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It’s a wrap Rewrapping shells is becoming a popular DIY activity, and Allan Leibowitz put one of the options to the test.
DRUMMING IS NOT just about how it sounds. Looks are important, and even though beauty is in the eye of the beholder, fashions come and go, and what looked good yesterday may not be quite so appealing today. This is especially true of drum finishes. It’s even more relevant to DIY e-drummers, many of whom pick up a cheap acoustic kit to electrify. And most of those kits have either been knocked around or weren’t that goodlooking for a start.
The options to date have included removing the wrap and staining or painting the shell – or finding another wrap to apply. Those approaches involve either time and effort or significant expense – or both. A quality wrap can cost more than the shell to which it is applied.
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However, advances in printing and laminating technology have opened the door to cheaper, easier-to-apply and aesthetically unconstrained wrap options. One of these is Bum Wraps, a small business founded a few years back by Murray Gornall, who wanted a make-over for his kit when his band won an online band contest to open for Kiss. Gornall had access to a graphic design shop through his day job, and he teamed up with design manager Justin Brown to provide a creative alternative to costly wraps. Bum Wraps has really simplified the process. The website contains a large number of ‘stock’ designs – everything from abalones to wood finishes. There’s also the option of custom designs using your own artwork – and detailed explanations of the graphic requirements.
www.digitaldrummermag.com