Here's my take on already severely disfigured, barn-fresh drums:If the wrap has no means of being salvaged, mod the bejeezers out of it and let them live on as hot-rodded drums. I am picking up a cool Slingerland kit tonight (as a trade), and she's close to mint- there ain't no way on G'd's green earth that I will do anything other than detail and play the p*ss outta them!!! As far as hammering the cymbals, I suggested it 'cos I have seen and heard great results from b8 Sabians being re-hammered. No, it isn't so simple, but it is not impossible to learn, either. It was merely a suggestion...As far as rushing this dude off, let the moderator decide that. Let's be friendly and open.

I've got nothing against mods, especially if the condition of gear is dicey. But..if the condition is good and it sounds great I generally don't mess with it. Mr Lud is now referring to websites where they hammer vintage cymbals from the '40s to the '60s as evidence that its OK. While its certainly not immoral or illegal, it begs the question why acquire vintage cymbals in the first place if you're going to change what made them desirable in the first place.. For me, the sound is everything. My son'e ex teacher acquired an old K 20inch ride that had been stashed in a barn, of all places, for 20 to 30 years. It truly looked like crap, stained,weathered and with a particularly ugly black-brown patina. But it was the sweatest sounding K we had ever heard. He dusted it off and plays it as is. Why would he risk altering, even minutely, the best sounding cymbal he ever owned just so it sparkled?

As far as rushing this dude off, let the moderator decide that. Let's be friendly and open.

First don't get so upset. You're new to vintage gear and have access to only a few pieces you inherited. Many of us here have been involved for 20, 30, 40, and even 50 years, and have bought and sold dozens of cymbals and sets of drums. Many of us have extensive collective experience. You want to go hammer vintage cymbals you own or apply chemicals to them feel free. I think it would be a poor decision to do so. Vintage cymbals are favored here not just because they are old or have a patina, but because they sound BETTER than most of the gear made today. And you don't mess around with something that sounds really good. Every musician knows that. And you're right, anyone that hammers a cymbal from the '40's, '50's and '60s truly does not care about and has no apprecation for vintage cymbals.

As for "rushing this dude off", I'm not 100% sure what you meant. I'm not annoyed with him. Nor do I want him to leave or stop posting. But I disagree with him with respect to the care and maintenance of vintage cymbals and am meerly expressing my opinions on the subject. I appreciate his youthful exuberance ans passion when defending his point of view.

I am referring to them as examples. I WOULD NEVER EVER EVER hammer on a vintage cymbal in a million years. Its like people that have old chevelles and put different rims on them and turn them into like a nasty drag car and changing things. You simply don't do that to vintage items. I wouldn't even mod a vintage set at all. Even a bare shell, it has a history it is a certain drum you can't alter what it is. Drilling new holes and hammering old cymbals should be a crime!

I agree, but it seemed to me like you were defending the practice.

But sir you are mad at me for wanting to clean up my cymbals and make them sound how they should sound. Without the stuff on it. You know it the patina was 50 years old I would agree with you, I wouldn't touch the patina. Someone out there would buy it and be great with it. I would just sell it to someone who likes the patina. We are talking only a few years of stuff that is making them sound bad to me.

I've got nothing against mods, especially if the condition of gear is dicey. But..if the condition is good and it sounds great I generally don't mess with it. Mr Lud is now referring to websites where they hammer vintage cymbals from the '40s to the '60s as evidence that its OK. While its certainly not immoral or illegal, it begs the question why acquire vintage cymbals in the first place if you're going to change what made them desirable in the first place.. For me, the sound is everything. My son'e ex teacher acquired an old K 20inch ride that had been stashed in a barn, of all places, for 20 to 30 years. It truly looked like crap, stained,weathered and with a particularly ugly black-brown patina. But it was the sweatest sounding K we had ever heard. He dusted it off and plays it as is. Why would he risk altering, even minutely, the best sounding cymbal he ever owned just so it sparkled?