Drum Workshop, Inc. (also known as DW Drums or DW) is a drum kit and hardware manufacturing company based in Oxnard, California. Current products by DW include drum sets, snare drums, and hardware.[1]
 | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Musical instruments |
| Founded | 1972 in Santa Monica, California |
| Headquarters | , |
Key people | Don Lombardi, Founder Chris Lombardi, President and CEO John Good, COO |
| Products | |
| Brands | Pacific Drums |
| Parent | Roland Corporation |
| Subsidiaries | |
| Website | dwdrums.com |
History
editDrum Workshop was founded in 1972 as a teaching studio by Don Lombardi. Alongside student John Good, Lombardi began a small drum equipment sales operation to cover the studio's operation costs. After the closure of the Camco Drum Company in 1977, its manufacturing equipment was purchased by Drum Workshop.[2]
After selling primarily drum hardware, the company began making its first drum sets in 1990.[3]
Expansion and acquisition
editDW expanded into larger facilities in Oxnard, California, and grew to oversee a new company, Pacific Drums and Percussion, a company offering lower-priced drum sets.
In 2015, Drum Workshop acquired Ovation Guitars, Latin Percussion, Toca Percussion, Gibraltar Hardware, and KAT Technologies.[4] In November, 2019, DW acquired Slingerland Drum Company from Gibson, with plans to introduce Slingerland-branded, vintage style drums to the market in 2020.[5][6]
In late 2022, it was announced that Roland would acquire DW for $65 million as the company looks to expand into the acoustic drum market.[7][8]
References
edit- ^ Pilla, Sarah (June 21, 2021). "Oxnard boasts one of the biggest drum manufacturers in the world". Spectrum News. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
- ^ Nicholls, Geoff (2008). The Drum Book: A History of the Rock Drum Kit. Backbeat Books. p. 35. ISBN 978-1-4768-5437-3. OCLC 1084251774.
- ^ Clandos, Rosemary (July 11, 2000). "Business Is Booming at Oxnard Manufacturer of Quality Drums". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
- ^ "Ovation Brand Sold to Drum Workshop". Acoustic Guitar. January 7, 2013. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
- ^ Grizzle, Nicholas (November 26, 2019). "DW Buys Slingerland Drum Company from Gibson". DRUM!. Retrieved December 11, 2019.
- ^ Hood, Phil (December 5, 2019). "DW's Slingerland Revival Will Begin With Radio King Snare Drums". DRUM!. Retrieved December 11, 2019.
- ^ Takeda, Toshihide (September 13, 2022). "We got the beat: Roland buys Drum Workshop in $65m deal". Nikkei Asia. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
- ^ Williams, Stuart (September 12, 2022). "Drum Workshop Inc. joins Roland Corporation as the Japanese giant acquires all outstanding DW shares". MusicRadar. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
External links
edit
- Official website
- Don Lombardi interview with the NAMM Oral History Program
- John Good interview with the NAMM Oral History Program
