From the way the first picture looks I'd say that bass drum was a 14x18. Cool deal either way. If they were mine I'd rewrap in a cool era-correct pearl or sparkle and then keep the Rogers hardware (or get what was needed to make it work) as the extra holes will be there regardless so you might as well use the better working hardware.

I`m lovin` this thread...Derek, that`s a great score and a mystery underneath that leather/nogahide, to go with it.True that it`s unigue in it`s current form, but i`m leaning toward trying to get her back to something you like, as once altered-always altered.Go for the leather removal but please be gentle. Wish i could add info re: the stripping,sorry.

Please keep us informed in this very cool project and best of luck,

Wayne

I'm with VDB on this one. Cool kit for a C/W gig. Gotta love my username.

That stuff is too thick to be Naugahyde.... It looks more like the "Stretch Vinyl" that was around 20-30 years ago. If so, it has a woven cloth backing... If you can get some Mineral Turps into the cloth backing it should let go.. Glue residue should then react to acetone (well ventilated outdoors of course) and wear gloves.

Cheers

John

Based on the closeup of the tom, I'm predicting mahogany ply under the "leather". Just sayin...:)

Mitch

I know it sounds funny. I'm actually still chuckling about it since you put it that way. But I promise. I've been doing upholstery for close to 20 years. These are things I've been working with for some time.

Maybe I've been just been narrowly escaping spontaneous combustion all these years!lol electricit

If it's glued to the shell, start working out and eating energy bars, cause you're gonna need all the muscle you can get out of your body to remove it ;).. I would use an exacto knife and carefully cut a slit near the seams down close to the wood to see if it isn't just glued to the shell first..

If it isn't then you're one lucky man, because removing it will be a snap..

If it is mahogany, then i would just lacquer those babies and you will have the original sought after shells that Ludwig made, and seeing the reissue revival of the Legacy Mahogany, you will have a jazz kit for $100 that Ludwig offers now for 3 grand ! Nice score, and good luck with the project !

The padding on that wrap must have been the ultimate tone control.

-Tim

Tons of good input on this one! Thanks for everyone's advice and opinions on the matter. I can tell you from further investigation that there does not appear to be any really cool wrap hiding underneath the leather or faux leather or whatever it is. I plan on trying to get more of it off this weekend and will post my findings!

I love these kind of scores!

That kit would be good for both kinds of music...

...country and western!