Paiste Brass-Tones 18" Ride

Ludwig & Paiste: A marriage made in heaven

Introduction: Ludwig officially listed Paiste cymbals under the Ludwig name in their catalogs starting in 1957 (Ludwig began importing Paiste Gongs to the U.S. in 1953).
However, there are several accounts that the relationship started much earlier than that: there is proof that William Ludwig Sr. had a relationship with Michail Paiste before WWII. Robert Paiste recalls in an interview that his father already had business contacts with Ludwig Sr. while we were in Estonia (1930’s). Also, In the early post-war period (1945/46?) the Ludwig family sent care packages which at that time could not be paid for with money”.

In or around 1956: William Ludwig Sr. was visiting his childhood home in Nenderoth Germany, afterward he attended the Frankfurt music fair where met Michael M. Paiste, he purchased some samples from Michail Paiste and brought them back to the US. Bill Ludwig Jr. found them too thick for their American taste, but the price was extremely attractive so he ordered more of them. These cymbals were stamped with the Ludwig name creating exclusivity (the Ludwig “3-star”), which they were to sell with outfits. Ludwig ordered 20,000 cymbals per year for several years and received nothing but a good comments about them.

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

---

Sources: Robert Paiste 2006 interview, Bill Ludwig's book; "the making of a drum company", pictures courtesy of the Pro Drum shop in Hollywood, CA.
Return to the Main Page
Return to the Paiste Series Portal
Return to the Paiste Cymbal Type Portal