I'm with you 100%. It would be fantastic to see a massive return to the old wraps. Looks like we are slowly but surely on our way, with the Gretsch Catalina wraps , Ludwig's black oyster wrap, and all the variations of white marine pearl out there (including the aged-looking one by Mapex: "Vanilla Cream Pearl"). In the meantime, there are some pretty cool finishes out there amongst the custom drum manufacturers. You might want to check out:

San Francisco Drums:

http://www.sfdrumco.com/finishes_set.html

Pork Pie:

http://www.porkpiedrums.com/html/wraps.html

C&C Custom Drums:

http://www.candccustomdrums.com/about.html#finish

Kiemo Drums:

http://www.wevh.org.uk/showcase2/kiemo/finishes.htm

Kiemo even has a leopard print finish!! ...When all is said and done though, this stuff HAS to be expensive. When Tama and Yamaha start cranking out mass-sets in sky blue pearl, we'll know we've arrived.

I think we'll hit the re-sergance of wraps soon.Ludwig still makes some classics,and seeing that Tama now has a Psychadelic and Mod Orange wrap...I think the retro look is definatly making its way back.Even if only in smaller numbers.But I agree its not how it used to be.I can look at my 67' Ludwig kit ( red sparkle ) and no bubble,nothing.I can go look at a new set less then 6 years old...wrap looks wretched.

I also noticed, something similar, how on the new sparkle kits something about the sparkle just looks so i dunno like synthetic. Especially the green sparkle kits. I look at slingerlands green sparkle and its just like wow..so much more organic looking and pretty, if you will. But you may be right about the cooler wraps coming back. Everywhere I take my pink strata pearl ludwig people ask where it came from!

I used to know the link for the Delmar company. They make all the wraps out today. On their web page they have an extraordinary array of wraps you typically due not see offered by the drum refinishers. Really cool stuff.

Sparkletone,

Wow! Thanks for those great links!

Sabshga

Here it is:

http://www.delmarproducts.com/OurProducts.htm

I think you'll find a bunch of younger players who get the whole retro thing but I fear the majority don't - and as most manufacturers are targetting that younger demo, that would be why there's a more limited selection. My few contacts in the retail part of the industry say the retro resurgence is already pretty much over. But I guess the older wraps get more attractive as you get older - along with slippers and having a favorite chair.

While I'm here, have been after the old large chip Ludwig style white marine pearl which is currently out of manufacture. If anyone knows anywhere I might be able to get my hands on enough for a classic 13, 16, 22 and 14 x 6 kit then please let me know.

Otherwise Precision Drum Company seem to be the guys to go to for a retail wrap supply solution - or what?

DR

Precision, I'm told are the go to guys because they cut to order. I've heard that Delmar only sells in commercial quantity. I've had a lot of work done by Bonzo and at one time he told me to pick anything I wanted off of the Delmar sight and he would get a hold of it for me. So if you see something you like on the Delmar sight that Precision doesn't offer on theirs, you might want to contact Matt Sinyard at the Bonzo Drum Company to see if he can get for you. http://www.bonzodrums.com/

Regards,

Gary

Dix Hills, NY

I've heard that the method for making the wraps is different now which is why they don't seem to have the same "depth." Let's not forget that many of the wraps we consider really cool now, like oyster pink, fiesta, mod orange, etc. were the less popular ones when they were made and weren't good sellers...that's why they're a lot harder to find.

I think today's glass glitters are better than the old ones. For what it's worth.