Mike Dawson's Snare of the Week, Episode 5: Slingerland Chrome-Over-Brass 5x14 and 6.5x14 Sound King

All-purpose, rock & roll workhorses right here! Slingerland chrome over brass Sound Kings. I love these slightly overlooked snares for a classic snare sound with a big, smacking attack, dense, controlled tone, and quick decay. They love the medium and lower tunings, and copious amounts of dampening. Here, I'm featuring a 5x14 from the early '60s that I rescued from a trash pile in high school and a 6.5x14 that was my first vintage drum purchase.

[@tmorris7243]

Just restored a 6.5 and it sounds great! Love the brass character. Full and very well behaved! Excellent recording drum!

[@MikeDawsonDrums]

Rock on!

[@keithbenson2627]

I love Slingerland Snare drums ! Very clean and punchy without that ringing sound that you get from other drum brands especially Ludwig !!

[@MikeDawsonDrums]

Couldn't agree more!

[@Ds_Drums]

That same drum was my first snare drum. Since then I have aquired 8 more snare drums for various reasons but that Slingerland is the one I have recorded and toured with the most. I just change the heads and tune the drum to match the style of music for my assignment and that drum is amazing. If you only have one snare drum that type of drum is ALL YOU NEED. It can fit in any situation.

[@RedeyePerc]

Thanks so much for the classic fit information. I've got an old Gretsch 4160 COB that's slightly warped. I'm going to check those out.

[@MikeDawsonDrums]

Awesome! Those heads have been super helpful for me. Hope they work out for you.

[@TheStudioDrummer]

Great sounds, Mike! I'm looking at some Vintage Slingerland snares; your video helped- thanks!

[@brianchisnell1548]

My 6.5 Gene brass is one of my go to. Wide open. No buggers

[@jaggass]

Jeff Porcaro used one of these in the late 70's/ early 80's.

[@thegayge]

Man damn. That 6.5" is killing me.

[@MikeDawsonDrums]

AJ Donahue she’s a beauty. Get y’rself one!

[@deejaaywalker2314]

I'm considering buying a 5" version at the moment, so I came here for sound clips. I like what I hear but would loved to also have heard the shell with no gels, just the stock sound as I usually enjoy hearing overtones and deciding how pleasing/colourful they are for my taste. Thanks for doing the video though!

[@deaterk]

Michael!...I love your channel. (I may have made a similar comment previously) but it bears repeating...good production values, excellent content, useful information, and truly superior sound. The perfect combination! Thank You for all your time and effort and for sharing your expertise. One last question; Where are you based?

[@MikeDawsonDrums]

Thanks, Ken! I'm in the NYC area.

[@jaymeramirez7435]

I just scored a one yesterday… 70’s black and silver badge. 3 lines. All original including case. $40. Looks near mint after polishing it. No rust or pitting. Time capsule. Idk if it is brass. It sings like brass shell when tuned high. I mean it reminded me the Stewart Copeland snare. 🤷🏿

[@MikeDawsonDrums]

Nice find! That’s most likely brass. Enjoy it!

[@jaymeramirez7435]

@@MikeDawsonDrumsthanks Mike. I really don’t want it to be brass. 😆 I don’t own a brass and need one. And that was my excuse to buy a Black Beauty. But damn it has THAT brass overtone. I was hoping not to like it so I could flip it.

[@BuckAugust]

Heck yesss! 👊🏻

[@MikeDawsonDrums]

Woot woot!

[@sparknado]

It's my understanding the first drum with the smooth shell (without the 3 lines) is most likely a chrome over steel and the second drum that has the 3 lines is most likely a chrome over brass. Both really great drums! If you want to check you could try the magnet test -- magnet will stick to steel but will not stick to brass.

[@MikeDawsonDrums]

It's definitely brass. When I drilled the holes for the throw-off, some brass shavings fell out. ;)

[@sparknado]

If you're referring to the smooth shelled version, that's very interesting.

[@MikeDawsonDrums]

Check out page 13: www.drumarchive.com/slingerland/Slingerland1963a.pdf

[@mountainhobbit1971]

damn your mix for that kick drum has a really punchy deep thudy 'boofy' sound in my speakers! sounds cool. but louder in the mix with the rest of the drums. I love vintage drums.

[@MikeDawsonDrums]

Sorry about that! The sub mic channel was cranked a bit high.

[@Paisteconvert]

@@MikeDawsonDrums What size is your kick drum?

[@MikeDawsonDrums]

Paisteconvert 14x22

[@Paisteconvert]

@@MikeDawsonDrums Classic Maple or some other series?

[@MikeDawsonDrums]

Paisteconvert it’s from 1968, so whatever they called them back then. 😂

[@Yngve_Dalen]

I have a 6 1/2 lying in the booth. I think I have to brush dust off it and start using it.😀 I really like the tuning you have on your 6 1/2, its sounds really good. Do you remember which head pitches you tune the top and bottom to? Thanks Yngve, Norway

[@MikeDawsonDrums]

Yngve Dalen pretty sure the top head was pitched to B. Bottom is always tight, around G.

[@Yngve_Dalen]

Mike Dawson Thanks a lot 😀

[@roybeckerman9253]

I have a Gretsch Brooklyn COB snare...lovely sound, but never had the need for any muffling. I adjust the snare tuning accordingly.

[@remotexpolde]

yeah... May as well put a pizza on that thing. Killed every last amazing drop of potential putting that crap on there. ...drives me to hurl hammers

[@roybeckerman9253]

Jess Vera All drums sound the same, when you muffle them. Destroys the beauty of legendary drums.

[@remotexpolde]

@@roybeckerman9253 Ammennnnzzzz to that!

[@roybeckerman9253]

Jess Vera Imagine Buddy Rich or Gene Krupa muffling snares to death...never !

[@remotexpolde]

@@roybeckerman9253 NOOoo! The Tears!! I Can't!!! ;) ..Man, I have a 1929 14 x 26" Ludwig Pioneer bass drum I have been using as my only bass drum since 1992. It has been on every last record I've ever done. No muffling, No hole.. Whenever I do a gig.. Same thing. "Where's the hole?" -After I politely educate them to kindly mic it with Anything but a "kick drum mic", -a pair of giant eyes come back and ask how I get that sound. -Sir Bonham had nothing but felt strips (which is essentially what I use albeit contained inside the reso head) and sometimes/mostly mic'd with a 58 or equivalent. This beast is all Mahogany.. and moves some serious air with a punch. So nice to hear another player doesn't snuff out their drums. Cheers!

[@musicxtn]

Love the sound of these snares man and the sound you are getting!! Thanks for this video. Is that an SM57 and 451 you are using on the snare? Anything on the bottom snare? I’d love to know what mics you are using on the drums as well as the whole kit for this sound (so 70s!) and also if your 5x14 is a 130 or 131? Thanks heaps?

[@MikeDawsonDrums]

I’ll do a mic rundown sometime soon. (Great idea!) I currently have an SM57 and a Blue Hummingbird on top and another SM57 on bottom. In this video, I had an MXL 604 on top in place of the Hummingbird.

[@musicxtn]

@@MikeDawsonDrums great info! Thank you!

[@roybeckerman9253]

Can you do an unmuffled version.

[@briancaseylee4153]

around what hz do you tune the top and bottom head on the 6.5 to get this tone? I'm obsessed lol. Love the video!

[@MikeDawsonDrums]

I don’t recall exactly but most likely the top was around C or C# and the bottom at F#.

[@briancaseylee4153]

Oh nice ok so for any drum nerds out there, would that be the top lug frequency at 277hz C#4, bottom lug at 369hz F#4, making a fundamental of around 185hz F#3? I'm just learning about all of this, thx for responding!

[@roybeckerman9253]

Ludwig and Gretsch make a good COB snare...best tuned high.

[@r.a.8590]

Just grabbed me the Gene Krupa 6.5"x14" COB snare!! Can't wait to play it. Also, your Ludwig kit sounds insane here. Are those 13" and 16" toms?

[@danlozza]

Nice review, great drums. It is always a matter of taste, but for a review I wanna hear what the drum (s) sounds like wide open. This is the only way to actually judge what a drum can do any drum can be muffled to any sound but not all drums can sing, project, and hold a tune.....food for thought. U

[@MikeDawsonDrums]

Daniel Lozza point taken but I’m presenting these drums as I use them.

[@carlupthegrove262]

NICE!!! I have a Slingerland COB 5X14 probably from early 70s ....I like it tuned up but I'm going to try the low tuning with the muffling to see how it sounds.

[@MikeDawsonDrums]

I don't think you'll be disappointed.

[@ThomasMYoutube]

funkay! ur all about that deep funky snare arnt U....

[@MikeDawsonDrums]

Pretty much, all day/all night.

[@drs-Rigo-Reus]

beads is 1965 and onwards. No bead is 63-65. No difference in sound, its cosmetical.

[@ronaldzeoli7528]

Do like that 6.5x14 it sounds nice and fat

[@drs-Rigo-Reus]

them snares need tightening, imo.

[@roybeckerman9253]

You’re spoiling the sound with gels. Buddy Rich and Gene Krupa, the Slingerland Kings, never used gels or snare muffling.

[@viktor7m]

Moongels made this drums to sound perfect!

[@roybeckerman9253]

viktor7m Listen to Buddy Rich and Gene Krupa play. Their snares sound completely different...they would know.

[@viktor7m]

Disagree. I hate ringy snare sound no matter who is playing. This is huge, warn, pleasent, friendly and musical sound.

[@roybeckerman9253]

viktor7m Someone with better taste than Buddy and Gene ...well done.

[@viktor7m]

This is pointless, I like this sound, you like Buddys. End of discussion.

[@roybeckerman9253]

Muffling 🙄