On a RB 18" BD..I wouldn't ANY kind of steam around it!

Maybe send the shell to a PRO...and have him/her remove the paint VERY CAREFULLY?

I would attempt to mask over it with paper and a removable adhesive tape instead of removing it. Sometimes steaming a label weakens and softens the paper, and when you try to remove it you could tear or damage it.

Those old labels were "gum stock" back then. Which is simply a sheet of bond paper with a dry gum adhesive applied to the back. When you wet the label it activates the sticky gum and adheres to whatever you stick it too. If you introduce steam it could turn the label to paper pulp. That said there was a thread a year or so ago that covered some interesting ways to remove labels, stamps, wine bottles etc..... I "think" on the bottles heat was used or something like that. :)

if I were to want the interior sanded back and save the label, I would cover the label with a substantial piece of something. like frozen pizza cardboard. exact same size as label. mask tape off onto the shell not label. sand all parts back to reasonably smooth. take off the tape and carefully sand out edges were the tape was by hand. cover again and paint then take off tape and hand paint up to label edges. simple. or steam out label. this will soften it and make a mush, if over wet or steamed. me...I would not try to remove the label. do not get tape on label when removed it would most likely remove label pieces. or ink. hope this is a help to you.

I'll take that advice. 4 people telling me not to steam it. So I will work around it then. Thanks everybody

14"x18" RB Gretsch? Eye Ball

Take no chances bro. Storm Trooper

Step away from the drum with your hands up! :)

Think long and hard on this one. If the shell is unaltered, original wrap and good bearing edges, personally, I would seek the help of a professional. Depending on how it turns out, you could be talking a significant loss in value, if things go wrong. Especially, when you start dealing with paint removal on the shell. If you have done this type of work before then good luck, but we would hate to see you accidentally harm one of the Gretsch holy grails. Please contact Jack Lawton for a second and professional opinion.

-Tim