yes on the toms.

Thank you mark. This is adding up to look like a real gretsch shell. The vertical grain is weird though.

You`ve never picked up a sheet of plywood ?? You had to have..... What I mean, Is it book matched little pieces all matched up and glued diagonally together to make the finish or is it in one thin sheet with one seam.

Are you going to match the bearing edges of this shell to the edges on the toms he already has?

Whats a plywood?

Just kidding, I have handled thousands of sheets. I thought you were referring to a sheet of wrap, maybe.

Now that I have the shell cleaned up I see there are a few pieces of veneer put together to make the outer ply. I will post a pic to show you what I mean. I think the shell was wrapped originally otherwise it would have had a better looking veneer, without the joints.

I'm not sure what to do with the edge, it looks weird. But for now I am only removing varnish and filler off the edges that someone put there. I don't know know what his other drum has for an edge either.

Now that its cleaned up I need to post a pic of it as well.

I didn`t know that about Gretsch. Apparently they are getting raw stock, quarter cutting it and making their own sheets. Knots vibrate and are not good for a drum shell. They`re Maple right ?

The bearing edge you describe sounds like the one on my gretsch round badge sets.

Here is what I mean, it has one vertical butt joint but also has a few horizontal joints.

Cool project. That's a mid 60's shell. The special "silver sealer" on the inside of the shell is just aluminum fence post paint. You can use Rustoleum silver/aluminum paint to match his other drums.

Do you still need the Gretsch mount for the shell? I might have one just like that in my limited parts stash. Steve Maxwell sells them new for $48. I could probably do $20 plus shipping. I just need to check on the condition tonight.

-Tim