Yes, it is a mongrel kit with a custom-made floor tom that was made last month. There are two different kicks made of two different materials with two different batter heads. I now only have two different eras these days (gone is the mystery wood APK drum) in this kit, though everything has the same general construction methods (thin shells with re-rings).

Yes, it's the wood in many respects. I am a lover of ALL vintage drums, whether they be English, Japanese, or American. I love to look at vintage kits, but I like kits that are MINE and mine alone. I would NEVER do what I do on player kits to good vintage kits with little to nothing wrong. I generally pass on those kits... I do NOT advocate hot rodding them UNLESS they are otherwise a LOST CAUSE!!!

I watched the Ocheltree video referenced in another thread on getting the Bonham sound. It is so bloody simple to tune well!!! Even though I have an '80s Gretsch Frankenstein snare drum made of maple, those concepts work well on that drum!!!

What has this experiment taught me? First of all, the old stuff is PLAIN better. Second of all, if you don't want to gig your pristine vintage Slingerland (for example), there are builders who can get it as close as DAMMIT!!! (okay, maybe not the steam-bent Radio Kings) Thirdly, I love hot rodding lost cause, basket-case drum kits that need to be played!!! Fourthly, the vintage constructions with the vintage bearing edges are DEFINITELY preferred to the modern, double 45 degree edges (in my opinion), as I feel that the shell is more involved in the sound (again, an opinion).

Who else is in love with their vintage kit? Who has found their drum voice in a vintage kit?