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Radio King help please.....

Guest

Howdy,

I picked up this old drum and I have a few questions about it. It appears to be singly ply and the finish looks like it was original. It was quite marked up with scratches and had stickers on it, so I did my best to lightly sand the drum and then gave it a few coats of tung oil. I highly doubt it was ever wrapped in anything......

I need some hoops for it and judging by the tension rod length, I'm pretty sure it originally had stick choppers with clips.

I've seen Student Radio King models with no brackets, but I've never seen a single ply shell without the RK extension brackets. It has all the characteristics of a student but single ply.....

Before and after photos.......

Help would be appreciated... I will get some interior shots up later.

Thanks

Posted on 12 years ago
#1
Posts: 747 Threads: 37

I doubt this is single ply. This is probably a Student Model Radio King (8 lugs). If it was a solid shell, it would have a Maple exterior. (You should have cleaned up & kept the original finish, flaws & all )

Posted on 12 years ago
#2
Guest

A few more interior shots.......

Its near impossible to see the ply or plys on the edges due to the old stain finish that overlapped. If you look down the edge a bit you can see what appears to be the start of the ply tapering out...

On my 3 other 1940's Radio Kings (which are most definitely single ply) there is kind of a bevel at the top and bottom interior that is visible just under the support rings. This shell has the same thing going on. I tried to photograph it but I'm not sure you can see it....

Lastly the interior seam shot.

I also have a 58 Student Radio King, same dims..... it is much heavier than the drum in question and sports mahogany interior.

Regarding the previous post, thanks for your reply. I have to respectfully disagree about your "should have left the drum as is" remark. I'm quite satisfied with the effort that I put in and the results. I did not remove the old finish , only what little was left of the clear poly or whatever it was sealed with, and then touched it up with tung oil.

Posted on 12 years ago
#3
Posts: 1342 Threads: 71

Beautiful drum! I wish I had it.

Posted on 12 years ago
#4
Posts: 5356 Threads: 87

From Gerald Sterken

Beautiful drum! I wish I had it.

That makes 2 of us. ;)

Very nice work you did on this one. It's a beauty!

Glenn.

Not a guru just havin fun with some old dusty drums.
Posted on 12 years ago
#5
Posts: 10714 Threads: 579

It's a student model 3 ply shell. it's not a solid shell, also the bottom rim is a Ludwig or modern triple flange equivalent.

Your drummers not much good is he!? What you need is someone that's as good as me. ! John Henry Bonham !!
Posted on 12 years ago
#6
Guest

From vintagemore2000

It's a student model 3 ply shell. it's not a solid shell, also the bottom rim is a Ludwig or modern triple flange equivalent.

Yes, I put the snare hoop on so I could feel confident tensioning the reso head to where I want it. I don't like using the clips unless I have plenty of repros which I don't.

So there is no chance this is a solid Mahogany shell? Man, if this is 3 ply, its very different from any other 3 ply student RK that I have owned and played. It sounds much different too. I see Slingerland used solid mahogany shells until 1941 but that would be a different badge......

Vintagemore, is it safe to say any RK without extension brackets is a student? Were you able to make out plys from my photo?

What do you think that inner ply is then? The grain looks like mahogany grain, but its much lighter......

Thanks

Posted on 12 years ago
#7
Posts: 2212 Threads: 95

Mahogany inside, three ply.

Posted on 12 years ago
#8
Posts: 10714 Threads: 579

absolutely 3 ply shell take a pic again but not such a close up of the bearing edge so I can show you. here is a pic of a solid maple 30's RK the edge profile is different and their is no interior seam or overlap as of your shell.

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Your drummers not much good is he!? What you need is someone that's as good as me. ! John Henry Bonham !!
Posted on 12 years ago
#9
Guest

From vintagemore2000

absolutely 3 ply shell take a pic again but not such a close up of the bearing edge so I can show you. here is a pic of a solid maple 30's RK the edge profile is different and their is no interior seam or overlap as of your shell.

Ok, I think I understand what your saying. Makes sense. Thanks for sorting that out! Much appreciated.

Lucky, obviously this is not the case with my drum, but wouldn't a single ply drum made from mahogany have a mahogany interior? Perhaps they only made bass drums from single ply mahogany or did Slingerland make mahogany single ply snare drums too?

Thanks again.

Posted on 12 years ago
#10
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