Presto Plate Radio King

One of the greatest snare drums ever made was the Slingerland Radio King. While the sound of the Radio King is sought-after by players and collectors alike, the Super strainer (also known as the Clam strainer) wasn’t the best design.

Problem:
The Clam strainer was made out of brass. While brass has excellent tonal qualities, it is a very soft metal, so the clam housing was very susceptible to bending. Because the strainer handle was very weak, most are now broken off. Even though wonderful reproduction handles are available, many people don’t like the “boxy” or “choked” sound the Clam strainer Radio Kings are known for, due to their lack of adjustability. Countless malfunctioning Radio King Clam strainers have been yanked off, only to have the owner hastily drill extra holes in a perfectly good drum shell for a better replacement strainer.

Solution:
Get that great old Radio King rolling with a Presto Plate adapting plate. We believe that the sound of the drum really opens up with our plates installed because you get much more snare wire adjustability. With our plates, your Radio King will take on a sound similar to the Radio Kings with the famous 3-point strainers.

About the Presto Plate Radio King:
The Presto Plate for the Radio King Super is a two-plate set. Both clamshell housings need to be replaced. One plate is for the strainer, the other for the butt plate. Each plate is made out of sturdy maple plywood that is curved to conform to the shape of your drum. Our standard strainer and a butt plate are included with the adapting plates and come pre-installed. Please note that if you have the existing original or replacement extended snare wires they will not work with the Presto Plate. You will need a set of regular 14” wires. We recommend 14” Puresound 16-strand wires to go with our adapting plates to get the best possible sound out of your Radio King.

We have a limited stock of original Radio King covering from the 1940s-1950s in white marine pearl, black diamond pearl and glass glitters in different shades of fading and yellowing. Please add $5 for vintage wrap. Contact us for availability.

Help Preserve Drumming History!
If you have a Radio King with a clam strainer that is missing or broken, or if you aren’t happy with its sound, you can use a Presto Plate. You’ll be amazed at how much better the drum sounds! Keep the original clam strainer in a safe place to maintain the value and historical significance of your drum. You’ve now preserved a piece of drumming history, and your Radio King will retain its collector value without extra holes!

Slingerland Radio King... $65