HUGE amount of discussion of this topic in various threads on this forum. I prefer the hard wax or multi layered hard clear sealer. I did a video of before and after about five years ago and posted it on this forum. I have no idea if its still here or not. Great topic filled with mystery and much unknown ... and lots of opinion. Good luck.

Is that video also on Youtube?

Tom, to answer your question from my thread,, I still dont know!

But, Jonystix always told me to lacquer the interiors, and the ones I did sounded great so he is definatly on to something.

The advatage the level sealer has is the thickness, you can build it much more that top coat lacquers. So I guess it is a question of is a thicker finish going to give the drum a better sound?? I cant see it being much different myself.

I believe that the sealing of the interiors DOES make some difference, as there is alot of testimonies here in regards to that, though I do not recommend any specific product to use. That is because, believe it or not, on all my MIJs I have never done anything to seal the interiors. Nothing (yet). With my experience thus far and.....

Reading that you believe they have NO sonic qualities (and have a resonance problem) it makes me wonder if you have addressed other issues. Not trying to insult your intelligence here. What I believe is most important are two factors: the trueness and quality of the EDGES, and tuning the heads to sing with the shell - tune to the same note that the shell naturally gives. You remember what John Good taught in so many videos about the DWs - that each shell has its own 'timbre pitch'. There is something to that and it applies to all types of wood. I have heard some GREAT resonance with many unsealed MIJ Luan shells.

Like I said, not trying to insult your intelligence and may be preaching to the choir.

I know I know....I will eventually get around to treating my interiors. Feel like I am letting some of you down!

John

In an unrelated note here -

teverson - Dude! I can't believe you have TWO of those wristwatch (CB700) lugged kits and you have not snagged up that snare on the GC website! That stare will turn out to be killer when cleaned up. It is down to $49! If I had the money, I would have snagged up that drum for myself (and I don't even have any of those drums). It is just such a killer deal and I can't believe that it is still there!

John

I've gotten great results with just sandpaper, new heads, and a little 3-in-1 oil for the tension rods. Unless the shell has serious damage on the edges, I've never had a problem getting a good amount of resonance from a luan shell.

I'm onto the knocking the shell to find it's favorite pitch. Lauan drums are just very flat. At least compared to other denser woods like maple.I'll most likely disassemble and tung oil the bass from the silver set next week. The other CB's came from a warehouse in Manchester, NH that purchased the remaining stock from our latest music chain to go belly up. MANY drums and sets(all budget lines) for cents on the dollar. The ad is on CL NH under "drum shells".

teverson - A good friend of mine got excellent results from; multi-coats of tung oil in all interiors, then round off all bearing edges. My friend, John put a big round-over on the edges of the shells just like the old Gretsch drums out of Brooklyn. The sound/resonance of the drums improved dramatically. Worth a try on the bass drum. If you like the sonic results, finish off the others the same way.

John

Very good-forward,ho!