You make a good point Matt. I did the same thing on my 60,s ludwig that I covered in zebra veneer, installed new Gibraltar spurs because they hold good. And I had the same problem with my slingerland bass and floor Tom leg mounts, but I have not changed those.

Extremely good point, I'd say. I only have the dough for player's grade stuff. The Ludwig 22" kick I was using had been drilled for a Tama tom mount, already had extra holes, and the shell was cracked and repaired in one spot. Even with that in mind, I gave a lot of thought to it before drilling to add a cymbal arm bracket.

On a similar [taboo] topic, when I decided to sell that kick drum, I had no problem parting it out as I could get bupkiss really for the complete drum with all its flaws. Instead I have so far made $185.00 from the rods claws and casings. The shell I will list locally for cheap as I don't relish shipping a BD shell...:)

Mitch

Whilst not wishing to ramp this up into a 'Pet Peeves' thing, something else that really saddens me is when I see entirely complete and seemingly A1 vintage drums dismantled and sold for parts on Ebay or elsewhere, simply as a means to maximise the value. Sure, if the shell is toast or beyond repair then I have no problem with it - after all, we all need spare parts from time to time for our projects. These serial offenders know who they are.

I hate that more than anyone. I had a guy from Florida ( no names) call me two years ago asking about a fairly rare kit I had for sale in my shop. I was asking $2500 (and got the asking price if you must know) and he offered my $1000.00 and told me on the phone that hevwas just going to strip the whole thing down and part it out. He called back several times and kept inching his price up until he hit $2200.00 and I just told him that since he planned on parting it out I refused to sell it to him. He didn't like that very much but oh well.

I think the guys who part out the minty stuff don't have any particular interest in drums at all...

Mitch

I bought a Ludwig COB super phonic from ebay a number of years ago. OK so I got the drum cheap-ish (£350 as opposed to £750-£850), but although the guy said he had a modern Ludwig strainer on it he didn't mention any extra holes. So the drum arrives and the heads were beyond worn and the strainer was toast and wasn't engaging the snares properly. So I put it in my stash for a later date. On taking it apart I found the hole. Obviously not a ludwig hole, maybe some MIJ strainer put on in the past. I never returned the drum, I don't know why, maybe a bit of time had passed I think I was busy at the time. Still the drum sounds nice and I've replaced the strainer to a date correct P83 or whatever its called. Still WHY DRILL A HOLE INSTEAD OF BUYING A FREAKING LUDWIG PART! AAARGHH!

It is easy to rationalize the "need" to change hardware, add hardware, make a drum more playable, satisfy a client.

I am more of the........... if you don't like the drums you have, sell them to someone who will appreciate them. ........... oh, and then buy Pearl. But don't try to make Pearl out of something else.

Agreed, Too many people are altering vintage american drums, They are of the mindset.It's my drum I'll do with it what I want, they bugger the drum up, Don't like the results and sale it a week later. They aren't our drums we are only renting them, Someone owned them before you someone will own them after you.

Another situation that I come across is with pre-1900 drums. If you think it's hard to find replacement parts for a 1920'-1930 Rogers, Ludwig, Slingerland etc. drum then try finding replacement parts for a drum that's 150 years old. I am able to get replacement Civil War style snare adjusters but these aren't what is on all of these drums, and in more cases than not, the original strainer to the drum is completely different. In MOST cases for drums of this age I have no choice but to drill additional holes in the hoops or shell to add a new snare strainer because replacement parts are just not available. I have run into similar problems when working on drums by George B. Stone and a few other early 20th century drums that didn't use the same generic style throw offs that the big companies were using at the time. Again, not an advocate for drilling and I know that some of you have suggested selling the drums to someone that will appreciate them but that isn't always a viable option. In my shop I deal with a lot of pre-1900 marching drums that are restored for guys (and gals) that actually play them out on the street for parades with different groups. I have thought about trying to have some of these original parts from these drums reproduced but there is some questions about legality and the other issue is that is just isn't cost effective. Regardless, there are many cases for these drums and much newer stuff that drill is the only option to make the drums playable and these ARE instruments that were meant to be maintained and played. If a drum has significant historical value of some type or there is another option I will always try and steer my customers away from drilling but again, sometimes there just isn't any other way. Food for thought

I am guilty of drilling drum shells.

This was before the Internet and ebay.

I got a 1964 ludwig clubdate 12/14/20 set for $40 from my highschool.

It was shells and a grocery bag of parts.

It had the clipper brackets, no legs springs or tabs.

A consolette with stripped bolts, and a stripped direct bolt tom mount.

The Spur brackets were also stripped and missing the legs.

This was the only kit I could afford at 16.

Finding just the long tension rods for the drums was a miracle.

I didn't even know what some of the parts looked like. Drum shops would let me dig through their parts bins I'd get the part home and it would be a japanese kart in the wrong thread.

I added ludwig floortom legs, folding spurs and a MODULAR TOM HOLDER.

I couldn't get into a band because of the mix match MIJ drums I had.

My friend in school had a brand new Export, he would get the gig and then flake on the band. I had to have a functioning kit.

Attached is the drums my brother and I beg borrowed and stole.