No it Isn't a sold shell, your 1st picture you can easily see the plies.

I think you're seeing the scarf joint in the ply and re-ring.

Looks like it 'may' be a single ply.

yes that is the scarf joint i took the photo of and the re-ring is oak and the shell is curly maple i believe. I am thinking it is single ply but don't have much experience with this sort of thing. I am curious if this drum is considered valuable (how much is it worth)? because i am considering putting dual tension hardware on it if it isn't that valuable or collectable. Or maybe I would try to sell it. thanks

here is another pic not of scarf joint.

Personally, I'd leave it single tension. Depends on the overall shape of the drum though and what you want from it.

This is not a sold shell drum it is a 4 ply shell easily seen in the first photo.

hummmm... I certainly don't easily see 4 ply. I wasn't sure if there might be a very thin veneer on the outside but I am leaning toward solid. Perhaps the photo isn't clear did you look at the other photos?

thanks Shawn, the drum is in good shape but it was originally painted white and then someone painted it black. I stripped it down but some black coloring is still embedded in the grain. I have all the hardware but one tension rod is not original and there is quite a bit of rust on them.

I am not sure I would ever need a 26" bass drum in any of the music i play so I am not sure what I want from it. How does one find out the going price for a drum like this?

My monitor must be better than yours this is clearly not a solid shell drum, I'll stand by what I'm saying and seeing. I clearly see the plies. how many solid shell drums have you owned just asking?

How about you download the picture to your machine, and draw some lines or arrows on it to show the rest of us the 4 plys you are seeing, and then re-attach it as a new photo? I've done that here. Is that possible for you? Am I guessing the places where you are seeing boundaries?