Hot damn I'd like to wrap a kit in ^that! (possibly my current one.. someday)

mdc wrote: Wed Jun 21, 2023 9:57 pm

Well, I never.

If it works, it works!

I've looked at that photo longer than a magic eye picture in the 90s and still don't understand what I'm looking at at least as far as how it would help non-oversized heads fit a vintage shell.

I can clearly see the wrap cut down, left, down, right, down around that lug...but yeah how does that help with fitting a head?

The part that’s cut away is where the rim of the drumhead sits. So there’s no overlapped wrap there, it isn’t a tonne of extra wiggle room but on some shells it’s enough.

ah, thanks for clarifying. In my head I think I was expecting to see an exposed section of bare wood shell about 1/4 - 1/2" down from the top rim (like some of the absolute cheapest, shittiest newer entry level drums have which didn't track from DW being on the other end of this spectrum).

I didn't realize so much wrap actually tucks under itself and additionally under the head's ring, never really thought about it. Makes sense.

Garth wrote: Fri Jun 23, 2023 2:40 pm ah, thanks for clarifying. In my head I think I was expecting to see an exposed section of bare wood shell about 1/4 - 1/2" down from the top rim (like some of the absolute cheapest, shittiest newer entry level drums have which didn't track from DW being on the other end of this spectrum).

Some of the current top-of-the-line Gretsch kits do this now as well!

Gretsch is a weird company! AFAIK it's still family owned, but they have different licensing and manufacturing agreements for different product lines. The drums made overseas (reknown, etc) are part of an agreement with Kaman (gibraltar hardware, etc), but the high end USA-made stuff is distributed and manufactured by DW. The gretsch factory is still open and that's where they make the kits but I think DW runs it?

The guitars are a separate licensing agreement with FMIC, who I think now own Kaman? And Roland owns DW?

FIVE CORPORATIONS AMIRITE

Anyway, this is all to say it makes sense that the USA gretsch kits have the notch as their manufacture is overseen/managed/etc by DW.

I was wrong! It's actually Hal Leonard that does the renown and energy import level Gretsch stuff. DW bought the Gretsch Drums licensing rights from Kaman. What a country!

mdc wrote: Thu Jun 29, 2023 8:05 am FIVE CORPORATIONS AMIRITE

This got a chuckle. And now that song has replaced "live and let die" in my head, so a thousand thank yous for that.

Would actually be interesting (and a whole 'nother thread) to map out the major music gear companies and what brands they currently own/manufacture, a la the back of GY!BE's Yanqui UXO.