Jaye, this is where you and I differ on this point. If I find a B&B lug Rogers, first thing I ask is how much.....if its rediculous, I pass because I know I am already thinking in terms of repro lugs. I wouldn't even consider "doing the deed' as you state. Will I have more into the drum than its currently worth? Probably, but I'd be looking at it from a longterm investment point of view... Its kind of like when you find a Gretsch 3-ply, or a Radio King, or a Leedy bass drum fitted with 80's type Pearl tom mounts, or a Ludwig double tom mount with that GIANT hole drilled in the top of the bass shell Mind Blowi Beavertails fitted to a B&B drum is the same thing as that to me....Like I said, if I was keeoing it longterm, I'd spend the dough on the repros, I personally would be happier in the long run knowing I saved a drum correctly. :DAnd thats my :2Cents:
[COLOR="Purple"]I understand and ..if it's a real SPECIAL old B&B, I can go along with that, really...100%. So I really DO commend you for doing what (if money was no object) would be the obvious and very proper solution.
But converting to B'tails it is absolutely NOT the same thing as drilling a massive Pearl tube-arm mount into a classic shell. Two different things entirely. I don't really think that elongating some mount holes by 1/16" is the equivalent of hacking a 2" diameter hole in a shell....
You know....Rogers folks have been doing the B'tail conversion since B'tails came out. Not all that unusual to run across an old Cleveland shell where someone has done this long, long ago. It's not just a recent thing.
Fact is, regardless of how cool they are (and they ARE cool, the B& B's....especially the 'coffin-style' and 'peanut-style' ones)....they were just a poorly engineered design, period. (Actually, let me correct that - they worked FINE with old calfskin heads....but they just couldn't take the tensions of synthetic heads...so they failed rather miserably). Add to that the fact that modern drummers tend to tension/tune higher than yesteryear, and these just plain don't work anymore.
And while I like Jim Petty...I must say that the fella loves to talk and in talkin' he has told me that he SUBS OUT the production of these to a machinist. Not rocket science to figure out that he probably jacks the retail price WAY up from what he is payin' those guys to make 'em. As mentioned, he literally has cornered the market....nobody has a choice but to pay whatever he decides to charge.
Too bad, because the guy started 'em out at $20/25. If he would just undertsand that if they stayed at that price, more folks would buy 'em and his biz would be just as lucrative...it would be a much more attainable solution for many. Think about it....that'd save someone $60 on a rack tom, $90 on a FT & bass drum. That's a savings of $240 over what one has to shell out these days. It's still pricey, yes....but at least it's "worthy of consideration" pricey. The guy would literally double his orders, I am certain.
But he went for jacking up the pricetags instead....
Also..y'know....not all Rogers kits are collectible...and I disagree that all B&B kits (or single rums for that matter) need 'saving'...and I would even argue that doing the B'tail conversion so you can play the nice old drums...IS 'saving' em.
There are ALWAYS folks looking to snatch up old, uncracked B&B's because theya re trying to 'save' their own project kit...so passing 'em along to a brooother for that purpose isn't anything to frown upon.
I say if even switching out just the batters to the JPetty Repros is still too expensive...you are left with the same 3 options as folks mentioned on page 1 of this thread:
1) leave 'em uncracked, don't play it, and sell it for a profit.
2) Try the cold-weld putty solution
3) Switch 'em to B'tails and either keep or sell the B&B's....
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