Good point, however, guitar players actually play the part of the instrument with the finish. Most of us don't play the finish on our drums with the noted exception of timbale players.
As to old drums having character, I doubt anyone would argue that, but that is still no reason to not clean them.
The dirt and wear on a cymbal (and drumheads, i might add) can add up to the perfect amount of dampening and harmonic control. When I bought my Gretsch drums they had some beat ass original Permatone heads on the bottoms. But man they sound good. I've never taken them off the drums. I remember someone telling me that back in the day, guys would literally bury their new cymbals in their mother's garden for a year before playing them, just to get the right amount of nastiness.
If old heads provide the "perfect amount of dampening and harmonic control", then do not let any of that gear get any dirtier as then it would no longer be perfect.
Geez, if only one of the major drum head manufacturers would come out with "Modern Vintage with Layer of Grime" drum heads, then we could all have the perfect amount of dampening on our gear.
OK, that was a little harsh and I am mostly just kidding. Certainly we can all do whatever we like with our gear. Having said that, I for one would not be caught dead on a gig with gear that was not maintained well and looked it's absolute best.
In other words, Dirt and grime dont add character as far as im concerned. An old worn vintage drum kit looks better all cleaned up. It still looks old, worn, and vintage.
Good point, however, guitar players actually play the part of the instrument with the finish. Most of us don't play the finish on our drums with the noted exception of timbale players. As to old drums having character, I doubt anyone would argue that, but that is still no reason to not clean them.
perfect example my 1921 leedy black elite i sold was tattered an worn but it has character the bd paint is wore and brass snare worn but it looks great i sold it and the new owner cant be happier natural patina on certain item fine but lean is great
I dust my drums and I occasionaly shine up the chrome, but I let my cymbals develop the patina and I don't mind having nasty dirty heads, as long as they sound good. It's kinda silly, but I think it looks "cool" and "road-worn." It's just image (and I hate some of the brighter frequencies of my ride and I hope it'll get mellower).
I certainly wouldn't want any filth to get in the way of function tho, and I care about my drums - some *** recently scratched my BD with toms, if I knew who he was, I'd kick his ass, altough I am quite a peaceful person.
This goes for my treasured white oyster kit and my modern sonors. The red sparkle kit I have is dirty, with bad chrome, out of round and with lots of scratches and I haven't got to cleaning and restoring it yet and I use it as a "road kit," I don't mind if it gets some more dings and scratches, because I already bought it kinda beat up.
perfect example my 1921 leedy black elite i sold was tattered an worn but it has character the bd paint is wore and brass snare worn but it looks great i sold it and the new owner cant be happier natural patina on certain item fine but lean is great
Cool!
Any pics?
Btw...on the hunt for a dirty ol' late 40s Radio King FT shell in black diamond pearl.
See WTB section.
Thanks!
Clean your drums! I don't use vintage cymbals...mainly due to cost...but if I did, they would be spotless. My newer cymbals never get cleaned for two reasons. They are extremely bright (and dirt does mellow them down), and they don't last long (they break). I can't afford nice new cymbals, but if I could they would be cleaned and maintained too.
Vintage pieces look vintage because they are vintage, not because of lack of cleaning. Same with vintage cars...when cleaned and maintained they have a class all their own.
As far as a "road worn" look much like SRV's guitar, that look is a perpetual state of deterioration that will eventually destroy the instrument. It may be a very slow process, or a fast process, but it will lead to the failure of one or more components. If it is a look you want, by all means do it. They are your instruments, you have every right to treat them however you see fit. Doing so simply for a cool factor though, I think your efforts would better be spent on improving your skill level as a drummer, or keeping your vintage kit clean and classy. My honest opinion.
As someone who has, on numerous occasions, been in charge of hiring musicians, I can say that there is a lot more to it than how well you can play. If one were to show up with poorly maintained gear for an audition, that will be my first impression even before you play a note. Right or wrong, if you see a guy that can't take care of the gear that he uses to pursue his career and hopefully his passion, how do you think he might be as a roommate or bus mate on the road? If a guy can't be bothered to occasionally clean his instrument, does that fill me with confidence that this is a person that will show up on time every time and that this is a person who will come prepared? Unfortunately no. The world of professional musicians is littered with people that are disorganized, impulsive and often hard to deal with, in short, not professional. If a guy can't be bothered to take care of his instrument, then that would be strike one and probably strike two before you ever picked up a pair of sticks. I am just saying. Take it for what it is worth.
On the other hand, if you show up with THIS set to a gig and it is appropriate, that may be something else altogether. But still....dust the thing for crying out loud.
I resent the notion that judgement would be passed on any individual for such a thing. I'm a working musician and full time urban high school music educator. With all the love in my heart for my instruments, I have no time to polish them up. Now, of course, everything is maintained in very good working order. As my original post indicates, I like them the way they are. Call me lazy or whatever... I've never had anything but compliments re: my choice of gear.
But to insist on superficialities such as aesthetics be taken into account when hiring someone, to me, is prejudice. And, if you want to get down to it, is indicative of what's wrong with many a thing in our country.
Sorry. Just had to get that out. A little off topic? Maybe we need a politic section here?
