Up until 1986 I had played a wooden Maxwin (by Pearl) snare drum -14"×5" - which came with my first drum set. I loved the sound of a wooden snare and when I could afford to by a pro instrument I dropped into Chris Lewett's Drum Centre in Leicester to talk shop. Influenced by one of my fav drummers - Budgie from Siouxsie and the Banshees - I was considering a 6.5" deep Gretsch but Chris advised it would be easier to get a Ludwig drum instead. We had a look at what was current and settled on the Ludwig 403 - a maple shell drum - which retailed for around £200, a small fortune to someone whose whole kit pretty much cost that. Still, Ludwig and all that. Quality assured. Drum ordered. The fateful day arrived. I dashed over to Leicester and was stunned by the beautiful instrument. Ten lugs. Maple. Was a bit underwelmed by the sound at first - couldn't hear much difference to my bargain basement Pearl when I played them side by side. Until first band rehearsal. It held its tuning. The snares didn't loosen. Damn it was loud! And the overall sound was fuller, richer. And the drum remained my main axe through countless gigs. In fact the drum and I became synonymous with each other. About ten years ago I retired it in favour of various 5" models which I found I enjoyed playing - Premier, Pearl, Yamaha, Mapex - wood or metal. The sound of a 5" was gutsier and fitted the music I was playing better. I eventually settled on the eight lug aluminium Acrolite which has become my snare of choice but the 403 is still my pride and joy. Who knows if I will use it again? ;-) #ludwig403 #budgiebanshee #siouxsieandthebanshees #tenlug #tenlugwooddrum #mainaxe #retiredsnare #workhorsesnare #acrolite #ludwig #snaredrum #eightlugacrolite #qualityassured #gretsch #mapex #premier #yamaha #pear #maxwin #lovesnaredrums #lovemaple #mapledrums #superclassic #snaredrumcollection #shallowvsdeepsnare #neversell #deepsnare #qualitysnare #lovedrums #veterandrummer