Drum Workshop#Expansion and acquisition
{{Short description|American musical instrument company}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2022}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Drum Workshop, Inc.
| logo = Drum worksh logo.png
| logo_size = 180px
| type = Private
| foundation = {{Start date and age|1972}} in Santa Monica, California
| location_city = Oxnard, California
| location_country = United States
| key_people = Don Lombardi, Founder
Chris Lombardi, President and CEO
John Good, COO
| revenue =
| industry = Musical instruments
| owner =
| num_employees =
| parent = Roland Corporation
| brands = Pacific Drums
| subsid = {{nowrap|
}}
| products = {{hlist|Drum sets|snare drums|drum hardware}}
| homepage = [http://www.dwdrums.com/ dwdrums.com]
}}
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.{{Cite news |last=Pilla |first=Sarah |date=June 21, 2021 |title=Oxnard boasts one of the biggest drum manufacturers in the world |language=en |work=Spectrum News |url=https://spectrumnews1.com/ca/la-west/business/2021/06/20/oxnard-boasts-one-of-the-biggest-drum-manufacturers |access-date=2021-06-22}}
History
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.{{Cite book |last1=Nicholls |first1=Geoff |url= |title=The Drum Book: A History of the Rock Drum Kit |last2= |first2= |publisher=Backbeat Books |year=2008 |isbn=978-1-4768-5437-3 |pages=35 |oclc=1084251774}}
After selling primarily drum hardware, the company began making its first drum sets in 1990.{{Cite news |last=Clandos |first=Rosemary |date=2000-07-11 |title=Business Is Booming at Oxnard Manufacturer of Quality Drums |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-jul-11-me-50876-story.html |access-date=2022-09-13}}
Expansion and acquisition
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 2014–2015, Drum Workshop acquired Ovation Guitars, Latin Percussion, Toca Percussion, Gibraltar Hardware, and KAT Technologies.{{Cite web |date=2013-01-07 |title=Ovation Brand Sold to Drum Workshop |url=https://acousticguitar.com/ovation-brand-sold-to-drum-workshop/ |access-date=2022-09-13 |website=Acoustic Guitar}} Gibraltar Hardware was established in 1993, focusing on drumset and percussion hardware, as well as hi-hat stands and drum set thrones. Artists who use Gibraltar hardware on their drums include Rob Bourdon (Linkin Park), Chris Adler (Lamb of God), and Luis Conte. Gibraltar hardware packs are standard for current Gretsch Drums kits.{{cite web|url=http://www.musicincmag.com/News/2015/150106/150106_KMS.html|title=KMC Music Sells Percussion Brands, Ovation Guitars to Drum Workshop|website=Music Inc Magazine|date=6 January 2015}}{{cite web |title=Privacy Policy; Interpretations and Definitions; Definitions, Item 3 |url=https://gibraltarhardware.com/55619584156/policies/privacy-policy.html |website=Gibraltar Hardware}}{{cite web |title=Brands |url=https://reliancemusical.com/brands/ |website=Reliance Musical}}{{cite news |title=Hardware Store |url=https://www.paines.com.au/what-is-the-best-wood-for-decking/}}
In November, 2019, DW acquired Slingerland Drum Company from Gibson.{{Cite web |last=Grizzle |first=Nicholas |date=26 November 2019 |title=DW Buys Slingerland Drum Company from Gibson |url=https://drummagazine.com/dw-buys-slingerland-drum-company-from-gibson/ |access-date=December 11, 2019 |website=DRUM!}}{{Cite web |last=Hood |first=Phil |date=5 December 2019 |title=DW's Slingerland Revival Will Begin With Radio King Snare Drums |url=https://drummagazine.com/dws-slingerland-revival-will-begin-with-radio-king-snare-drums/?mc_cid=b95201b39e&mc_eid=a261c28645 |access-date=December 11, 2019 |website=DRUM!}}
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.{{Cite web |last=Takeda |first=Toshihide |date=2022-09-13 |title=We got the beat: Roland buys Drum Workshop in $65m deal |url=https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Companies/We-got-the-beat-Roland-buys-Drum-Workshop-in-65m-deal |access-date=2022-09-13 |website=Nikkei Asia |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Williams |first=Stuart |date=2022-09-12 |title=Drum Workshop Inc. joins Roland Corporation as the Japanese giant acquires all outstanding DW shares |url=https://www.musicradar.com/news/drum-workshop-joins-roland-corporation-as-japanese-giant-acquires-outstanding-dw-shares |access-date=2022-09-13 |website=MusicRadar |language=en}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons cat}}
- {{official website}}
- [https://www.namm.org/library/oral-history/don-lombardi Don Lombardi] interview with the NAMM Oral History Program
- [https://www.namm.org/library/oral-history/john-good John Good] interview with the NAMM Oral History Program
{{Percussion instruments brands}}
Category:Percussion instrument manufacturing companies
Category:Musical instrument manufacturing companies of the United States
Category:Manufacturing companies based in California
Category:Companies based in Oxnard, California