When symphonies are performed at their most glorious levels, it is not without the sweat of rehearsal, week in and week out. Likewise, the new Grand Symphonic timpani series reflects, in practice, the evolution of design.To this day, Ludwig's patented Balanced Action tuning pedal is widely imitated, yet never matched. Coupled with the new rolled-lip copper kettle specially designed to hang within the suspension ring like a bell, you achieve the most overtone-free pitches ever to sound from a timpani. In Ringer fashion, these kettles are hand-hammered one at a time. Sturdy pull rods are built within the struts for safety, while friction blocks sit astride the main horizontal pull rod, suppporting the balanced action on both ends of the range, of a major seventh to and octave.
