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Astro Stencil

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One look at this finish and I knew she had to be mine. 20-12-14 + 5.5X14 snare (I found that depth interesting)

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong but Astro is a Pearl stencil, yes? The drums sound great and the look speaks for itself. Love the 6-lug bass drum. I'm a rock/popster so don't need to tune it up into bop range.

[IMG]http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b273/ryanculberson/DSCF3908.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b273/ryanculberson/DSCF3909.jpg[/IMG]

As always, thanks for looking and I hope you dig!

Cheers,

Ryan

PS - I know I have that tom mount upside down and backwards (thanks to Osakabop for pointing it out!), but it isn't the single arm mount... it's one of a double tom mount so I had to improvise! That tom is now on a snare stand with a Gauger Flex Frame supporting it.

Posted on 13 years ago
#1
Posts: 1040 Threads: 106
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Niiiice one. Really interesting wrap.

Sysl krysu nenahradi!

-196?-72 6ply White Oyster Amati
-1960s 3ply Red Sparkle Amati
- Zildjian, Paiste, Zyn, Istanbul

http://bandzone.cz/blueswan
Posted on 13 years ago
#2
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This is indeed a Pearl stencil, from te early 70s. We call those lugs "battleship" lugs as they look rather like a boat hull, turned upside down. Those look like they have very low mileage on them. That is one of the eras absolute best sounding snare drums, from ANY manufacturer. COS, could be a COB, as I had one and it looked like it was brass, but I could not be certain. A magnet would not stick to the shell, but in certain places it did...go figure.

Pearl snares from this era are bad to the bone. Take care wen tuning it and don't rush it. I used the Bob Gatzen method for tuning snare drums (search YouTube for Bob Gatzen-snare tuning) and sounded like a rocket when I was done. Of course, getting through the video is a wee bit tedious as Bob really likes to talk, a lot.

The color is called Red Grain Pearl, available from about 68 until about 71 or 72 at the latest.

The wrap is nice and clean, very vibrant and bright. Are there any issues with it? (the wrap) And the bass res head, man those are worth a few pennies. I had a similar Astro kit not long ago. Have a look inside the bass and floor tom. You may be pleasantly surprised. My kit, a 22-13-16, had a maple veneer interior on the floor and bass. The mounted tom was standard fare luaun interior.

Man, all in all, I'd say you got a very nice kit, and the sizes are bonus for the resale market. If they are, as I suspect, the 6 and 9 ply shells, you will have no problem selling them when it is time, and if you are reasonable on price. I would love to know what you paid for this amazing kit, PM if you feel it is appropriate to divulge.

These should have no problem tuning to almost any style of music, and they record extremely well. I gotta ask, did the cymbals come with it, or did you already have those?

"Ignorance may be overcome through education. Stupidity, however, is a lifelong endeavor." So, educate me, I don't likes bein' ignant...
"I enjoy restoring 60s Japanese "stencil" drums...I can actually afford them..."I rescue the worst of the old valueless drums for disadvantaged Children and gladly accept donations of parts, pieces and orphans, No cockroaches, please...
http://www.youtube.com/user/karstenboy
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Coffee...16613138379603
Posted on 13 years ago
#3
Posts: 5295 Threads: 226
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Dynamite!!! Sweet kit!!! We all dig.....

Cheers

1976 Ludwig Mach 4 Thermogloss 26-18-14-14sn
1978 Ludwig Stainless 22-22-18-16-14-13-12 c/w 6-8-10-12-13-14-15-16-18-20-22-24 concert toms
1975 Sonor Phonic Centennials Metallic Pewter 22-16-13-12-14sn (D506)
1971 Ludwig Classic Bowling Ball OBP 22-16-14-13
1960's Stewart Peacock Pearl 20-16-12-14sn
1980`s Ludwig Coliseum Piano Black 8x14 snare
1973 Rogers Superten 5x14 & 6.5x14 COS snares
1970`s John Grey Capri Aquamarine Sparkle 5x14 snare
1941 Ludwig & Ludwig Super 8x14 snare
Posted on 13 years ago
#4
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Thanks for the kind comments fellers!

jonnistix, they are the 6 and 9 ply shells, just as you suspected. The interiors are maple. Great call on the snare. COS and most definitely a powerhouse. Excellent and very functional throw-off. Great all-purpose drum. All the drums sound outstanding. Warm and deep tone.

There aren't any structural issues with the wrap. All seams are tight and there are no cracks in the finish. There is a bit of fading that has occurred, but the fading is weird... It has only affected the lightest portions of the wrap, turning it from a magenta-like color to a more pink-ish color. The darker portions of the wrap remain unfaded. So, the fade has actually provided more contrast between the lighter and darker colors and is visually quite striking.

Paid $500 for the set. Too much for a stencil kit, I know. But the minty condition of the kit, along with the pro-quality sound and the stunning visuals made it worth the extra bills, IMO. I use it all the time... it's my default small venue kit and the band LOVES the sound and look. Win/win all the way around.

Thanks again for all the info and the compliments. Here are a couple of quick and dirty soundfiles of the Astro drums...

Astro soundfile 1

Astro soundfile 2

Cheers,

Ryan

Posted on 13 years ago
#5
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That's a great finish. I have a 60's Crest stencil set in BDP and they're great, but I really want another stencil kit in a wild finish like that.

Posted on 13 years ago
#6
Posts: 1725 Threads: 135
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That's real nice. I used to have a Pearl badged kit in the same finish years ago. I use a very similar kit as my main gigging kit and started off using a snare stand for the tom thinking the original mount might not be strong enough. I now use the original mount (same as yours) and it works brilliantly. Can't you set them up either way and make them work? If not, look out for the proper single one - saves room in the traps case- I'm all about saving weight and room.

The sound files sound cool too.

Andrew

Golden Curtain
www.myspace.com/garagelandnz
Posted on 13 years ago
#7
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Sizes-------check

vintage year------check

finish-------check and check

Love everything about that kit. I have a kit with the same style lugs, although I am not lucky enough to have any maple interiors, or an awsome finish like that. I gig regularly with my kit. Love the portability and sound. Great sound files, and some great drumming.

Gretsch Catalina Maples - 22,8,10,12,16 DCB
70's Silvertone - 20,12,14, 14Sn Blue Sparkle
60's No Name MIJ - 20,12,14 Red Sparkle
70's Yamaha (YD?) - 20,12,13,16 Red Ripple
Posted on 13 years ago
#8
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Uoh-hh-h...

Gentle colour, wonderful ware. I'm under great impression..

Posted on 13 years ago
#9
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Thanks again guys for all the great comments and compliments!

Fayray, I am on the lookout for a proper single arm mount, but only half-heartedly, as I'm happy with the snare stand mounting arrangement. The other thing I had to do was ditch the straight telescoping bass drum spurs, as they were functionally useless (found out the hard way on gigs). I'm now using some Danmar hoop clamp-on spurs that are solid as a rock. No permanent mods made and the kit is fully functional for me now.

Here are a couple of pics of her on the job...

[IMG]http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b273/ryanculberson/Photo0246.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b273/ryanculberson/Photo0201.jpg[/IMG]

Cheers,

Ryan

Posted on 13 years ago
#10
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