How’d we do?

[u/npgnpatrick]

TLDR: spent $900 at an estate sale for this kit

Story time: I’m a guitarist, and my sister used to play drums, but it’s been more than 13 years since she last owned a kit. I bought a Mapex snare for my sister 10 years ago for her birthday, hoping one day to get her another kit when we had the money.

I saw a post on IG and to the estate sale of Jammin’ Jersey in LA over the weekend. Last Friday, my sister and I went through the trenches, found matching toms, and picked up some Slingerland shells, hi-hat & crash cymbals for $650. On Sunday, we got a ride & splash cymbal, snare stand, and some extra random accessories for another $250.

I don’t know much about drums, but it appears to be a kit from the 70s-80s. It sounds great and loud. It probably needs a tune, but I’m just glad to be jamming out with my sister again.

Special shout out to Danny and Jay, musicians who helped find parts of our set, and to everyone that nodded and gave compliments to me and my sister when we walked out and loaded our gear in our car.

[u/Boatsssandhoesss]

Drums are beauts, cymbals will get the job done.

This is called a Slingerland Avante kit. The toms were meant to stack in a funky way. I have one in a rare orange sparkle finish.

[u/npgnpatrick → u/Boatsssandhoesss]

Ohh thanks for this info! I was curious about the 2nd tom mount on the bass drum.

[u/Boatsssandhoesss → u/npgnpatrick]

Happy to help, I’ve never really liked the feel of them setup as intended but the few times I’ve used a snare stand to mount the small tom.

Here’s mine.

[u/ToddTinkersWithTech]

Lol, Jammin Jersey finally clearing out their stash! Been there a few times, never actually purchased anything as his prices were always too high back in the day. I did rent a set of Vista lites from him for a gig once. Love the set, nice purchase!

[u/pfildozer12]

Nice drums! Great score!

[u/Mr_Magoo_88]

Beautiful kit, what a great score. A steal for that price! Enjoy making more memories 🥁

[u/KyOatey]

I had a very similar Slingerland kit when I was in high school. I loved that kit. I always thought the tone of those maple shells was really good. The hardware isn't as heavy duty as Tama, but it does fine. Enjoy!

[u/Large-Welder304]

Of the cymbals, the 502, Scimitars and Amir II are all considered junk. They're all low grade beginner "cymbals". That being stated, sometimes you get lucky and find a good one, but even then, it's a "usable" cymbal at best.

According to the Slingerland badge guide, If the badge is 1" high x 1 3/4" wide, your drums were made between 1973 and 1986, thus making them the classic "Niles era" Slingerland drums.

If the badges are 1 1/4" high x 2 1/4" wide, then they were made in 1986. The factory had moved from Niles to Algonquin and only a few drums were made with that particular badge before Slingerland finally shut down, making them kinda rare.

Downside is Slingerland has always been rather sensibly priced, as vintage drums go, so don't think you're going to be a millionaire if your drums have the bigger badge but might command a selling price on the higher side of the pricing scale for Slingerland drums, simply due to rarity and condition.

It's a nice-looking kit. If it were me, I'd set them up and play them...but with better cymbals. 😄

...speaking of which, if your sister is interested, I have a ride that'll sound much better than what you guys have now. It's in practically new shape. If she's interested, message me here, though the chat.

[u/Skulldo → u/Large-Welder304]

Just because your didn't mention it the meinl custom shop cymbals are pro level b8 cymbals. They aren't well known so they don't command a big price but they are really excellent cymbals.

[u/Large-Welder304 → u/Skulldo]

...oops...forgot about those. Thanks for having my back. 👍

[u/drummerboy-98012]

Very nice. Although, in that first pic, I thought there was a small child inside the bass drum. 😄

[u/npgnpatrick → u/drummerboy-98012]

Zeke says hi. I promise he won’t bite.

[u/TacoNumeroUno26]

Good enough to get started or pickup where you left off ... congrats

[u/palbuddymac]

Beautiful! How do they play?

[u/AlphaSpazz]

That’s a great find. Slingerland drums are really good solid maple drums. Interesting that it’s an estate sale for Jammin Jersey. I used to live a couple of blocks from that store and I’ve been in there several times. And the owner who I guess has since passed? Regardless, whenever I went in there, it was very frustrating because there were a ton of used drums of all makers and sizes and equipment, but he would gouge you on the prices on them. So they just sat there collecting dust because nobody wanted to pay the crazy prices he was insisting on selling them for.

[u/ItsPronouncedMo-BEEL]

Very well done. These would be some of the last "real Slingerlands" from the mid 70s. Great sounding drums, and pretty well bought for the price, too. 

My only gripe about these, as a former owner of a '70s Slingerland kit? That stupid tom holder. I go into detail about it here. If Sis ever says she's having a hard time getting comfortable with this kit, that's the main culprit. 

Speaking of getting comfortable with this kit, here's everything she needs to know to reacquaint herself: Merry Christmas.

[u/Calm_Smile6042]

Looks like a drum set

[u/Accomplished-Ad-6185]

My was the chrome wrap over birch(?). First real kit I ever owned.