Here is another interesting acquisition I made recently: this 12" Tom and 16" Floor Tom in "Plum Strata." I'm not sure if that is the official name for the wrap, but that's what I am calling it. I almost went with "Grape Soda Strata" but "Plum" seemed a little more sensible and easier to say.
However, there is one problem that is unavoidable and you are probably asking the question right now: Why would you buy these two drums with such a unique wrap, knowing the virtual impossibility of ever finding additional drums that match?
Well, I did think of that quite seriously and initially passed these drums up, but when the auction ended and no one expressed any interest, I started to feel sorry for these odd toms. When the seller re-listed them, I decided to give them a home. Who knows, maybe one day the impossible will happen and I will find a matching bass drum and snare? It could happen. Not very likely, but in the meantime I will enjoy restoring these neglected drums to their original beauty and splendor.
Here I notice someone stuck some kind of label on the 12" Tom and subsequently ripped it off rather sloppily. That will definitely come off with ease but I also see three holes in the shell that let me know the muffler assembly is completely missing. I will have to track down a new one that fits these holes, and that's not always so effortless. There is also some kind of fluorescent green tape that has been affixed between the rim and shell for some reason. That has to come off, too.
That's my preliminary examination. I can't wait to see these two after I fix them up, because I know they're going to turn out awesome.
POST UPDATE: Here are these drums after their restoration. I was able to track down the necessary matching lugs, as well as a pair of triple-hole, "Gretsch-style" tone control assemblies that fit into the existing penetrations in the shells. You can see the new knobs in the photo below. This successfully completes this Plum Strata project.
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