A friend of mine worked for Promark at their headquarters and factory in Houston. The place was located a field goal chip shot away from the old Astrodome. The stick making operation was very cool to observe. My friend Mark asked me what my favorite model of stick was. I told him. He said that Ringo's sticks are based off of those 5-As but a bit longer. He then walked me over to the section where the endorsing artists each had a little cubbie for a supply of their signature model sticks to be stashed for whenever they wanted more. He gave me a brick (12 pairs) of the Ringo model 5-AL and took one pair from Ringo's personal stash for me. Sadly, the Houston operation came to a screeching halt when the Brochstein family sold the company to D'Addario. Here is one of Ringo's personal sticks on top of the brick of sticks for distribution to retailers.
Where have all the Leedys Gone
A friend of mine worked for Promark at their headquarters and factory in Houston. The place was located a field goal chip shot away from the old Astrodome. The stick making operation was very cool to observe. My friend Mark asked me what my favorite model of stick was. I told him. He said that Ringo's sticks are based off of those 5-Ascbut a bit longer. He then walked me over to the section where the endorsing artists each had a little cubby for a supply of their signature model sticks to be stashed for whenever they wanted more. He gave me a brick (12 pairs) of the Ringo model 5-AL and took one pair from Ringo's personal stash for me. Sadly, the Houston operation came to a screeching halt when the Brochstein family sold the company to D'Addario. Here is one of Ringo's personal sticks on top of the brick of sticks for distribution to retailers.
Cool. So "AL" must have meant A Longer stick. The Promarks were good stuff. I liked the weight and texture. Good grip.
They were my favorites in the "old days" when I was gigging. I remember using the light brown-colored sticks with the red stripe near the butt end that were made in Japan before Herb began making sticks in the USA. I think that they were made of some special Japanese species of oak. I may be wrong.
Finally have finished cleaning it up!
12/16/20 with a 20'' floor tom.
Why can't I get the Bennie Goodman live at Carnegie Hall recording of Sing, Sing, Sing out of my head when I look at the picture of your drums? OK, Gene...Hit that cowbell, and take us out of your solo and lead us out of this tune.
In all my years of hunting drums around my area (New Hampshire), I have never come across a Slinger-Leedy set. I saw a beautiful 4x14 green sparkle Ludwig and Leedy snare once in a music store that had it priced through the roof but have never seen a Slingerland made Leedy here. I would think they must be quite rare and hard to find.
I know a guy that owns a brass slingerland 6.5x14 snare and it has Leedy hardware on it. That badge is a black and silver Slingerland Niles badge.
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