For what it's worth, I've got a 1965 Slingy 20 inch bass drum that I love for a open tuned low end sound. I like it better than my 67 Ludwig for that tuning. The Ludwig sounds better to me tuned up.
Slingerland - are they less loved than other US brands? Last viewed: 43 seconds ago
1980's Pearl Export 10, 12, 16, 22
1960's Kent Blue Sparkle 12, 14, 20
1965 Slingerland Mahogany 12, 15, 20
1967 Ludwig Mahogany and Maple 12, 14, 20
1963 Ludwig Maple NOB Pioneer
1930's? Ludwig and Ludwig 5.5x14 Maple
1971 COB Gretsch 5.5x14
Olive badge Acrolite
Various Kent mongrel snares
That is an excellent point. Who knows how history would have been changed had Ringo stuck with Premier or decided to go with Gretsch, for example?
I started playing Slingerland for a silly reason (ELO's "A New World Record" came out about three months before I started playing and Bev Bevan played Slingerland ... good enough for me), but it didn't take long to fall in love.
I think it's kind of cool that they're no longer made. I love when a drummer comes up at a gig and says that my kit is "old school."
• 1979 Oak
• 1978 Blakrome + 6.5x14 TDR SD
• 1977 Black Diamond Pearl + 5x14 SD (gold badge, Rapid strainer)
• 1976 Black Cordova
• 1975 Silver Sparkle + 5x14 SD (Rapid strainer)
• 1974 Chrome + 5x14 COB TDR and 6.5x14 COW Zoomatic SDs
• 1973 Purple Sparkle
• 1973 Phantom (clear)
• 1971 Walnut (gold badges) + 5x14 TDR SD
1x Rogers Powertone Londoner V 12-13-16-22
• 1972 Butcher Block + 1979 big R Dynasonic SD
well i for one have been inspecting the 65 modern solo outfit no 2R in blue agate pearl that i just got
i pick up a cat and its the 65 set stamps inside drum barely there but legible, as i id all the drums i notice the veneer and rings nice quality, any way the hardware seems good enough not to fond of double tom mount, but rims are impressive nice cob over all this will be a pretty cool kit when im done just have to take it apart and rebuild it.new heads then i'll hear how it sounds then i see what the market will bear when i try to flip them...wonder what i can get for them?
66/67 downbeat with canister
Super 400 small round knob
1967 super classic obp
once the brass ceases to glitter, and the drum looses its luster, and the stage remains dark, all you have left is the timbre of family.
Slingerlands maybe aren't as popular a Ludwigs, But those that love them are DIE HARDS! I wouldn't say that they a cheaper drums. It has to do with age, color, size etc. Try and find a 14" floor tom for under $400.00. 16" are a dime a dozen. Chrome over wood snares were sold with almost every kit between 1970 up until they quit making drums. So there's a bunch of them out there. Supply and demand. I was bidding on a 10" double headed tom the other day and it got really expensive.
Niel Peart,Phil Ehart,Bill Ward,Matt Abts,Nigel Olson,Danny Seraphine...
Some of my favs....
I love my Slingys....
By the way...Will a kickport work on my Calfskin bass head?
Slingerland was my first real drumset. Maybe that colored the way I look at drums, but 17+ drumsets later, there's just something about them; I have an 80's set and a 60's set, and both are very different animals. I'm also getting into early 50's RK's, as well. My favorite all-time snare(out of 40+) is an 8x14 Magnum from the 80's.
I'm not here to cast aspersion on the other brands; I own them. I like them. Lots, actually. But, it's all about how you feel when you play a kit, the overall vibe. My Slingerlands feel completely different from my Yamaha Recording Series or Gretsch or Sonor Phonics. And yet, I've done some of my best playing on the Slingerlands. Yes, after one might think about history and Rich/Krupa/Bellson/Peart, it's still YOU playing the kit and making the sound. Personally, the Slingerlands are what I call my "muse" kit; lots of inspiration happening when I sit down at those.
I am actually happy to have been able to find some add-on drums and parts for a song, and even some snares. Man, some of those Slingerland wooden snares are the best kept secrets around. Here's hoping that lasts!
Dan
Well, mr wh00cares, dontcha think that really pearls and tamas weren't a bit better quality-wise? I mean Slingys gots da sound, but the Japanese drums were of better quality!!!
oh sure, I'm playing a tama kit at home and have a pacific birch kit at the band's rehearsal space. While these are modern kits, I find they can get the same toanz w/ the right head selection and tuning -NTM playing.
If I had the cash tied up in the tamas I would in a vintage kit, I wouldn't be able to keep it set up because it lives outside in my shop. W/ no apparent damage from being "stored" in an unheated space.
have you seen those really big ones? -that would probably be best.
Man, some of those Slingerland wooden snares are the best kept secrets around. Here's hoping that lasts!
Yep. I have a Hollywood Ace that has put 4 Supraphonics, 3 DWs, a Craviotto, and countless others to shame. I don't miss any of them one bit. You can pry this Slingerland from my cold, rigor mortis-laden hands...
1965 Ludwig Hollywood
1970 Ludwig Jazzette
My very first kit was a used 60's Fullerton Rogers 5pc in silver glitter with chrome PT snare. That kit was very mellow, sounded great and easy to tune. I loved the Rogers hardware! I sold it in 74 and bought a new Slingerland kit in mahogany stain. Quite a different sound, more raw and thunderous. 24" bass and 13-14-18-20" toms I'm sure helped the big sound. I had a hard time getting the stock heads to sound good. I like the deeper tones on tuning and used a bit of masking tape to assist. Once that was done man they sounded great. Even better with new Remo heads in time. I did miss a part of that Rogers sound I lost at first and took some time to adjust. My bud was a advid Ludwig man and was cool to trade off on sets when we got together. They all sounded great. When I first started lessons in the late 60's and moved to the set it was a BDP Gretsch 20-12-14 with skins and man those were some of the best sounding drums I ever played. Teach had a Slingerland WMP 20-12-14 equally as nice sounding. I guess I like them all brand wise. And have seen both expensive and inexpensive kits in all makes. Wish I could afford a few of each. flower
Not a guru just havin fun with some old dusty drums.

Yep. I have a Hollywood Ace that has put 4 Supraphonics, 3 DWs, a Craviotto, and countless others to shame. I don't miss any of them one bit. You can pry this Slingerland from my cold, rigor mortis-laden hands...
Bold statement, but from what I know about those snares, it makes sense.
I'd love to hear more about this drum.
And yes, I have actually discussed burying the 8x14 snare with me.
Luckily, I probably won't do that.
Dan
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