I think that the way that kits been modified you won't be hurting anything by removing the wrap refinishing it. Who knows, you could find out you have maple underneath the wrap...and if you could get original some Slingerland hardware to replace the Tama stuff it would be a plus, in my opinion.

It looks like a mongrel kit. Slingerland sold two types of shells and you have a sample of each there.

Hi Robbie. Thanks for your reply. Do you have any idea why the floor tom and tom come originally with Tama brackets ? - There are no extra holes on the toms.

Should I remove the gray interior as well ?

What is a mongrel kit ?

Slingerland Id first two numbers quantity made on that run 3rd Number month of the run 4th number date ran and final 2 numers year ran. For example 118987 They made 11 pc on August 8th 1987. This also says you have drums made 1966, 87 and in 1970 some one modified these drums.

I called it a mongrel simply because it's made up of drums from different eras; hence the wide range in serial numbers (not to mention the different shells)

Slingerland did use a light grey or tan paint in the sixties before they switched to hot lacquer. In my opinion, you could refinish the interiors no problem.

Re: the hardware - it could be that the original tom mounts got damaged or stripped out. Or someone just liked the Tama hardware better. I've had a Tama kit and I've always said that the hardware on that kit was some of the best I've ever used.

cheers

Where did you hear that?

I have a set I custom ordered back in 1976 from the Illinois factory and the serial numbers are as follows: Bass drum: 266629; the tom shells were replaced a few years later and have the following sequence: 12” tom: 403893, 13” tom: 403891, 14” tom: 403894, 16” tom: 403895

Based on your theory...my bass drum was made in 1929 and the toms were made in the 90's...

The M stamp on the bass drum interior,indicates that the outer ply was maple,so it was either painted or lacuqered originally.If it were a P,that would mean pearl,and it would have been wrapped,and likely mahogany or maple that had some grain flaws,and not suitible for staining.

Finishing a mahogany shell for a stain,after removing the wrap,can be problematic.There are times,the glue used on the wrapping process, will stick to the mahogany so well that when unwrapping,it will pull up pieces of the shell with it,making a staing/lacquer job very difficuly.

Use a hair drier or a heat gun,carefully, without overheating/melting the wrap.The other hazard is using too much heat,and setting the wrap/glue on fire.

There are some how to's here on the procedure.Just do a search.Maybe youtube can assist you also.Just take your time,work out doors,and wear eye and hand protection,and a filter mask.

Steve B

I would say that the last pic (speckled interior) is in fact a Tama..,

Cheers

John

Robbi this I got it from the book History of Slingerland drums. It also mention that they had stock of shell dating back when it was the banjo company and sell them as current. They just had to be drill for current hardware. So this can be something old they had with old serial numbers. I can't answer that one, other than quote what is in book.

I have heard this about other drum brands but never about Slingerlands. Based on a serial number timeline I found on the net the kick is from mid 70s and the toms are from late 70s