Yes, I suppose a Duco finish would be more acceptable in some ways. Still, many people want the "time" stuck to their vintage drums. If the only two drums of a particular kind are left on the Earth and one is newly-repainted and one is original, flakey condition, then the original one gets the nod.

Of course there are still vintage drums out there that are in original shape and not flakey or scratched up. Those cases would be the top of the pyramid -very rare, but still existent, so they are also the extreme end of the scale (at the top end). At the other end are the water-damaged, interiors painted black, scratched, gouged bearing edges drums that look like they got thrown off a mountain top. Somewhere in between those two extremes is where the current market lies...and it's a pretty wide territory with all kinds of exceptions to "the rules". :p

Drums made back in the 60's, etc. didn't set out to become collectible. That's all a modern phenomenon. Whatever people can't get anymore, they start to want. The drums that are closest to being unchanged from their own time are usually the ones that seem to possess the most "mojo". That's what adds the extra 'oomph' to the deal, in many instances.

LD: I am not against restoration, and as a player I believe that functionality of the drums is of the utmost importance! In fact, in your scenario I would likely go with option 'B' as well. There are definitely cases where a vintage set does need a re-wrap to save the set, and I have absolutely no problem with a re-wrap in that case. I agree, these things should be determined on a case by case basis. I guess my motto should really be: "keep them original if at all possible."

That said, I think there are instances were someone, like possibly the starter of this thread, would be looking to do a re-wrap on a set where the current wrap still has plenty of life left just to give the set some more curb appeal. Say this person finds a set in, oh I dunno, silver sparkle. Maybe there is a small tear in the wrap coming down from the hoop on the FT (an inch or so,) maybe a small bit of rash somewhere on the BD, and maybe some very slight fading (uniform across the set.) That is the wrap of a played 40 year old drum set, and it still may look great and protect the set, but of course it isn't showroom-brand spankin' new. I would leave it on, but maybe this person would say, 'nope, needs a new wrap, this is gonna look great in red onyx!' When, really, the person just didn't care for silver sparkle and couldn't be patient for that red onyx set to present itself (or thinks that red onyx is gonna up the value of the set a few hundred more bucks.)

Everyone has there own threshold for what constitutes a wrap that is too far gone and needs to be removed. It's subjective, and I understand that, but to me, I personally just dont like the idea of someone removing an original wrap just to try and drive up the price on an old set because they can get more for a vintage set in a shiny new WMP/BDP/BOP/etc, etc, etc finish. That's all I'm trying to say.

^^And very well-said!

Ok heres an example. I just ordered my citrus mod wrap from jammin sams today. The total for the wrap and hoop strips for a 5 piece kit cost around $350. I gave $75 for the shells, that had already been rewrapped and the wrap was splittin everywhere. Well, Im also converting these to classic instead of standard, because the shells are identical. I happened to have all the large classic lugs i needed but if I had to buy them i would have spent another $2-300. Ill have around 6-700 total in this kit + my labor. I guess since its a rewrap it aint worth much in the vintage market, but its priceless to me. I gave 225 for my vistilaites that are completly original and clean, 400 for my black panthers that cleaned up perfect and 600 for my skyblue pearls that are completly original and will clean up and look like new. I got my sonor teardrops for free that are completly original and are in mint condition. So, with that all said, You can buy an original kit that just needs a good and through cleaning and probably make money, rewrapping cost a considerable amount and you will have a rewrapped kit that apparently aint gonna be worth much to anyone but you.

This may or may not be a final word from the "person" who started this thread. I think Poppy had a point when he said that the buyer or end person is the one who really puts the value where it should be. It's all subjective. What is it the buyer/player wants? I think it is foolish and maybe even egotistical to try to force an opinion on everyone. If I wanted a red sparkle Premier set of drums, and could not find them after looking for a long time, then I would welcome a set that someone had re-wrapped in red sparkle. It would save me the time and effort to do it myself. There are many drummers who have given a lot of business to JamminSam, etc. to re-wrap vintage drums to the color they want or to replace a wrap that has gone south. All I'm saying is the final opinion of beauty is in the eye of the buyer, not the seller. And if the buyer wants a red sparkle set that is not available original, and he's willing to pay for it, what's the problem? It really seems to me that some "purists" are a little fanatical about it all. They remind me of some Mac computer users who look down their noses at anyone who uses a PC. Hey, I love my old re-wrapped red sparkle Pearl Piccolo snare.

Right. I think most all of us have agreed on that point ... ad nauseum ... in about eight thousand threads.

Who was doing this? I reread this thread three times. I can't find this reference.

Nothing. I don't believe anyone refuted that point.

That's the nature of the game. Everyone is fanatical about something in their life. This being a vintage drum forum ... some of the people are fanatical about vintage drums. Go figure.

I'm on a Mac. One of the lives I've led was as a Computer Systems/Network Eng. I understand that Mac/PC fight only too well. Mind Blowi

Now, shall we take a look at your original post ...

That has been addressed by quite a few of us. Agree or disagree ... several opined.

That, too was addressed. It would all depend upon the original shells and the authentic wraps of the day ... or ... whatever wrap the potential buyer wanted.

ok.

Again, it was given. There is a HUGE difference in value depending on the manufacturer and the era. You really can't generalize here.

Again yet again, it was addressed by several. You have to define "worth" for yourself. We all place value on time and money in different ways. I assure you, my values are not yours. That's how life history works. We are all different ... and yet, very similar.

Most say no. One or two say yes. You have to ultimately decide for yourself. It is your money, after all.

Good luck with your exploits. Run a restoration thread to keep us apprised.

Ask pooder2 if vintage dums are profitable. I wonder if he ever gets what hes asking for drums on ebay? mcjnic, looks like your a computer genious the way you quoted all that and answered it. band2

That boy is wicked smaat........:)

I agree, enough said. On to other things. I do appreciate all your input, both for and against, it does provide food for thought. I haven't changed my position, but I do see the value and logic of the collector's view. and I respect it. And I suppose one of the characteristics of the creative personality is a strong opinion -- and that's what makes us all part of a kind of band of brothers. I've found that I can relate to most drummers no matter the age or social position. We have a thread that runs through us that draws us together. It's not often that you can have a 20 year old and a 76 year old talk the same language, but drummers do that. Even when we disagree, we have something in common -- the love of drums and drumming. Thanks.

I wanted to contribute a comment with a regional flavour. As I live in Australia, vintage drums of any kind; especially in unmolested form, are very rare. You guys Stateside have it too good. I spent 2 years and $2,000 restoring a Rogers kit because I wanted a Rogers kit and it was trashed and needed loving. I paid $900 for it even though it had extra holes, no wrap, the lot. But I enjoyed fixing up that kit and it sounded great. Recently I got the chance to buy an original Rogers kit. With shipping from the USA, this was not a cheap thrill. (It's still on the boat) But even though I loved my resto, I sold it, with quite a few extras, for $1200. What sold it was the sound of it; and the work I had done. I sold a lot of other stuff too, to get a totally original kit. In a perfect world, I would have kept both. But someone got a great kit. And I preserved a piece of important history and most importantly the sound lives on. But as a collector as well as a player, I wanted original. To answer your question - no, not a profitable market here, unless you buy a Rogers BDP 12/14/20 for a grand like some rotten so & so's on this forum!