Hi there!
I picked up a battered old 24" x 12" bass drum a few months ago with a view to restoring it and getting it playable again. I was hoping some of you knowledgeable folks might be able to help me date it, and perhaps advise on how best to proceed. Here's the condition on arrival...
[IMG]http://i60.tinypic.com/14wbq6w.jpg[/IMG]
The close up on one of the hoops shows the worst of the damage. It's a little weak at this point but I'm guessing some filler could be used to sort this out. The rest of the hoops are fairly solid.
After a quick cleanup and closer inspection I found the following information written/printed on the shell. I'm quietly hoping I might have stumbled across a 1937/39 Ludwig or something similar, but perhaps that's just wishful thinking. I'm in Ireland, so maybe a UK make, Premier or something, is more likely... Thoughts?
[IMG]http://i59.tinypic.com/2rpfqd0.jpg[/IMG]
Whether it's of 'market value' or not isn't really a big deal, I'd still like to bring it back to life and have a unique 24" bass drum. Here's where it's currently at after a few hours sanding and cleaning.
[IMG]http://i57.tinypic.com/j0lnkk.jpg[/IMG]
The shell is in pretty good condition, and my plan would be to sand it down completely and see from there what the best approach is in terms of treating the wood, finishes, etc. Drilling and fitting spurs would be another job down the line, as well as sourcing the correct tension rods. Was also half thinking of adding a single lightweight cymbal arm to hold one ride (old school!) but that's a while away for now.
Any information on the drum, or advise on how to proceed would be much appreciated! This is my first restoration so apologies for any novice questions.
Cheers.
