1950s Gretsch Dixieland Snare Drum Restoration

[@jefferybiggins3783]

Great job! I just bought an old WFL snare drum with white marine pearl wrap for $5.99 at my local Goodwill store. I did not do a drum restoration - I don’t have the experience, tools or patience - but I did clean up the drum and hardware. I was lucky. The wrap and most hardware is in good shape. I just needed new snare wires and different heads and I was ready to go!

[@davidplatt8915]

Very much enjoyed this restoration. Finding that old drum and bringing it back to life was a great project. Nicely done and thanks for posting the process and letting us hear it upon completion.

[@kenwallace5250]

Good job

[@vihro]

Maple/Poplar/Maple - which is the Broadkaster series Gretsch produced from 1920s 'til mid 1950s. And re-entroduced a few years back.

[@NuDrums]

Thanks!

[@musicalala]

To clean chrome Coca Cola and tin foil is the most effective method. You could also soak in Coca Cola but you'd want to monitor it closely. You would be able to get them very clean but of course pitting will still be there. Very little hard scrubbing is needed with the tin foil. Please try it if you get an opportunity. I was really happy when I discovered this method. I've done it this way for several vintage kits. The tin foil is substantially softer than the chrome finish on hardware so no worries at all. If the hardware is immaculate except for grime, it will be completely immaculate after using this process. You don't have to waste flat Coke. Save it for a project like this.

[@NuDrums]

I actually have also used coke-and-foil as a cleaning method. I find that the cola itself isn't super ideal for me, since its a sticky mess afterwards. I tend to use WD-40 or something similar so that I get both a nice clean and a protective layer worked into the pitting. I also like using Brasso, Simichrome, or all purpose oil. Works great! Thanks for the comment.

[@Gretschnut]

Great video. Very informative and well done. You did a fabulous job bringing that old snare back to life. It looks and sounds beautiful. Thanks for posting!

[@NuDrums]

Thanks! It was definitely fun to see it all come together!

[@randalllewis2434]

Great job on the snare!! Sounded very nice!!

[@NuDrums]

Thank you so much! I'm glad you enjoyed it. It's a shame I didn't have any microphones or recording setup at the time.

[@Customwinder1]

You did a great job on that drum . The wrap came up looking great. I have an old 60's aria kit and the wrap has yellowed like yours. I'll be trying your method on the wrap to clean it up. Thanks mate 👍

[@brianmann01]

Nice effort But a couple pointers: 1. Never use any kind of abrasive anything on chrome, be it Brillo pads, scotchbrite, or the dreaded steel wool. Even abrasive powders. Chrome by itself is naturally shiny however it can be scratched easily, what you want to do is break down the dirt and scum by soaking your parts in dawn dish soap and water overnight and than rinse. You than use a microfiber or other soft cloth and hand rub the parts. That is it. Polish does nothing to enhance chrome. 2. The pieces of felt inside the lugs is exactly what I did on my beloved Rogers drums and a couple years later I had rusted springs. The moisture in the air gets trapped by the felt pieces which in turn attack the metal. You can plasti dip the springs or you can even use plastic bag material. Hope this is useful info.

[@NuDrums]

Thanks for the tip!

[@carlupthegrove262]

great job.... WOW!!! looks fabulous...sounds great too

[@NuDrums]

Thanks!

[@gdnrecords]

Beautiful video congrats

[@NuDrums]

Thank you so much!

[@frankcianciarulo7823]

Beautiful! A real labor of love. It sounds great...enjoy it!

[@doublea7054]

great job! im doing similar things with older drums. it's very gratifying to save an old instrument & give it new life!

[@BadChizzle]

Good sound!

[@macthedrummer1]

Nice job man, glad you kept the wrap.

[@NuDrums]

Thanks! It was too beautiful to not at least attempt to save it ;)

[@joshuasmith3633]

Thank you good sir, I got all the info I needed haha I’m going to restore an old 60s red strata.

[@NuDrums]

Thanks so much for the view! I'm happy that you found what you were looking for. Hope it goes well!

[@joshuasmith3633]

NuDrums yeah for sure man. I sand and polish cars so when I was watching your polishing step I was like wow same world haha

[@DRUMSCHOOLBRASIL]

Great job.

[@NuDrums]

Thank you so much!

[@kylekrysadrums]

Awesome job!

[@NuDrums]

Thank you so so much!!

[@cafewa100]

Great Job Dude. 🥁🎶

[@NuDrums]

Thanks a lot! 😄

[@alanshumway2541]

❤️

[@joeyjackson3117]

Great job sir I’m definitely subbing! I’m gonna do a ton of drum restoration videos very soon my upcoming restoration video is a Rogers 24-14 kick drum that matches my xp8 set which I already polished cleaned sanded and wrapped it awesome voiceover and fantastic quality great content!!!!

[@joeyjackson3117]

Can you sub to me if possible

[@joeyjackson3117]

And try vinegar cause it detoxifies chrome hardware then just wash the hardware I suggest dish soap

[@zero28ism]

This video was just great. Subbed

[@NuDrums]

Thank you so much!

[@1alsturgeon]

Never heard of using skateboard grease before.

[@paljoeynyc]

good work...

[@NuDrums]

Thanks so much!!

[@cesaranizan8572]

Felicitaciones hermoso quedo!

[@PLBIV]

you should buy some MetalRescue to soak the hardware in! its AMAZING on rust and its water based so its not nasty to work with. I used it on a early 60s slingerland kit i bought that had hardware covered in rust and now it all looks basically new.... check that stuff out!

[@NuDrums]

Thanks for the tip! Definitely will try this on my upcoming metal snare restorations.

[@ronaldzeoli7528]

Shell is either mahogany under the wrap Poplar in the middle and maple on the inside or mahogany under the wrap Poplar in the middle and mahogany on the inside.i do believe it is the first combination .

[@NuDrums]

Thank you so much!! It was really hard to figure this out or find any information online to confirm at the time of making this video. Thanks again!

[@robgracia509]

awesome

[@NuDrums]

Thanks so much!

[@ginobata]

Great!

[@NuDrums]

Thank you!!

[@drummer1388]

I'm looking to restore a drum myself and this video was extremely helpful. Thank you so much! What specifically is the Wood Mojo? An oil? A wax? Wood conditioner? I can't seem to find it online.

[@NuDrums]

Hi there! Sorry got the late reply. Wood Mojo is a local product I got at the farmers market in Michigan where we used to live. It's essentially beeswax mixed with vitamin E and lemon essential oil. There's a similar product by Dutch boy with orange. Hope that helps!

[@alejocristancho]

next time try with a MrClean magic eraser.

[@andersdo2925]

great video thanks for sharing! Do you use the drum for gigs now or did you sell it?

[@NuDrums]

I used the drum for about a year, and then unfortunately due to an international move and finances, I had to sell. It went to a good home though, where it will be played and cherished for what it is. Isn't that what it's all about? :)

[@rileydunn8295]

So my question is, with all that sanding, was there much lacquer finish left at the end, or was it nearly a bare wrap that was buffed to a polish? Thanks.

[@NuDrums]

Hi there! Thanks for the comment! You know, you would think that there wouldn't be, because it looks like I totally sanded the thing to the moon and back, but actually there was no perforation into the color layer at all. I was very careful to only sand the stains off, and like I said not sanding too much is really key. There was still plenty of clear on top, and this has to do with very fine sanding with a light touch. Thanks and hope you're having a nice day! I highly recommend you check our mrdrummonkey's video (kzbin.info/www/bejne/h4G2iXVsns2Iq5I) where he does this on an old WFL floor tom, he explains the process in quite a lot of detail.

[@rileydunn8295]

@@NuDrums thank you for the detailed response 👌🏻

[@StuartJrBarrett]

Great video. I have a 1920’s Ludwig snare which the chrome is coming off on the top hoop (maybe pitting). How can I fix this??

[@NuDrums]

So... there are two or three ways to tackle this. 1) Live with the damage and maybe use a drop of superglue to keep the large flakes from falling off (cheapest and quickest) 2) Strip the chrome off completely and send it off to be re-chromed, or rechrome yourself (expensive yet quick) 3) Strip and refinish some other way (I do not reccomend this, it will drastically destroy the value of the part)

[@ralphbenites1819]

What did he used to clean the wrap finish 🤔

[@NuDrums]

Hi there! I used a variety of wet sanding pads in finer and finer grits. I wiped the shell off initially with just paper towel and windex. After the sanding I finished with wax. Hope this helps!

[@ChristopherSmithNYC]

That was Jeff Porcaros 'go-to' snare drum.

[@washthomas]

Where did you hear that? I’ve read that he played Gretsch kits in the studio but not a Dixieland snare specifically. I’ve read that he played mostly Ludwig and Slingerland snares.

[@ChristopherSmithNYC]

@@washthomasI thought that was a broadcaster, sorry. I think it was page 255 of Robyn Flans book It's About Time. Paul Jamison his drum tech and friend said Jeffs go-to snare was a 6.5 wmp 1950 Gretsch he customized for him. Paul liquidated his studio last year and I bought his 1950 6.5 Gretsch wmp Broadkaster, but he said it wasnt the same one (although he only had one).

[@washthomas]

@@ChristopherSmithNYC wow, great info! Enjoy that snare, sounds super cool.

[@vindrum]

Skateboard wax?

[@NuDrums]

Yes... an old trick. It helps fill-in any tiny discrepancies there may be in the bearing edge. You only use a very small amount, and it's totally optional. Some people don't think it makes a difference, but I do. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[@foundation922]

Good job, I would have continued to removed all the yellowing.

[@NuDrums]

Thanks! Unfortunately using this method, the yellowing will not get any better. Apparently there is another method that chemically can reverse yellowing, but that will be for another day!

[@gonow234]

@@NuDrums I can attest that the peroxide method works great. Only need 1 sunny dry day and the Salon Care 40 volume cream, and the old yellow sparkle drums are silver sparkle again!

[@NuDrums]

Here is mrdrummonkey's video, as referenced: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h4G2iXVsns2Iq5I for the wet or dry sandpaper technique for restoring old drum wraps.

[@angeleduardocardenasalarco2057]

Amigo ocupo unos aros asi cmo los consigo?

[@NuDrums]

Encontré el mío aquí: www.drumfactorydirect.com (buscar: "single flange")

[@shackletonsbones6580]

hey, i think that sandpaper is wet

[@NuDrums]

indeed it is! Wet or dry sandpaper can be used either way- but water used as a lubricant is ideal when polishing to a fine finish :)

[@MrE1981]

It's "more older" huh. Jesus christ, f'ing failing English 101. I guess it was "more betterer" afterwards.

[@NuDrums]

Much more betterer! :D