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Upgrading My 60's Pyramid/Star Drum Kit

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Hi everyone!

Thank you for reading my post, I have a few Question to ask about my new vintage pyramid/star drum kit.

Here a few specs of the drum kit:

#1 Tom ---> 12'' Pyramid

#2 Tom ---> 13'' Star (finest quality)

#3 Floor Tom ---> 16'' Pyramid

Bass Drum ---> 22'' Pyramid

Ludwing Snare ---> 14'' Ludwing

(All with new evans head and bottom skins) Original skins was destoyed.

So my Question today for you dear vintage drum lover is... Does it worth it to change the wrap of my toms for a brand new one? (does it change the sound in any way).

Second, which vintage kit can be mixed with my pyramid/star?

Was thinking of 60'-70's ludwing or Maybe Slingerland.

(idea of adding a few different size toms and floor)

All of your comment are welcome!

Thank you for your time!

Louis

Posted on 7 years ago
#1
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Hi Louis,

Welcome to this place!

You can do whatever you wish with your drums, combine them any way that sounds good to you. Using the same heads will help to make unlike woods and shell thicknesses and all that sound more uniform - differing woods may sound different but honestly this is vastly overstated in my opinion. Well cut bearing edges and heads make the drum sound good IMO.

The wrap on your drums won't affect the sound in any way. But, if the wrap looks ok why not keep it? Unless of course, you don't like its look. If you are combining drums with different wraps, you can recover just the one or two odd ones (many companies sell vintage looking wraps that might match closely). Try Precision Drum Co. This can get expensive though.

Whatever you do please post some pictures - we like drum pictures around here. And let us know your progress. Best of luck!

-Doug

late 60s Ludwig Standard kit (blue strata)
late 60s Star kit (red satin)
Tama Rockstar Custom
a few snares ...
Posted on 7 years ago
#2
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First of all I want to thank you shortyedwards for the quick respond of my questions. That is real appreciate!

It is my pleasure to show you picture of my actual vintage drumkit. =)

[IMG]https://img15.hostingpics.net/pics/800858Drum1.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]https://img15.hostingpics.net/pics/692032Drum2.jpg[/IMG]

On The 2 first picture you can see that i have bought new gibraltar stand (on the right), with 14'' meinl Hi-Hat, 14'' Crash and 10'' splash to go with the drum kit.

This drum kit missed some love so i did a full clean up and a good restaure.

Better look of the toms here

http://hpics.li/d333251

20'' Ride Cymbal Here (re-polish on my own)

http://hpics.li/a37c1c1

I dont have any picture of the logo yet. (Drum live to my parent house since im in appartment hehe)

Louis

Posted on 7 years ago
#3
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So my goal for this drumkit is to brg it on a drum rack that i bought for 200$ with 6x clamp and 3 side covered. I will probly get the complet meinl cymbal set, so 16''-18'' crash, 16'' trash-crash, 14'' chinese, 8'' bell.

Later i will probly combine this drum kit with another vintage drum kit (will probably be slingerland or Ludwig) to complet the number of toms, since pyramid rare to find around and dont seems to have 10''-11''-14''-15'' toms

The idea for my wrap, was sandstorm looking on toms and adding a custom cool looking pyramid on the bass drum buttom skin. But i think i will keep it that way since changing wrap MAY reduce the price of it.

Louis

Posted on 7 years ago
#4
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Here is my advice based on what you are trying to do.

I would leave the kit as is,because,

1. The vintage MIJ kits that are worth the most money are the ones that have uncommon and unusual wraps,and uncommon wraps that are delicate,and in good condition.The satin flame wraps like yours are less common,and hard to find in good condition,they scratched and would crack easily,from the pics yours look to be in very

good condition.Stripping that wrap off those drums would take them from being worth something,maybe 300.00 ish,to almost nothing,like 50.00 to 100.00

2. As far as I know the MIJ kits from this period were not offered with 8 10 15 toms etc,you might find a 14 Floor and a 14 snare in that finish,but if you want to find those sizes in that wrap you may find the satin flame in that color in U.S. or Euro, British drums,in the the sizes you are looking for,the closest match that might have the offset lugs on the smaller toms could be Premier or Sonor Teardrops.I have seen a few Sonor T's that have a satin wrap close to that color but can't remember seeing the small toms.I am pretty sure that ludwig and rogers did not offer satin flame,but Camco sling and gretsch did.I would check at Sonor Museum.

Another option could be see if you can find the Satin Flame is offered by one of the wrap companies,like precision or Jammin Sams,and finding some drums in the sizes you are looking for and re wrapping them.

As far as putting together a monster rack kit goes foe availability I would go 80's 90's drums,on the less expensive end Tama rockstars,imperial stars,Pearl export etc,more expensive the pro linesand wrapping them in satin flame,or if you want that kind of vibe cheaper you could find some wild/psychedelic contact paper type of product.

Posted on 7 years ago
#5
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I love the wrap. It shows it's age in a good way. Faded, probably scratched, but very cool. I would keep it.

That said, rewrapping any other drums to match will be a challenge. Precision and other companies carry Satin Flame wraps. But those wraps are pristine and may "jump out" beside the older wrap.

Here are the Precision samples:

http://precisioncustomdrums.com/index.php/high-quality-musical-drum-products/drum-wraps/#satinflamewrapcolors

If you are using a rack, think about mounting the toms with Gauger Rims or one of many other rigs that will not require drilling new holes in the shells.

Cool drums.

Posted on 7 years ago
#6
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Very cool wrap! I have a Star kit that I'm restoring (yeah, it's taking me forever) and mine has the red satin wrap. I too would recommend leaving them as is, but of course that is up to you. Have fun with it.

-Doug

late 60s Ludwig Standard kit (blue strata)
late 60s Star kit (red satin)
Tama Rockstar Custom
a few snares ...
Posted on 7 years ago
#7
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I Appreciate all of your comments.

Here is what i have in mind.

#1 Leaving the drum wrap as it is for a more valuable beginner 60's drum kit. ( I have read around about the shells of this compagny and it seems to be a bit cheap wood used on Pre-Tama and Pyramid)

#2 I will mount the 3 toms on the rack using Pearl Optimount.

(use screws and lugs to mount my toms so no additional holes) Will add Gibraltar 360°c tom arms.

#3 Will continue finding a snare and a 14'' floor to complet this drum kit (for my pleasure)

Thx Patrick for the good Custom wrap website, I will surely use it one day if i find the piece im looking for.

Feel free to message me if one of you find a snare or floor that would complet this drum kit. Your help would be real appreciate!

To show my respect for all your help i will reward you of some better picture of my drum kit at the end of june

-Louis

Posted on 7 years ago
#8
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From shortyedwards

Very cool wrap! I have a Star kit that I'm restoring (yeah, it's taking me forever) and mine has the red satin wrap. I too would recommend leaving them as is, but of course that is up to you. Have fun with it. -Doug

Thx Man! I have seen the red satin wrap and he look sick! Hope you will give the love that your drum deserve ;)

-Louis

Posted on 7 years ago
#9
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