Oaklawn Camco set

[djcbe]

I just purchased an Oaklawn Camco set 20",12",14"fltm and 5-1/2 x 14" snare. I owned 2 Camco L.A. sets back in the mid 70's That I really loved. My question is: Does anyone have input on the tonal/sound diffrence between the OakLawn era vs the L.A. era. I'm thinking about wraping these drums and playing them and I was wondering If any one thought that was a good or bad Idea.......thanks Dave1168

[big daddy]

I think the Oaklawn Camco's are the most sought after Camco's. I'm no expert, but prices seem to point in that direction. I wouldn't wrap them for 2 reasons. 1. Originality = higher resale value and 2. Sound. It could change the character of the drums.

Nice looking set - Play them as they are and have fun!!

p.s. I have access to and frequently play an earlier WMP Oaklawn snare (with the long lugs) and it's by far the best sounding snare I've ever heard.

[djcbe]

They have already been refinished doe's that lower their value?

[blueflame]

They have already been refinished doe's that lower their value?


To me, drums are worth nothing until you sell them. And a set like that, if it sounds like I think it does, then I wouldn't part with it. So my vote is leave the finish as is, play them and love them. Music first.

[big daddy]

They have already been refinished doe's that lower their value?

Without a question, refinishing lowers the value. If the refin is a pro job, then I'd leave them alone. If it's not and you want to sell them, while getting the highest price possible, then a pro refin or re-wrap back to the original color/wrap would be the best you could do (assuming you know the original color/wrap).

If they were mine, I'd leave them alone unless they were butt-ugly, but then again... if they were mine, I likely wouldn't be selling them. I'd be playing them as often as I could.

[Super B]

I agree with Blueflame and Big Daddy, don't change a thing and play them like crazy!

[Bebop]

I would rewrap them. I would leave them as they are and play them until your limbs start coming off!! :-)


nice kit I must say.

Harrison

[Antipodes]

Saw these on ebay and was sorely tempted myself, despite my difficult geography.

Like they all say, unless there's something intrinsically wrong with them as they are, don't re-wrap 'em. I've got a Camco "bitzer" kit of Chanute and LA (a mistake - what can I say) which I was kind of forced to recover but your situation is different. I will however post a photo of my recovered kit because, well, I did a really good job.

And, on a general note, Oaklawn do seem to have the collector's vote in the U.S. over Chanute and L.A. Outside of the U.S. it's a different story 'cause the Oaklawn stuff was pretty much never exported as far as I can tell (at least I've never seen an Oaklawn kit ex-US and I look out for this stuff). The Oaklawn's had the 60's Ludwig-style white painted interiors which were dropped when they moved to Chanute and later LA.

Are Oaklawn better? I think it's becoming more a matter of myth than anything and probably more than a little to do with the fact that the Oaklawn are sixties and the others are seventies. But from what I've seen and heard the shells are pretty much made the same, the bearing edges are the same, the actual internal finish on the later stuff is excellent (though not painted white) and I've had recording engineers on two continents go nuts for the sound I got on the later ones.

Value is all about perception - and the perception is that Oaklawn are better - so I guess they are.

And anyone with any spare Camco stuff - I'm always interested.

Xmas greetings from disturbingly warm Sweden.

D

[djcbe]

I sent This set to Matt Sinyard of Bonzo drums for a wrap and an overhall. Matt and I agreed the wrap is to be Bronze glass glitter. Matt is very excited about the project and will be showcaseing it on his site when its Done in about a month. (www.bonzodrums.com) I'll be back with pictures when I can ........Thanks for all you great input

[Antipodes]

Good luck with it. Only (last minute) comment is that all wraps will affect the drums' resonance compared to a straight lacquer job. Glass glitters I believe tend to be the heaviest. Look forward to seeing the pix - glad someone else other than me in this place has a Camco thing going on.

D

[sabshga]

Matt did all of my recovery work. If you go to his web page all of the green glass and turquoise glass Gretsch drums are mine. There are a lot of them. He is meticulous. The glass wraps are thicker and caused me to have to move to Aquarian American Vintage heads for fit. That said, no one would say my drums lack resonence. They are very live and I'm quite happy with the look and sound. None of these pieces are going to be sold, unless my kids want to after I'm gone. I would never recover drums in anticipation of selling them. Unless you are doing the work it is not cheap and I couldn't imagine selling them high enough to re capture the cost of the drums and the recovery work. If you buy a bass drum for $200-400 and spend another $300-400 restoring it, how can you expect to sell the drum for $500-800. Multiply that cost for a whole set. When you get up to that price range it has to be collectable and recovered stuff usually isn't.

Gary

Dix Hills, NY

[djcbe]

I'm not in this to sell these drums I love the sound and look of Camco drums. I owned 2 LA sets in the mid 70's 20,12,13,14ft &16fl and a 18bd 12t & 14"ft and foolishly sold them for some Yamaha recording series. Since then I've owned serveral very expensive sets but none had the sound of the LA Camco's and I always wanted that drumsound again. Untill I took a chance and brought the Oaklawn set. I could'nt be happier, the toms sound incredible, their a full spectrum of good tone with lots of volume and just a little dirt. I want to restore these drums to new condition so I can enjoy just looking at them. My old band Duke Jupiter Has a a reunion this June and I can't wait to play out with them. I bought these drums as a treat to myself after a long career in the music business. Not to resell or keep in cases somewhere. When Matt Sinyard gets done wiith them their going to be a show piece

[djcbe]

I just received a photo of the snare drum