I am so impressed I can't find words. First, your dad's strut system for getting the BD back in round is just bloody brilliant. Did you guys soak the shell to soften the wood first? I'm going to try your system next time I'm confronted with an out of round anything.

"I'm proud of you" and I don't even know you. I know your dad must be busting with pride. Keep it up young man, in the future, you're going to be a force to contend with. You are a true; Young-gun!

Loving the thread. Great work.

John

Thanks for those kind words. I really don't know what to say. To answer the questions, I posted pretty much the basic process for the hardware cleaning earlier on in the thread, and tucking heads is pretty simple once you get a feel for it. We didn't do anything to the bass drum shell besides the two systems Dad came up with. I really can't thank you enough for the compliments. There'll be lots more updates to follow, we've still got some work to do.

Peace

Very impressive. Nice work!

The old marching shells, they were so light!

Those old shells are much thinner mahogany.

I have a '50's Ludwig, 28" marching bass that is far lighter than my 22" Ludwig Super Classic bass.

The poor people marching today lug around 20lb.+ snares!

Enjoy the fruits of your labour!-

-kellyj

Now thats one cool drum. Absolutely love those lugs. Btw the 26 incher off of this kit is lighter than my 20'' Gretsch Cool Dude !

I have been watching since you started. Man, this is a great project! Looks like something I would do, then I'd end up giving it someone like you! These are just dripping with cool. You are going to love this kit once you get it all dialed in. I can give you a hint on some other skins for it, but they are not going to be the perfect white of high dollar AMRAWCO skins. For resonant heads though, these ought to work to give them character. I think one of these on the bass would just be amazing for aesthetics. Oh yeah, the prices are sick! Can you say, "buy enough to fit out the entire kit for less than you probably spent on 2 of the high dollar heads?"

I am awaiting a reply as to the actual measurements of the heads. In other words, is a 14" skin actually 14" and I would have to go to a 16" and cut it down, or is a 14" sized properly to readily tuck on a 14" hoop? You would want to use medium weight, if you decide to purchase any of their heads, and don't sweat them being out of a certain size. With the prices they are quoting, cutting them down to size is no big deal! For your 16, for instance, it would not make fiscal sense though, as they are only $11.00 each and a 36" is $43.50.

http://www.drumfactorydirect.com/index.php?main_page=advanced_search_result&search_in_description=1&keyword=calfskin

Thanks for the link. I had already considered all the posibilities and searched the internet upside down DOH looking for cheap calf, but in the end the columbia heads listed on eBay were most convenient. I'm not rich and in the long run shipping killed the deal, plus columbia were selling them in groups of two heads. Plus it was my first tuck so stern tannery wasn't an option! Right now I've got the two original calf heads on the rack tom, the original calf reso head on the 16'' and columbia calf on the original flesh hoop for the batter, columbia on orignial flesh hoops for the bass, and columbia batter and evans snare side on the snare. I'm still waiting on flesh hoops for the 15'' floor (we will probably make some) and I've salvaged an 18'' portion of the original bass drum batter batter head wich I will tuck as a reso for the 15, leaving all the toms with the same quality reso heads (old american calf). Christmas vacation is nearing so I'll be off school, most likely we'll be working on them soon. Stay tooned for updates! :Santa:

Today, we attempted to make flesh hoops for the 15'' floor tom. We used birch, cut 1/2'' x 3/8'' and around 55'' in length (same dimensions as an original Ludwig). We put in the angled seam on one side of each ''hoop'' with an electric sander:

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Soaked in hot water for about 20 mins:

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Next dad took over on the bending machine, which belongs to his guitar building buddy.

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''Clamped'' to the shell :p

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The process took all day, now they're sitting over night (or longer). I'll post the next steps and the results soon.

i been saving up drums and parts for alittle while now getting ready to build my own Levon inspired kit, just need the floor tom and bass drum now.

the drumkit looks great man! i see your a caper, so if you end up wanting to sell those, im only acouple hours away ;) haha

-Mark

OK..lacking in knowledge here on Levon,

what sizes/brands were the 2 vintage kits he played?

Didn't Fred from the Kentucky Headhunters have a kit like that also?

Thanks