Hi everyone!

Just found your site via Google - very cool.

It would be great if you could help me with the approximate production date of a Slingerland bop kit. Actually, the articles have already helped a lot, especially the one on Slingerland shells. Still, I'd appreciate feedback a lot.

The story: it's an ebay item - the seller said it's from the 60s, so I thought of thin shells with rings (That much I already knew), but it seems to be at least from the 70s, as it has thick shells w/o rings.

I'm thinking about returning it - which I could do with a confirmation that it cannot be from the 60s. That's where I'd much appreciate your help.

The kit has thick shells, 5 plies, in standard sizes (18x14, 12x8, 13x9, 14x14 with legs). Natural finish; when you take off a head, you see the outer ply doesn't go all way up to the edge. Bearing edges are quite sharp and cut straight (45 degree?), with hardly any countercut on the outside, quite rough (by today's standard, at least).

Serial numbers are:

12": 388531

13": 388522

14": 387162

18": 388582

Some pics:

(that's me in the mirror...)

Thanks for your help!