Product Overview

The Slingerland Radio King Limited Edition Snare Drum is a faithful recreation of the iconic 1930s and 1940s classic. True to its vintage design, this snare features a steam-bent, solid North American maple shell with an original 30-degree rounded bearing edge for rich and deep warmth. Complete with nickel-plated hardware featuring a 3-Point Strainer for precise snare wire control, Nickel-over-Brass Stick Chopper hoops, and engraved Radio King logos, this snare delivers both vintage aesthetics and powerful performance. Each snare, numbered and signed by DW founder Don Lombardi, ships with a calfskin batter head and a custom Radio King-branded case. Only 50 snares will be produced in this unique color and size, so don’t miss an opportunity to own part of drumming history.

Behold the pure sound of steam-bent maple

True to the original model, the Radio King limited-edition features a solid steam-bent shell comprised of hand-selected North American maple. As a result, tonal uniformity is maximized, and the warm, traditional definition of the maple punches through with the same organic power long-coveted by timekeepers from the Big Band era through the modern day. Its bearing edges come shaved to 30 degrees and rounded over, affording the shell greater contact with the drumhead for a fatter tone with thick resonance.

Meanwhile, this iteration of the Radio King brandishes a genuine calfskin batter head, just like the ones applied in Slingerlands original Chicago factory. Its patterns have a bygone warmth and musically complex sensitivity; jazz, rock, pop you name it, and this snare drum will deliver with that golden-age Radio King tone.

Hardware that harkens back

Vintage-correct shell hardware encompasses the Radio King limited-edition snare entirely, supplied in a proper nickel-plated sheen for total old-school appeal. First, its elegantly branded and double-flanged Stick Chopper hoops boast brass construction, promising a crisp response for cross-sticking and rimshotting without the excessive overtones. Ornamenting the shell is a set of Streamlined-style lugs that perfectly flaunt that 30s aesthetic while steadily anchoring down your intonation.

Percussionists will absolutely adore the playability of the Radio King limited-edition snares 3-point strainer system. Precisely simulating the mechanism of old, this 3-point strainer features adjustable snare gates that allow you to contour the tone and snap of the snare wires to match your sound. Whether you like your backbeats boisterous and airy, dry and articulate, or somewhere in between, the Radio King limited-edition snare will accommodate.

Features:

• A limited-edition reissue of the historic Slingerland Radio King snare drum signed and numbered by DW founder Don Lombardi
• 1 of only 50 models in this exact color and size combination
• Solid, steam-bent maple shell offers tonal uniformity, classic warmth, and huge definition
• 30 rounded bearing edges maximize contact with the drumhead for a fat tone with thick resonance
• Natural calfskin batter head pays homage to the original and plays with a warm and complex tone
• Nickel-plated brass Stick Chopper double-flanged hoops provide crisp play and overtone control
• Streamlined-style lugs deliver that awesome ’30s look with stellar tuning dependability
• 3-point strainer system with adjustable snare gates gives drummers a trio of snare wire sounds to work with
• Cloud badging, stamped hoops, and vintage-inspired color options totally nail the historic aesthetic
• Includes a certificate of authenticity and an ultra-durable Radio King traveling case