Slingerland 5" x 14" COB Gene Krupa Sound King Snare Drums

Here is a video about one of my favorite low priced snare drums, the Slingerland 5" x 14" COB Gene Krupa Sound King. This drum works well in any situation and is easily repaired. In this video I show you how to repair the Zoomatic strainer that is on this drum. I also play the drum with both calf and plastic heads. If you want to skip ahead and just hear the drum here are the ​time stamps.
0:00 introduction and description
12:21 The drum with calf skin
18:28 The drum with a Remo Ambassador Head
The drum set I am using is a 1990's Peavey Radial set
22" Bass Drum. You can find out about this kit here
​ • A Unique Drum Set -The...
10", 12", 14", and 16" toms
Cymbals are
Sabian 21" Ralph Peterson Ride
Sabian 14" Vault Hi Hats
Paiste 16" and 17" crashes
Wuhan 20" china
Microphones are 2 Sennheiser MKH 800 overheads and a AKG D112 outside the Bass Drum.

[@blackasthesky]

Great sound, and a lot of additional info! Thanks ❤

[@k27925]

First snare I ever owned. Came with slingerland set my dad got me 40 years ago. Always my favorite snare drum. Thought I was alone in that. Haha. Vey cool playing in this vid. Thanks for that

[@mrwillbaker]

That what you do not know is not worth knowing, Rick you are the man. Thanks for such great content.

[@KennethHard]

What a humble dude for being such a great player.

[@robertalbiston7822]

This video is a tour de force for one of the greatest sounding drums. It's versatility is remarkable (my constant companion since '63, she can even peal off timbale-like phrasing). This unit serves nicely for jazz today, but it barked out rifle shots to cut through the loudest mix at CBGB with no mic. That calf demo is superb, and the Roy Haynes style is top shelf. I've owned the '67 Ludwig Supraphonic classic since '70...also a fine drum which I would like to hear it with calfskin. Thanks all!

[@graemerife5159]

Thank you for going into such detail about these snares! A 60's Sound King was just gifted to me and I'm in the process of restoring it.

[@danlc95]

My first real drum was one of these. I got it for my 11th birthday in 1987. I woodshedded and played my first gigs with that drum. It feels like a part of my DNA.. I still have it, but it's currently at the singer of my first band's house. Actually, the core of my first 60's Slingerland kit is there too! I played a lot of 80's hair metal, pop, and in the 90's thrash, and death metal music on it. When I got it in 1987 it came with a clear Remo C.S. / Ambassador Snare. From there I used coated Ambassadors and C.S. in the 90's I was playing Evans. Usually a Genera or Genera HD Dry.

[@elithepitbulldog2209]

I just scored a vintage 1967 Ludwig LM400 It’s never left the original owners hone. There’s is no pitting anywhere on the drum. It’s in excellent condition. I can’t wait to try calfskins on it By the way the strainer, throw off is perfect. I don’t have to change a thing. I live the baseball bat lever for the damping device

[@rogerwelsh2335]

That drum set sounds amazing.

[@isaacbeckett1499]

Thanks for the very information and the amazing demo!

[@Pure_KodiakWILD_Power]

Alot of good info and good playing.

[@colinhamilton156]

Nice snare and fine drumming!

[@williamhuber8365]

I own a 132 with a gold badge! ❤️Evans HD Dry batter Evans 200 reso snare. Just ordered some Puresound 30 wire snares.

[@danlc95]

I used to use 300 reso glass and 6he HD Dry on mine back in the 90's!

[@jamesconnors5653]

NICE!

[@michaelmain8230]

nice chops

[@aliandcathyhunt3950]

I have a 2 to 1 version of this snare with 12 lugs on the batter head and 6 on the reso head. It's sweeeet and a little different.

[@markd4741]

When I was a kid in the 60's, and taking lessons at Frank's Drum Shop in Chicago, they of course had it all. Any Snare that was out there, be sure that Maurie commonly had such in house no matter the brand. Honestly, I never really warmed up to Slingerland back then, and that was due to personal influences and ignorance. Always believing that Slingerland was a lesser Drum not the equal of Ludwig, Rogers, and others. I was very wrong. I think Maurie showcased and pushed that which would sell. Today I have 4 mint Slingerland Snares which I acquired over about a 15 year period some years back. A NOS Sound King 5x14 that came with a Barrett Deems Drumset I bought. Then a 5x14 COB Buddy Rich TDR, grabbed that baby for a great price from Steve Maxwell at a long past Chicago Drum Show. Then acquired a 12 lug 6.5x14 Spitfire Prototype that was Barrett Deems in an even up trade for a mint Big R Dynasonic I had. Last on the list found a mint late 70's Artist in WMP to go with my WMP Deems Set, 8 Lug, and not a single ply. Has the same throwoff as the Sound King, The Zoomatic. It's OK. it works! One thing I learned in my later years, and was overlooked by myself again due to ignorance in the past, was Slingerland was known-said to have the best chrome plating in the industry. Sure, I'd love a couple more, How about a Wood Spitfire? That would be an ultra rare find, and trust won't be cheap. The 2 Plus 1 was another unique Snare Drum. As for Snare Throwoffs, I like the TDR a lot, but it does have a weakness, a little piece of Surgical Rubber Tubing which will over time go bad one way or another. Without it, the mechanism is a no go. And it is an ordeal to swap with a testy C-Clip, also known as a "Jesus Clip" when it goes flying into oblivion. LOL Thankfully I had help with the correct part, and guidance by Carl Wenk, the Doctor!

[@rickdior]

I have a wood spitfire if you want to buy it.

[@markd4741]

@@rickdior Curious as to what wrap, and also condition? Thanks.

[@rickdior]

WMP Excellent condition

[@roybeckerman9253]

Definitely best on highest tuning..

[@deejaaywalker2314]

Did anyone research the gold/black badge versus the silver/black badge? Is one older/newer? Did they randomly appear now and then? Any other insight or comment on rarity, one versus the other? Thanks!

[@SPACEMAN_fkYT]

The gold/black badge is from 60's. The silver/black badge is from the 70's

[@krupadrum]

Yes, Gene played this model from the middle 1960's

[@roybeckerman7843]

How do you tune your top and bottom heads ?

[@jorgeaugustbm]

Hey, Rick! First of all, thank you a lot for such a great content. I am to trade a '63 three ply ludwig over a '75-'76 SoundKing and you helped me a lot! Do you think a 24 wires puresound brass custom pro strand would sound good on this? Which one do you like the best with this snare? Thanks!

[@rickdior]

Hi I don't think the snares themselves will make as much of a difference as the originals that came with the drum were nothing special. It's really that soft brass shell that is the great sound of this drum. Those Puresound snares should sound fine.

[@cjansenATL]

I've become a fan of INDE Lab's universal strainer.

[@rickdior]

Have you replaced a Zoomatic with that throw off?

[@cjansenATL]

@@rickdior I have not, but the strainer is adaptable to most two hole strainer mounting setups. I've had a friend replace his Ludwig LM402 strainer with the INDE Lab version. Make sense?

[@rickdior]

It won't work because the Zoomatic is a 3 hole strainer. So those out there should not buy this and expect it to cover the holes in the drum without a plate of some sort.

[@thomasdesantis995]

A GREAT PAIR of C.O.B. Slingerlands I have 8 Lug 60’s 8 70’s Both Black and Brass & Black & Silver 05” X14” And have used both Calf and plastic heads on each my Favorite heads are STILL Canasonic heads When I can find them I now use Modern Vintage heads most The Zoomatic strainers are good & I like them Please don’t get me wrong I own quite a few snare drums that have the Zoomatic strainers however my Favorite C.O.B. Slingerland made snare drum is my SlingerLEEDY 05” X14” W/A 3 point Strainer A heavy weight shell It just sounds better to my ears I also have a 12 lug per side 1950’s Brass Slingerland 07” X 14” snare drum that is KILLER along with many 3 ply Wood Slingerland snare drums 3 Mahogany Are my FAVORITE of All

[@rickdior]

Hi Thomas Thanks for your comment. The point of the video was to show a drum that is affordable for many folks that sounds good as well. There are obviously many other choices but if you want an affordable brass drum with a proven track record in all types of musical genres the #130 Sound King is a great choice. I have over 30 brass drums from a 150 snare drum collection, many of them worth thousands of dollars and this $200 drum is capable (if tuned and operating correctly) of holding its own with all of them.

[@thomasdesantis995]

@@rickdior I like your repair I normally have just found O G parts to fix any of the snare drums I find that need knobs or make a new Screw on knob your repair is fast and easy GREAT Stuff plus I truly dig your playing Good drumming Keep up the good work Thanks

[@roybeckerman9253]

Definitely best on highest tuning,.

[@SPACEMAN_fkYT]

The gold/black badge is from 60's. The silver/black badge is from the 70's.

[@ralphbenites1819]

Can’t you just weld it on thair ? The knob?

[@rickdior]

You need to be able to take the knob off if the throw off requires a repair.

[@mellilore]

I just cannot describe the delusion I felt when I saw you were using a double bass pedal. Double Bass pedal is EVIL! ;-)

[@thomasdesantis995]

I.M.H.O. Double Bass petals RULE I love my D.W.5000 I have had it for many years- It had took the Beating and never failed me LOVE IT I wish you joy & Happy Drumming

[@danlc95]

Evil?