Well, I feel like the drums have already been altered from years of being used single-headed. The vintage value is already compromised by that damage. Recutting the edges on damaged drums isn't really going to make much difference in the vintage value, but it will make them more playable.

My sentiments exactly! Get those edges re-cut by PDC, who will do an excellent job, and make your vintage drums sing!

-Mark

What's the point of keeping something original if you can't play it? I say recut the edges and enjoy them.

"I second that emotion!" My gigging kit is a born-together 1966 Ludwig and my at-home practice kit is a nearly-identical born-together 1968 kit. The bottom edges were worn from playing with the heads off and the top edges weren't that great to begin with, so I had them all re-cut (and the shells "trued") by Bentley's drum shop in Fresno, CA. I didn't care what angle the bearing edges were cut at - I just wanted them to sound as good as the drums were capable of. And I'm very happy! If some collector pooh-poohs the lack of original "round over" cuts, I don't care. Enjoy, mb

Exactly. If the engine in your vintage sports car blew would you stop driving it because it would no longer be original if you got it repaired? No. You would get it fixed.

Just like a car is meant to be driven, a drum is meant to be played.

None of my Ludwig drums have the best bearing edges...but they are all in original condition and none are damaged. They just aren't perfect. I would never re-cut the edges on them. But, like I say, if they are already damaged from misuse, then I see no problem.

I've had two Ludwig toms re-edged by Precision. The original edges were bad in two ways: the drums rocked on granite, think wide gradual snare beds, and also smaller waves along the edge.

My view is, if you can get a good sound out of the drum and are satisfied with it, there's no need to re-cut. OTOH, if it's not working for you, don't feel bad about getting the edges cut by a reputable shop. I'm not in the camp of, "Vintage drums are sacred". It's an instrument, and it requires a good periodic PM. I also acknowledge there are exceptions for collectable pieces, so it's good to know exactly what you're dealing with.

Precision did an excellent job, keeping the edge geometry true to original, and have a good rep, so a good choice.

Thin Shell’s comparison is brilliant! Here’s a similar point: you own a 50’s strat. The frets are worn down to the point that the guitar is pretty much unplayable. Replace the frets, of course. No discussion about it.

If you want a 1967 Corvette, then buy one....but don't expect it to handle as well as almost any modern type of car -not even as well as a run-of-the-mill Honda Accord. It will handle like a car made in 1967 because that's how they made them back then.

When it comes to many vintage Ludwig (and other brands, too) drums, most collectors would want them to be as untouched as possible -as NOS as possible. But "problems" come up when we use current-day manufacturing standards and try to apply them to vintage drum manufacturing standards.

I have Ludwig drums that have the ORIGINAL, undamaged bearing edges....but there are also all the original lumps and bumps on them...and I'm almost certain they would not pass the granite table test.

Should I attempt to correct that originality in order to make the drums more playable? Or, should I just buy a modern drum set (or a modern facsimile of a vintage drum set that has perfect bearing edges? That is the question. The answer (for me) is to always keep things as original as possible even if there are defects in the workmanship -as long as those defects are original. The defects were part of the sign of the times back then.

If, however, the originality of the drums has been compromised AFTER the fact, by a former owner, then the factory-originality is already gone, anyway....in which case, it would make practical sense to fix the drums up and make them into a player's-grade, vintage kit.