Hello to all my fellow drum brothers. I'am honored to have found such a great site, dedicated to are passion towards the greatest instrument on the planet. I'am 50 years young and have been giging steady in various bands for roughly 34 years now. I have played out on the same kit , which I bought back in 1976. It is a vintage maple Slingerland 6 piece avante kit. This is the odd ball in the slingerland catalog. It was the first of it's kind. produced from 1973 thru 1978. It featured a 12 13 and 14 inch tom layout similar to marching band triples. The only flaw was I found myself skipping the middle tom due to it being at the extreme back of the kick drum. I tried the layout for 3 years but finally settled on a snare mount for the 12 inch tom. This set up was much more player friendly. The best idea on this kit was the introduction of a four spur system on the kick. I truly feel this should be added to all kick drums. The legs really dig in keeping the set from walking off on you. I recently added a 10 inch concert tom to match the kit. I love the higher pitch sound on this drum. I have been using coated Ambassador heads after attending a clinic with the late great Buddy Rich. When I told him I played hydraulic heads with the bottom heads of, I thought he was going to have me escorted out of the clinic. He shook his head and said, Man the only head suited for Slings are coated series they make the drum sing. He was right I have played them for the better part of my life. The only beef is they have to be changed quite often. I get about two months out off them before they loose there zing. On a different note, I have started a new hobby collecting vintage drums. I have a 1965 Camco gold ammorie finish Aristocrat series Oaklawn badges. To those of you who have not heard of Camco drums don't feel bad I allmost missed out on the Holy Grail of a lifetime, not knowing the history. After a brief call to my son he called me back and said Dad what does he want for the kit. I told him the guy had know idea what to ask for them. They had been in his fathers attic for 50 years and was going to pitch them. Thank God I went back that night and offered him two hundred bucks and he thought I was nuts. We shook on it, the irony in all this he called me the next day wanting to give me a hundred bucks back. His wife thought he was taking advantage of a young man. I do have some morals and declined his rebate. After a Saturday restoration the drum are immaculate. The sound is like none other on the planet, I se now why they are so rare and sought after. In closing I need some guidance on dating another gem I found it is a Gretsch it has two inner maple hoops and a clear coated mahoganay shell, the badge is missing and there is know evidence of a muffle pad design on the drum. Also know labeling or silver painting on shell interior which brings it to before 1960ss era the throw off is after market. Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thank you From Mad Dog Scott McGraw . Please feel free to Email me at Slingerland73@yahoo. com better yet a call to 814 774 4468.