OK _ I guess that perhaps I was a bit unclear when I started this thread.
Having obviously mismatched rods on a drum bugs me too.
Or rods that are the wrong length _ either way _ too long or too short presents problems.
My point was that I am hard pressed when looking through my misc parts stock _ to identify any significant difference between rods that are the same length and thread pitch.
For instance I've bought numerous drum parts lots on eBay _ some with many many vintage tension rods of various lengths _ with most being unidentified.
So when I am rehabbing a drum and having a problem with any particular lug _ I look at both the swivel nut and rod _ and if needed I replace them with something that is the proper thread pitch and length and 'looks about the same' _ but I am never absolutely certain that I'm putting a Slingerland rod on a Slingerland drum _ or a Ludwig rod on a Ludwig drum _ or etc.
And without having a known rod in hand to compare it to, I would say that most drummer folk would be hard pressed to identify an odd assorted handful of rods by their manufacturer.
Then _ {begin rant} _ you will need to excuse me _ its a pet peeve of mine _ but I really wish that drum folk would stop using the abreviated 't-rod' for a standard tension rod.
T-Rods are rods with a T- Head _ generally used on bass drums _ not your standard keyed tension rod used mostly on toms and snares.
There are exceptions both ways of course, but you know what I mean.
See, even in the above statement _ one should not have to say _ 'your standard keyed tension rod used mostly on toms and snares' _ to clarify the distincion _ 'tension rod'_ should be quite enough.
Anyways, it just lends to a general confusion, yet I see it all the time.
{end rant}
Now perhaps there ARE some subtle and identifying charateristics of the various rods between manufacturers _ that I am just NOT seeing_ and that is really what I was asking for _ if folks might describe the subtle differences THEY see _ and perhaps give some hints to help pinpoint identification.
For instance, when I see a brass washer on a rod _ I think it is most likely vintage Slingerland. Ludwig rods seem to have bit heftier bottom washer.
But thats a backassward approach because its more of a washer identification _ nothing really specific to the actual rod architecture _ and besides the washer could have been switched out at some point.
Now then _ Any comments?
Ohm