AcousticDRUMS.com

KINNEYMG · Joined: 27 Sep 2006 Posts: 5 Location: Ashland, Ohio

I have an old 1969 Ringo Star, Ludwig kit. It has horrible leading edges that are flat. The shells are fairly thick & some out-of-round. Has anyone tried to put Gretsch-style leading edges to give a better sound? How about using a router to thin-out the shells a bit? (more Gretsch 60's thin shell) I know that the stave rounding process smooths-out the inside as well as the outside to make it round. Maybe thin the shells also?
I know that this might sound like a waste of time, but I currently have a near-zero budget for drum stuff. Does anyone know if there is some sort of collector mania that might make it worth my while to sell them in order to get a better set?
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Marty K.

logiztix · Joined: 20 Mar 2001 Posts: 1298 Location: Coos Bay, OR

I would check eBay and other pricing sources to see if they would be worth selling in order to get something that sounds good to you. Some of the older gear was produced with far less precision and may also have had a rough life. Warped shells, dinged bearing edges and the like can be par for the course on an older kit. That said, it might be worth something in the vintage market.

KINNEYMG · Joined: 27 Sep 2006 Posts: 5 Location: Ashland, Ohio

Thanks! Sounds like wise consul. I think I'll try to auction-off the thing(s) I can live without (bad drums are better than no drums) first, so that I'll have a start on the $, before I try the set [ebay]. Besides trying to plan to build a stave set (I think I'm just planning this in my head to keep my sanity) I have enough white oak to attempt a stave snare drum. [argh! hardware $] Thanks for helping to keep the dream alive!
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Marty K.