A while back I purchased an fairly thrashed late 50's Radio King snare in Pink Glass glitter. The wrap was beyond repair but as I disassembled the drum I found unfaded/unthrashed samples untder the lugs and a spot where the previous owner had put a sticker. It's a really cool color so I figured I'd rewrap per original.

I requested a sample from a reputable source, my assumption being that it is a Delmar wrap.

I received the sample and the color match is really good, but the density of the glitter is somewhat lacking. On the old wraps I have, including a mid-50s shell I have out in the garage, it is pretty much 100% coverage with the glass glitter, there is no background showing through. On the new sample the coverage is about 85% i.e. 15% background showing through.

What's up? It the manufacturer just cutting expenses or is it likely that the samples are somehow not representative of the whole sheet?

It's one of those things where most people would not notice but when it's your own drum or work you want it to be right.