Here is more pics of some of the other kit parts (minus bass drum).

- Tim

This is getting me all excited about my Slingerland kit. Nice work!

Jeff C

Those look great~! The blue glass finish really pops in the sun.

Tim,

Keep the photos coming... they look great! Can't wait to see the whole thing!

Bill

Thanks, everyone. Just seeing these finished pieces is making my son anxious too. Time to pick some movie trilogy, sit down in front of the TV and start cleaning all that bass drum hardware. :D

- Tim

They're done and setup in our living room. D' Drummer

My son has a hard time getting up in the morning, so after I finished them and set them up, I took a quick picture and compiled a text for his morning wake up call. I heard his alarm go off a couple of times, so I fired off the text message. About a minute later I heard the thunderous rumble of 15 year old feet sprinting down the stairs. He was in Gretsch heaven!

It's been a great weekend for him, aside from finally getting to play his dream drumset, his marching band also received a 1- Superior rating and now qualifies for state competition in Ohio.

I'll get some good pictures up soon.

- Tim

Sounds great, lookinf forward to the pics!

Jeff C

Here are some pictures of the finished kit. That Blue Glass Glitter is so deep looking!

- Tim

Those look fantastic! Having a 14 year old son that has the same issue getting up in the morning, I can imagine that was a special day for both of you!

I do have a couple of questions:

• Do you feel like the tape method got the wrap to lay down as tight as you would like?

• I do not own a Gretsch set (maybe someday he said longingly), but am aware that there is often an issue with heads fitting snugly. As I understand it, glass finishes are pretty much the thickest wrap out there. Did that cause you any problems?

Again, what a cool project for you and your son. Well done Dad!

Thanks.

I think the tape method worked fine. We chose this method in case he wanted to return to a natural/stained finish in the future. I think I might have also lucked out and the shells were in round. Get some spring clamps and test fit the wrap before sticking the tape to the shells. Turn the wrap around and test fit it again. Adjust a little here and there until you like the fit. Then move your clamps back from where the tape is on the wrap, remove the medium bond tape backing, stick it to the shell, double check the edges, push the wrap slowly around the shell to remove any bunched up areas and remove the high-bond tape backing and gently press it to the wrap. Double check all of the edges and for any raised areas under the wrap. If your, satisfied, press the high-bond tape completely to the shell and clamp it for 24+ hours to cure. It is really unnerving to do the first drum, because of the cost factor. After that, I was pretty comfortable doing the rest of the drums.

Yes, glass glitter is really thick. You can test out how tight the heads will be with glass glitter by using about three credit card against the shell and then try to fit the head on. The bass drum head was really tight after I finished the wrap, because it's two pieces of wrap. I chose to trim off all of the overlap areas and now the head is snug, but tunable. We could have chosen one of the over-sized vintage style heads, but we went with Remo Coated Ambassadors on the toms, bass batter head and a factory Gretsch Logo on the bass resonant head. Man, those toms just sing.

Thanks again,

- Tim