Unless it is so dirty it can't be cleaned I would clean it and leave it. I'm not a collector but there is definitely a general rule that original is be$t.

Mitch

Yeah, I sort of figured. I used mild soap and water and then a magic sponge on the bass drum last night. It's better and it was pretty gross but I guess it'll do. The anal retentive part of me does not want to leave it looking crappy but if original is best then I guess I'll leave it be. Thanks Mitch.

-Doug

When I buy drums, I much prefer the interiors to be original. I've gotten a few in which the drums had been nested and scratched. I just gave them a good cleanup like you did and left it alone. I think with a repaint, potential buyers might wonder what was under there/why it had to be repainted. I have only repainted two interiors and that was because someone had painted them black,back in the day.

Mike

One key consideration might be; Why was the interior painted white by the manufacturer to begin with? If you remove it, will you defeat that purpose? Will you be making a change that will enhance the drum's performance for you and/or future users? As to value, I don't think you would negatively affect the value of a set of Ludwig Standards a great deal unless you have a catalog kit in very original condition or finished in one of the more unusual colors like lemon strata.

I had a nice set of Camcos (20,12,14) that had been re-wrapped and the interiors stripped to natural maple and lightly refinished before I got them. The wrap was a cheap and very thin version of aqua satin flame that had wrinkled from the lugs shifting position, was ripped at the seams and otherwise looking very bad. So I had new burgundy sparkle applied and left the interiors as they were. They sold overnight and I think I undersold them at $1600 about 5 years ago. I don't think the missing interior paint had any impact on the value. The missing original wrap probably did, but I have no idea what that might have been anyway.

As to value, I don't think you would negatively affect the value of a set of Ludwig Standards a great deal unless you have a catalog kit in very original condition or finished in one of the more unusual colors like lemon strata.

Hmmm, very interesting opinion, Dan. My kit is Blue Strata in fair condition (wrap that is).

My only experience with a poject like this is with my Ludwig Pioneer snare that I stripped (it was a total basket case when I got it) and I ended up using tung oil on the mahogany interior and it ended up sounding better and I still use it to this day.

Thanks again for the opinions guys.

-Doug

Try using furniture cleaner/restorers first.

If you remove the white, you may expose imperfection in the build such as joints, fillers, or knots in the wood. Usually not good for clear finishes.

Good point OddBall. One of those things you wouldn't know until you took off the paint.

-Doug