Would like some opinions on an early 90s export...

[AndrewS.]

Hi all, back in the early 90s my dad bought me a pearl export 6 piece kit as a special gift. I played on it for years and was moved around a lot. A little over a year ago, I purchased a big decade maple kit and the exports were disassembled and went into storage with the intent on rewrapping them and possibly handing them down to my son (if he wanted them). Sadly, my dad passed away only a moth ago. So my plan changed and I am going to restore the exports as they were purchased and play them with my worship team at a special event coming up. They are wrapped in the pure white color and have yellowed over the 26-27 years I've had them. Aside from the yellowing, they are in excellent shape. No rust on the hardware or hoops etc, and shells are in great condition. I have looked at all options in great detail as far as restoring them and have come to a couple ideas that I am tossing around, so here's where I would like some opinions.

1.) I can just rewrap them back to the original white. I don't want to do this because in my mind, it would not be "original" to me.
2.) I can remove the wrap, and reinstall it using the other side of the wrap. That side is the original white but slightly less shiny. I can just do a light polish to shine it up if desired, and it would be the original wrap.
3.) I can simply just leave the aged yellowed white look and clean it up nicely. I am not opposed to this, and I know a lot of folks appreciate the vintage look in some respect.

What are your thoughts? Thanks.

[CUZNRED]

Hi all, back in the early 90s my dad bought me a pearl export 6 piece kit as a special gift. I played on it for years and was moved around a lot. A little over a year ago, I purchased a big decade maple kit and the exports were disassembled and went into storage with the intent on rewrapping them and possibly handing them down to my son (if he wanted them). Sadly, my dad passed away only a moth ago. So my plan changed and I am going to restore the exports as they were purchased and play them with my worship team at a special event coming up. They are wrapped in the pure white color and have yellowed over the 26-27 years I've had them. Aside from the yellowing, they are in excellent shape. No rust on the hardware or hoops etc, and shells are in great condition. I have looked at all options in great detail as far as restoring them and have come to a couple ideas that I am tossing around, so here's where I would like some opinions.

1.) I can just rewrap them back to the original white. I don't want to do this because in my mind, it would not be "original" to me.
2.) I can remove the wrap, and reinstall it using the other side of the wrap. That side is the original white but slightly less shiny. I can just do a light polish to shine it up if desired, and it would be the original wrap.
3.) I can simply just leave the aged yellowed white look and clean it up nicely. I am not opposed to this, and I know a lot of folks appreciate the vintage look in some respect.

What are your thoughts? Thanks.

what about removing the wrap and staining the shells? Walnut stain looks great on that wood grain? Either that or maybe re-wrap and do a silver or champagne sparkle wrap.

[killerkick]

I like the vintage look myself.

And, sorry about your Dad's passing, Giving up a parent hurts.

[LeftySlammer92]

I would leave the original wrap on it, if you're trying to restore them. If it's sentimental value you're going for, keep the yellowing, as it's still the same stuff your dad gifted to you. There's no way to get rid of the yellowing, that's just what cellulose drum wraps do over time. It'll be a nice thing to hand down to your son, and hopefully him to his son.

Sorry to hear about your dad. My dad bought me my exports too, and several years ago, I refinished them, but kept the snare drum in it's original silver sparkle for the sentiment of it.

[Eric]

Sorry about you Father.

[AndrewS.]

I have since decided that I am going to just clean everything up as best I can and leave the yellowed wrap. Thanks for the opinions guys, I appreciate it.