Cut-a-ways, Power Wedge, North, Sound Projectors - What's the Scoop?

[richardh253]

Thumbing thru the Aug 94 MD came across this oddity from Stingray Drums, the "Power Wedge" (tempting to suggest unlike Slingerland, it goes to 11). Anyone ever own one of these? Can you make a case for the design? (pun intended)

I remember the short-lived Slingerlands

And the memorable North scoop

And Ludwig's brief indulgence of the sound projectors

 

[Mcjnic]

I've owned a Stingray, a Slingerland Cut-A-Way, and a Ludwig Sound Projector. (Never a North - dangit)
The volume from the Stingray came from the fiberglass build more than the angle of the drum.
The Slingerland and the Ludwig didn't have any sort of volume increase that I noted.
But they looked pretty cool.
I do acknowledge the Fred Sanford comments on why Slingerland designed them that way - marching bands.
They would have helped on the field.

 

[richardh253]

I've owned a Stingray, a Slingerland Cut-A-Way, and a Ludwig Sound Projector. (Never a North - dangit)
The volume from the Stingray came from the fiberglass build more than the angle of the drum.
The Slingerland and the Ludwig didn't have any sort of volume increase that I noted.
But they looked pretty cool.
I do acknowledge the Fred Sanford comments on why Slingerland designed them that way - marching bands.
They would have helped on the field.

As I recall in the Slingerland catalogs these were first offered in the marching drums section, then migrated to "the newest thing in rock kits!"

Similar to Ludwig's "Concert Toms" that originally were in the Orchestra section of the L. catalog until someone copped Hal Blaine's idea, put them on stands and presto, Octa-Plus

I think the sound Projectors were another Ludwig big investment startup (like Tivoli lighting) that went nowhere.

 

[cochlea]

How did the Ludwig sound projectors attach to the shell? Were they permanent or could they be removed?

 

[Mcjnic]

How did the Ludwig sound projectors attach to the shell? Were they permanent or could they be removed?

They were a temp thing that could be popped on and off from what I recall.

 

[bpaluzzi]

Those are still used in marching (the angled cuts on quads, and detachable projectors on snares). They project more sound forward, as opposed to down into the grass / turf. For snares, it increases the relative projection of the bottom head / guts.

 

[lamartee]

Dont forget these!

 

[dsop]

Dont forget these!

Pretty sure Simon is using Staccato toms on this:

 

[yetanotherdrummer]

I had a set of North drums for awhile in fire truck red. They were very LOUD. If you were playing anything other than rock-n-roll they just didn't work.

But they looked super cool.

I traded them in at my local music store........for a Ludwig Tivoli set. I must of had a thing for weird drum sets when I was young.................

 

[carter]

North look the coolest.

 

[cworrick]

The Slingerland kit looks like modern marching band tenors

 

[1988fxlr]

I have a set of North’s. They are an effective design. I use heads and tunings on them that would make more conventional drums very quiet and unresponsive (hydraulics tuned way down) and my neighbors can hear them fine. North made pretty small sizes (standard production floor toms were 14”, 16” only exist as fairly rare prototypes) but they are capable of more volume than my large sharp edged modern drums.

 

[FloydZKing]

How did the Ludwig sound projectors attach to the shell? Were they permanent or could they be removed?

No fooling - velcro!

 

[FloydZKing]

Dont forget these!

I have a 20" Staccato BD in this design. It skews low in pitch but otherwise sounds like most other single-headed BDs.

 

[cochlea]

No fooling - velcro!

Really? That seems very Ludwig-esque for that period, like when they were riveting wraps to their shells.

 

[Rob G.]

I've owned a Stingray, a Slingerland Cut-A-Way, and a Ludwig Sound Projector. (Never a North - dangit)
The volume from the Stingray came from the fiberglass build more than the angle of the drum.
The Slingerland and the Ludwig didn't have any sort of volume increase that I noted.
But they looked pretty cool.
I do acknowledge the Fred Sanford comments on why Slingerland designed them that way - marching bands.
They would have helped on the field.

We had Slingerland marching percussion at my high school. Same toms on the quads as that kit you pictured. Same color too, come to think of it.

 

[Mcjnic]

We had Slingerland marching percussion at my high school. Same toms on the quads as that kit you pictured. Same color too, come to think of it.

I didn't post a picture of my kit.
This is my kit from quite a few years ago.
Note - the Slingerland CAW toms are above the Premier toms as a second row ... because I wasn't obnoxious enough with just one row and a freekin e-kit hovering above me.

 

[Johnny Vegas]

Thumbing thru the Aug 94 MD came across this oddity from Stingray Drums, the "Power Wedge" (tempting to suggest unlike Slingerland, it goes to 11). Anyone ever own one of these? Can you make a case for the design? (pun intended)

View attachment 610448

I remember the short-lived Slingerlands

And the memorable North scoop

And Ludwig's brief indulgence of the sound projectors

A good friend of mine has that exact set. Quite rare and sounds awesome.

 

[Houndog]

I’m debating a Slingerland Cutaway kit that’s local , needs a rewrap though ..

10/12/13/14/16 cutaways
With an 18” floor and 22” bass drum. .
I can get for $350 ….

 

[1988fxlr]

I’m debating a Slingerland Cutaway kit that’s local , needs a rewrap though ..

10/12/13/14/16 cutaways
With an 18” floor and 22” bass drum. .
I can get for $350 ….

That sounds like a sweet deal if it has all the tom mounting hardware in good shape. Big kits nickel and dime you to death if they all need parts