My Vintage Mid 60's Slingerland Jazz Kit

bobdadruma

Platinum Member
I just purchased a somewhat rare mid sixties Slingerland kit in Jazz sizes
14x18, 12x8, 14x14, 14x5.
The kit is wrapped in Black Pearl.
It was custom ordered in Connecticut back in circa 1965 by a drummer who later passed it on to his son.
The son put it away in storage for 40+ years and now it is mine.
I have decided to upgrade it with some modern components.

More to follow including pics and video.
Stay tuned, Same Bat Time, Same Bat Channel :)
That is all that I can share with you guys for now.
I am to pick up the drums this coming Saturday morning.
They are currently in New York State.
I just finished combing the net and ordering all sorts of goodies for this baby.
To be honest, my friend Ducky did most of the work while I took a nap. This was mostly his idea from the start.
I don't know why I go along with his crazy schemes in the first place, but he always talks me into things.
If you don't like the finished product you can all blame it on the duck!
 
Last edited:
Oooo can't wait Bob. Vintage drums rock.

So I guess we have a mouse, a duck, and a roach. Does the duck have a name?
 
Oooo can't wait Bob. Vintage drums rock.

Shouldn't this be vintage drums jazz, I mean they are jazz sizes, right?

Nice score, Bob!!
 
Can't wait for the pics!

There was a BDP 60s Slingy on Portland's craigslist for a while. It had a 12x8 rack tom, 16x16 floor tom, and an 18x20 (yes, 20" deep) bass drum. It was apparently all original. I thought about buying it a few times, but it didn't seem worth the $400.

Yours sounds sweet!
 
I just purchased a somewhat rare mid sixties Slingerland kit in Jazz sizes
14x18, 12x8, 14x14, 14x5.
The kit is wrapped in Black Pearl.
It was custom ordered in Connecticut back in circa 1965 by a drummer who later passed it on to his son.
The son put it away in storage for 40+ years and now it is mine.
I have decided to upgrade it with some modern components.

Sounds like an all original hard to find vintage kit. I don't know what modern components you are refering to, I hope it doesn't include drilling holes.
 
this is an INSANE combo. *nobody* owns an original Slingerland kit in those sizes. if you paid less than 4K for this numbers matching kit (and its in great shape from the storage)...its the deal of the year. also this thread sucks without pictures. just kidding...post them here when it happens.
 
So it is really rare to the point that it may be worth more than what I paid? Someone mentioned $4000. I didn't think that they were that rare, and Slingerland never goes for the big bucks like Gretsch Round Badges and Ludwig Vintage Keystones in those sizes do.
I will post pics tomorrow afternoon and we will sort this out with all of you Slingy experts out there.
I have 14 days to get money back if they aren't up to snuff so it is a safe deal.
Caddy, I paid more than $400 :)
Larry, His name is Sandy Hook Duck and he is a real cool bud.

Here is some info; The kit includes a 5"x14" matching Artist Snare 8 lug.
There are badges on the Snare and Bass drum only, # 77,762 on the Snare, # 77,775 on the Bass Drum putting them at '65
The drums are stamped '65 in the snare and '64 in the Toms. The toms have no badges as far as I know.
The interior of the shells are clear.
My guess is that a bass drum from a Jet kit was combined with standard offerings from the Jazz combo series in a custom order. The buyer didn't like vent holes so he ordered the toms without badges and holes.

My first kit back in 1971 was a 60's Slingerland in 20, 12, 16 sizes. I loved it, but here are the things that I didn't like about it.
They are as follows;
Bass drum spurs.
Rail consolette and tom mount.
Bass drum mounted cymbal holder.
Floor tom legs.
These are the things that I will update and improve on this kit that I have just purchased.
keep in mind that this is going to be my daily working Jazz kit that I both practice and gig with.
This baby is gonna get played a lot!
 
Last edited:
I think that Sling did not put badges on toms in the 60's.yours are from the right time period for that.

Vintage era Bop size kits are among the most valuable,esp from the 60's,with Gretsch Round badge and Camco oaklawn bringing crazy money,in the 4000.00 6000.00 for prime / desirable examples.Slings seem to for reasons I don't really understand do not bring near as much,but with a matching artist snare I would think would be worth at least 1200.00

Of course they are your drums to do whatever you want with,I dig vintage drums,but I also think they should be played,but if they are all original with no extra holes I would implore you to see if you can make them work for your application without irreversible mods.

Congrats on a nice kit and I think you will dig the vintage mojo.
 
Thank you eamesuser, I figured that the Slingerland Bop kits don't have the value that the others have. I did pay a reasonable market price that is on the upper end of the Slingerland price chart. Understandable because I got a complete kit You get what you pay for.
The lower value of vintage Slingerland's is what gives you the window to modify them.
It would be crazy to modify a Gretsch because of the high value. Modifying a Slingerland kit will not lower its value.

After long thought I have decided to do a DW Jazz Series build out on this kit.
It will include a DW bass drum lifter.
A DW Rail Consolette with a 12.7mm mounting rod.
Ludwig Atlas 12.7mm tom isolation mount.
Two DW bass drum mounted long cymbal holders.
Gibraltar folding bass drum spurs
Gibraltar 10'5mm floor tom legs and mounts with memory locks.

This will make the kit adhere to my needs.
 
Thank you eamesuser, I figured that the Slingerland Bop kits don't have the value that the others have. I did pay a reasonable market price that is on the upper end of the Slingerland price chart. Understandable because I got a complete kit You get what you pay for.
The lower value of vintage Slingerland's is what gives you the window to modify them.
It would be crazy to modify a Gretsch because of the high value. Modifying a Slingerland kit will not lower its value.

After long thought I have decided to do a DW Jazz Series build out on this kit.
It will include a DW bass drum lifter.
A DW Rail Consolette with a 12.7mm mounting rod.
Ludwig Atlas 12.7mm tom isolation mount.
Two DW bass drum mounted long cymbal holders.
Gibraltar folding bass drum spurs
Gibraltar 10'5mm floor tom legs and mounts with memory locks.







This will make the kit adhere to my needs.

Great way to ruin an intact completely original kit. It's yours to do what you wasn't with although it's too bad the kit isn't going to someone who would appreciate the true value it has.
 
Sounds like a really great score ..... but man oh man oh man, where are the pictures ?​
 
Pictures-------------------
Im off to buy some paint for the BD hoops. :)
 

Attachments

  • 1209285_10200562360973766_75298177_n.jpg
    1209285_10200562360973766_75298177_n.jpg
    79.3 KB · Views: 1,226
  • 1374252_10200562360253748_918936137_n.jpg
    1374252_10200562360253748_918936137_n.jpg
    85.6 KB · Views: 1,223
  • 1374959_10200562364373851_1423231416_n.jpg
    1374959_10200562364373851_1423231416_n.jpg
    103.1 KB · Views: 1,335
  • 1380714_10200562361733785_1658983353_n.jpg
    1380714_10200562361733785_1658983353_n.jpg
    61.4 KB · Views: 1,174
  • 1383704_10200562360653758_1621446317_n.jpg
    1383704_10200562360653758_1621446317_n.jpg
    80.2 KB · Views: 1,206
  • 1390514_10200562361973791_1802940785_n.jpg
    1390514_10200562361973791_1802940785_n.jpg
    49.9 KB · Views: 1,164
The kit looks cherry Bob. Nice score.

Dave you're confusing everyone! Start your own thread!
 
I agree with everyone else: Gorgeous kit, great find in that condition. But I shudder when I imagine the sound of that drill...
 
It is OK for Old to Meet New!
Automotive Hot Rodder's do it all the time.
They take a car or truck body from the past and they add new things to it.
It is a good thing when this is done correctly.
What I am doing is building the modern jazz kit that John Good and the DW team tried to build.
I am marrying vintage drums to modern hardware in a way that will be positive!

I like the concept of cymbals that are suspended over the bass drum, but I don't like cymbal holders that slip and don't have memory locks.
I like Rail Consolette tom mounting, but I don't like drums that are choked by not having an isolation mount and I hate it when my tom wobbles while I am playing it.
I want strong floor tom legs with memory locks.
I like a bass drum lifter that becomes part of the drum and does not clamp to the hoop.
I also carved out the hoop so that the pedalboard can pass through when the BD lift is installed.

I don't want a museum piece!
That is not my goal with these drums.
I already have museum pieces.
I want a kit that I will enjoy because I have experienced both vintage kits, and modern improvements in hardware.
I want a kit that incorporates the things that I like the most.
That is what I am putting together here.
I am making something for myself, and I am sharing myself with you.
These drums sat for over 40 years with no one playing them, I am going to play them everyday and I am going to love them.
In other words; Relax, I know What I Am Doing! :)
 
What is it that Steve says? Friends don't let friends drill drums. But I'm with you Bob. They are yours to do with what you will. They will still retain the tone.
 
It is OK for Old to Meet New!
Automotive Hot Rodder's do it all the time.
And I agree. Now, if this kit was the 18, 12, 14 Gretsch Round Badge that just went for $11K+, probably you would not be doing the mods. Your cash, your drums, your happiness.​
 
Back
Top