Wow! Great set of drums there. I just bought my ‘66 Champagne set a few weeks ago. Haven’t gigged with it yet, but the guys and I are loving it at rehearsal. Congratulations!

Josh

Thanks, Josh!

Those pics in the OP are from my first gig with them, which was just last Friday. The guys in the band loved the sound and vibe. So far I couldn't be happier. Traded in a modern high-end "fine furniture" set for these, and I"m not regretting it one bit.

Great looking kit - enjoy!

[QUOTE=rculberson;440497]Yeah, it's a Radio King. Slingerland just wasn't calling them Radio Kings in that particular time frame. The Super Krupa snares had the clam shell throw while the Krupa model had the 3-point. Info gleaned from Mark Cooper's website and Dr. Wenk's page here on VDF. Catalog pic from Cooper's website.

Your info is correct if your snare is a '61. In '62 the clamshell strainer was replaced by the zoomatic. Snare names were changed slightly with the zoomatic model becoming the Krupa/Artist and the 3-point version becoming the Radio King Model. The wood shell is not cataloged till '64 but was available starting in '62 along with its cataloged COB shelled counterpart.

http://www.vintagedrumguide.com/images/catalogs/slingerland/1964_slingerland_15.jpg

This was the first reuse of the name Radio King since approx. '57-'58.

Does your snare have a date stamp? Is the muffler a single pad with J-hook or a double pad?

Thanks for the clarification/education, slingerfan!

No date stamp in mine. Only date stamps on the set are in the toms. i won’t be near the drum again till tomorrow. Will check the muffler type then.

Chances are, these drums aren't as loud as your modern set because they're smaller sizes, although I do believe they sound warmer than modern drums in some cases. My vintage sets are mostly 13/16/22 and they're equally as loud as my DWs.

slingerfan, the muffler is a single pad with J-hook.

Thanks again for the info and education. I'm a Slinger-rookie, so all info I can learn is most appreciated.

Cheers,

Ryan

rculberson, your snare is a 1962 Radio King Model. As you know the badge on yours was only used '61 & '62. '61 used the old dual pad muffler, '62 was the first year for the single pad J-hook. Also, small differences in the 3-point strainer occurred between '61 and '62. Your strainer is consistent with '62. All per Dr Wenk, here are a couple of links:

http://www.vintagedrumguide.com/drcjw/article_5_strainers_3point-11.html

http://www.vintagedrumguide.com/drcjw/article_5_strainers_3point-10.html

Now if the shell interior is maple you have a solid shell, if it is mahagony you have a 3-ply shell. Great drum either way.

Thanks again for all the info, slingerfan!

Interior is maple and definitely a solid shell.

Great kit to get back in the vintage game with.

And a Radio King snare to top it off!

Enjoy D' Drummer

Stevo