Well I had a gig over the weekend and I thought I would bring my 62 wmp Slingerlands. They sound killer and look real cool. This is the first time I gigged them and when I was packing them up I was going to leave the legs on the floor tom but they were a little long for the case, so I removed them and put them in my trap case. We get to the gig, the first band is running long and the place is packed. I am setting up my kit in front of everyone, which I hate, and I can't get the floor tom legs in the mounts. Ended up having to take the head off, take off the mount and fix the spring in one of the mounts! Anyone hear me scream! Then to top it off the singer knocks the floor tom over right before the first song. Anyone ever have this problem? Needless to say these will be staying in my drum room!
Slingerland pushbutton leg mounts
My kid is playing a gig and I notice his '58 floor tom is starting to lean a bit, then a bit more and more and more until finally it has totally angled back and he can't get to it, he was playing a rumba and watching him try to get to the tom was pretty funny.
That was the only time the pushbutton has failed.
49 - WFL Ray McKinley - 26, 13, 16
58 - Slingerland Duco
58 - Slingerland Krupa Deluxe
70 - Ludwig Champagne Sparkle - 20, 12, 14
70 - Ludwig Champagne Sparkle - 22 (need), 13, 16
And some others..
Well I had a gig over the weekend and I thought I would bring my 62 wmp Slingerlands. They sound killer and look real cool. This is the first time I gigged them and when I was packing them up I was going to leave the legs on the floor tom but they were a little long for the case, so I removed them and put them in my trap case. We get to the gig, the first band is running long and the place is packed. I am setting up my kit in front of everyone, which I hate, and I can't get the floor tom legs in the mounts. Ended up having to take the head off, take off the mount and fix the spring in one of the mounts! Anyone hear me scream! Then to top it off the singer knocks the floor tom over right before the first song. Anyone ever have this problem? Needless to say these will be staying in my drum room!
lucky all these pushbotton mounts are on numbered days, the spring becomes compressed and looses it's hold strength, you can take them all apart and stretch the spring, but this is a short fix at best, the only solution is move up to the later thumscrew type holders, it will change your life!!
I have been playing this kit daily for the past 5 months and the legs have not slipped, it is just a major pain in the arss to get the legs back in after you take them out.
I have been playing this kit daily for the past 5 months and the legs have not slipped, it is just a major pain in the arss to get the legs back in after you take them out.
man don't i know it thats why all my push buttons are sitting in a box after being replaced with the thumb screw type!!! the pain will be gone, and if you ever sell the kit you have the originals left!!
awww screw it...that's what i'm going to do. :)
49 - WFL Ray McKinley - 26, 13, 16
58 - Slingerland Duco
58 - Slingerland Krupa Deluxe
70 - Ludwig Champagne Sparkle - 20, 12, 14
70 - Ludwig Champagne Sparkle - 22 (need), 13, 16
And some others..
LUCKY: Perfect timing in regard to your post! I just got finished "fine tuning" a friend's 1963 Slingerland floor tom with the pushbutton leg mounts when I read your comments. I can assure you that you're not alone concerning this issue.
I realize that a lot of collectors as well as players want to keep their kits 100% original but, sooner or later, it seems like those pushbutton mounts will get you! I guess you've just got to hope that it's not while you're playing out in public to totally humiliate yourself.
I'll be using my friend's kit at some rehearsals and although the mounts seem to function quite well right now after I adjusted the springs I've picked up some very small clamps to install on all three legs JUST IN CASE the buttons loosen and/or give out completely. These clamps cost less than a dollar and are well worth the price.
I must admit that I find the stories of the mishaps with these mounts quite humorous -- as long as I'm not the "victim" of course. I'll take the screw mounts anytime over the pushbuttons. Substance over style, I guess!
I guess I will be replacing the push buttons in the near future, until then I am just going to keep using my little Gretsch kit. We are starting a weekly residence at a restaurant and I know my vintage kits will get beat if I bring them, I'll just save them for special occasions!
- Share
- Report