I don't believe this particular clone kit has anything to do with the OPs kit. There are Drums out there that are WAY beyond help and are perfect candidates for a new skin. Goes without saying. But implying or infering that a good complete kit could be a candidate for rewraping is just ... odd.

I don`t think it`s more the great quality equiptment, as it is great quality vintage that takes a front seat to re-wrap. Everyone knows when re-wrap get`s a go !! The one in question is a good example of not a re-wrap for appearance sake !!

Of course people can do what they want though !!

Slingerland 1977 knows what he has. Look at that pic. The bar!! yess.

The way i look at it is.Like the Beatles set you have to me even as a pro re-wrapped set.Their is no way to copy an original wraped set.With these Ludwig shells from that time .Ludwig made the drums with the wrap as part of the shell before they bent the wood into a round shell..No way to copy that.This is way i try not to re-wrap shells from this time,You have to recut the edges ete...Mikey

Generally speaking, I'm with drumfactory on this. Though I think the end value is important, and sets in particularly good condition and with rare wrap probably should be maintained in their original material, the current owner's choice is to be respected too.

Given that the pictured set is a nice example of a Buddy Rich setup, I probably wouldn't redo it. But if the current owner either doesn't like black or close up it annoys him in its current condition, why not have a compentent refinish job done. My caution would be if the underlying outer ply is mahongany, taking the wrap off could be very problematic and end up stripping off some of the wood fibers.

By the way, that is no $1000 kit!! With the BR arrangement; cymbal and tom mount setup on the bass, the double floor toms and matching canister throne - I don't think so....................

How 'bout $3k??

That's what I said. He's got WAY more than what he realizes. He will lose SERIOUS dough if he rewraps that kit. Serious dough ...

Mikey's right on this one. There is no way to reproduce (with new wrap) the process Ludwig used at that time.

However, I don't think Ludwig is even trying to reproduce that process today, even with their "Legacy" Line of drums (someone PLEASE correct me if I'm wrong on this!). And has anyone noticed the MSRP of that "Liverpool Legacy" set? I'm aware that practically NO ONE pays MSRP, but even with the normal discounts available sets like the "Ringo" set drumfactory is offering is usually considerably cheaper to the comsumer than the Ludwig reproductions or even an original set.

Now, back to the original post: I'll say it again, Slingerland 1977, PLEASE don't touch that set! It WILL devalue it! IF you just can't live with the surface issues in the wrap and want another finish, please consider putting your set up for sale with the intent you could take the funds you receive from the sale and put it towards putting another like set together with the finish you desire. I'd even be more than happy to keep my eyes open for what you are looking for!

Bill

I'm with Bill, Kev and Mike on this. Don't rewrap that kit. I also believe that there is nothing wrong with a rewrap if the original wrap is beyond repair. I have an aversion to undoing what it is if it's presentable (as yours certainly are). If you don't like black, or if it's to scratched for your taste, find another kit and there you are. Or, better yet (IMHO) if you can't live with what you have there, advertise / search for orphans that need to be wrapped. Get them all together, then wrap 'em. Give a bunch of odd ball drums a facelift and back into something playable.

Which is what I get the most satisfaction out of doing! Putting "left for dead" orphans together in a family with new wrap. Usually sound just as good as originals, too!

What am I ... chopped liver???