Hi all
This is my first post here, though I spent quite some time reading this forum.
I just bought this snare (see attached pics), which I think is a Leedy Professional, probably made in the 1920's.
I was wondering if you guys had any idea what kind of wood it's made of : I'm guessing it's a solid 1 ply shell with reinforcement rings (I don't have the item itself yet... looking forward to it though). I just have no idea what kind of wood it is : mahogany ? Maple ?
Welcome,Your drum is a beauty.....Leedy Professional made between 1925-1929..Leedy went to the four hole lug during this time until leedy was sold in 1929..The drum is a solid shell in that era and may either be solid maple,mahogany or walnut.....Plied shells began in the 30s with the new x lugs........enjoy it............Vinny
Thanks guys !
Solid or not solid ?!... ;) Either way, I like the idea of playing such an old and noble instrument. I truly hope it's a solid shell though : would be the first one in my collection !
Should be a 14x5, or at least, that's what I paid for ;) I don't have it yet : just completed the transaction yesterday, it should be shipping shortly and arrive within 1 or 2 weeks. I'll post more accurate pictures and description upon reception.
Leedy Professional made between 1925-1929..Leedy went to the four hole lug during this time until leedy was sold in 1929..The drum is a solid shell in that era and may either be solid maple,mahogany or walnut.....Plied shells began in the 30s with the new x lugs........enjoy it............Vinny
That's what I hoped, based on the information I found here and on coopersvintagedrums. I'll figure it out when I receive it.
Anyway, I fell in love with the strainer, the engraved hoops and the price was decent so... Why hesitate ?!
Man, that is a beauty! Nice purchase.
I realize I never followed-up on this one... Actually it's just been sitting there since I received it. But I want to get it up and running and since I'm off for a couple days...
On my to do list :
1. Shell clean-up : gotta get a good car wax / plastic cleaner (I heard Windex does a great job cleaning wraps : has any of you ever tried ?) and try to make that WMP a bit whiter (well... as white as smokers' teeth can get).
2. Looking at the pics on the first post, do you think I need more than a good metal polish for the metals parts &
3. Gotta have two parts redone :
[INDENT]one of the original tension rods was replaced with a brass screw
I lost (bummer) the screw that holds the retractable strainer arm[/INDENT]
I already have contacts with a local steelworker, but in case you guys would recommend one in the Montreal's area... I'm open to suggestions.
I went through the resto topics, and could only find one thread about cleaning the interior paint. The snare interior is painted white : I don't want to remove it, nor paint over it. Just clean it, and make it as white as possible. I found some products at my local hardware store, but no Spray-9 or Fantastic paint cleaner... Any other (tested and approved) suggestions ?
One last question : I was wondering what kind of heads you'd use on this lady ? I'd go for Vintage A (batter) and Clear Ambassador (reso), but this is my first one ply (Vinny was right on this one : one ply, reddish wood that I suspect is mahogany), and I want to get the best out of it. I'm also planning on getting it nice 20 strand brass wires.
Thanks !
Hi Arj,To clean the shell on your drum do not use Fantastik,Windex or any product like that..Get yourself a bottle of Novus 2 plastick cleaner....It is great stuff and comes in three grades......1,2,3....The only time you use 3 is for heavy scratches and then you finish with 2. the number 1 is for dusting basically......Do NOT AND I REPEAT DO NOT CLEAN THE HARDWARE WITH ANY KIND OF METAL CLEANER.......The hardware on your drum is gold plated and the only way to clean it is with 3 IN 1 OIL.....Depending on how worn the plating is you can get it to shine.....Any kind of metal polish will remove the plating.....If the interior is a little dirty just wipe it with a damp cloth with some dish detergent........Good Luck........Vinny
Welcome,Your drum is a beauty.....Leedy Professional made between 1925-1929..Leedy went to the four hole lug during this time until leedy was sold in 1929..The drum is a solid shell in that era and may either be solid maple,mahogany or walnut.....Plied shells began in the 30s with the new x lugs........enjoy it............Vinny
My understanding is that Leedy went to ply drums after July 1939.
They would have been Beavertail lugs by then also.
Could not find any Novus plastic cleaner : apparently, it's not imported in Canada. Will do with some plastic cleaner for automobile I found at the hardware shop.
One last question : I was wondering what kind of heads you'd use on this lady ? I'd go for Vintage A (batter) and Clear Ambassador (reso)...
Aquarian American Vintage.
Reason #1: They'll fit. Drums made before the introduction of plastic heads in the late 1950s tend to be slightly larger in diameter. American Vintage heads are made slightly oversized to fit these old drums. You might find other heads to be a REALLY tight fit, which is not only bad for tuning, but can damage the drum's finish.
Reason #2: They sound good. Medium American Vintage batter heads are 10-mil plastic, similar to a Remo Ambassador or Evans G1 in weight. They're a little stiffer, which might be a function of the coating, which seems a little thick. Overall sound is definitely one-ply, but a bit on the dark side. American Vintage snare side heads are 3 mil, same as Ambassadors or Evans 300's.
You may want to look into what originally came with the drum. The notion of 20-strand wires being "standard" is a few decades newer than your drum. If your drum has narrow and/or deep snare beds like some other vintage drums I'm familiar with, you may need a narrower set of snares to keep sympathetic buzz under control.
