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Cindy Blackman Santana - When did she leave Gretsch for Ludwig?

Posted: Fri Nov 28, 2025 8:54 pm
by Jules

I remember when she left Sonor for Gretsch, and figured it was (in part) a nod to Tony Williams as she basically duplicated his rig right down to black dot heads. Didn't realize she had jumped ship from there, too.

Anyone know details?


Re: Cindy Blackman Santana - When did she leave Gretsch for Ludwig?

Posted: Sat Nov 29, 2025 1:34 pm
by James Fullier III
Jules wrote: Fri Nov 28, 2025 8:54 pm

I remember when she left Sonor for Gretsch, and figured it was (in part) a nod to Tony Williams as she basically duplicated his rig right down to black dot heads. Didn't realize she had jumped ship from there, too.

Anyone know details?

https://gretschdrums.com/artists/blackman-cindy


Re: Cindy Blackman Santana - When did she leave Gretsch for Ludwig?

Posted: Sat Nov 29, 2025 2:51 pm
by Jules

Just a few days ago this is what she was playing... definitely Ludwig Blue/Olive badges and Ludwig lugs.

Screenshot 2025-11-29 at 2.50.14 PM.png

Re: Cindy Blackman Santana - When did she leave Gretsch for Ludwig?

Posted: Sat Nov 29, 2025 3:22 pm
by tcbetka

Are those acrylic shells? They sort of look like it at some points in the video.


Re: Cindy Blackman Santana - When did she leave Gretsch for Ludwig?

Posted: Sat Nov 29, 2025 3:24 pm
by James Fullier III

If that was the case of officially switching.. she would of already been on the Ludwig site as an artist and removed from Gretsch..

I have seen her a few times when she most likely could not get a gretsch set for some event.

Image


Re: Cindy Blackman Santana - When did she leave Gretsch for Ludwig?

Posted: Sat Nov 29, 2025 3:46 pm
by Jules

She may have been using backline. I assumed with the custom head that it was her personal rig. "ASSUME" you know what I am driving at.


Re: Cindy Blackman Santana - When did she leave Gretsch for Ludwig?

Posted: Sat Nov 29, 2025 7:03 pm
by tcbetka

Yeah, I wondered that as well--was this a backline kit? I helped out a friend in Alaska who did backline drums back in the 90s, when we lived up there. We didn't let anyone alter the drums (eg; removing logos), and in most cases all anyone ever did was to put duct tape over the brand on the front of the BD head. Often though they didn't even do that. They just showed up and played.

Of course these were back in the days before cellphones and social media, lol... Not much danger of your drum company finding out you didn't use their brand at a fly gig in Alaska.


Re: Cindy Blackman Santana - When did she leave Gretsch for Ludwig?

Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2025 4:59 pm
by DaveInNZ
Jules wrote: Sat Nov 29, 2025 2:51 pm

Just a few days ago this is what she was playing... definitely Ludwig Blue/Olive badges and Ludwig lugs.

That's not Cindy, it's Jas Keyser


Re: Cindy Blackman Santana - When did she leave Gretsch for Ludwig?

Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2025 6:10 pm
by Jules
DaveInNZ wrote: Mon Dec 01, 2025 4:59 pm
Jules wrote: Sat Nov 29, 2025 2:51 pm

Just a few days ago this is what she was playing... definitely Ludwig Blue/Olive badges and Ludwig lugs.

That's not Cindy, it's Jas Keyser

Y’all really gotta learn to cover for me when I do stupid stuff. Nobody’s gonna wanna sign up for this place if they think the admin is a moron.


Re: Cindy Blackman Santana - When did she leave Gretsch for Ludwig?

Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2025 6:14 pm
by DaveInNZ

Hahahahahaha.