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Ludwig Bass Drum Restore

Posts: 0 Threads: 1

Hello all,

This is my first post so please excuse any etiquette that I might have missed. I play clarinet and do clarinet repair as a hobby, so I'm new to this situation. I just acquired this 26" bass drum, it needs a lot and I'm not sure how to go about it. It was stored in a garage basement (NorCal), so it's rough shape. Here are my questions:

  1.  It looks like one of holes for the lugs was patched over, should I leave it and drill throught it or should try to remove the whole patch
  2. The inside has a few warp spots where the shell is coming apart, how should I go about fixing it or should I leave it alone?
  3. One hoop is badly warped, the other is decent. Should I save one or should I go for two new hoops?
  4. The heads seem to be calfskin, should I try to sell/salvage them or better if I toss them?

Thank you for helping out a reed player, I restored a WFL Parade drum and this forum is very helpful!

 

Pictures:

 

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1VmwLd4zV3-ZFAewsXayseSChndf8MHXO?usp=sharing

PXL_20250504_185716233-min.jpg  

PXL_20250504_193238998-min-1.jpg  PXL_20250504_185710752~2-min.jpg  

Posted on 4 days ago
#1
Posts: 1 Threads: 0

Such an old bass drum is precious! As for the hole for the drum, I think if you can re-drill it without damaging the drum, then that is a reasonable choice. If not, you can try using spacers to cover the hole and make a new hole in another location. As for the warping, if the wood is too damaged, you should replace it with new wood. The drum head is another story; if the drum head is too old, boldly replace it with a new one for the best sound. Finally, with drum trays, if only one is warped but the other is fine, do not rush to replace both.

That's Not My Neighbor

Posted on 2 days ago
#2
Posts: 1 Threads: 0

If the patch is secure, you can drill through it to use the existing hole. However, if it looks weak or unstable, consider removing it and repairing the area properly to ensure a secure fit for the lugs.

geometry dash

Posted on 2 days ago
#3
Posts: 1 Threads: 0

I usually try to assess the integrity of the patch. If it’s solid and flush, you can drill through it without issue. If it's soft filler or unstable, it’s better to remove and redo the area properly with a wood plug and re-drill.

"Classic never dies—just like my snake. Until it hits a wall."-Snake Game

Posted on 2 days ago
#4
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