Don Lombardi started a drum school called Drum Workshop in 1972 in Santa Monica, California. After teaching John Good the drums for a few months in 1972 and becoming friends with the now DW Woodologist, their first product saw the market in 1974 in the form of the trap case seat. Since then Drum Workshop evolved to become one of the largest and most influential drum designers and manufacturers in the world. With Don at the helm the DW brand portfolio expanded to include the revitalized Gretsch Drums, Latin Percussion and since 2020 also Slingerland.

How DW Drums are made: full factory tour
Drummerszone filmed how DW drums are made at the factory in Oxnard. We recorded the entire drum making process from veneer to the actual drum. Including the most important stages of DW drum manufacturing and the company's own checks and balances on absolute sound control. Also included are a few specialties from the workplace of DW's legendary custom shell painter Louie Garcia, like Neil Peart's Time Machine kit, Nick Mason's 'Dark Side of the Moon,' and the unique flight tickets-wrap of Josh Freese.



PDP & Drum Channel
2020 Is the 20th Anniversary of the DW company in Oxnard, California, and of the company's other brand PDP (Pacific Drums and Percussion). However, two years afer moving to Oxnard, the production of PDP moved to a DW factory in Ensenada, Mexico.

PDP Drums 2020: 20th Anniversary Kit plus Select Metal Snare Drums and Finishes
As we said, Pacific Drum and Percussion (PDP) was launched in 2000 when DW moved their business to Oxnard, California. In this video from NAMM 2020 you get all the new from PDP, including the new Select Metal snare drums and finsishes for the Concept Series Maple drums.
Tony Thaxton, drummer with Indie Rock band Motion City Soundtrack, was the first drummer that took the PDP 20th Anniversary kit on the band's January 2020 reunion tour.


Read the full PDP 2020 article and specs on Drummerszone.

In 2008 Lombardi returned to his educator roots when he established the award winning Drum Channel to share his passion for drumming. More recently he has been instrumental in the founding of Drum Workshop Music Foundation a new charitable organization whose goal is to provide the gift of music to underserved communities worldwide.

A 2-minute Drumchannel.com Studio Tour

More DW Family Reading

• How DW Drums are made: full factory tour
  From the raw veneer to custom made Collector's Series drum kits
  
• DW Drum Workshop Hardware Factory Tour
  A further look inside the DW factory
  
• How DW Drumheads are made - The Full REMO Factory Tour
  Inside the factory of the best sold drumheads in the world
  
• The PDP 20th Anniversary Kit plus Select Metal Snare Drums and Finishes
  Tony Thaxton first drummer to tour with collector's item
  
• In the car with Thomas Lang - listening to his favorite music
  Legendary drummer shares his daily routines in music
  
• Tommy Lee is back with DW drums
  Mötley Crüe drummer returns home
  
• A 2-minute Drumchannel Studio Tour
  Inside the drum studio where drum legends meet
  
• Thomas Lang gives a full construction tour of the 9 Beats USA Drum School
  World's biggest Drum School expands from China to United States
  
• Watch DW's new Pure Almond Collector's Series drums
  Played by Drums & Percussion editor Manni von Bohr
  
• Drum Workshop acquires Slingerland
  Historic brand joins DW's drum and percussion family

"I'm honored to be presented with an award from the Percussive Arts Society. Though manufacturing and education may seem like two different endeavors, like PAS I've always had a passion for education, and in coming up with inventions my goal has always been to improve the quality of a drummer's life by designing products that make it easier to play, while also providing new tools to create with."
- Don Lombardi

"We're absolutely thrilled for Don to receive this much-deserved recognition. Of course everyone at DW knows how important and influential Don is as a pioneer for drumming and education. It's wonderful to see the whole community also celebrate him for all of his accomplishments so far."
- Juels Thomas, Education and Events Manager for Drum Workshop and PAS Board Director

Drum Workshop (DW) is the home for many drummers. Not only did the company produce all the magnificent drums for Neil Peart and many others, the artists on the Drumchannel roster feature these names, from legendary to relatively new on the block.

It literally starts at A with Alex Acuna and follows the entire alphabet with names like Chad Smith, Jimmy Cobb, David Garibaldi, Eric Moore, Thomas Lang, Pete Lockett, Stewart Copeland, Mike Mitchell, Mick Fleetwood, Simon Phillips, Luke Holland, Terry Bozzio, Antonio Sanchez, Abe Laboriel, Thomas Pridgen, John Blackwell, Matt Garstka, Mike Portnoy, Nate Wood, JP Bouvet, Marco Minnemann, Gregg Bissonette, Hannah Welton, Daru Jones and too many more to mention.