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]

Drum Workshop, Inc.
Company typePrivate
IndustryMusical instruments
Founded1972; 52 years ago (1972) in Santa Monica, California
Headquarters,
Key people
Don Lombardi, Founder
Chris Lombardi, President and CEO
John Good, COO
Products
BrandsPacific Drums
ParentRoland Corporation
Subsidiaries
Websitedwdrums.com

History

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Drum 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

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DW 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

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  1. ^ Pilla, Sarah (June 21, 2021). "Oxnard boasts one of the biggest drum manufacturers in the world". Spectrum News. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ Clandos, Rosemary (July 11, 2000). "Business Is Booming at Oxnard Manufacturer of Quality Drums". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
  4. ^ "Ovation Brand Sold to Drum Workshop". Acoustic Guitar. January 7, 2013. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
  5. ^ Grizzle, Nicholas (November 26, 2019). "DW Buys Slingerland Drum Company from Gibson". DRUM!. Retrieved December 11, 2019.
  6. ^ Hood, Phil (December 5, 2019). "DW's Slingerland Revival Will Begin With Radio King Snare Drums". DRUM!. Retrieved December 11, 2019.
  7. ^ Takeda, Toshihide (September 13, 2022). "We got the beat: Roland buys Drum Workshop in $65m deal". Nikkei Asia. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
  8. ^ 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.
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