I want to start by saying thank you to all of the people on this site that have contributed their knowledge regarding vintage drum. I was blown away by the amount of information that I have been able to obtain on here without asking a thousand and one stupid questions! I was able to read on here for the past few weeks and figure out the exact procedure for something that I have never done and frankly was a little scared to do (even though I am a percussionist and a certified music teacher who has been doing it for years).

So what I am going to do with the topic is go through my first ever restoration complete with pictures. PLEASE feel free to ask about or make better suggestions for the future or help prevent me from doing damage. Since I have A.D.D. Mind Blowi I had to make myself a workflow that I have pinned to the wall in front of my workbench, I have attached it to this post along with some pictures. Feel free to view and make suggestions.

The kit: so I acquired what I believe is a mid to late 70’s WMP Slingerland Modern Outfit #2R (if you have reason to believe I am incorrect PLEASE let me know!). From all that I have researched I am pretty sure that I have it right but again, I am new to this and want to have my facts straight. It’s a 5 piece:

• 12x8 (6 lugs): S#432587

• 13x9 (6 lugs): S#432507

• 16x16 (8 lugs): S#432503

• 22x14 (10 lugs): S#253823. (this one is an earlier number but still uses the opti-mount tom holder and the wrap is also the same)

However, I don’t have the snare (so it’s a 4 piece for the time being). I’ll use my Yamaha for now and maybe try to purchase a match down the road. I am going to use it as a 4 piece and for gigs I’ll just use the 13” and 16” toms when I really don’t need 3.

**Quick Snare Question: For this kit, if it is a mid/late 70’s Modern #2 outfit (or if it’s something else), did the original snare come in just chrome like I see in the catalogs or did they make it in WMP as well? Any insight to what the original snare finish/material was for this kit would be appreciated!

When I saw that my buddy had this kit laying around it instantly sparked a memory of my dad’s old mid-60’s Slingerland kit that I started to learn how to play on. But like a stupid young teenager, I regrettably sold it (at least the guy who has it is actually a Broadway drummer so I know its being put to good use) and used the money to buy some cymbals for my Tama Rockstar-DX kit (LOL, god help me, don’t worry that one is also long sold). I kicked myself constantly when I was studying music in college for not having that kit anymore. When my dad died years back I wanted to try to get the kit back but it didn’t work out. I am now well over that sentimental attachment to those drums although it would be great to have both. However this kit will be nice because I am ready to get my hands dirty (I think!) while making it a good Daddy/Daughter(s) project with my oldest 2 (their smaller hands are good for scrubbing those smaller parts!!). Also, when I am done I hope that it is a kit I can hand down to one of them with more of a personal attachment and story to it since the restoration work was done with them.

I’m really not very handy when it comes to this kind of stuff so please go easy on me! I’ve been getting better over the years probably because my wife constantly busts my chops about it! But hey, I guess I have the “artist” excuse!

I look forward to hearing from you all, thanks in advance!

-Mike

***BTW, I'll work on better light and compression for those pictures in the next batches, my basement is dark and my work light created many shadows!!!