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Ludwig Breakbeats by Questlove | New Finishes & Updates

Ludwig Breakbeats by Questlove | New Finishes & Updates

Description

Breakbeats by Questlove is Ludwig's bold new line of portable percussion. Developed in collaboration with The Roots' legendary drummer Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson, Breakbeats delivers a robust, focused tone in a scaled-down footprint. The 4-piece shell pack features 7-ply poplar shells and a 45-degree bearing edge for articulate attack and woody resonance. Triple-flanged hoops ensure these drums can handle your most intense rimshots and cross-sticks.

Compact Components for Maximum Mobility

Measuring just 16"x14", 13"x13", 10"x7" and 14"x5" for the bass drum, floor tom, mounted tom and snare respectively, Breakbeats by Questlove packs serious punch into a conveniently compact format. For apartment dwellers and gigging drummers alike, portability and flexibility are key.

Poplar Shells Provide a Solid Foundation

At the heart of Breakbeats' focused tone are 7-ply poplar shells, chosen for their blend of sensitivity and strength. Poplar is a dense, hardwood that produces an assertive attack with controlled resonance. The 45-degree bearing edge further enhances articulation and projection. Paired with triple-flanged hoops, these shells yield a mix of power and nuance that suits any musical scenario.

Purpose-Built Add-Ons Keep You Playing

Breakbeats by Questlove comes with several thoughtful components to maximize playing comfort and versatility. An included lift elevates toms and snare to optimal reach. All told, this portable percussion solution has everything the modern drummer needs to keep creating, no matter the location or circumstance.

Ludwig Breakbeats by Questlove 4-Piece Shell Pack - Red Sparkle
Ludwig Breakbeats by Questlove 4-Piece Shell Pack - Red Sparkle
Ludwig Breakbeats by Questlove 4-Piece Shell Pack - Red Sparkle

Features

  • Signature Questlove 4-piece shell pack with 7-ply hardwood shells
  • 16x14" bass drum, 10x7" rack tom and 13x13" floor tom balance portability and acoustic response
  • 14x5" matching wood snare delivers crisp articulation and response
  • Compact footprint fits small stages, apartments and rehearsal spaces
  • 7-ply hardwood shells provide balanced tone and focused projection
  • Remo Pinstripe drumheads reduce overtones and control sustain
  • Bass drum riser supports natural pedal feel and beater alignment

Specs

General
  • Product type: 4-piece shell pack
  • Series: Breakbeats by Questlove
  • Model: LC279
  • Artist signature: Questlove
Configuration
  • Bass drum: 16x14"
  • Rack tom: 10x7"
  • Floor tom: 13x13"
  • Snare drum: 14x5"
Shell Construction
  • Shell construction: 7-ply
  • Shell material: Hardwood
  • Available colors: Black Sparkle, Blue Sparkle, Deep Blue Sparkle, Frosted Sparkle, Lilac Sparkle, Red Sparkle, Silver Sparkle
Bass Drum
  • Bass drum riser: Included
Heads
  • Brand: Remo
  • Series: Pinstripe

Warranty

Maple and birch drum sets (drums only) - 3-year warranty.
Marching and timpani drums - 3-year warranty.
Sticks and hardware - 1-year warranty.
Cases - 1-year warranty.
Accent drum line - 1-year warranty.

Featured Articles

Reviews

3.92

13 Reviews

73%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend

Great Little Kit
Great small kit
Good, Fun little Kit.
Good, Fun little Kit.
Ludwig Breakbeats
Ludwig Breakbeats

Most Liked Positive Review

5

Good compact set

Been drumming for decades. Downsized, so wanted a small kit. Got the Azure blue one. Beautiful color. Tuned up great. I did change the snare batter & put a super kick ll on the bass drum. I saw someone asked if the kit came with the hardware required to mount the tom. Another person said no but mine came with it & a bass drum stand. This isn't the top quality Ludwig kit Ringo Starr and others may play, but for the money, I don't think you can beat it! I've used it on a few gigs & I have no complaints. Great idea & design.

VS

Most Liked Negative Review

2

BUYER BEWARE

This is an incredibly low quality kit. Out of the box it had a piece of wood missing off the bearing edge. Bearing edges and inside of the shells are not sanded whatsoever. I started to assemble the kit and tried to look past the red flags. Final straw was the hoop was broken. I looked online for an email to contact Ludwig for support, couldn't find anything. Contacted Guitar Center and they advised me to return the kit and perhaps buy a replacement. I decided against trying another kit. Honestly if I was the artist that endorsed this product, I'd be ashamed. It's too bad Ludwig quality control is so low, this kit is worse than a generic one. I didn't have the opportunity to play the drums, maybe if you pulled it apart and fixed all the issues on a brand new kit, maybe it would make a decent kit. I don't think fixing a new product should be necessary.

Filters
Best Uses
  1. Small Venues9
  2. Accompaniment5
  3. Jazz Clubs4
  4. Soundtracks1
  5. Jam session house band1
Cons
  1. Bearing edges could be better.1
  2. Flat Sound1
  3. Poorly Made1
  4. No cons.1
Describe Yourself
  1. Professional Musician6
  2. Experienced3
  3. Novice1
Pros
  1. Great Sound8
  2. Versatile7
  3. Responsive6
  4. Huge Tone3
  5. Sensitive3

Reviewed by 13 customers

  • Great Little Kit

    5

    submitted2 months ago

    byJim

    fromChicago

    Submitted as part of a sweepstakes

    Great kit for smaller gigs where space is limited or when you need to simply lighten the load. Replacing the original heads with Remo USA made Pinstripes and Aquarian SKII BD head will significantly improved the sound. Also recommend the Yamaha aluminum stand's to further improve mobility.

  • Shell set - only drums

    1

    submitted6 months ago

    byLucas

    fromSavannah

    Picture is misleading, this is a 4 piece shell set only No cymbals or stands. Nowhere does it say this on the listing. This is false advertising!

  • BUYER BEWARE

    2

    submitted7 months ago

    byJason

    fromEl Paso Texas

    This is an incredibly low quality kit. Out of the box it had a piece of wood missing off the bearing edge. Bearing edges and inside of the shells are not sanded whatsoever. I started to assemble the kit and tried to look past the red flags. Final straw was the hoop was broken. I looked online for an email to contact Ludwig for support, couldn't find anything. Contacted Guitar Center and they advised me to return the kit and perhaps buy a replacement. I decided against trying another kit. Honestly if I was the artist that endorsed this product, I'd be ashamed. It's too bad Ludwig quality control is so low, this kit is worse than a generic one. I didn't have the opportunity to play the drums, maybe if you pulled it apart and fixed all the issues on a brand new kit, maybe it would make a decent kit. I don't think fixing a new product should be necessary.

  • Great small kit

    5

    submitted8 months ago

    byEd

    fromColumbia, SC

    Bought this to control volume at smaller venues. Put Aquarian vintage deep heads on Tom's and Evans Calftones on Bass and WOW! Snare has been a little tricky to get tuned well but I'll figure it out. I use a vintage Slingerland snare anyway so no big deal. Great kit!

  • Good, Fun little Kit.

    4

    submitted10 months ago

    byTodd

    fromPhoenix Arizona

    Like most kits you buy nowadays you need to put on good quality aftermarket heads on them, go over the bearing edges to get the best fit and sound out if the drums. I'm really surprised in the decent quality of my kit. Great for small stages.

  • Ludwig Breakbeats

    5

    submitteda year ago

    byAnthony

    fromMoore, South Carolina

    Submitted as part of a sweepstakes

    I bought these drums to use for band rehearsals and small venue gigs. So far, I am happy with them and will be easy to transport. They sound pretty good for their size and the quality is good.

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Q&A

Have a question about this product? Our expert Gear Advisers have the answers.

  • submitteda year ago

    asked byEvan

    fromHobart, IN

    Does it come with the cymbals and hardware

    Open Reply - Gear-Support
    No, it doesn’t. Shell packs are only the drums. There is no hardware, cymbals or pedals included.

  • submitteda year ago

    asked byBrian

    fromWinsted Ct.

    Can the bass drum riser on the Breakbeat set be adjusted so the bass drum beater head hits at a 90 degree angle ?

    Open Reply - Gear-Support
    The stock riser doesn’t always allow for perfect 90-degree contact from the beater — depending on your pedal and beater setup. Here’s what you can do: Adjust your pedal and beater angle – Some kick pedals allow you to adjust the angle of the beater independently of the footboard. You may be able to get closer to a 90° strike this way. Shift the riser – If there’s a little wiggle room in the riser placement, see if sliding it forward or back a bit can help with the angle. Just make sure the drum is still stable. Aftermarket riser – Some players swap out the Ludwig riser for a Gibraltar SC-BDPM or similar model. These often allow more adjustability and a firmer grip, letting you position the drum exactly where you want. Use a shorter or angled beater – If the beater is too long, it might not strike at the right point. Swapping in a slightly shorter beater or one with an angled shaft can help align the strike more vertically.

  • submitted2 years ago

    asked byCesar

    fromMoulton Alabama

    Are there cymblas included

    Open Reply - Gear-Support
    No, it doesn’t. Shell packs are only the drums. There is no hardware, cymbals or pedals included.

  • submitted3 years ago

    asked byTyler the drummer

    fromNashville TN

    Does this drum set have cymbals and also does it come with two cymbal stands and a high hat stand?

    Open Reply - Thomas
    I’m sorry but no. Shell packs are only the drums. There is no hardware, cymbals or pedals included

  • submitted4 years ago

    asked byLuwigman

    fromTempe, AZ

    Does this kit come with the hardware to mount the tom, as shown in the pictures?

    Open Reply - Thomas
    I’m sorry but no. Shell packs are only the drums. There is no hardware, cymbals or pedals included

  • submitted4 years ago

    asked byskip

    fromgaylord mi.

    what dose shell pack mean

    Open Reply - Thomas
    Shell packs are only the drums. There is no hardware, cymbals or pedals included

  • submitted4 years ago

    asked byRonny-poo

    fromSunnyvale, ca

    Does this kit come with stands, cymbals, bass drum beater and throne?

    Open Reply - Thomas
    I’m sorry but no. Shell packs are only the drums. There is no hardware, cymbals or pedals included