90's Masters Studio - Mystery Finish Research Assistance Request

[gritgrind]

Hello All,

I joined with the hope of finding out any info regarding an odd finish I discovered on a Masters Studio tom that I own.

I purchased this kit several years ago, wrapped in a bubbling non-original forest green finish. The story I was told regarding the origin of these drums is that they lived in the Memphis Drum Shop lesson rooms. MDS purchased a grip of drums and wrapped them all to match so they could be configured in a variety of ways in their lesson rooms.

When I pulled all of the hardware off and peeled back the wrap, I discovered that each drum was a different high-gloss lacquer finish.

16x20 BD (piano black)
14x14 FT (opal white)
08x12 TT ( ? )

I believe this is an MBX (4ply with reinforcement rings), but I have been unable to find any finish that looks like the 08x12 via old catalogs and custom finish threads. The finish is high-gloss, professionally done, grey in color with a vertical grain pattern but not actually transparent to the grain of the shell.

Any info, insight, or speculation would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

[HPD260]

I'm thinking it's a custom finish of some sort. I couldn't find anything in the catalogs for that era that matches up with this finish. It looks similar to Carbon Mist, but that was a Sessions finish and the wood grain is wrong.

#182 Walnut Burnish was a maybe, but I can't find a picture of it on a drum anywhere.

[j kuhl]

It looks like Yamahas embossed silver.

[AL PERCIVAL]

We did color #182 Walnut burnish on the Prestige Sessions Select in 1996-97 but the color and grain looked nothing like the picture above.

[BadAstronaut]

Post a pic of interior of that 12x8 .. I seriously doubt its an MBX tom that someone cut down and had a veneer of whatever applied, then finished

[BadAstronaut]

We did color #182 Walnut burnish on the Prestige Sessions Select in 1996-97 but the color and grain looked nothing like the picture above.

lol .. there's a big difference between brown and grey .. not to mention vertical grain of whatever .. it's painfully obvious to see

On a side note I owned a few of the Amber, Walnut and Wine Burnish toms/floors

[AL PERCIVAL]

lol .. there's a big difference between brown and grey .. not to mention vertical grain of whatever .. it's painfully obvious to see

On a side note I owned a few of the Amber, Walnut and Wine Burnish toms/floors

Correct. I mean, it looks nice and all, just not a Pearl standard finish. But I like it.

[Jutt8]

Wow, all kinds of Frankensteinery going on there. Great shells! 12x10 was definitely the standard tom size for a 12 inch tom back then for an MBX kit, so it would be pretty rare that 12x8 was the original length unless someone got a special order out of it. You got me on the finish : ). Can you see if there is a really thin veneer on the outer part of the drum that doesn't blend with the natural shell? Maybe take a top down pic with some clarity and zoomed in.

[gritgrind]

Update: More photos and details

Thank you for all of your quick replies!

Nice call-out (J Kuhl) on the similarity to Yamaha's Embossed Silver finish. I looked it up after you mentioned it and it is incredibly close!

I'm attaching a few more pics for shell and finish detail as requested. It doesn't seem to be a veneer, but I'm not an expert. There are some fine cracks in the finish around several of the lug casings that remind me of lacquer cracks I've seen around over-tightened screws. I noticed a bit of what could be over-spray around the inside edge of the vent as well.

Thanks again to everyone that took a look and provided some insight. Greatly appreciated!

[BadAstronaut]

well it is a 4 ply Pearl shell with re-rings ... don't what to tell you other than it has to be a veneer on exterior

[Jutt8]

well it is a 4 ply Pearl shell with re-rings ... don't what to tell you other than it has to be a veneer on exterior

I agree, you should be able to see it right near the outer edge of the bearing edge. You could lightly use your nail to feel for it as well.

[Josh Conover]

well it is a 4 ply Pearl shell with re-rings ... don't what to tell you other than it has to be a veneer on exterior

I agree, you should be able to see it right near the outer edge of the bearing edge. You could lightly use your nail to feel for it as well.

Couldn't it just be a paint job?