I'd guess they are waiting for the end of the pandemic. No sense venturing off into something like that when the entire music world might be returning to hibernation. They'll be lucky to sell DW products, never mind Slingerland ones. That is, of course, if the Slingerlands will not simply be badge-engineered. If that's the case, they might be coined DDubyalands and could be sold for slightly less as a means to target another spot in the market.

I've had the thought that DW might simply re-badge the Pacifica, or whatever they're now calling their lower-priced line, and use Slingerland copy lugs like the offshore drum makers have done for more than fifty years.

DW is waiting for things to return to some sense of normalcy before reintroducing Slingerland drums. They will start with Radio King snares, as might be expected. Be patient. They're coming.

Good to see you again DrumBob. How was your stay in Siberia? I have not had any interest in going back to that other place where guys like us were not appreciated.

Hey Howie, how's tricks? I needed a break from this forum for a while. Yes, no desire to go back to "that place." They'd get a kick out of the fact that I now own two vintage Ludwig sets. I'd never hear the end of it.

If I was still active in the buy/sell/trade game, I would occasionally acquire decent Ludwig drum sets on the cheap as trade bait to swap for drums that I really like such as Slingerland and Leedy.

They'll have to use the name on some sort of drum at some point to keep the trademark in effect. Whether that means an actual separate line of drums or just sticking Slingerland badges on a few DW shells is another matter, but they do have to periodically demonstrate some use of the trademark in the field it applies to in order to retain control of the name.

I would have agreed with you years ago when we were both "over there," but truth is, I have two spectacular Ludwig sets that sound great and look incredible. The Burgundy Sparkle set was procured from a forum member in Maryland almost five years ago. He got them from an old drummer in Atlantic City who played the nightclubs and casinos and supposedly kept them in cases, as there is virtually no fading of the 'eggplant" shade.

The BDP set is a recent acquisition from a drummer in south Jersey. There are four immaculately patched holes in the bass drum, but otherwise, the set is in museum condition. I paid $600 for the four drums, a steal.

I'm looking for 16" add-on floor toms for both sets as we speak. One of the guys I play with said the BDP set is the best sounding drumset he's ever heard me play. Who would have thought?