Head selection should be good. I hear the vintage Ambassadors sound great. Question: Why do you need new hoops? Did I miss something?

Novus does work good on wraps. Soaking parts in Dawn and water works good too, but make sure you rinse with plain water and dry them with a towel. Letting them air dry would invite rust and water spots. I have used Flitz to clean parts for a long time with good results. I recently was turned on to Blue Magic by a friend and it works well too. I think it's supposed to have a chemical that protects your chrome/metal.

Lynn

I may go with ambassador X's on top actually, but Ive used vintage A's before and love em! Sorry, I forgot to mention that both tom hoops were a little out of round. I feel that I am only limiting my tuning range with keeping them on, but dont worry im not throwing them away or anything!!

I used turtle wax chrome polish on my 69 supra and it worked beautifully, I may stick with what I know for now, but I will definitely research flitz and blue magic. Thanks for the great tip on drying, much appreciated!

I see. Could you massage those hoops into round again. I know it's much easier said than done...just a thought. I haven't tried the Ambassador X, but the 13" tom that is currently with my '60s Slingerland kit came to me with an Emperor X and it sounds very choked. The Ambassador may not be, but that was my experience with a Remo X. I put an Aquarian American Vintage on the drum and it sings.

Blue Magic is an excellent chrome polish. A friend put me onto it. When I went to the parts store to get it, the guy said they can't keep it in stock during Cruisin' the Coast - a week long classic car show/cruise that we have here every October. He said some guys won't buy anything else if they are out of it. So, it must really be something.

Lynn

Its a possibility I'm sure, but I wouldnt trust myself trying to attempt that. Maybe down the road I will, but not for now.

Yeah, I have a emp X on one of my 8x14 snares and its on there strictly for backbeats, emp X were made for two reasons, durability and all the meat and more than you would ever need in a head. Ive used amb x's and they are much thinner than the emps. Amb X are a great balance between regular emps and ambs. You still get some meat without sacrificing tonal ranges. I dig em for sure, just not on my snares.

Hm, very interesting!! I am definitely gonna check that out!!

Congratulations !!!

Make sure to get those long tension-rods on the floor tom straight.

It will help you a great deal on the tuning.

From my experience, you can't go wrong with plain simple coated Ambassadors on top and bottom.

Clubbies are wonderful drums.

I love them !

For sure! I noticed that after I took the pic :p I think that the hoops have a lot to do with that. I dont mind Ambassadors, theyre great heads. I just like a little more lows

I'm so excited to own a clubby! I cant wait to sit down and polish them up! I just ordered some of those blue & olive Ludwig cases for them! I am growing very fond of these drums!

Man, those drums are gorgeous!! Thanks for sharing!