So is it a generally accepted thing that slingerland snares are very good, particularly the wood ones? again other makes are good too. I Often type in slingerland artist snare, or radio king snare on you- tube to listen to the examples and I just love the sound, I've never owned one of their kits, - couldn't afford too but I love them as well. Also there was nothing cheap about the two slingerland drums I have, and I'm still feeling the effect of that, sigh. I play them at big band and for jazz stuff, perfect.

What about cracked B&B and early Beavertail lugs ?

[QUOTE=johnnyringo;369631]It's really quite simple, Slingerland were not the best. They probably sold more than Rogers because Rogers were more expensive. QUOTE]

I had ALL the catalogs back in 66/67 inc. Premier . I spent countless hours reading and studying them , often falling asleep at night with one on my chest .

I REALLY wanted a Rogers kit , but a 4 piece set was about $ 100 more than Ludwig which was my 2nd choice . $ 100 1967 dollars would be equal to $ 1000 today - that's a big chunk of dough . I was 15 and there were 6 kids in the house - a lower to middle class family ... so I ended up ordering my Ludwig Oyster Blue Super Classic ( my Ma took out a loan from the local Beneficial Finance Co. behind my father's back ) in the winter of 1967 and it took 4/5 months to get it . Still have the set here with me in Japan .

[quote/] I REALLY wanted a Rogers kit , but a 4 piece set was about $ 100 more than Ludwig which was my 2nd choice . $ 100 1967 dollars would be equal to $ 1000 today - that's a big chunk of dough . I was 15 and there were 6 kids in the house - a lower to middle class family ... so I ended up ordering my Ludwig Oyster Blue Super Classic ( my Ma took out a loan from the local Beneficial Finance Co. behind my father's back ) in the winter of 1967 and it took 4/5 months to get it . Still have the set here with me in Japan .[/quote]

That's a pretty cool mom. What made you prefer Ludwig and Rogers over Slingerland?

That's a pretty cool mom. What made you prefer Ludwig and Rogers over Slingerland?[/QUOTE]

The quality of the photos in the catalogs surely had an impact , and even a kid could see Rogers' hardware was superior to all the others' . Add to that 2 drummers who often were on TV in those days - Buddy and Louie Bellson played Rogers . Also , by 1967 Ludwig was # 1 and many of my fave rock drummers were playing Ludwig . If I had been able to test all the kits in a store ( nobody in my town had pro level kits in stock ) and visually examine them in person I might have chosen a different make . I should add I really , really dug the " oyster " and " strata " finishes , too . ^_^

The quality of the photos in the catalogs surely had an impact , and even a kid could see Rogers' hardware was superior to all the others' . Add to that 2 drummers who often were on TV in those days - Buddy and Louie Bellson played Rogers . Also , by 1967 Ludwig was # 1 and many of my fave rock drummers were playing Ludwig . If I had been able to test all the kits in a store ( nobody in my town had pro level kits in stock ) and visually examine them in person I might have chosen a different make . I should add I really , really dug the " oyster " and " strata " finishes , too . ^_^[/QUOTE]

That's interesting. My mom got me my first kit too, but mine was a Tama because my favorite band's drummer at the time (Guns N Roses) played a black Tama- or at least he did on MTV.

The first drummer I remember playing a Slingerland kit was an incredible drummer named Terry Thomas with the Screamin Cheetah Wheelies in the late 90s. I believe he was a Slingerland endorser.

I saw the Screamin Cheetah Wheelies open for ZZ Top in 2000. Good band. And you are correct, Steven Adler did use a Tama kit for a time in the 1980's. My first kit was $100 and I went half and half with my parents, though for Christmas a few years later they bought me a new Tama Swingstar kit. Always supported me, even when I was god awful.

Speaking of Tama ...Around 1979 , my Ma and I ( 50/50 ) bought my younger brother ( he was 12 at the time ) his first " pro " level kit - a Tama . And even though we were living on Long Island and not CT at the time , I went over to CT on the Orient Point - New London ferry and bought the set from the same place in New London where I got my Ludwigs !

So anyway....................Ludwig wins!!

:) :) :)

I don't think it matters what anyone else says, you've already made your mind up and have started this thread purely for the purpose of saying Slingerland are inferior to the other American made drums of the period.