Just thought I'd give an update on my find.....not really a restoration, more of a cleanup job. I've touched up some of the chipped black lacquer paint and buffed and waxed the shell. Cleaned all the chrome hardware, installed new heads and changed out the Puresound Metrix 30 strands I put on it. Sounded good by itself, but a little unruly in a live situation....talk about sympathetic tom-snare buzz! UGH! I decided on Aquarian's classic clear snare side and a simple Texture coated for the batter. Nobody, I men nobody around my area sells Aquarian's vintage series of heads and same with Remo's Renassaince heads. So I figured these were a compromise for a classic 60's sound. The Remo Ambassadors on the drum when I got it looked in good shape, but when I took the drum apart to clean it, I found the snare head had a tear in it at the hoop and the batter head was so overtightened at one point that it had a definate crater forming in the middle of it! SO on went new heads and at the same time after trying out the 30 strands and finding them soooo unruly on the first gig I used the drum on I swapped them out to a regular set of Puresound 20 strand wires. A few more bucks but worth the expense over the metrix I think. I have a Gretsch internal muffler and a new keyholder and key on the way for it, as the original key is missing and the keyholder on the drum is missing its retainer clip for the key.
As far as the throw off goes, I'm finding it extremely difficult to locate an original renown type throw off. I thought about retrofitting a Lightning strainer and butt but then there would be even more hole in the drum and I think 10 in the throw off end of the drum is enough already! Yes I said 10! Eye BallMind Blowi
The Yamaha throw has to go as it loosens up from time to time. So, I think I've decided on fitting a Ludwig Millenium throw off instead of a Gretsch, there are holes there that line up with Ludwig's throw off bolt pattern and the Millenium will add some class to the drum while covering up about 6 of the holes already drilled in the drum and I won't have to drill the shell anymore! The butt end is not original either as I found out, but fortunately there aren't any extra holes drilled on that end! I'm considering swapping in a Ludwig P33 diecast butt end too, but may leave this one be. I suppose that depends on if the P33 needs new holes drilled or not. I'll have to do some measuring and figure that one out before I order it.