Restoration Details
Slingerland Drum Company was a giant of the industry, delivering tens of thousands of instruments to professionals and amateurs alike. One of their most popular drums was the Slingerland Radio King, later to be known as the Super Gene Krupa model. This drum features a single ply of maple, steam-bent and glued in place with two single-ply reinforcing rings. For decades, that single ply shell has produced some of the most iconic sounds in music, and is sought after by collectors and players for its uniquely warm tone and bulletproof construction.
This particular drum came to us with a badly damaged wrap, dirty hardware and in need of some structural attention. The entire drum was disassembled, the hardware cleaned and degreased, and the shell stripped of the heat-damaged wrap. A small area of delamination between the reinforcing ring and the shell was fixed, and the original bearing edges were trued and leveled, but not recut. After the shell was cleaned, a new piece of Delmar sparkling green pearl wrap was installed and drilled, and the reconditioned hardware was reinstalled. The original badge was missing, so a new/old stock 1960 Slingerland badge was located and installed, along with a new/old stock brass grommet. Original snare wires still in very good condition and a set of vintage heads completed this restoration. This snare sounds fantastic, and is ready for another 80 years of service!