Greetings Vintage Drum Friends
It's been quite some time since my last Vintage Happiness article, so I have decided to feature a very special set years in the making and one I've always wanted to talk about.
Like many of you, I've come upon a good number of orphan drums through the years of collecting, buying and playing. This kit consists of orphan drums that were either included with kits purchased or just purchased to add on. But some with the hopes to piece an entire kit together (which is still possible!). But what is special about these drums is that they are all very rare and hard to find sparkling pearl wraps in pristine condition by the Great American Drum Companies of yesteryear.
The kit consists of the following:
14 x 20 Slingerland Bass Drum date stamped Oct 6 1958 in Aqua Sparkle Pearl. Chicago IL era badge.
5.5 x 14 Slingerland Radio King Gene Krupa Model No.143 snare drum in Aqua Sparkle Pearl. Chicago IL era badge. (no date stamp)
8 x 12 Leedy tom date stamped Apr 29 1960 in Smokey Sparkling Pearl. No badge for this era of Slingerleedy on the toms (most of the time!)
16 x 16 Ludwig Floor Tom date stamped Jan 18 1966 in Sparkling Burgundy Pearl with the mid 60's keystone era badge.
I purchased the snare and bass drum with the hope to actually find a tom and floor tom. I am still looking, of course! So if you have any or know of any leads, please contact me through NSMD.
Aqua Sparkle Pearl is only in the 1959 Slingerland catalog as well as Smokey Sparkling Pearl. Aqua Sparkle is a new favorite of mine since I was lucky to acquire a one of a kind Walberg & Auge set from 1960 in this rare wrap. You can find that article here at NSMD as well.
The Smokey Sparkling Pearl tom is very much like Gretsch Starlight Sparkle, but it IS different. It's darker, without the violet tint SS has and very much like the Burgundy Sparkle that Ludwig used.
This tom came as an added bonus to the only Leedy set in Starlight Sparkle I also own. You can find that article here at NSMD too.
The Burgundy Sparkle aka root beer floor tom was purchased as an add on to the Ludwig Downbeat Outfit I also own.
I have been very much enjoying a 2 floor tom set up and the 14" and 16" floor toms look great together especially with this one of a kind set.
So how do they sound?
As good as they look. I have vintage coated ambassadors on the batter sides except for the floor tom, which is all-original. I've used this kit on several gigs already and the drums sing.
The 50's drums have the great mahogany shells and the little kick just booms! The special bass drum head "Hot Stuff" was my fathers when he was in his late teens.
I recently restored this drumhead (a slow process as it's all hand painted) and now this drumhead is a family heirloom as it was once on his Slingerland set many many years ago.
Needless, to say, he was quite happy to see his old friend on some beautiful old orphan drums.
Vintage Happiness INDEED!
Until next time, PLAY THOSE DRUMS!!