I haven't had a chance to try them out yet Bunny as the wife is home and well, you know. All of the drums are 6 ply clear interior so I'm thinking they are going to be loud, especially the 24.

I feel blessed to have this kit as this is my second kit with a 24. I have another Black Cortex Ludwig kit that I am in the process of restoring that has a 14x24 bass with a 13x14 rack tom, 16x18 floor tom and a 6 1/2x14 snare. Those one's are 3 ply with re rings and clear interior. The number on the badges dates them to around 1977 so they must be leftovers from the change in 76.

Man, I'm getting to many projects.

I love 24" kicks!!!! My double kick kit has a 24"-er as my dominant kick (22"-er on the not-so-dominant side), and if I weren't finished with this particular kit, I'd find another 24"-er...

I don't know why my wife is agreeing to an hour here and there of me practising whilst being home. I will NOT complain nor question.

Can't wait for your report. I think you'll be in love...

If you do not want to refinish that 402 you can sell it to me I will clean it up... :) great find and I love the sizes...

I like your ingenuity in creating various options for configuring your drums for various set-ups. Good luck with the refinishing.

The outer ply of those shells might not be that good. I stripped the pearl off of a late 70's 6 ply with the hope of finishing it in a natural maple finish. It had all sorts of dark streaks in it. They chose the best shells for the natural finishes and the less than perfect would end up being wrapped. Not saying all wrapped drums with be like this but it is a crap shoot. If you are going with a dark stain, you might be OK if they have any issues..

Thin Shell makes a very good point. I personally think that most drums that are stripped of wrap to use as "natural" finished shells look exactly that---shells that were stripped of wrap. If I did not want to rewrap them, I would get them painted with several coats of the chosen color, and then several coats of clear lacquer. Those sizes are sinster looking. Why not do them in high gloss piano black?

Thanks for the insight on the shells. Makes sense they would use the best for natural finishes. Small patches of the yellow paint have been scraped away to reveal a dark grain with streaks as Thin Shell pointed out. I think what I will do is finish one of the smaller drums to see how it turns out. The Bombay Mahogany stain is very forgiving when it comes to imperfections in the wood as it blends very well. If it looks like crap then I can always wrap or paint them.

Dean

It looks like those toms belong on a floor stand. Cool kit though.