If it bothers you to not have it then, it's ok to put felt inside. I usually don't in my Vintage Wfl's Ludwig's. But it is Ok to do so.

I just put felt in a 4 piece (13, 14, 16, 20) early 70's Ludwig lugs today. The sponge piece that was in there was not good. Not positive if it was original or not.

Curtis

This is a matter of personal preference and everyone will have their own opinions on what to do. For me, if I have the lugs off a shell, I put in some felt as part of the rebuild. I started doing this after cleaning up a snare I just bought only to find it was buzzing like crazy from a couple of the lugs. Now it's just part of my routine, I keep a sheet of felt in my drum tool bin. It doesn't take much effort and it's totally reversible. No harm, no foul.

Yep. If you don't pack the lugs they can buzz. I pack with cotton wool.

I have used cotton pads ( used for makeup removal) I like the square ones. You can find them at drug stores and sometimes the dollar store.

Btw I think the tape on clubdate bass drums and floor toms are actually holding two regular springs together.