Main Drag in Williamsburg always seems to have Vistalites.

They had a swirl kit last year, and I considered buying it for my then-boyfriend. I'm kinda glad I didn't.

Main Drag's website-

Drum Inventory- Coming Soon!

dontfeartheringo wrote:Wow. That kick drum has been soundly abused. I should think that you might want to just get another shell from the Gold-n-Times and transfer the hardware.

If you want to get goo and tarnish off of lugs and hoops and tension rods, I suggest soaking everything for 24 hours in Simple Green, then just wipe off the residue and then polish with chrome polish. You'll be amazed.

Awesome. I will try the Simple Green. I'll consider the new shell, however, the Weld-on is on it's way, and I'm going to give it a shot first.

Nico Adie wrote:Toothpaste is also a good polish for Acrylic/Perspex. Though it would be damned expensive to buy a sufficient quantity for this.

I've read the toothpaste thing too. I'm gonna try this and a coupla other things out on the worst drum (13" rack tom). So far, It's been very labor intensive. The Novus 3 claims to get out "heavy scratches". This is how you say? Bullshit. Wet-sanding seems to be the way to go for the heavy scratches and gouges. I've got the 13" rack tom looking pretty good. All the major scratches are gone. Just gotta get it clearer looking. I'm also going to try nu-finish scratch doctor (automotive) for the final polish and see what that does. Thanks for the advice!

EDIT: 13' rack tom, sorry
The dimensions are 22" 18" 16" 13" 12" no snare.

toothpaste is pretty abrasive, so be careful. I use toothpaste on scratched CDs/DVDs and it reduces the refraction caused by the scratch, but it also scratches the plastic so that it is no longer transparent.

a quick google revealed this:

http://www.techguys.ca/howto/polish_lenses.html

which may be best for your vistalites. of course try it first on an area on the drums that doesn't matter to you.

alex maiolo wrote:Great information! One day, when I have the space, I'm going to get a drumkit, and it will be one of these. A restoration project might be the ticket.

-A

Yeah! I'm actually taking my time and having FUN doing this. This was my first kit. I was 12 or 13 and didn't have any respect for the drums. I went drum set shopping, and I had my heart set on the fruitiest cherry red kit you'd ever seen. My old man talked me into the vistalites, bless his soul. I think I got the whole kit, minus the snare, a bunch of great cymbals, hardware, and accesories for 800 bucks. The kid who had them had passed away and the mother was finally getting around to selling them. You could tell that the kid who had them took it seriously, so I will honor his memory (whoever he was) by making this kit look and sound kick-ass. Anyway, they've been in storage or loaned out to a friend this whole time (almost 20 years) and I really look forward to making them look awesome, and possibly using them as my main kit. Stay tuned.

Salut, man. That's a noble undertaking.

I know there's not a lot I can do from Athens, GA, but if you need me to hunt down any odd parts or anything like that, holler. I know a bunch of crazy collector guys with bins full of parts.

I will save you the three hour cell phone call by calling them for you. Some of the collector guys are a little.... odd.

Those two green floor toms are going to be BOSS when you're done. Should be an excellent kit.

dontfeartheringo wrote:Salut, man. That's a noble undertaking.

I know there's not a lot I can do from Athens, GA, but if you need me to hunt down any odd parts or anything like that, holler. I know a bunch of crazy collector guys with bins full of parts.

I will save you the three hour cell phone call by calling them for you. Some of the collector guys are a little.... odd.

Those two green floor toms are going to be BOSS when you're done. Should be an excellent kit.

What can I possibly say to this? You've given me tremendous advice and support. Salut! to your own damn self.

Greatly appreciate it all, man.

And you're right. the two floors make the kit. I'm used to playing a simple kit (bandmate's slingerland=kickass) a 4-piece. I think I could get used to two floors.

Hey Venkman,
If you need dontfeartheringo's help in sourcing parts for this kit you can ply with biscuits. I've got a McVitties Hobnob connection (both dark and light).

PM me. (winks. shuffles out of thread.)

WILL WORK FOR HOBNOBS.
















god bless.

Dr. Venkman wrote:---Inspired by the gracious advice and awesome pictures of vistalites provided by dontfeartheringo, among others, I have decided to begin restoring my drums. They're REALLY fucked-up. I'll post some pictures on here throughout the process if anyone's interested in that sort of thing.

Kick drum...kicked. Damn. The guy I lent this kit out to when I was 13, split the kick at the seam and then duct-taped it together. Nice goin.

Scratches, gouges...

Looking better. Stripped hardware and cleaned.

These pics are deceptive. The scratches are gnarly and plentiful.

More to come...

I know shit about drums, but goddamn they look tough.

I'm looking forward to seeing the end product.