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Slingerland Artist Model Strangeness

Posts: 1625 Threads: 294

So I will get some pictures up as soon as possible, but there are some strange things going on with this blue sparkle 60s Slingerland Artist model snare that I just got, and I wanna know if anyone has seen this stuff before.

The guy I got it from says that his friend got it off of the curb one day (he is a sanitation worker) and that the lady who was throwing it out said that she got it for her kids to bang on (new) and that they had grown up and left it behind. So theoretically the drum was never owned by anyone who knows enough about drums to have a reason to mess with anything...including the guy that I got it from who only replaced the heads (according to him) before selling the drum to me.

Serial number 58xxx Black and Gold Niles badge. Finish is definitely original. Darker blue glass. NO scratches, but there is some minor fade that can be seen when removing the heads so this is NOT a rewrap...unless it was done a super long time ago. Badge grommet on the inside looks like someone tried to remove it...but didnt. There is a chip in the wood around it...but the badge doesnt look like it was ever taken off. The badge however is clearly NOT centered on the panel. It is NOTICEABLY off. Is this kind of quality control oversight anywhere near common on these early(ish) Niles drums?

There is a spot where the re ring is looks to have slightly pulled away from the shell, but it appears that someone wood puttied it? Its SUPER minor, but still there. The seller claims he didnt do anything to the drum other than wipe it down and re head it. Has anyone seen this from the factory?

There is no "P" stamped on the inside of the shell, and no date stamp. The shell is definitely 3 ply maple/pop/mahogany. It is clear maple on the inside. No coating or anything. Clear maple and DEFINITELY a Slingerland shell.

The hardware looks great. All original tension rods as far as I can see. No rust or pitting anywhere on the hoops. I took off the strainer that is missing the knob and replaced it with a slightly later one that I had laying around. The screws and nut seem to never have been removed before I did it to change them out.

There are however a few bent tension rods. Maybe this is just from uneven tension?

Any insight on this stuff would be much appreciated. I am not sure what to make of it as of now. I just tapped on it tonight, but I think it is going to sound pretty good! I am not really that concerned with the abnormalities of the drum. If anything they make me want to keep it more.

Anyway...if would be awesome to hear if anyone has experience with any of these kind of thins!

Thanks,

Adam

Posted on 15 years ago
#1
Posts: 3972 Threads: 180

No worries. The owner must have cleaned the insides. Bent rods happen. He may have pondered removing the badge at one time. If you find an old Slingy that has perfect rerings, then you should worry. They most all have lifting. I wouldn't worry all sounds normal.

Posted on 15 years ago
#2
Posts: 1334 Threads: 235

From mcjnic

No worries. The owner must have cleaned the insides. Bent rods happen. He may have pondered removing the badge at one time. If you find an old Slingy that has perfect rerings, then you should worry. They most all have lifting. I wouldn't worry all sounds normal.

...or sloppy grommet hole drilling at the Slingerland factory...

Mike Curotto

Posted on 15 years ago
#3
Posts: 6288 Threads: 375

All sounds pretty normal for a 45 year old drum from Slingerland.

Kevin
Posted on 15 years ago
#4
Posts: 10714 Threads: 579

From kevins

All sounds pretty normal for a 45 year old drum from Slingerland.

+++1 on that also!!

Your drummers not much good is he!? What you need is someone that's as good as me. ! John Henry Bonham !!
Posted on 15 years ago
#5
Posts: 596 Threads: 4

My own '56 Slingerland drums have an off-center badge, chipped grommet hole, and no stamp inside the shells. Sounds pretty normal.

Posted on 15 years ago
#6
Posts: 1625 Threads: 294

Thanks guys! It seriously does look like the grommet/hole was just sloppily drilled and installed. I just thought it was strange that the badge is so off center on the panel. Like seriously noticeable. The badge itself is still stuck down on the drum so I don't think it was ever actually removed. Must have been made on a Monday morning or something! Hurting

I realize that it is common for a little separation on Slingys, but whats up with the putty? Would it have been done at the factory on a shell that had been sitting around for awhile and had started to separate minorly?

Like I said, the guy says it was a one owner drum before he got it and that he didn't do anything to it...and I am sure the original owner didn't care enough to fix anything on it...I mean...she was throwing it out in the trash! Eye Ball The finish and hardware looks new. It's pretty awesome. Just strange that the craftsmanship is so crappy in those couple of noticeable spots.

Anyway. Thanks for the help guys as always guys. I really really enjoy being a part of this forum and seriously appreciate people taking the time to help me out! Playing in Minneapolis tonight...gonna give this drum a good test run!

-Adam

Posted on 15 years ago
#7
Posts: 6288 Threads: 375

That repair was probably done by one of the previous owner's kids....

Someone other than the factory did it.

You said you got it from a guy whose friend got it off the curb in front of a lady's house that had bought it for her kids........

A fairly murky provenance there......

Fix and play............

Kevin
Posted on 15 years ago
#8
Posts: 1625 Threads: 294

Its all fixed and ready to rock tonight.

Thanks guys!

-Adam

Posted on 15 years ago
#9
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