Slingerland · Modern Solo outfit · 1963–1978
Slingerland Modern Solo Kit
The Modern Solo was outfit No. 2R in Slingerland's Niles catalogs, and the 1963 book pitched it at drummers who wanted extra tones in their solos. That year it came with a 14 x 20 bass drum, two 8 x 12 toms on a telescopic double holder, a 16 x 16 floor tom and the No. 130 chrome snare, which was the brass-shelled Gene Krupa Sound King. By 1973 the rack toms were an 8 x 12 and a 9 x 13 on a Double Set-O-Matic holder, and you could order it in pearls, Satin Flame, mahogany or walnut lacquer, or chrome or copper covered shells, with Red Tiger on the catalog page. A 14 x 22 bass was an option both years. Slingerland kept the outfit in the catalog through 1977–78, and the 1973 New Rock outfit used exactly the same drum sizes with heavier stands. The shells are Slingerland's 3-ply with maple reinforcing rings, and their badges and interior color date them closely. Judge a listing on whether every shell matches, and count the original chrome snare as a bonus.
New Rock Outfit No. 50N (1973, same drum sizes with heavier stands)14 x 22 bass drum option (offered in 1963 and 1973)Gene Krupa Deluxe Outfit No. 1N (1963, 14 x 22 bass, one 9 x 13 tom, 16 x 16)
Spec at a glance
- Brand
- Slingerland
- Model
- Modern Solo outfit
- Family
- Modern Solo
- Type
- Kit
- Years covered
- 1963–1978
- Made in
- USA (Niles, Illinois)
- Sizes
- 14 x 20 bass, two rack toms (two 8 x 12 in 1963, an 8 x 12 and a 9 x 13 by 1973), 16 x 16 floor tom, 5 x 14 chrome snare
- Era
- 1960s
Inside the shellModern Solo outfit
- Shell
- 3-ply
- Construction
- 3-ply with solid maple reinforcing rings (mahogany inner ply until mid-1963, maple after)
- Hardware
- No. 171 telescopic tilting double tom holder in 1963, Double Set-O-Matic holder No. 160 by 1973, telescopic spurs, push-button tom legs
- Finishes
- Sparkling Red, Red Tiger, Satin Flame, Chrome covered, Copper covered
How to date one
Badges date it. Black and brass Niles badges without serials ran April 1961 to September 1962, with serials from October 1962 into 1970, then black and silver ovals from 1970 and the football-shaped badge from 1973. Look inside too. Shells have a mahogany inner ply until mid-1963 and clear maple after, interiors from October 1966 into 1970 are stained a beige milk-chocolate color, and many 1960s shells carry a rubber date stamp such as JUN 15 1966.
What to check before you buy
Sets get split and rebuilt, so a 20-inch bass with two rack toms isn't always one outfit. Set-O-Matic and double tom holder parts go missing, and bass drums often have extra mounting holes.
- 01Matching shells: Compare the badges and serial numbers on every drum in the photos. Same badge style and serials reasonably close together suggest the drums shipped as one set.
- 02Interiors: Ask for a photo inside each drum. Every shell should show the same interior, all clear maple or all the beige 1966–1970 color.
- 03Tom holder: Look at the double tom holder and the mounts on both toms in the photos. All the parts should be there, and the toms should lock without slipping.
- 04Wrap: Ask for close photos of the wrap seams and the edges at the hoops. Original wrap ages the same on every drum, with no lifting seams or glue lines.
- 05Extra holes: Check the bass drum shell in the photos for filled or empty holes. Holes from an added mount or a moved spur mean it's been drilled.
- 06Snare: Ask whether the chrome No. 130 snare is included and whether its Zoomatic throw-off holds. A working throw-off and a clean snare bed mean you've got the full outfit.
- 07Packing: Ask how the kit will ship, or pick it up locally if you can. Each drum should be boxed on its own with heads on and the holder packed separately.
Find one on eBay
We haven’t been through this drum’s listings yet. Search eBay for the exact model and run every listing through the checklist above. Ask for clear photos of the badge, the inside of each shell, the bearing edges and every lug, and ask how it will be packed. Pass on any listing that won’t show them.
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