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Introduction and need advice w/Slingerland snare Last viewed: 4 hours ago

Posts: 53 Threads: 12

Hello all. I've made a couple posts but for anyone interested - I started playing drums in '73 when I was a little kid. I took drum lessons from the coolest hippie named Milo. I got into playing guitar and left the drums for a while, and got back into it recently. I just sold my Yamaha Stage Custom, Tama Starclassic G2 Maple snare and Axis longboard pedals, to replace them with the drums I learned on as a kid.

I bought a '63 Slingerland (previous owner sold it because he got endorsed by a major drum company. Here he is playing it.) -

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCYHzdozgcU[/ame]

20" kick, 13" rack tom and 16" floor tom. It needed work and I've got it where I want it, but need a snare. I don't mind when a snare color doesn't match the kit, so I'm open to wrap or laquer. I'm looking for advice on sound. I've looked for youtube clips but not getting too much. If anyone has sound clips, I'd love to hear em.

I'm looking for an early 60's OR EARLIER snare. Trying to decide if a single ply or 3 ply will fit my needs more. I know the price difference, etc, but not sure if the solid maple actually sounds THAT much better. I play bluesy stuff, classic rock, some funk, a little jazz, and I don't hit hard, but do use rims and like to tune medium to tight on the batter head. I like anything from a warm ring to a dark smokey tone.

So, for sound purposes,

3 ply or single?

Stick chopper or COB stick saver hoops?

Wrap or Laquer?

thanks for any help,

Val

Posted on 13 years ago
#1
Posts: 1190 Threads: 86

I'd look for a matching snare, 3 ply or solid maple or I'd get a 1960s chrome Gene Krupa...it would look correct and great with your set...they sound great and are plentiful and cheap.

Posted on 13 years ago
#2
Posts: 53 Threads: 12

Thanks for the reply Rich.

I don't think I can match it cuz I don't even know what color it is (looks like either silver or champagne sparkle that yellowed quite a lot - compared to the wrap under the lugs). I really want a wood snare as my primary (I might buy a metal snare as a backup later).

Posted on 13 years ago
#3
Posts: 1132 Threads: 43

Nice score! Only thing I can add is that a single ply sounds REALLY good! I prefer to have a matching snare drum, but this kit appears to be champagne sparkle. If so, drums in champagne sparkle tend to go a little higher than others. Either way, an early 60s drums should have COB stick savers, except for a few models that came with stick choppers.

I'm no guru, just a vintage drum junkie!

Psalm 150:5
1945 Slingerland RK sparkling gold pearl 26/13/14/16/early 50s 5.5x14 Krupa RK
1967 Slingerland green glass glitter 20/12/14/Hollywood Ace
60s Slingerland 24/13/16/7x14 project
24/13/16/7x14 project RKs
60s 5 & 6.5 Sound Kings
1942 7x14 WMP Krupa RK
1930s Slingerland Universal
1967 Ludwig Hollywood sparkling blue pearl 22/12/13/16
1967 Ludwig Supraphonic 400 & 402
1965 Ludwig Jazz Fest sparkling blue pearl
1923 Ludwig 5x14 NOB
Posted on 13 years ago
#4
Posts: 53 Threads: 12

Is it really imperative to have a snare close to the same year or can I use a R K snare from the early 50's and have it sound like it 'fits' with the kit? I'm not really trying to complete it like it left the factory, just looking for a sound that will compliment the '63 shell pack.

Posted on 13 years ago
#5
Posts: 728 Threads: 92

Hi,

A single ply Radio King of any era would sound great with your kit (or any kit :)). I have a couple of single ply radio king snares, a 3 ply Hollywood Ace, and a COB Krupa snare. I love the sounds of all three, but I especially love the COB drum...bright, poppy, very responsive. The single plys and three ply shells are also wonderful, warm sounding drums with quite the crack. I tend to think you would be satisfied with any of the above (and you can get the Hollywood Ace or COB Krupa snares for reasonable prices on ebay).Check out Steve Maxwells website - he sometimes has sound files for the drums he is selling. Good way to take a listen to some of the above Slingerland models (and others) before deciding.

Good luck and happy drum hunting. Let us know what you decide!

James

“It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent; it is the one most adaptable to change.” - Charles Darwin
Posted on 13 years ago
#6
Posts: 18 Threads: 8

I have a 1960s Hollywood Ace model and and a 1970s Artist model, both 3ply shells and they're brilliant. I play all types of music from heavy hitting rock to more subtle jazz and latin, and both snares work great in any situation with a mid tuning. However, I do find that, with my drums at least, the Hollywood ace is warmer and deeper in tone than the Artist. The only real difference between the drums is that the Hollywood ace has very deep snare beds compared with the Artist, and also has the COB hoops. These are of superior quality in my opinion.

The only thing with Hollywood ace is the strainer (the rapid strainer) only accepts snare chord or string which some people don't like, but you can easily change to the ludwig p-85 or p-86 strainers, as they have the same hole pattern as the rapid.

Posted on 13 years ago
#7
Posts: 763 Threads: 110

From vbb

I play bluesy stuff, classic rock, some funk, a little jazz, and I don't hit hard, but do use rims and like to tune medium to tight on the batter head. I like anything from a warm ring to a dark smokey tone.

I'm with James on this one,...

Why not a COB Krupa?

I have a 10-lug 6.5".... by far the most versatile snare in my arsenal and tuning range is second to none,...

Posted on 13 years ago
#8
Posts: 2212 Threads: 95

Look for a Slingerland student six lugger, dark and smokey and can be had on the cheap! Steve Maxwell has a mid 60's wmp that he wanted peanuts for about a month back.

Posted on 13 years ago
#9
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