Actually, it's a very nice kit. They sound really good. Value takes a hit on the Taiwan import tag. Conway kits had a different badge. Don't get me wrong, this kit is cool, but it's like those import Gretsch kits. They just don't demand the money that other American kits would. I played the snot out of that snare before I sold it. It was identical to this one. Very sensitive. I also played the heck out of my import Gretsch and Mapex kits before I sold them.

If this kit were the Lites or even the Nashville's, it would go for more money. But, it's an HSS Taiwan import Slingy and they just don't demand much cash. Not when you can get a genuine Vintage Slingy for 500-800. The most this kit will net by an informed buyer is about 500 (I honestly think that's even a bit high).

It's the Chinese Drum Effect. New Gretsch Catalina Maples go for about 650 (some a bit more) and Catalina Ash for 600.

Used Gretsch Catalina Maples go for between 400 and 500.

No matter how you slice it, this is Taiwan import kit. Why would anyone pay 600 or more for a used import kit when they can get a new one ... or even a real Vintage Slingy ... for about the same dough? That's what this gent is working against. Those are the hard facts due to the flood of drums from China. Compare apples to apples - Taiwan import to Taiwan import. It's tough, but very real.

I got lucky and purchased my import kits very very cheap. So, when it was time to sell, I didn't lose any money. It was a net zero. Again, I was very fortunate. I feel bad for those that are investing into these 1200 dollar imports that won't net 500 when it's time to sell. Ouch.

I think we scared him off.

I wish I could find something like this locally or cheapey cheap. I need a compact kit for an upcoming gig, but I don't know if I'll be using it again enough times to justify sinking much $$$ into.

Yeah. I hate when this happens. Someone will think they have something worth some serious loot and you have to go and rain on their parade. I've had that happen too many times. I feel so bad.

Check out a used Gretsch Catalina Club. It's got a decent sound and has this same exact wrap. You can usually get one used for about 150-200. 18, 14, 12, with matching 14 snare, with hardware. Work on the shells a bit and it actually sounds pretty nice. You can do the shell work in one sitting. Smooth and wax the edges, either hardwax oil or tung oil the insides. That's it. Nice sound after that. One sitting and you've improved the sound of the kit by several levels. Worth the investment if you find one. They are plentiful.

I wish I could find a Catalina that cheap. Used I'm seeing in the $400 range, once you throw in shipping.

I'd gladly give the OP a couple hundred for this kit. :D

Wish I'd known you needed one. I gave one away earlier this year. I like the Silver Sparkle. They just look like a more "realistic" vintage wrap. The WMP and BMP are both the small chip pattern and appear really blotchy to my eyes. I'll keep my eyes peeled for one of these. Check Guitar Center and Interstate Music for the sell-off. When Gretsch comes out with new colors or design improvements, these two companies sell off the old stock real cheap. I picked up a Birch kit for well under 400 shipped to my door. Nice kit with a sweet natural red walnut stain finish. Sold the same kit for 450, which was a fair price at the time. Unreal quality and value. That's the rub with this Chinese drum push. Bummer.

Wish I'd know I was going to need one earlier this year too. (Long story.) More or less though, I got about two weeks to scare up something in this size and price, or I'm going to have to cram one of my "good" kits into a minivan full of gear and head cross country. Not that I have a problem buying gear, I just hate to do it because I need to on short order.

the gretsch catalina club kits you guys are talking about have shells made of phillipine mahogany or luaun (often spelled luan), which is a cheap low-grade "junk-wood" that in thinner plies easily warps. it contains larger and deeper opened pores and is considerably more brittle and prone to chip-out and splitting than true mahogany. it's shameful that they are advertised as having mahogany shells when people most often assume they are using the quality African mahogany Pearl or DW uses. the slings (artist custom) mentioned and pictured here have a really nice maple/poplar/maple shell which has always been the slingerland staple shell and even what DW uses (at least it's a 3 ply with poplar center, african mahogany inner/outer) to give their classic series the vintage sound. arguably maple is the most desirable shell you can have, and you aren't going to find it in any of the low priced kits you mention.

just having a shell of that quality and the 25 plus or minus years aging and drying out of the wood would make the Slingerland's far better drums than a new Gretsch.

the wrap is not like the older wraps but certainly nicer than what you find now (and older wraps almost always yellow, which I kind of like). i have a newly rewrapped WMP and it isn't nearly as nice nor does it have the blue hue Slingerland discontinued in 86. If the WMP hasn't yellowed and the blue hue is there it's quite beautiful and rare to see.

It's also worth mentioning the 80s slingerland hardware is super roadworthy on the 80s Slings and while i love the earlier vintage Sling hardware it is delicate.

No doubt they aren't true vintage made in USA but I thought it was Japan that assembled them in the 80's. They were the guys making great drums and shells in the 80's for Tama and in order to compete with Japanese drum companies i thought Slingerland just outsourced to them? maybe they did it for a while in Japan and then Taiwan or both?

All this said what I am hearing about pricing for vintage and non-vintage drums seems in keeping with what I'm seeing on e-bay.

All respect for the information given on this thread, just thought I'd chime in on comparison's between 700-800 dollar name brand kits at guitar center and a kit as unbelievably cool as the one we are talking about, vintage or not.

I am seeing you guys mentioning catalina ash and maple for real cheap. I missed that. so you have a choice of shell? that would make me wrong I apologize. someone at sam Ash gave me the low down on catalina's and said they were all Mahogany (luan). i know some of them are. oh well, still wanted to stick up for the slings cause I think they are great and look great and at least LOOK vintage. I guess I felt so angry I almost dropped 800 for a luan kit I went overboard. even if it the catalina club is a really nice looking and fine sounding drum for the money. sorry guys for not catching that.

Don't misunderstand. I'm well aware of the shell material of those low end Gretsch kits. For low money, a bit of work on the shells, and some work on the edges, and you got a nice gigging kit that you really don't mind slogging around. That was the point of that discussion. You can't beat good old American vintage quality drums, but that wasn't the discussion and wasn't under debate. Sorry, this one just rubbed me wrong. Take no offense from this...just bugged me a bit. Sometimes, I rant and for that I apologize. I'm having a bad morning.

Anyway...

This Slingerland is a nice kit. No doubts. However, it's an import kit and as such suffers from that stigma. Because of the push from China over these past years, this kit has taken a further hit. That's the unfortunate reality of it. Again, it's not a bad kit. But, it's an import kit among a sea of cheap import kits. It doesn't stand out.

As always, value is determined by the top price an individual is willing to pay for the item. I sincerely hope that there is someone out there waiting and searching for this very kit. That would be cool.

makes sense, and i can see where the discussion turned from the sling kit to a discussion of a good gigging kit. hope your morning improves.