Hi Bucky! It really sounds like a typo to me! They probably meant "shells". As to "oil sealed", again, they may not be well-versed with drums. Slingerland was using clear maple interiors in 1975 and they were sealed with a light coat of lacquer. Here's a picture of the 9x13 tom from my 1975 Buddy Rich 80N kit. Hope this helps.

-Mark

Are these the drums? https://reverb.com/item/17353618-slingerland-maple-with-inner-oiled-sealed-sheels-1975-black

The sentence structure is one long sentence! So, I'm not surprised that they said "sheels"!

If so, it looks like the bass drum is a 5-ply. Not sure about the toms, though, which could be 3-ply or 5-ply. Normally, you would order the kit in either 3-ply or 5-ply. If you're interested in this kit, try to find out what the shell makeup is for all the drums. Also, the 5-ply always seemed to have more lacquer on them. May just be who was doing the spraying at the time.

Another word of caution; I've never been a big fan of these thicker 5-ply shells. The bearing edges are super sharp and demand that the edges be level to avoid buzzing. Slingerland just couldn't seem to get level edges during this time period, despite the fact from catalog pictures showing a technician leveling the shell on a flat table using a light! One way to cut down or eliminate this buzzing was to use Pinstripe heads! I had a BR 80N kit with 5-ply shells and it was the worst set of Slingerland's I ever had! Took too much tuning to get them to sound good. But, I was able to get them to sound good!

-Mark

Thanks Mark , as always,

I was just looking at them and wrote the guy, he didn't know a lot about them, he told me they were 5 ply and no mufflers. This set is just to big for me, I was just interested in what oil sealed was, thought maybe they hand rubbed oil for the shells. I,m still looking for sparkle orange pearl, wish I would have taken your advise, in the past. Thank you again, Bucky

Bucky,

That set is reasonably priced at $595 + $200 shipping. Like you, I don't have any need for a kit this large, plus, I'm just not crazy about the 5 ply shells...AND...I don't need any more drums!

Keep looking for those elusive Sparkling Orange Pearl drums!

-Mark

Wow, that is the deal of the day for certain. IF, IF you're looking for 5 ply slingerlands.

Yeah that is a lot of drums for the money! Someone could have an awesome rock kit. I dont remember that set being cataloged? Ive played a set of five ply’s for over thirty years and have no tuning or edge problems with them. They are great drums and the spitfire 12lug snare is incomparble. Maybe just the luck of the draw? I dont know. Since i bought the set brand new ive also acquired a couple of orphan toms that are five ply and they are fine also. The difference in sound between the five and three ply is noticeable as I have a couple of three ply drums. The fives are meatier and more resonant the threes warmer and softer. But they all work well together surprisingly.

Exactly! If I were to be interested in Slingerland 5-ply shells, I'd be factoring in the cost to get the edges leveled! Still, the asking price is already fair!

-Mark

Interesting. Mark I’m curious as to how many five plys you’ve had to have leveled in the past?

Thanks guys for the comments. I liked them, but not loved them...I to don t care for 5 Ply, would prefer 3 ply. Anyway that was an interested set.