# Ludwig Snares: Metal-Relevant Models & Which Drummers Use Them

> Ludwig is the oldest American drum company, and its snare identity on the verified metal roster rests on two of the most recorded shells in drumming history: the brass Black Beauty (Art Cruz) and the aluminium/steel Supraphonic (Bill Ward).

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## Company Background

- **Founded:** 1909, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- **Parent/Ownership:** Conn-Selmer

## Notable Models for Metal Drummers

- **Black Beauty:** A brass-shell snare prized for a crisp yet warm tone — the verified-roster model played by Art Cruz (Lamb of God).
- **Supraphonic:** An aluminium-shell snare (LM402) built for a bright, articulate tone — the verified-roster model played by Bill Ward (Black Sabbath).

## Confirmed Metal Drummers (2)

| Drummer | Band | Snare |
|---------|------|-------|
| [Art Cruz](https://metalforge.io/llms/drummers/art-cruz.md) | Lamb of God | Ludwig 14x6.5" Black Beauty |
| [Bill Ward](https://metalforge.io/llms/drummers/bill-ward.md) | Black Sabbath | Ludwig Supraphonic 14x6.5" LM402 |

These 2 entries are pulled directly from MetalForge's verified snares database, parsed from each drummer's roster gear record — never guessed from a photo or a forum post.

Source: [Ludwig Drums — About](https://www.ludwig-drums.com/en-us/ludwig/about).

## FAQ

**Q: What snares does Ludwig make for metal drummers?**
A: Ludwig is the oldest American drum company, and its snare identity on the verified metal roster rests on two of the most recorded shells in drumming history: the brass Black Beauty (Art Cruz) and the aluminium/steel Supraphonic (Bill Ward).

**Q: Which metal drummers play Ludwig snares?**
A: On our verified roster: Art Cruz, Bill Ward. See the table above for each drummer's exact snare.

**Q: What are Ludwig's most metal-relevant snare models?**
A: Black Beauty, Supraphonic. Full descriptions are in the Notable Models section above.

## Other Snare Brands We Cover

MetalForge tracks 6 snare brands relevant to metal drummers. Besides Ludwig, see:

- [Tama](https://metalforge.io/llms/snares/brands/tama.md)
- [Pearl](https://metalforge.io/llms/snares/brands/pearl.md)
- [Sonor](https://metalforge.io/llms/snares/brands/sonor.md)
- [Mapex](https://metalforge.io/llms/snares/brands/mapex.md)
- [DW](https://metalforge.io/llms/snares/brands/dw.md)

## More Resources

- [Live page](https://metalforge.io/snares/brands/ludwig)
- [All Snare Brands](https://metalforge.io/snares/brands)
- [Snares Guide](https://metalforge.io/llms/snares.md)
- [All LLM Resources](https://metalforge.io/llms/index.md)

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*Last updated: 2026-07-12 · Source: [MetalForge.io](https://metalforge.io)*