I think you did right by these drums. The simple fact is, the drums were painted beyond repair, and as a result will never be "original" again, no matter how much we want them to be.
You clearly have a lot of love and respect for your drums, and that's reflected in your restoration decisions. You chose a classic finish for a classic set of drums. Well done!
Like the rest of us here, I'm looking forward to seeing photos once the job is completed. Keep us posted.
-Greg
AS far as Musical Instruments go you can only be original once! as rocketman just mentioned, look at a stringed musical Instrument an original finish unaltered specimen will bring in dollar amount more money than a re finished altered one will. and I also agree with greg, the kit your discussing is a players kit, but they have been used, and abused, much like we as human beings have been,
so a connection is forged when you restore the ole tubs and once again, they make music.
I see where your going with that rocketman.
And some have been professionally restored when required.
My point is this, we are the ones that determine the value of
the drums. We just decide that re-wraps are worth more than
non re-wraps if we wanted to.
It's just like back in the early 70s when John Lennon proclaimed:
'War is Over!' (if you want it to be)
never a truer statement.
Steve would not do the paint work...his two suggestions once it was determined that the paint removal was not going to be successful was to strip them down to wood and oil them or do the wrap. Regardless of the choice, I was advised that the value would be the same. Also, the reproduction Copper Mist was discussed at length. The stripping process had left the thin plastic veneer in an unacceptable condition. Forks told me Sam Bacco might consider doing paint, but the cost was enormous....3k.
I see no harm in re-wrapping a drum if the wrap or finish is too far gone. I've done many singles and kits over the years and it actually INCREASED the value of the drum when I was done. Restoration in my eyes means to restore it cosmetically to original, or period correct.
The people who say that re-wrapping devalues a drum, they aren't looking at the WHOLE picture. Re-wrapping gives a whole new life to a drum that would otherwise be simply thrown away by a non-vintage drum enthusiast. If I saved something that was going to be thrown away by someone else and I re-wrapped it, I just INCREASED the value of that particular drum.
In my opinion you did the right thing, so don't listen to the poo-pooers (aka vintage snobs). You gave your old drums a new lease on life and most importantly YOU are happy with the results. After all, isn't that the most important thing?
I rewrapped my cat. It actually was an improvement.
here here ludwig dude!
I agree with LudwigDude. The re-wraps I have done were on drums like he mentioned. Beat to hell black wraps or faded beyond belief sparkles. Because they looked like they did I was able to buy them for a song and transform them into kits that now get compliments when I play them. If I hadn't bought them I'm sure they would have gone the way of so many kits we see, spray painted or contact paper slapped on them. They aren't original but at least they have a new lease on life and most important of all they are getting played. I will not take my all original Rogers Cleveland kits out to play with in a bar but I will take my vintage age restos out and play the snot out of them anywhere.
