Just another word on tuning... I recommend lubricating your lugs. This reduces any friction as you tighten the t-rods which helps to ensure that they tension evenly (making tuning easier.) I use 3 in 1 oil. It seems to work well and is pretty inexpensive. This is a small but important step.
Would love to see some more pics of that beautiful orange sparkle set if possible!
ya know, i wish i though to check this forum at home, so i could jsut go downstairs and look,lol.
im pretty shure it doesnt have those rings in there, but it does have that damper piece.
here's some more pics tho, not sure how they'll turn out.
tried photobucket, but they came up so small??
Interesting set up. The only thing you're missing is a reso hoop for the rack tom. Looks like your sizes are 13/16/22, is that right? Did you get them tuned up and sounding good? They look like they are in great shape, by the way. Awesome set, it's cool that you're keeping it.
i got my bottom hoop, finally and inserts for my lugs, but they just wont tune.
and on my 13 the heads need to be forced on. my floor tom sounds like butt, no matter what. i think i might have some bearing edge issues. like not true, or something. i dont know
i thought maybe i just couldnt tune drums, but my brother got a set for christmas and i was able to make those sound great. i tuned my nephews for him too and they sound right too.
i dont know
Ok, if you are serious about getting them tuned up nicely.
Assume that these drums will have only 1 pitch that sound "true" - resonates the shell and drum enough to be called musical. Different drums have more or less "true" tunings- even some big name drums don`t sound great except at one particular tuning.
*First, it`s not a bad idea to lightly sand the bearing edges just to remove any splinters or rough spots that might be impeding this tune up.
* After that, put a light layer of Vaseline around the underside of the head where you think it will contact the bearing edge. I put it on the drum head rather than on the drum. This allows the head to slide better for the tune up.
*For a tight head (like your 13") put some Vaseline around the inner collar of the head as well and get the head on the drum. Lot`s of brands vintage drums have this problem.
* Plastic washers on the lug bolts(like the ones made by Pearl, Tama, etc... ) help the old lugs slide up and also help the drum hold it`s tuning- I suggest using them ll around on an old kit like this.
* If the floor tom sounds terrible then I suggest 2 things- tune the bottom head high and the top head lower. Also, put a very thin dry cleaning plastic bag inside the drum to control any overtones.
Don`t approach the tuning of an old luan kit like you would for a modern drumset (even a cheap one) they`re quite different. Work on experimenting on bottom head tighter and top head a little looser than the bottom. If nothing works after alot of trying - go all high- higher than you would normally tune- Almost all these old drums can sound decent at a high jazz tuning.
*If nothing works- buy Evan hydraulic batter heads- they will give you a workable sound no matter what.
I got a 13" Evans EC2 at GC for $5!!!, and it fits perfectly.
All points valid. I am running an Evans EC2 on the 13, and it fits very nicely. Now I have 3 floor toms. 2 16s, The one that matches my "new" set is a 3 ply, mahogany/maple/mahogany, and now has a new, thin ply of curly maple to boot. The heads are Evans EC2 top and Attack thin clear res. My 22" bass is of the same ply lay up, as is the 13" tom. The bass also has the same long sustain as the floor tom, and it is running an Attack single ply thin with tone control ring built in, and the original, 45++ year old batter on the res. In order to refresh and use the old head, I spray painted it. It added the perfect amount of weight to it and controls the Attack head to a tee. The other floor tom is a 6 ply mahogany lauan with black pinstipe top and some plain old cheapie clear res. They both sound great, the 3/4 ply has a sustain that will not quit. My son's 14 (3 ply, mahogany interior/exterior/m iddle unknown, but different) has a WeatherMaster Pinstripe topside and an Evans Hazy 200 snare bottom on the res side, yep, a snare bottom as a res, and it took all the ugly out of it, and it sounds truly wonderful like a Ludwig, or Gretsch. Nice sounding drum. I am mixing heads, as I have a feel for many different types of MIJ shells, so you might want to call me, or let's get together for a video chat on Yoohoo.
I will defer much to O'bop as I am really into restoration, and I am good at what I do, even if this sounds a bit arrogant...
Anyway, my point is this, it is now time to take time to restore/refresh this set of drums. First thing is to take them apart, down to the bare shells. (don't take the wrap off, as if I really have to say it)
Sand and polish the edges. First sand them carefully with 100 grit, careful not to change the contour, unless you are ready to tackle this. It can make a huge difference, but if you have no experience, it can turn out badly.
So, carefully sand the edges, then go back with 220, keeping the papers grit fresh at all times, and make sure the grain of the wood is closed, then polish the edges with mineral oil and wax. I rub the edges with mineral oil after they have been well sanded, and then lightly wax them with a good candle or bees wax. This allows the collar to slip more easily over the edge. This is not really to alleviate the problem of the rim fitting over the shell, only to allow for ease of tuning. This would be taken care of with the change in heads. If you can afford it, try out the Attack 5 pack for $35, delivered from American Musical, or you can get them cheaper by playing zZounds.com against them for the "low price guarantee" ($32.55).
Then, go to your local GC and grab the 13" EC2 for $5 (I don't know how it happened it was only $5, the salesman didn't even know it was on sale, maybe it can happen to you too). The 22" Attack is a good head, for these drums, and if you spray paint your old batterhead, just the right amount (spraying it lightly in many passes from diffent angles about 3 very light coats), it makes a great control for the Attack thin head, unless you already have a good medium weight resonant head.
Next we will turn to the hardware. Go get a cheap battery powered toothbrush from Mal-Mart, and while you're there you might as well get the rest of the goodies. Cottonballs, TurtleWax rubbing compound, steel wool in a 3 pack of different fineness, from course to 4-0 extra fine, mineral oil, some cleaning rags, cheap towels, bamboo skewers, epoxy, high bond wood glue, and anything else you might think of. If you have a Dollar Tree, or one of those stores close by, get some stacker bins or something like this to hold parts and pieces, you will need them to keep parts seperated.
Make sure the batteries are charged in your screw gun, and get a recharger and extra batteries for the spin brush. This is going to take a week. You have had these drums for many years, and if you want to keep them, it is time to make them fresh and sparkling again. Get a good SD card and get the camera ready. Take pix of every step, get excited, we will be here with you every step of the way, and I even have some videos posted to help, and I will even make more for you if you need them, or you can poke your head into my laptop, and get me live on the webcam, showing me exactly where you are and what to do. It is time to get intimate with your drums, more intimate than you ever have been.
Are you ready? Let's go!
well, ive allready decided to refinish these after researching for a while on ghostnote.com. so i will be stripping the wrap anyway, and i think im gonna try to restore my bearing edge, but i dont have a thick glass table for a flat surface? any ideas? i have a large mirror i removed from our bathroom last year, but not sure if its sturdy enough.
i also thought about just making a mark along the edge with a marker, then sanding till it disappears with a long flat drywall sanding board. then a hand file and go over the 45 angle
BTW, i have a 20" kick, so that head pack wont fit, but i found one that was just toms for a good price
If they don't sound good...why are you going through all the trouble of refinishing? Plus...orange sparkle!!!!
Commenting on that last post (I agree) - I did buy a 1975 Valencia luan kit that won`t sound "true" for anything- all the tricks, different heads, you name it. I use it when I teach my younger-age elementary school students. It`s pretty but doesn`t sound good. If you believe that this set could somehow be "wrong"- you might waste your time selling it and finding another similar one instead of re-working it. I have a 69 Valencia that is like night and day to the 75- really sweet tone, excellent snare drum, toms & bass nice and resonant- it`s a keeper.
Just a thought before you go to the effort:2Cents:
