![[DFO] Drum Forum](https://www.drumforum.org/styles/drumforum/xenforo/logo.png){kind=logo}
Did Stewart drums try and copy Slingerland drums?
- Thread starter Bandit
- Start date
Trilock_Gurtu
DFO Veteran
They didn't "try", they flat out copied them. But, all vintage Japanese drums did the same thing. I mean, they all came from two factories, but were under hundreds of different stencil names. Stewart was one of many.
My Stewart looking like a Slingerland. Sounds awesome, too.
My Stewart looking like a Slingerland. Sounds awesome, too.
idrum4fun
DFO Master
As TG said, the MIJ factories just copied American drum hardware! As a prime example, here's my 1961 Star snare drum, which sure looks like a Slingerland Radio King, doesn't it?!!! This drum appeared for only one year in this design. My guess is that Slingerland found out about it and put a halt to it!
The catalog ad even shows the NEW "Stick-Saver Hoops", but also calling them similar to what Slingerland did... "Rim-Shots Counter Hoop." Slingerland called them "Rim-Shot Counter hoop." So, Star really coined the "Stick-Saver" name!
-Mark
The catalog ad even shows the NEW "Stick-Saver Hoops", but also calling them similar to what Slingerland did... "Rim-Shots Counter Hoop." Slingerland called them "Rim-Shot Counter hoop." So, Star really coined the "Stick-Saver" name!
-Mark
Last edited:
idrum4fun
DFO Master
Here's another excellent example of how Pearl copied American-made drums. This was my 1968 Pearl set, which I sold some years ago. Slingerland-style lugs, Ludwig-style rail consolette and a Rogers-style muffler!
-Mark
-Mark
drumsforme
Very well Known Member
Copies are what they are....I grew up in the 60's playing Del Ray, Tempro and friend's Apollo Drum kits. Honestly the shells and workmanship were lacking and the Hardware fell short as well. The Japanese product did not improve until Tama, Pearl and Yamaha broke through the stencil period into the mid 70's and then improvements in quality became substantial.
Some of the old MIJ catalogs look just like Slingerland's catalogs.
Skins_in_the_game
Very well Known Member
Don't forget the Apollo "StarFinders" a stainless steel kit that copied Ludwigs lugs. Snare even had imperial knock offs but with inverted bead on snare.
yetanotherdrummer
DFO Veteran
My first drum set was a red sparkle Starlight brand. They looked just like a set of Slingerlands, but they sure didn't sound like Slingerlands!
Plus, the hardware was junk. The cymbal stands would randomly collapse, the bass drum pedal broke, the tom fell of it's rail mount on the bass drum, etc.
Plus, the hardware was junk. The cymbal stands would randomly collapse, the bass drum pedal broke, the tom fell of it's rail mount on the bass drum, etc.
retrosonic
DFO Master
I started out with MIJ equipment some 49 years ago. I remember having the GREAT idea to replace the cheap set wing bolts on the stands to new, better bolts from the hardware store. Tried that, then I was Perplexed.....none of the new bolts would screw into the stands. Brought my stand to the harware store and they guy told me why...it was metric! The guy offered to re-cut the treads, but I said no. Lesson learned!
rockstarmarc
Well-Known Member
Stewart is just a brand name, they never made drums. They imported from Star, Pearl, and Hoshino (K) at different points. All three of these manufacturers used Slingerland as a point of inspiration, Star snare lugs and hoops were very close to the original, but the tom lugs and other parts are distinguishable from each other. To tell who made what, the hardware from each company has nuances that separate them.
Rob G.
Very well Known Member
In the Drum History podcast (I think it was the "Growing up with Slingerland" episode) it was revealed that representatives from Pearl were allowed to tour the Slingerland operation. Not only tour, but take lots of pictures and ask lots of in-depth questions. This would have been late 50s/early 60s and the thought was that either they would put the knowledge to use locally or that they wouldn't be a threat in any event. Of course, Pearl (and Star) would flood the US market with Slingerland copies and stick one of the nails in Slingerland's coffin.
My first set of drums in 1972 was a "no name" blue sparkle kit from the Sears catalog (which I've since learned was made by Star/Tama) and was an almost identical copy of Slingerland. I didn't realize it until about six months later when I went to a friend's house who had a beautiful set of Slingerland drums. I thought maybe my drums were actually Slingerland, but no...
I believe it was during that same visit my friend informed me I was "left handed" and suggested I switch my drums around and play the bass drum with my left foot and cross over to play the hi-hat, rather than open-handed as I had been playing. I never should've listened to him!
I believe it was during that same visit my friend informed me I was "left handed" and suggested I switch my drums around and play the bass drum with my left foot and cross over to play the hi-hat, rather than open-handed as I had been playing. I never should've listened to him!
drummerjohn333
DFO Veteran
I have identified as many as 6 different Japanese versions of the same American Slingerland tom lug. Somewhere I have pictures to show it, perhaps in a broken phone with trapped pics inside.
yetanotherdrummer
DFO Veteran
When I was a kid starting out I was a big fan of the Monkees, the Beatles and the Rolling Stones (actually still am). So, when I played along with Beatles and Stones records I played my set as a standard right handed set up, like Charlie and Ringo. But when I played along to the Monkees records I switched the bass drum to the left like like Mickey Dolenz.My first set of drums in 1972 was a "no name" blue sparkle kit from the Sears catalog (which I've since learned was made by Star/Tama) and was an almost identical copy of Slingerland. I didn't realize it until about six months later when I went to a friend's house who had a beautiful set of Slingerland drums. I thought maybe my drums were actually Slingerland, but no...
I believe it was during that same visit my friend informed me I was "left handed" and suggested I switch my drums around and play the bass drum with my left foot and cross over to play the hi-hat, rather than open-handed as I had been playing. I never should've listened to him!
rockstarmarc
Well-Known Member
There were actually five different companies that manufactured the stencil brand drums: Pearl, Star, Hoshino (K), Gracy/Yamamoto, and Sakae. This kit was made by Star which became Tama in 74. Pearl, Star, and Hoshino all made Stewart at different times and all three made Slingerland style lugs and hardware.
Raddish1000
New Member
This site is such a great wealth of “Drum set” history!
I’ve played for over 50 years starting at age 10 in 5th grade, and never knew (or sought to discover) all this interesting info!
My second kit was a Slingerland Black Sparkle, 4 shell. Used it for jazz/swing (in high school) and garage bands aplenty. Great sounding drums, but HW was not as good as my buddy’s Rogers red sparkle kit, or my first one, a 5 shell Sonor. Now those German drums and HW were well made, for the time.
Have played my early 1990s Sonor (5 shell) Hilite in Black Sparkle for the past 30 + years. Never gonna sell it!
Sit in the pocket? BE the pocket!
I’ve played for over 50 years starting at age 10 in 5th grade, and never knew (or sought to discover) all this interesting info!
My second kit was a Slingerland Black Sparkle, 4 shell. Used it for jazz/swing (in high school) and garage bands aplenty. Great sounding drums, but HW was not as good as my buddy’s Rogers red sparkle kit, or my first one, a 5 shell Sonor. Now those German drums and HW were well made, for the time.
Have played my early 1990s Sonor (5 shell) Hilite in Black Sparkle for the past 30 + years. Never gonna sell it!
Sit in the pocket? BE the pocket!
Trilock_Gurtu
DFO Veteran
There were two main factories during that time: Hoshino Gakki and Hoshino Kougyou. All MIJ stencil brands were made at those two factories, including Star, Pearl, Raven, Stewart, and a million more.
drummadeer
Member
Gold sparkle "Davis Beltone" kit looking very much like Slingerland or Gretsch, as do the others. For some reason they never tried to copy Ludwig lugs - maybe harder to make or a stronger copyright or legal team or ???
Attachments
telejojo
Well-Known Member
My first kit was Stewart in 1968 I was in the 6th grade
