Ludwig Classic Maple LS403 14" x 6.5" Snare Drum | Vintage Black Oyster

Ludwig Classic Maple LS403 14" x 6.5" Snare Drum – Vintage Black Oyster

The Ludwig Classic Maple LS403 14" x 6.5" Snare Drum in Vintage Black Oyster combines Ludwig's professional USA-made maple shell construction with one of the most recognisable finishes in the company's history.

Built around a 7-ply all-maple shell with a 45° bearing edge, the LS403 delivers the warmth, clarity and projection that has made Classic Maple such an important part of the Ludwig range.

The deeper 14x6.5 dimensions provide plenty of body and weight behind the backbeat, while 10 Imperial lugs and 2.3mm steel triple-flanged hoops give you the tuning control and response expected from a professional Ludwig snare.

Finished in iconic Vintage Black Oyster, it's an excellent main snare in its own right and a perfect match for a Ludwig Classic Maple kit in the same finish.

7-Ply Classic Maple Shell

At the heart of the LS403 is Ludwig's 7-ply all-maple shell.

Maple is one of the most versatile woods used for snare drums, combining warmth and body with plenty of clarity and projection.

Ludwig's Classic Maple shell has become a cornerstone of the company's professional wood drum range, offering a balanced sound that works across a huge variety of musical styles.

For players who want a premium wood snare without an overly extreme tonal character, Classic Maple is an incredibly versatile choice.

45° Bearing Edge

The Classic Maple shell features Ludwig's 45° bearing edge.

The bearing edge is where the drumhead makes contact with the shell and plays an important role in the response of the drum.

Combined with the 7-ply maple construction, it contributes to the clear, responsive and musical character associated with modern Classic Maple drums.

Deep 14" x 6.5" Dimensions

The 14" x 6.5" size gives the LS403 plenty of depth and body.

At lower tunings, there's a substantial and warm backbeat with plenty of weight.

Medium tunings provide a versatile balance of body, projection and sensitivity.

Take the tuning higher and the LS403 retains plenty of articulation while benefiting from the additional body of its deeper maple shell.

It's a particularly strong choice if you're looking for one premium wood snare capable of working across both studio and live situations.

Vintage Black Oyster Finish

Few Ludwig finishes are as instantly recognisable as Vintage Black Oyster.

Its distinctive black, grey and pearlescent pattern references one of the most famous looks in Ludwig's history while working beautifully with the modern Classic Maple shell.

It's an obvious choice for completing a Vintage Black Oyster Classic Maple kit, but it looks equally at home as a standalone snare behind almost any drum set.

10 Ludwig Imperial Lugs

The LS403 features 10 classic Ludwig Imperial lugs.

Ten tuning points provide precise control over head tension around the 14" shell and make it easy to explore the broad tuning range of the Classic Maple design.

The Imperial lugs also give the drum that unmistakable Ludwig appearance.

2.3mm Steel Triple-Flanged Hoops

The LS403 features 2.3mm steel triple-flanged hoops.

These provide plenty of definition for rimshots and cross-stick playing while allowing the maple shell to retain an open and responsive character.

It's a versatile hoop choice that suits the broad tuning range of the Classic Maple particularly well.

LS403 vs LS401 – 6.5" vs 5"

If you're choosing between the two main Classic Maple snare depths, the biggest difference is response and body.

The LS403 measures 14" x 6.5".

The LS401 measures 14" x 5".

Both use Ludwig's 7-ply all-maple shell and 45° bearing edge.

The shallower LS401 provides a quicker and tighter response.

The deeper LS403 adds greater body, fundamental depth and weight behind the backbeat.

Choose the LS401 if you prioritise speed and articulation.

Choose the LS403 if you're looking for a bigger and deeper maple snare sound.

Classic Maple LS403 vs Supraphonic LM402

The LS403 and LM402 are two very different approaches to a professional 14x6.5 Ludwig snare.

The LS403 uses a 7-ply maple shell, providing a warm and organic wood-snare voice.

The LM402 Supraphonic uses Ludwig's seamless aluminium shell, producing the crisp, controlled metal-snare response for which the Supraphonic is famous.

Choose the LM402 if you're looking for the definitive Ludwig aluminium sound.

Choose the LS403 if you prefer the warmth, resonance and natural character of maple.

Classic Maple LS403 vs Black Beauty LB417

The Black Beauty is another obvious comparison if you're looking for a premium 14x6.5 Ludwig snare.

The LS403 uses maple, producing a warm and resonant wood-shell character.

The LB417 Black Beauty uses a seamless brass shell, providing greater metal-shell projection and harmonic richness.

Both are extremely versatile main snares.

If you want a traditional wood-snare voice, we'd choose the Classic Maple.

If you want the additional projection and harmonic complexity of brass, look towards the Black Beauty.

Classic Maple vs Acrolite

The Classic Maple and Acrolite occupy very different tonal spaces.

Classic Maple provides the warmth and resonance of an all-maple wood shell.

The Acrolite uses aluminium and is known for its dry, articulate and naturally controlled response.

If you already own an Acrolite, Supraphonic or another Ludwig aluminium snare, adding a Classic Maple gives you a genuinely different voice rather than another variation on a metal-shell sound.

A Versatile Main Snare

One of the biggest strengths of the LS403 is its versatility.

The 14x6.5 dimensions provide enough depth for powerful rock backbeats while the maple shell retains the sensitivity needed for detailed playing.

It can work beautifully for pop, rock, funk, soul and R&B, while its balanced response makes it equally useful in the studio.

For players looking for one professional Ludwig wood snare capable of covering a lot of ground, the LS403 is a very strong choice.

Excellent for Recording

Maple is a studio favourite because of its balanced tonal character.

The deeper LS403 provides plenty of body without losing the clarity needed for detailed recording.

Tune it lower for a warm and substantial backbeat.

Medium tunings give you a versatile balance of body, attack and sensitivity.

Take it higher for greater articulation while retaining the warmth of the maple shell.

For a studio already equipped with aluminium, brass or copper snares, the Classic Maple adds a useful and distinctly different wood-shell voice.

Made in the USA

Classic Maple is part of Ludwig's professional USA-made range.

The series combines Ludwig's long history of American drum building with a modern all-maple shell designed to deliver warmth, clarity, projection and versatility.

Paired with Vintage Black Oyster, the LS403 brings together two of the most recognisable elements of Ludwig's identity.

Ludwig Classic Maple LS403 Specifications

• Brand: Ludwig

• Series: Classic Maple

• Model: LS403

• Full Model / MPN: LS403XX1Q

• Type: Acoustic Snare Drum

• Size: 14" x 6.5"

• Diameter: 14"

• Depth: 6.5"

• Shell Material: Maple

• Shell Construction: 7-Ply, 100% Maple

• Shell Thickness: Approx. 6mm

• Bearing Edge: 45°

• Finish: Vintage Black Oyster

• Finish Code: 1Q

• Hardware Finish: Chrome

• Lugs: 10 Ludwig Imperial Lugs

• Hoops: 2.3mm Steel Triple-Flanged

• Throw-Off: Ludwig P85AC

• Made In: USA

• Sound Character: Warm, full-bodied, clear and versatile

Ludwig Classic Maple LS403 FAQs

What is the Ludwig LS403?

The Ludwig LS403 is the 14" x 6.5" Classic Maple snare drum.

It features a 7-ply all-maple shell, 45° bearing edge and 2.3mm steel hoops.

What is the full model number for Vintage Black Oyster?

The 14x6.5 Vintage Black Oyster configuration is LS403XX1Q.

The base 14x6.5 Classic Maple model is LS403, while 1Q identifies the Vintage Black Oyster finish.

What is the Ludwig Classic Maple snare made from?

The LS403 features a 7-ply, 100% maple shell.

What does a maple snare drum sound like?

Maple provides a balanced combination of warmth, body, clarity and projection.

It's one of the most versatile wood choices for a snare drum and works across a broad range of musical styles and tunings.

What is Vintage Black Oyster?

Vintage Black Oyster is one of Ludwig's most recognisable wrap finishes, featuring a distinctive black, grey and pearlescent oyster pattern.

What is the difference between LS403 and LS401?

The difference is shell depth.

The LS403 measures 14x6.5, while the LS401 measures 14x5.

The LS403 provides greater body and fundamental depth, while the shallower LS401 gives you a quicker and tighter response.

Does the LS403 have Imperial lugs?

Yes. This Vintage Black Oyster configuration features 10 Ludwig Imperial lugs.

What hoops does the LS403 use?

The Classic Maple LS403 features 2.3mm steel triple-flanged hoops.

What bearing edge does Classic Maple use?

Ludwig specifies a 45° bearing edge for its current Classic Maple snare drums.

Classic Maple or Supraphonic?

The Classic Maple uses a 7-ply maple shell, while the classic Supraphonic uses seamless aluminium.

Choose the Classic Maple for a warm and organic wood-shell voice or the Supraphonic for its famous crisp and controlled aluminium response.

Classic Maple or Black Beauty?

The Classic Maple provides the warmth and resonance of maple.

The Black Beauty uses seamless brass and provides greater metal-shell projection and harmonic richness.

Both make excellent main snares, but their shell materials give them distinctly different personalities.

Is the LS403 good for recording?

Yes. Maple's balanced response and the additional body of a 6.5" shell make the LS403 an extremely useful recording snare.

Is the LS403 good for rock?

Yes. The 6.5" depth provides plenty of body for a powerful backbeat, while the maple shell has enough projection and clarity to work well in louder situations.

Is the LS403 good for pop and R&B?

Yes. Ludwig itself associates its wood snares with the fat backbeats and deep grooves of pop and R&B, and the warm, full-bodied Classic Maple shell is particularly well suited to those styles.

Is the Ludwig Classic Maple made in the USA?

Yes. The LS403 Classic Maple is made in the USA.

Why choose the Ludwig LS403?

Choose the LS403 if you want a professional 14x6.5 Ludwig wood snare with a warm and versatile all-maple shell, plenty of depth and iconic Vintage Black Oyster styling.

It's an excellent main snare and a perfect wood-shell counterpart to Ludwig's famous metal snares.