Well I thought maybe my diatribe would bore you…guess I was wrong. Hey I’m up for a little back and forth as long as it doesn’t go in the direction of our Sonar friends, huh? Please don’t read into what I wrote that I am an elitist. Yes I have pretty much limited my collecting to Gladstone drums but I have gone after far less prestigious with equal vigor. Even those drums though I believe in a “less is more” restoration approach. Definitely if a pearl drum has been spray painted black, the paint should be removed (with careful consideration on how it is removed). I am seriously thinking of removing the outer finish of the Bellson/Gladstone drum as some time in its life it was brushed with clear enamel. My problem is, fortunately the interior is original sprayed lacquer. I must find a way to remove the enamel without affecting the lacquer. As the enamel is up over part of the bearing edge this could be impossible. The other option…obviously “Let it be. Let it be.” What I objected to in process #1 (Conservation) is the phrase “get the tom back to as close to factory original.” Now this is up to interpretation but I have too often seen a vintage drum, ie a drum with years, that looks like it just came from the factory. That to me (again my opinion) is an oxymoron. A vintage drum should not look like it just came from the factory. It should look like a used (not abused) drum. #2 (Restoration) I think I have covered this with the above except, wrapping a drum should only be considered if it is a) missing a wrap, or, b) missing a large part or its wrap. Rewrapping a drum to match the rest of an existing set, because it is missing a small piece of the wrap, or because it is faded is absurd. Buy a new drum if you want a new drum. That is like changing the bearing edge because you don’t like the way the drum sounds. If you don’t like the way the drum sounds don’t buy it. Or if you have a vintage drum that you don’t care for its sound sell it and buy a drum with a sound that you do like. If you want a drum that looks like it just rolled off the assembly line, go to an assembly line. I noticed in an earlier thread that someone is thinking of sanding a pearl finish because it has faded. Again my opinion but this is just wrong. If you want a new looking drum, buy a new drum.
Round 2?
Best
Chet