Hey all, I am new and actually, this is my first post to the Drummerworld forums. I am here because of this thread. I have a maple 1997 DW kit in regal royal blue. I bought this kit new in the summer of 97. I extensively toured with this rig over the course of a decade and found my projects/bands calling it quits. I still play but as of now lightly travel with a birch 2015 DW Collectors Series in black mirra so, I've kinda sorta retired the 97 DW. It lives in my rehearsal studio and set free of any more road rash. Aside from having padded cases (hold moisture/condensation), I have kept quite good care of the kit. After a storm rolled through Louisville KY forcing a tree onto the studio space I have decided to bring the kit to the house and meticulously go through and clean it up.
After removing all hardware and components a few things popped out to me.
1-Within the first year I toured I first noticed a split in the interior shell at the floor tom leg mount tensioner. (PIC 1 circled blue) I soon realized that the techs were tightening the tensioner bolt after removing the floor legs. After removing the leg mount I noticed the tensioner key protrudes deeper than it needs.(PIC 2 circled blue)
2-Two of the floor tom leg mount tensioner keys were the same and one was slightly different and the mounts themselves had countersunk holes. (PIC 3 circled blue)
3-The third floor tom leg mount and tensioner key was not countersunk and the tensioner key itself was larger in diameter. (PIC 3 circled green)
4-You can see (PIC 3 in white) the mount gaskets seem to have been bored out where the tensioner key protrudes past the mount and into the shell. The bottom right mount came from the Suspension Tom Mount hardware for the 12" rack. (PIC 3 in red) As you can see it is clearly a different design. The bolt inserts through the back of the mount and the tensioner key nut receives the excess upon torque.
5-The rack tom STM has gotten tired in time. The grommets are torn and the thing has shown signs of sag and has worn into the rack shell. (PIC 4) You can see in (PIC 5) the improved STM on the 2015 DW 12' rack is shaped to restrict sag and wear into the shells.
6-The 16x5.5 maple snare in great shape however the throw and butt is tired, of course. (PIC 6 & 7) Will the new style MAG throws and butts fit and install? My 16x7 black nickel over brass has them and I love the throw and the 3 position butt.
SO....
Does anyone know why the floor tom leg mounts would be different, constructed the way they were and if this was a common issue for DW as well as with the rack tom STM ?
The floor tom has always upset me. I hadn't had the thing for a year before I noticed the issue and I should have reached out to the local dealer at the time but I never did.
I have lug gaskets for the kick drum on order as for some reason, they never had them as well as a few tom/snare lug gaskets for the badges. The vents do not have gaskets and I am having trouble sourcing them. I could I suppose purchase the vents themselves but I really don't want to spend the money.
The floor tom leg mounts are pretty pricey too of course but I feel they should be correct to the kit but my OCD is not fond of the mismatched tensioner keys and especially the length of the key. I am considering cutting them back 3/8".
I would like to find a improved version of the STM as well for the 12" rack.
The snare throw/butt replacement inquiry?... New MAG throw and butt?
The tom/snare rims are tired as well but in working order. Just a bit pitted and dechromed from the padded cases retaining moisture/condensation. Primarily from temp and humidity changes during flights and travel.
This is a sentimental kit. My mother died in 95 and when I turned 18 I bought this kit with the social security money that was given to me instead of spending it towards college. I'd like to keep this kit intact and preserved in remembrance of her.
My name is Ian Bottomley from Louisville KY and am looking forward to any replies with info or not.
Cheers