Probably depends on how you re-do them and what drum it is.

For example recutting roundover to 45° is a sin, IMHO, fixing it while retaining the original profile is OK, if the drum isn't some crazy freakin' rare piece.

I suppose I wouldn't touch 30s Radio Kings. Fixing messed up edge on keystone Ludwig would be ok, if you made it the way it should have been, not something else.

+1 on Gilnar advice. And also adding the total opposite of that.

Yes, it's fine to rework edges so that you can play the drums.

No, you should never ever touch the edges as it kills resell and disrupts the whole vintage vibe of the drum.

See. Clear as crystal. All depends on which side of the creek you pitch your tent. You might as well ask about polishing the 50s K. You will generate the same sort of diversity ... except that cymbal discussions usually bring out the knives. :)

Is there an island in the middle of that creek that I might be able to pitch my tent on?

I think Gilnar's comment "if you made it the way it should have been, not something else" kind of hits the nail on the head.

If they had been more careful at the factory, I wouldn't have to consider such sacrilege!

Let me approach this from another angle. Do bad bearing edges hurt the value of vintage drums, even if they were that way from the factory? I would think yes, at least to some degree, no pun intended.

Yes. Bad edges do hurt the value. I literally just sent back a Rogers kit due to bad edges. It was an early 70s. Bad factory edges will bring down the value. Recut edges will bring down the value. Sometimes, it's a wash.

My feelings ... If its your kit, it's yours to do with as you please. I have redone edges and snare beds and finishes to suit me. So far, no Vintage Police have knocked on me door. Granted, I haven't polished an old K, but I know better than to dance with the devil.

You could try lightly scuffing the low spots and putting in a wood filler like Durham's Rock Hard Water Putty and sanding it down even with the bearing edge. It would give you an even edge and it wouldn't be permanent. Just a thought.

Lynn

A quick tip for players: If you are thinking about doing anything to the edges because you aren't happy with a particular drum's sound, try throwing a new set of heads on it, both batter and resonant sides. Many times people will think the edges are the problem when so much of a drum's sound is really coming from the heads!

Double ply heads sound very different than single ply heads. Coated heads sound really different than smooth heads. Pinstipes sound like wet cardboard boxes - but that sound might be good for a certain drum or a certain person!

Also, and maybe most importantly, when you changes the heads, you have to re-tune the whole drum (obviously) and just the act of re-tuning might get you a lot closer to the sound you are after.

Now, if the edges are clearly damaged, like on drums with no reso heads owned by generations of gigging teenagers, then yes, repair them at will. But I would hazard that most cases, edges left in their original state is the best way to go for each drum.

cn679 has it nailed. I just put Evans 360's on my Slingy toms and 20" bass. Very happy.

Give new heads a go before any mods.

Creighton

I have a kit that sounds kinda bad, it has Emperor heads that are old but not worn. Should I try new ones? Do heads just get stale over time.

Yes they do if they have tension on them it kills them no less than playing them.