gong drum, woofer, piccolo toms and rata toms.  In 2000 DW even launched a subsidiary company, Pacific Drums and Percussion (PDP) that offers lower priced mass produced drum sets.

Drum Workshop History

DW began in 1972 when the then 26 year old Don Lombardi started a drum teaching studio called the Drum Workshop.  Drum Workshop originally offered private lessons and monthly workshops.  When overhead became a problem, Don began selling drums and other drum products.  At the time 17 year old John Good who is now DW’s Vice President was a below average student that became a part-time sales manager.  Don and John began discussing how to improve the art of drumming and out of this came DW’s first product, a height-adjustable trap-case seat.

The DW trap-case seat began to sell dozens of units every month and when Camco Drum Co. bought 100, both Don and John knew that they had developed something special.

They however could not respond to the demand with their existing facility.  This changed in 1977 when Camco Drum Co. owner Tom Beckman approached Don and offered to sell him Camco’s machinery for making Camco drums and hardware.  After borrowing money from his parents and some investors, Don moved Drum Workshop from teaching and selling to manufacturing and began to reintroduce Camco products under the DW name.

In 1980 DW improved on the Camco 5000 nylon strap bass pedal design with a chain and sprocket drive system.  This helped set DW apart from other drum brands in the market place.  Three years later they followed up with the DW 5002 double base pedal which marked DW as visionaries but also changed the drumming scene allowing single bass drum players to recreate the sound of two.  Throughout the 80’s DW continued to innovate and improve upon drum design and create new products to keep up with the needs of high profile endorsers.

 

DW Drum Lines and Snares

DW Collector’s Series –  The Collector’s series from DW is their leading drum kit which comes in a variety of configurations and finishes.  The Collector’s kit typically runs between $3,000 to $5,000 when sold brand new.

DW Classics Series – DW Classics drums are designed to mimic the look and sound of drums from the 30s, 40s and 50s while still capitalizing on modern technology improvements.  When sold new, these kits are typically in the mid $3,000 range.

Jazz Series – Like the name, these drums are made for jazz drummers.  Priced between $3000 and $5,000.

Eco-X Project – Environmentally friendly shells with a wide tonal spectrum.  The Eco-X line is commonly priced at $2,000 to $3,500 new.

Performance Series – A newer DW line, the performance series is not considered custom as it comes in one of four shell packs.  The DW performance series however is designed for superior live and studio sound and made with DW’s HVX maple shell technology.  Performance Series sets range from $1,500 to $2,500 when sold new.

Snares – DW snares are designed to match each DW Drum line, however within the Collector’s series DW offers three different wood snares, a metal snare and four specialty snares.  Prices can be from $300 to over $1,000.

 

DW Pedals and Hardware

DW offers six lines of pedal and hardware the 2000, 3000, 5000, 6000, 7000 and 9000.  The 2000 and 3000 lines are considered light duty and are also the budget priced lines.  The 6000 series is also light duty but made more for jazz drummers.  The 7000 series is made for the “working drummer” featuring easy mobility.  The 8000 and 9000 lines are heavy duty and high end made for rock and metal drummers.  The 5000 line of hardware and pedals are what started it all and still remain the most popular DW line of hardware/pedal.  The 5000 line is medium-duty, versatile and priced for drummers at all levels.

DW Accessories, Heads, Drumwear and DVD’s

On top of hardware and drums, DW offers factory accessories including clamp systems (Dogbones, Mega Clamps, L-Arms), cymbal holders (stackers, arms), along with snare wires, keys, cables and other replacement parts.  DW heads are specialty manufactured by REMO with the DW name brand on them.  DW also offers hats, shirts, stickers along with teaching materials such as DVD’s and drum books.

 

DW Drums Review

There is no doubt that Drum Workshop is one of the top drum manufacturers in the world.  Not only is DW popular with drummers everywhere but DW also has the high profile endorsers to prove it.  From legendary Neil Peart of Rush to Max Weinberg the longtime drummer for Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band, DW has talented drummers all over the world that swear by their products.  With a diverse line of drums and hardware that match players at all levels and genres, DW has the product diversity of a large scale operation but also the customization of a hand-made shop.  Because of this DW drums are priced on the higher end of the spectrum when it comes to drum kits.  With the quality and brand name to back it, a drummer gets what they pay for with DW.

For more info on DW Drums check out their website at dwdrums.com

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