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Help With Vintage Slingerland Bass Drum

Posts: 3165 Threads: 969

Hi,

Some time ago I was fortunate enough to purchase a vintage Slingerland Radio King Kit in Black Diamond Pearl. The kit consisted of a tacked-down rack tom, floor tom with basket, and Radio King snare drum with the aluminum cloud badge (1st edition). Included with the kit was a 1961 Slingerland BDP 20 inch bass drum which obviously was from a later era than the other three pieces. I happened to have a BDP Leedy 28 inch bass drum that I've put together with the three BDP Radio King pieces and it works quite well.

Now I'm considering selling the 20 inch Slingerland bass drum, which is in immaculate condition. However, I've got some questions that I'm hoping you Slingerland experts can help me with. The drum is a "virgin", measures 20 x 14, has the Slingerland Niles Black & Brass Badge (no serial number), and is date stamped "P APR 61" on the interior of the shell. I believe that the shell is 3-ply mahogany-poplar-mahogany with 1 3/8" reinforcing rings. Mounted on the shell are 16 single-ended large streamlined lugs. The 16 t-handles are the "torpedo style" and the claws are those commonly seen on late 50s - early 60s Slingerlands. The BDP pearl finish is "stunning" and has probably aged somewhat to a darker shade with a bit more of a black on black character, which I've read is quite common for Slingerland's BDP pearl finish between 1956-1964. The drum came with its original Slingerland logo calfskin heads and wooden hoops with BDP in-lays.

NOW.............HERE ARE THE QUESTIONS:

1. Was it common for the Slingerland bass drums from 1961 to come with the combination of large streamlined lugs & "torpedo style" t-handles? I haven't seen too many (if any!) with this combination.

2. If I do decide to sell this drum, would it be advisable to sell it "whole" or to piece it out?

3. Any idea what a drum of this vintage, in this finish and this condition might bring? I realize that "Slingys" don't seem to bring in as much as Ludwigs, Rogers & Gretsch drums for whatever reason but I must admit that this particular drum is in incredible shape for being 47 years old.

As usual, thanks in advance for your help!

I've attempted to add a pic or pics of the drum. Hopefully, it's up!

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Posted on 16 years ago
#1
Posts: 2212 Threads: 95

I have not seen that either. But that sure is one nice looking drum! I bet it just sounds great. To part it out would mean that you would have to put the same type lug on, at least thats what it looks like. The hole spacing looks wider than the period lugs that you would think belong on there. I would try and sell it complete, but that is me. Good luck

Posted on 16 years ago
#2
Posts: 187 Threads: 7

From OldSchool

Hi,Some time ago I was fortunate enough to purchase a vintage Slingerland Radio King Kit in Black Diamond Pearl. The kit consisted of a tacked-down rack tom, floor tom with basket, and Radio King snare drum with the aluminum cloud badge (1st edition). Included with the kit was a 1961 Slingerland BDP 20 inch bass drum which obviously was from a later era than the other three pieces. I happened to have a BDP Leedy 28 inch bass drum that I've put together with the three BDP Radio King pieces and it works quite well.Now I'm considering selling the 20 inch Slingerland bass drum, which is in immaculate condition. However, I've got some questions that I'm hoping you Slingerland experts can help me with. The drum is a "virgin", measures 20 x 14, has the Slingerland Niles Black & Brass Badge (no serial number), and is date stamped "P APR 61" on the interior of the shell. I believe that the shell is 3-ply mahogany-poplar-mahogany with 1 3/8" reinforcing rings. Mounted on the shell are 16 single-ended large streamlined lugs. The 16 t-handles are the "torpedo style" and the claws are those commonly seen on late 50s - early 60s Slingerlands. The BDP pearl finish is "stunning" and has probably aged somewhat to a darker shade with a bit more of a black on black character, which I've read is quite common for Slingerland's BDP pearl finish between 1956-1964. The drum came with its original Slingerland logo calfskin heads and wooden hoops with BDP in-lays.NOW.............HERE ARE THE QUESTIONS:1. Was it common for the Slingerland bass drums from 1961 to come with the combination of large streamlined lugs & "torpedo style" t-handles? I haven't seen too many (if any!) with this combination.2. If I do decide to sell this drum, would it be advisable to sell it "whole" or to piece it out?3. Any idea what a drum of this vintage, in this finish and this condition might bring? I realize that "Slingys" don't seem to bring in as much as Ludwigs, Rogers & Gretsch drums for whatever reason but I must admit that this particular drum is in incredible shape for being 47 years old.As usual, thanks in advance for your help!I've attempted to add a pic or pics of the drum. Hopefully, it's up!

If the drum was a dog in bad shape it might be advisable to piece it out. But you have a drum in very good shape and it's value should hold well as a full unit and not have to be parted out.

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Posted on 16 years ago
#3
Posts: 1190 Threads: 86

Well, that's a new one on me. Everything about that drum is typical of 1961 EXCEPT the streamlined lugs from the 1930s.

Since everything looks nearly new, I'd guess that the original owner ordered the set with those lugs to match his older drums...I'm guessing that in 1961 Slingerland still had the streamlined lugs in stock for replacements, and the hole is the same as sound king bass drum lugs. Or, maybe the original owner had the streamlined lugs from the bass from his original set and had them plated and put on that drum. Very strange. Very cool...

Posted on 16 years ago
#4
Posts: 3165 Threads: 969

THANKS to all for the feedback thus far. I was fortunate enough to purchase a vintage 1961 BDP Rogers Kit this past week-end so, very reluctantly, I've decided to sell this Slingerland bass drum.

I've had several individuals contact me, offering to swap their Sound King lugs for the Streamlined lugs currently on the drum. However, I personally believe that the piece looks better with the Streamlined lugs. Maybe it's just me, but I like drums that are somewhat "unique" in nature. I can't find any extra holes or drilling in the shell so I tend to agree with Rich K. that this particular drum originally came with Streamlined lugs to match the lugs on the older Radio Kings that I purchased with it.

Posted on 16 years ago
#5
Posts: 1190 Threads: 86

Just to add a thought...you can see photos of Gene Krupa in the 1930s playing bass and toms with double sided (snare) lugs like the ones on your drum. Gene wanted double tension drums, and Slingerland used what they had.

Soon afterwards, Slingerland came out with single sided streamlines to use on bass and toms. Sometime in the 1940s, I think, the bass and tom lugs were switched to the beavertail lugs, but the streamlines were still kept for the snares.

When your bass was made in 1961, the sound king lugs had been out for 5 or 6 years...but Slingerland still sold the double sided snare lugs as replacement parts as the sound king snare lugs had only been out a few years...

So, if and when the drummer who ordered that drum wanted the streamlines, those double sided ones would have still been at the factory.

Posted on 16 years ago
#6
Posts: 3165 Threads: 969

Rich K.:

THANKS so much for the post and the information provided.

I've sent you a PM, hoping that you'll get a chance to take a look.

Posted on 16 years ago
#7
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