I picked these up today; I got a great deal on them. I love how the Black Diamond Pearl has sufficiently aged and is just a tad "dirty". They are overall in very good shape, complete with stick saver hoops, all original legs, spurs and appointments (except where noted below). Niles, IL badges with Serial Numbers. The date stamp inside the floor tom is March 7, 1963. The interiors are in great shape. Re-rings, but the shells are heavy. Sizes are 12"/13"/16"/20" . I haven't done any cleaning or polishing at all yet. The chrome looks good throughout and the wrap has a few blips here and there, but I'm sure will look better after some Novus. All the seams are tight and the wrap has no cracks or tears.
I am not very up on Slingerland stuff, so I hope you experts can help me on the materials used, authenticity of components etc.
A couple of obvious issues on this kit:
1. One bass drum hoop is not original.
2. It looks like the bass drum was used backwards. Notice how the badge and tom mount tightening nut are facing out towards the resonant side of the bass drum. The spurs are about in the center of the shell. Should the writing on the badge be facing the batter side?
3. Check out the photo of the close up of the tom mount (last picture). The tom mount wingscrew (that controls the height of the main post) is not original, and is stripped. Either that, or it's not long enough to "activate" the insert on the inside of the tube (which is why the toms look a little crooked in the photos-the downtube is totally loose-just the memory lock is holding it up). Also, look at the knarley cigarette burn on the bass drum near the hoop, right in-between the two toms. Burned all the way through the wrap down to the wood, which is charred! Who needs an ashtray when you have a perfectly good bass drum, right? My guess is a previous owner had one of those bass drum mounted spiral or spring shaped sitck holders and used it for a cigarette too!
Here's where I need some help:
1. Do the tom mount and claw hooks appear to be original? The tom mount is engraved "Slingerland, Niles, IL" at the top.
2. Regarding the stripped nut on the tom mount that controls the post height, is that a two piece mount that's attached to the bass drum? In other words, can I pop the "cap" off (like at the top of a snare or cymbal stand base that controls the height adjustment for the next tube above it) and replace it with a different Slingerland one, that I have from extra cymbal stands? It appears to be two piece, but I am not for sure. It certainly looks exactly like the top of a Slingerland snare or cymbal stand base.
3. What were these drums made of (Maple, Birch etc.)? How many plies?
4. Notice on the 13" Tom, the internal tone control faces out towards the audience, whereas on the 12" it faces the player. Strange. Both badges face 90 degrees away from the player, to the outside.
This is my first Slingerland kit, and first "brand name", non-MIJ vintage kit. I am going to have a lot of fun with these! As for you Slingerland guys, do you think they look good? Would you have purchased them with the flaws noted? I am always interested into what Slingerland players, collectors, afficianados etc. would think of these. I got the drums as pictured for $425. I thought it was a good deal. Thoughts? Opinions? Fire away!
Thanks for allowing me to share!
V
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