i'm working on a refurb of a 70's gretsch kit. the 20" and 13" are from the same kit. the 16" is an orphan.
the 13" edge is rounded in from the outside, and rather flat on top. the 16" edge is more of a bull nose (rounded outside and in). i'm thinking about re-cutting the 16" edge to match the 13" drum.
should i cut it, or leave it?
*EDIT - the edges on the 16" have already been a little re-cut and modified by a previous owner during a wrap job. i would be bringing them back to factory specs.
For God's sake, DO NOT RECUT THOSE EDGES!!! For one, you will change the sound of them from "that Great Gretsch sound" and 2) you will destroy any collector value to the drums by altering them in any way like that.
Leave them be!
Soap Box
For God's sake, DO NOT RECUT THOSE EDGES!!! For one, you will change the sound of them from "that Great Gretsch sound" and 2) you will destroy any collector value to the drums by altering them in any way like that.Leave them be!Soap Box
i'm not going to cut the edges on the 13" and 20".
but the 16" is already a "players" drum. it was originally walnut lacquer that was wrapped by a previous owner (as i found out when i pulled the wrap off and found a jacked up lacquer finish complete with fade spots underneath). so at this point, collector value is minimal.
the same owner also recut the edges on the drum a little bit when they wrapped it. you can see slight variations in the outside roundover where they cut the wrap to be flush.
my thinking it that i would cut them to be the same as the factory edges on the 13", this giving the two drums similar tonal qualities.
i'm not going to cut the edges on the 13" and 20". but the 16" is already a "players" drum. it was originally walnut lacquer that was wrapped by a previous owner (as i found out when i pulled the wrap off and found a jacked up lacquer finish complete with fade spots underneath). so at this point, collector value is minimal.the same owner also recut the edges on the drum a little bit when they wrapped it. you can see slight variations in the outside roundover where they cut the wrap to be flush.my thinking it that i would cut them to be the same as the factory edges on the 13", this giving the two drums similar tonal qualities.
Well...as we all end up saying in one of these posts like yours......they are your drums, do as you see fit, but don't say we didn't give you a heads up! ;)
Ludwig Dude is telling you the real deal. Do not alter the edges on any of those drums. Take some 00-00 steel wool and smooth the edges if you want to, but do not alter them. Add some butchers wax to them after you clean them up with the steel wool. It'll allow heads to tune up easier (no sticking) and it'll seal the grain.
John
i guess the question is - do i leave the 16" how it currently is with the slightly altered edges, or do i bring them back to factory edges?
technically, the "great great sound" - and value - has already been altered by a previous owned. would it be better for the drum to have factory-style edges, even if that means re-cutting to get them there?
(i edited my original post to clarify the situation a little)
You lads choke up easily over this subject :-) yeah,if it came from the factory like some later Rogers shells did (my drum tech guy seen some reeeal bad ones),recut them to factory specs so the damned thing sounds like it SHOULD! To hell with the devaluation BS.I don't care what underwear you got on underneath that Disco suit,as long as you can boogie,dontcha see? Otherwise,tend to a few minor wounded areas and keep original.
Apparently some of the previous replies didn't seem to recognize that you want to bring the 16" floor tom back to original bearing edge specs and that it already has been modified. Since it's already a "player's" drum, have the edges re-cut to match the other drums. The original edges should be 30 degrees. Find out how much depth you'll loose to have the edges re-cut. Probably not much. So, have at it, add heads, tune to your liking... and ENJOY!!
Now I am no drum guru, but after playing for 30 years, I think my opinion might matter a bit ;)
I think if the edges are messed up, it should not be valued for its originality in the first place! Last year I got a 68 Slingerland and the edges were CRAP! I had to actually add some wood putty on one tom because it was so NOT FLAT - miserably failing the flashlight test. Trust me, it is the last thing Slinger fans want to be publicized very much. Meanwhile, after doing quite a bit of research (talking to 40 yr veteran drum builders and presidents of drum companies, etc.) I learned that there are alot of drums from all the manufacturers that have left the factory (currently and throughout history) out-of-round and with bad edges. We have grown to know how to cut good edges, and have the routers, and indeed can cut them the way that they were supposed to come from the factory - therefore, it would be improving the quality and performance of any drum, no matter how vintage and collectible, and it should actually improve the value in my opinion. The only exception would be an extremely rare drum, thus preserving the historicity of the piece.
A "Great" and "Valuable" drum should not sound awful just in the name of keeping it original. We shall operate on purpose instead of holding a drum back from being all it can be just so we can say it is original.
John
