Wow!! I’m constantly amazed at how so many extraordinary drums keep finding me. I really don’t go looking for them, but they just seem to keep turning up. 2025 brought some truly exceptional drums. When Modern Drummer asked me to pick some favorites, it was hard to choose because there were so many great finds. Here’s a few that really got me excited. Alex Van Halen’s Ludwig Signature Model Prototype Snares. In 2016 Alex Van Halen and his longtime tech John Douglas began talks with the Ludwig drum company to develop a new Alex Van Halen signature model snare drum. John produced these two prototype snares. Both drums started out with a 6.5×14” Ludwig aluminum shell. The first was painted in broad black and white horizontal stripes, reminiscent of Alex Van Halen’s 1981 Fair Warning tour drum set. The other was finished with engine turned spirals, copper plated hardware and chrome […]

December 2025 Issue