Chicago Drum Co. vs Stone Custom Drums

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To the Slingerland fans here, who does a better job of making drums that are most similar to original Slingerland drums? Chicago Drum or Stone Custom? I listened to a podcast with Bernie Stone, and I’m pretty sure it was Jim Moritz and his dad who helped Bernie Stone learn to operate the Slingerland machinery that he purchased on eBay. So it seems as if they are acquainted, but also each other’s primary competition.

They both do a great job of making drums that look like Slingerland drums. Anyone own either/or? How do they both compare to one another and the original? Interesting story for sure, here is a link if anyone is interested

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edit* To a moderator, if this thread should be moved to the general board, please do. I was unsure.
 
I have a Chicago Drum 12-lug spitfire-clone, in three ply, with a TDR and a tone control knobby, in black Beauty wrap. Amazing sound. My drum is pictured somewhere on their site. This is the closest anyone will ever get to a brand new Slingerland.

0 by Stephen Duffy, on Flickr

0-1 by Stephen Duffy, on Flickr

0-2 by Stephen Duffy, on Flickr

0-3 by Stephen Duffy, on Flickr
 
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Y'all know that DW bought the Slingerland name and is gearing up to treat it as a legacy brand, right? Do we know how much the guys mentioned above are involved? I'd imagine that there's either going to be an incredible new collaboration or a lot of cease and desist letters in the next few months.
 
Neal Pert said:
Y'all know that DW bought the Slingerland name and is gearing up to treat it as a legacy brand, right? Do we know how much the guys mentioned above are involved? I'd imagine that there's either going to be an incredible new collaboration or a lot of cease and desist letters in the next few months.
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I've been wondering the same thing. I've wondered how this will all play out once DW gets Slingerland back on the market. I guess it wasn't an issue though when Gibson brought them back a while ago.
 
DW presents with common business practice and sustainability yet I’ve often wondered if they are sharks. They seem to be buying up market share and appear to be positioning themselves to continue to do the same. Have we noticed the muddying of waters with Gibraltar (formerly Gretsch)/DW hardware. Gretsch maintains they remain family owned and DW is just offering distribution yet Gretsch shells now have exotic limited run woods and DW rebranded rails. Dunnett/Geo Way clearly has a relationship with DW. Reading between the lines, it sounds the Geo Way brand might be going to them eventually. Clearly, written agreements exist at some capacity. I gather Stone and Chicago will be leveraged into signing some type of agreement or legally asked to stop, change, or end all implied relationship to the Slingerland name. A recession will only support the oligopolist approach of DW. I trust most will get into bed with them in order to survive. Negative impressions or not, DW will likely be the brand of future collectors interest.
 
As the owner of nine other lovely, vintage Slingerland Spitfires of various shell types, plies, finishes and depths, I can confidently attest that my black snare above has the same tone, feel and resonance as any of my older snares. I would not have bought this snare had I thought otherwise. The tone control is very well made, it works just fine, and does not buzz, like the cheaper "MIJ junk" varieties. As the tone control knobby has the same footprint as the 1979 versions, I can swap it out with a rusty original any time I please. The quality of this drum is just stunning and I dare anyone to come close to it ...

I can't see how a new company can recreate the classic Slingerland sound just by buying the name. Gibson tried, but last I looked, most of their wraps peeled off due to substandard adhesives.
 
I have a set of Stone Custom drums, and they very much have the Slingerland vibe. The shells are 5-ply (maple/popular) and they have that vintage tone.

102_3901.JPG


I had a set of real Slingerlands at one time, so I can definitely make the comparison.

DSCN3260.JPG
 
I have no experience with Chicago Drum but I did have Bernie Stone make me a couple of Slingerland style 14x14 3 ply shells and they are first rate.
 
So I guess we will have to wait and see, but it seems like maybe both of these companies are making drums more similar to original Chicago and Niles Slingerland drums than what we can expect from DW.
 
Mayan said:
So I guess we will have to wait and see, but it seems like maybe both of these companies are making drums more similar to original Chicago and Niles Slingerland drums than what we can expect from DW.
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I get the impression that DW is currently one of the most wealthy drum companies. Also, John Good appears as detail-orientated as one can get with drums. The combination, current infrastructure, building and business experience, and a history of already making vintage style shells in house leads me to believe that no other company, including a boutique shop, will have a better chance at recreating a Slingerland.
 
drumtimejohn said:
I get the impression that DW is currently one of the most wealthy drum companies. Also, John Good appears as detail-orientated as one can get with drums. The combination, current infrastructure, building and business experience, and a history of already making vintage style shells in house leads me to believe that no other company, including a boutique shop, will have a better chance at recreating a Slingerland.
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DW kind of already did that with their vintage series which were somewhat along the lines of Radio Kings (weren't they?) I know they did at least a handful of sets with the repro RK lugs in place of their round ones. Those drums coupled with a Slingerland badge would be an attractive product. If they could dial things in even closer to the originals with a classic looking and sounding series with modern day hardware advances and build quality they would really have something special....although hopefully at a reasonable price point as well. That was one of Gibson's problems. They built first rate drums (especially during the Nashville phase, albeit of much different construction from the original Chicago made products) but they were crazy expensive. Most of the sort of people who will be attracted to the brand would probably be equally happy, perhaps more so, with some nice original Slingerlands, particularly if those originals only cost 25%-30% of the price of the new ones. New is nice, but not necessarily worth a huge premium if the "real deal" can be had for significantly less.
 
I was really impressed with the drums Chicago Drum brought to the last few Chicago Vintage Drum show . They are really well made and sounded great .
 
K.O. said:
DW kind of already did that with their vintage series which were somewhat along the lines of Radio Kings (weren't they?) I know they did at least a handful of sets with the repro RK lugs in place of their round ones. Those drums coupled with a Slingerland badge would be an attractive product. If they could dial things in even closer to the originals with a classic looking and sounding series with modern day hardware advances and build quality they would really have something special....although hopefully at a reasonable price point as well. That was one of Gibson's problems. They built first rate drums (especially during the Nashville phase, albeit of much different construction from the original Chicago made products) but they were crazy expensive. Most of the sort of people who will be attracted to the brand would probably be equally happy, perhaps more so, with some nice original Slingerlands, particularly if those originals only cost 25%-30% of the price of the new ones. New is nice, but not necessarily worth a huge premium if the "real deal" can be had for significantly less.
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Yes, I think Daniel Glass is/was playing such a set.
 
K.O. said:
Most of the sort of people who will be attracted to the brand would probably be equally happy, perhaps more so, with some nice original Slingerlands, particularly if those originals only cost 25%-30% of the price of the new ones. New is nice, but not necessarily worth a huge premium if the "real deal" can be had for significantly less.
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Exactly!
 
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