Has anyone tried to paint the small areas by doing a color match to the yellowed wmp?

herbster!...

I wasn't going to comment here as our membership has some guys that do REAL NICE work in the resto/repair arena... however, no one has stepped forward as yet so I'll give you my opinion..

There is so much damage here that a re-wrap is in order. Patching... matching... etc. isn't going to cut it. There's just too much damage. The shrink rate at the seams is pretty bad, not to mention the cracking here and there. These drums were obviously re-wrapped at some point, and before the companies got a handle on WMP that WON'T shrink. Today's WMP won't shrink/split. Redo the drums! So let me ask you: Why is a "rewrap clearly out of the question" ? In the time/material it takes for you to do repairs, you could have made the entire set BEAUTIFUL and MATCHED with a re-wrap. Whatever repairs/fixes you do are always going to look like, well... repairs. Good luck on whatever you decide though!

Tommyp

Yup, there is quite a bit of damage but it is relegated to a very slim (but fairly long) section that I would like to repair. I respect your expertise on this forum so I take all in consideration but may I ask why you are sure it is a re-wrap? Slingerland wrap or glue was famous for the shrinkage and there is no indication of a re-wrap from what I can see. Part of the wrap is open and exposes the wood underneath. I have searched but surprisingly not found anyone able to match via a paint chip and although not perfect might be an option by a paint expert. I may experiment on with some paints and wood. It would be far from perfect but offer an alternative and in my opinion better than a " new" WMP. That said the vintage "Precision" and other similar companies type would be a better alternative to "new" WMP. I really appreciate your expertise and feedback TommyP and any others out there would be greatly appreciated.

Update: I starting thinking after reading what TommyP stated regarding it possibly being a re-wrap and seeing it wasn't I remembered from many years ago that some wraps had extra wrap at the seam tucked under. If so maybe I was not looking at wood but the wrap and old dark glue. Indeed it was and after cleaning the glue that apparent seam is not a seam but the line for the wrap that cleaned off. Now although the wrap is cracked in two areas by the lug which I can repair, the rest of the major area is clean and a slight bit whiter (since hidden all those years) and looks very good.

herbster!...

I was basing my observation on the fact that I have personally not seen Slingerland drums from this era do that, regarding the splitting/cracking, and even the seam patches.. plus .. I probably wrongly assumed.. ( there's that horrible word again, assumed! ) .. that you had a Buddy Rich #80N based on the double spurs, except the seam/patch on the floor tom was bothersome as I have never seen that on a 16X16. It's probably NOT a 16X16 is it?! LOL!! Probably a 16X18 with seams located in that position, yes? All this said...

The only Slingerland drums I have are in my Buddy Rich snare drum collection, and out of the four models represented during his tenure with Slingerland.. ( 1968 to 1976 ) .. only two are from the early 70's: My 1970 4X14 BR in WMP, and my 1974 #190 5X14 BR/TDR in WMP, and the wrap is perfect on both of them. No shrink.. cracks.. glue in the seams.. etc. The other WMP BR model is from 1968, the #143 Buddy Rich Artist, and those wraps/glue rarely shrunk or failed that I have ever experienced. That's why I was so surprised to see that the wrap on your drums had let go so badly, and/or cracked. That's also why I thought they had been re-wrapped too. So!...

Cool that they are in fact original, and that you have already started on the repair/refurbish! Curious though: What is the set configuration and sizes?

Tommyp

Thank you very much for all the help and advice TommyP. The sizes are 24, 13, 16,18. No Slingerland snare or stands. I guess from what I am reading some of the 18 floors had an extra seam on the wrap as they didn't have a large enough piece of wrap? If so, that was not the best craftsmanship imho. Thank you again!

herbster!...

I was pretty close then!... and yes, on 16X18 floor toms there has to be that double seam/patch as you are correct, the standard sheet of wrap won't make it around the drum. Othewise, you do indeed have the Buddy Rich configuration with the only difference being the 16X18 in place of two 16X16's. That'll be a nice set when your finished, especially with the 14X24 and double spurs. Nice! Make sure to post 'em up when your done so's we can see!

Tommyp