I think getting sticksavers will be a little easier and somewhat cheaper. That works good for me right now. LoLoLoLo If the spirit of BR moves you, send a pic of your babies.....Thanks for the word....d.

Guys!...

... am I late to the party? Only fashionably late I hope! Let me flesh out a few things for you here regarding the Slingerland Buddy Rich model snare drums, and in this case Buddy's preference regarding hoops:

Dean!

Buddy never played the metal/COB version of the Buddy Rich/TDR as he preferred the wood model.. but .. that doesn't mean it's not a nice playing/sounding snare of course! The wood model was initially supplied with StickChopper hoops, and those are the hoops that Buddy preferred on his snare drums as well. The COB version of the BR/TDR was supplied with StickSavers from just about day one, although one could substitute "Choppers" if they wished. Not many did during this period. I have in my Buddy Rich snare drum collection a very early BR/TDR in WMP, no tone control, and factory StickChoppers. This drum is EXACTLY the same model and set-up that BR played. Being an EARLY one, I have no doubt that is how Slingerland was building them. That all changed later as they went over almost completely to StickSaver hoops on this model snare drum with again, StickChoppers still being available, but as an option. I will attach a pic of mine for you to view. Mine is a LATE 1973, early 1974. This drum was available before it was even cataloged actually, and Buddy always got them prior to their public release regardless.. including ..

.. the 1970 Slingerland Buddy Rich 4X14 16 lug snare drum available in WMP and COW, both of which I also have in my BR snare drum collection. Buddy played both models, but preferred the COW model as he felt it was a bit "brighter" in timbre... which it is actually. Both mine are LATE 1969 builds, and both came with factory StickChoppers and no tone controls.. again .. just like Buddy's! Towards the end of this models run, and just prior to the introduction of the BR/TDR, Slingerland again started supplying the BR 4X14 with StickSavers in place of StickChoppers. There just didn't seem to be the want/demand for the StickChopper hoops anymore, although today, well... we all look for them! Slingerland did build the BR model snares like Buddy wanted 'em at first though, and they were available to the public that way unless a substitution was requested. So,

Your BR/TDR in COB would have been built/supplied with StickSaver hoops, and not the StickChoppers. Good luck on the resto!

Tommyp

Dean,

If you are not having any luck with the originals, in the short term Drummaker.com seem to be the best price for some replicas.. Also the "S" hoop may be worth consideration for the Batter hoop... someone here recommended them some time back..

Cheers

No, never too late! Thanks for taking the time. That collection of BR's are superb. And yes, I can now see that difference between stickchopper/saver...

Wonder if the chopper made BR's rim shots easier, louder...? By simple odds, my snares are both chromes (Pearl Jupiter COB, Premier HiFi). I'm getting itchy to get a good wood snare to enjoy the warm woody tones chromes can't deliver....

Those are beautiful drums. Thank you sharing and educating me a bit on this series of snares.... Dean Yes Sir

Dean!

Buddy liked the "feel" of the StickChopper hoop, and I would say that THAT was a carry over from his earlier days as most ALL snare drums featured straight edged StickChoppers, with his 1st Slingerlands in 1932 most certainly so. The "Choppers" and the EARLY StickSavers are both COB, thus the sound is pretty close... but the "feel" is totally different. I have to say that I like to play all the different snare drums in my BR snare drum collection.. ( covering the years between 1950 and 1980!, 14 drums in all ) .. and REALLY like the feel of the StickChopper hoops! As I play/gig on Rogers.. ( 1965 Rogers Buddy Rich Celebrity's ) .. the hoops are the typical triple flanged that we all know so well today, and even Buddy ended up playing that type from the mid 70's on until his last set in 1983 which was of course the 1940's restored Slingerland Radio Kings. Those featured "Choppers" throughout, and Buddy had come full circle!

Tommyp

Tommy forgive me as I think I might have asked you this before.......but can't remember!! LOL old age!! Anyhoooo are those Slingerland BR snares solid maple or 3ply shells? Which did Buddy prefer? It's something I've been meaning to ask you. TIA~!

Hey Glen!

Neither of those models were available as SOLID SHELL. The 1970 Slingerland 4X14 Buddy Rich was a three ply shell w/rings.. originally .. which was Slingerland's standard shell for many years. In 1972, Slingerland introduced their 5 ply no rings shell, and later models of the 4X14 Buddy Rich are in that configuration. It is "said" that Buddy liked the 5 ply over the 3 ply/rings regarding the 4X14 model snare drum.. but .. his earliest LIVE recordings feature the 3 ply w/rings in COW, although he did play the WMP model as well, especially early on. Somewhere around late 1972 early 1973, Slingerland presented Buddy with the then NEW 5 ply no rings BR/TDR with the TDR throw and three air vents. Buddy loved the drum!... until he didn't. This drum was always 5 ply, no rings until the end. Interestingly, I believe the first catalog to show the NEW 5 ply BR/TDR was the 1976 Slingerland catalog as the 1973 Catalog was still showing the 4X14 as THE Buddy Rich model. Typically though, the catalogs were ALWAYS behind in this regard.

Tommyp

Tommy, many thanks!! Your a great historian as far as anything Buddy goes! Between your collection and knowledge you should write a book. It would be a best seller! And yes please sign my copy too. Cool1

Glen!

Thanks for the kind words!, and glad you found the info interesting! I had mentioned on a different post that I have been a BR fan/freak for decades, so in that amount of time I have studied, researched, and collected a TON on Buddy Rich, and more specifically... his drums, endorsements, and hardware. Info on the man himself just naturally fell into place as I was researching everything else, so now I have quite a collection on as I like to say: "ALL things Buddy". The subject of a book has come up more than a few times.. ( and in one case by an actual publisher ) .. and I have been tempted. I will say that I DO have a nice/lengthy article with pics! coming out on "The Snare Drums of Buddy Rich" which is going to be hosted by Rob Cook and the Vintage Drum Forum/David for the 25th Anniversary of the Chicago Vintage Drum Show. I will also be there with my BR snare drum collection to do a presentation on all those different models with the history behind them, as well as some Buddy anecdotes. Should be fun!

Tommyp

Tommy it's always a treat to read your posts. Yes very informative!! Hey congrats on the artical too! I'll be sure to pickup a copy. That's pretty cool you'll be in Chicago for the 25th show. Indeed a book deal would be pretty sweet too. If you have the chance to get published by all means we'd all love to see that happen. Sounds like a lot of cool things going on for you too! Keep us in the loop please. :)