The major renovations are now under way on Big Teal!

[Niteclub]

I've been slowly bringing "Big Teal" back to life with some upgrades and much needed TLC. So far I have torn down every drum and tightened all the lug screws, cleaned and polished each drum (and mounting hardware), swapped out the ISS mounts for rims type mounts, reskinned them with clear Emps on top and clear Ambo resos. on bottom. Unfortunately though I have noticed some bearing edge issues. A lot of head wrinkles when trying to tune a couple of the toms (especially in the lower range) and just not singing like they should. Phase one of the new bearing edges was implemented yesterday when I dropped off the 8, 10, 12 and 14 toms to Precision Drum for their excellent double 45 degree cuts top and bottom. My thoughts were confirmed when they put a couple of the shells on the granite table and showed me how uneven they actually were! I also dropped off the 13X11 tom which I pretty much consider an orphan tom since it was the odd man out (literally LOL) I wasn't planning on using it at all since it's voicing is just too close to both the 12 and 14 toms. I had considered transforming it into a deep snare but that would have been a lot of work and I didn't want to pay to have it re-drilled for 8 or 10 lugs, snare hardware installed, beds cut etc. So I opted for a cut down the middle to make two 13X5 timbales to match the rest of the kit and play on my left side by the hats. It's actually going to have to be cut twice because Pearl puts a HUGE air vent smack in the middle of the shell and a half circle would have been on the bottom of both shells. Precision said they would hook me up by just charging me for the one cut and making sure both edges end up flat. These timbales will use the ISS mounts because the rims for these are already bent anyway and tuning isn't as big an issue since they will be tensioned much higher. I also saw a couple of flea bites in the edge of the 8" tom (one being pretty big and deeper) that I was concerned about but they assured me not to worry as they would fill them in for me first. Gary and George are top notch and great guys to deal with and a wealth of info! I was thinking about doing full roundover edges on the kick and 18 floor. Also planning on eventually converting the 16X14 to a floor tom and having them drill it for legs. I just don't like hanging that monster off a stand, way too much bouncing around. Also this way if I want to convert the 18" floor to a kick later on for use in a bop kit, I will still have the 16 on legs for a floor. Curious to know if any of you guys have ever had your older Session series Pearls bearing edges re-cut (especially a full round for the kick) and what you thought about the sound of it? I'm hoping it gives me a shorter note with more bottom end effectively squelching some of the higher frequencies without having to use a blanket so I can play it wide open maybe? I'm currently using a black dot powerstroke 3 with falam slam patch and Pearl Ambo weight reso. Thoughts? Future upgrades after I get the snare, kick and both floors re-cut will be new 2.3mm hoops top and bottom from DFD!

[Eric]

Sounds great. Looking forward to the big reveal.

[TMdrums]

Sounds great. Looking forward to the big reveal.

I second that!

[DrumPlayerFTW]

@Niteclub

Gary and George Folchi over at Precision Drum Co in Pleasant Valley NY are great!! They did alot of the work to my now very close to 20 year old pearl drums I restored.

Recut my bearing edges on all 3 drums.. 22x18,13,x9,16x16 (standard 45" degree on toms) and full rounded for kick drum

Re-wrapped my drums using delmar wraps in Red Sparkle Finish

Redrilled all the holes for the new hardware lugs I installed

Resized my 13x11 rack tom to a 13x9


Bottom line They are some top notch drum makers and you will be very happy with the outcome for your drums . I highly recomend Gary an George Folchi over at Precision Drum to anyone living in or near Upstate Newyork

Phil

[Niteclub]

@Niteclub

Gary and George Folchi over at Precision Drum Co in Pleasant Valley NY are great!! They did alot of the work to my now very close to 20 year old pearl drums I restored.

Recut my bearing edges on all 3 drums.. 22x18,13,x9,16x16 (standard 45" degree on toms) and full rounded for kick drum

Re-wrapped my drums using delmar wraps in Red Sparkle Finish

Redrilled all the holes for the new hardware lugs I installed

Resized my 13x11 rack tom to a 13x9


Bottom line They are some top notch drum makers and you will be very happy with the outcome for your drums . I highly recomend Gary an George Folchi over at Precision Drum to anyone living in or near Upstate Newyork

Phil

Absolutely second that Phil regarding Precision. They have done past work for me and I LOVED the results so I know these babies are in good hands! How did you like the full round cut on your kick? Did you notice a difference? Inquiring minds want to know!

[DrumPlayerFTW]

Absolutely second that Phil regarding Precision. They have done past work for me and I LOVED the results so I know these babies are in good hands! How did you like the full round cut on your kick? Did you notice a difference? Inquiring minds want to know!

I absolutely love the tones that I get from my poplar shell kick... The round edges are though a bit much at times It almost feels like I'm playing a 24" kick so to tone it down a bit I had to change to The Evans EMAD Heavyweight with a muffle control ring around the head... But the kick is very boomy an has a lot of power for just a 22"

[Eric]

Hey Niteclub, How about a couple of pics on your progress pretty please.

[Niteclub]

The operation was a success!

Hey Niteclub, How about a couple of pics on your progress pretty please.

So I just got everything back over the weekend and I'm really happy with the results. The 13" tom's sacrifice is really creating some enjoyment for sure! The timbales sound awesome and Precision did a GREAT job on both the cutting of that shell right down the middle as well as their pristine bearing edges. I requested that they make the apex of the 45 cut over the middle of the shell's edge and they delivered as usual. Soooo much easier to tune and the toms sing like a bird now! You can see what they were up against in the last pic with the worst of the flea bites that needed attention being on the 8" tom. There were at least 2 or 3 more in the 10" tom as well that they filled and and I included an "after" pic to show how nice and sharp the double 45s came out. Precision ROCKS!!! Also changed out the stock 1.6 mm hoops with 2.3 mm hoops from DFD for the 8, 10, 12, 14 and 18 toms. When I have the legs put on the 16X14 floor, I will have it on the left under the timbales making this massive 9pc. "Big Teal" a 10pc! lol. Funny thing I noticed today: My drums look more blue teal in pics but in person they are more of a green. Weird...

[Eric]

Now that’s what I’m talking about. Such a beautifully classy drum set.

[Niteclub]

New Config and tom mounting changes today

Now that’s what I’m talking about. Such a beautifully classy drum set.

Thanks Eric! I tried a different set up today after flipping my rims mounts upside down and it's much better now. I like being more on top of my toms and I seem to get better sustain out of them with the weight of the drum resting on the bottom lugs rather than the rubber flanges choking out the rim and top head. I wouldn't have that problem had I spent the cash on REAL Gauger RIMS since they are much more adjustable for each drum but this solution works best for the cheap knock offs that WorldMax makes. I plan on putting BOTH the 14 and 16 toms on legs eventually and once I do, that will free up the double tom stand they are on now letting me move it over on my left for the 13" timbales over the 18 floor thus employing all 10 pieces of "Big Teal" goodness!

[Eric]

Looks great.

[Kevaruka]

Looking good there