OK already. There are also a lot of used cars, used vintage h-fi rigs, used washing machines, and used other stuff available. We all buy what we prefer new or used and/or what we can afford to buy. So, let's just stop all of this B.S. We either like the idea of DW's Slingerland purchase or we don't like it. Oh yeah... most of us probably don't care one way or the other.

But why should we stop?

This has been a great thread. It's not BS, it's opinions and everybody should be able to air them, that's what forums are for. I'm not sure why some people here seem to take differing opinions so personally.

The B S I'm referring to is the whining from the lonely naysayer. The topic is worthy of a great deal of constructive discussion.

Point well taken. No harm intended on my part. Happy Thanksgiving to all.

It's also worthy of a bit of constructive criticism too. DW aint all that.

I for one wont spend 7 grand on a collectors African shell pack that offers splay in the tension rods and caster in the alignment right out of the factory with no hope of correcting it.

I picked up a DW snare and shook it, it sounded like it was full of piggy bank change. Tolerance issues.

If I spend the same 7 grand on an SQ2 kit, I got a discount but I won't find things like poor drilling and hoops that force the head into the shell.

Pulling a head over a shell is a 90 degree tension, not 91 or 89,or 91.55436272. It's 90 or trash. Stamping the ears on the hoop is critical as well as drilling the hole. You wont find two hoops the same with DW. You might think they look the same taste the same and feel the same, but if you can't line them up with the lug insert, you get splay and caster.

If you manage to get one in tune, it wont stay.

I quietly step out now having said some say about DW splay.

Whoa! Hold on a moment. I've been a DW critic for many years. I have never owned any of their drums, and have never wanted to own any of them. I don't like their drums--especially for the prices they want for them. However, I think that their acquisition of the Singerland name and intellectual property was a very good move for DW and the Slingerland brand. From what I hear, they have done justice to the Gretsch line of drums.

Because there are some that don't like different opinions.Violin

I predict a bust for dw, sure, they'll sell a few at first, then when the honeymoon is over and people realize you can't beat the real deal, their sales will plummet and it will fold up like a cheap tent.

Are you saying they are better off building other people's drums ?

I think that's exactly what he's saying.Hmmmm

Nope. I'm complimenting them on what they have done with and for Gretsch. I'm also saying that, despite all of their great marketing success, I don't like DW drums. There's no

secret agenda. Just very simple opinions.