Sometimes they have to become that end table or lighted planter box as no hope

I like the "rescue" aspect, and I also like being able to buy vintage drums for peanuts because I know that I know how to make them look and sound good again.

I grew up seeing bands play drums that are now vintage, so vintage drums are what look like DRUMS to me. 22x18 bass drums, iso mounts, sunburst fade high gloss lacquer finishes, big thick shiny chrome hardware, none of that looks like a DRUM KIT to me.

To me, a drum kit has a 14" deep bass drum upon which is mounted a tom or two. The aforementioned drums are wrapped in a celluloid or painted in a satin finish as a solid color with a single stripe around the middle. Alternately, the drum shells may be constructed of clear or translucent plastic.

The drum kit under observation is allowed to display no more than one tom tom mounted in a snare stand.

Otherwise....uh, nice drums (fakes enthusiasm).

Thing is, I get enthused about people places and things that have potential. $10,000 DW kits have no potential. They are already at the top of the heap. A 1982 Maxwin kit rescued from a basement has nothing BUT potential.

As to whether anyone else notices, I have had multiple compliments on my restored/remodeled drum kits and snares.

People really love the pistachio sparkle barstool vinyl on my CB700's. I've been asked if they were Gretsch by people who saw them from a distance and obviously knew little about drum brands!

Still a compliment, though, and that color of green does make me think of Gretsch for some reason.

I restore drums all the time and give them a second or third life and that to me feels great. I am restoring yet another marcher from the 30's/ 40's right now. 12"x 26" mahogany bass with original calf skins in excellent shape, 10"x 14" WFL tom with silver badge, 14"x 16" Ludwig floortom and i beleive that the snare is a Ludwig 4"x 14" all maple....All the drums have 1" maple rims top and bottom. I will post pictures in a few days. Should be a dandy.

I hadn't touched a drum set in over 30 years and the wife suggested that I get a set and start playing again. I started with the forum not too long after I bought that set and it needed some "cleaning". I found the forum and there was so much information I got hooked. After that I got the bug from reading and seeing everything everyone has been doing. . . . 7 drum sets later and over 60 snares I think she is regretting her words. I love the hunt and I love bringing them back to life. Like a lot of our gurus, I have picked up some for $20 then after restoring them I know they are worth a lot more but I still haven't parted with any. I still have about 15 that need some attention and yes it is a great stress reliever to sit, take them apart and bring them back to life. BTW, I live 1 town over from Jay, ArchXAngel and have built as repor with him, a great resource of info and parts ! Am looking forward to an opportunity to reach out to Kenwood and seeing his collection if possible. Happy Holidays !

I really enjoy the saving history aspect. These are hand made pieces that may never be equaled. And, once they're gone, they'll be missed......

Latest save. Found in a junk shop in Morro Bay. Radio King 22" made into a foot stool. Rare size in that vintage.

For me it's still finding that poor drum. The surprise of finding it in a pawn shop in a pile for next to nothing or in a secondhand store. I always look around to see if anyone else is watching my reaction. I don't like to give away my interest because all of the sudden they start to think they have the rarest drum on the planet.

The potential excites me.

Seeing it for what it will be, instead of what it currently is.

Getting to play them after all the time and effort of disassembling, cleaning, repairing, parts-hunting, and re-assembling...that's the best part! And everything you guys said...saving irreplaceable old drums, stress-relief, the sense of accomplishment, etc...

Lynn

I love restoring all kinds of things but drums have always been a passion. I think of the stories they could tell, the songs, shows, and different styles they have played. It's so hard to sometimes know the date of some drums none the less the ride they have had. Those ol beat up ones could be a real part of music history. They nave have seen more fans, parties and amazing musicians that we will never know. We sort of owe it them to give some of that life back.