Review of Bum Wrap Drum Wrap

CompactDrums

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After making my own version of a Sonor Martini wrapped with Bum Wrap, I decided to write a review on the wrap as well.

http://compactdrums.com/bum-wrap-digital-drum-wrap-review/

Here is also a paste of the review but without the pictures as they don't copy/paste into here.


Bum Wrap Digital Drum Wrap Review

For our Itsy-Bitsy, Teenie-Weeny DIY Micro Bop Kit, we decided on wrap from Bum Wrap Drum Co. What better opportunity to feature a review for said wrap?

Example of Unique wrap from Bum Wrap
Example of Unique wrap from Bum Wrap

If you happen to be a regular visitor to our website, you’ve probably noticed that we’re more prone to come up with alternatives to regular, commercially available wraps. Truth be told, just about every time we start a new project, we evaluate all finish options and the usual reasons to forgo actual drum wrap is mostly due to lack of funding. For a kit of the tiny variety, commercially available wrap shows up on the viability radar simply because the quantity required, and thus the cost, is smaller. As we compared offerings based on cost, reviews and design options, Bum Wrap’s selection of Digital designs rapidly climbed to the top of the short-list.

Red Abalone Drum Wrap Review
Red Abalone

Why Bum Wrap? Two reasons. Although we already admitted to being cheap another reason we usually skip wraps is that they tend to be rather “generic”. You know the feeling of browsing through designs and seeing the same familiar patterns repeated over and over? Bum Wrap’s selection is refreshingly different with some highly unique designs, as well as the ability to custom make a wrap from your own digital file. The second reason is indeed cost. Bum Wraps pricing is among the most aggressive of any we compared.

After much picking and choosing we eventually settled for a design entitled “Red Abalone”. For such a small kit we wanted something that really stood out. Although we had some five or so patterns that would have all been great choices, my daughter eventually cast the vote that tipped the scales in the favour of said Red Abalone. Her predisposition to pinks and purples no doubt playing a large part in the choice.





First Impressions

Pre-cut wraps
Pre-cut wraps

Our wrap came neatly rolled up in a six by six inch box the length of the deepest drum. (13″ in our case.) Eagerly I cut the tape, opened the box and tore the plastic bag containing the wrap rolls open. Unrolling the wraps for a first look certainly didn’t disappoint. The design and colours are every bit as bright and “in your face” as the website’s images suggest, if not more. The gloss, lustre and depth exceeded my expectations. At 21 mil, just a tad thinner than most regular wraps, I hadn’t expected the deep glossiness to compare. Quite contrary it’s every bit as deeply lustrous and gleaming as any wrap I’ve ever observed.

A nifty advantage of Bum Wrap is the way they pre-cut the wrap to the precise drum sizes ordered. None of the tedious ordering of full “sheets”, + whatever fractions of “sheets”. Not to mention bridging the gap on a larger bass drum where a full “sheet” won’t reach around. With Bum Wrap, you simply state the drum shell’s diameter and depth and whether you want the standard 1/4″ cut back or not. Our wraps arrived precisely cut to depth and with about two inches overlap with a pre-applied adhesive strip on the inside.



Installation

Wrapping
Wrapping

The recommended installation method doesn’t involve adhesive. (Other than the pre-applied adhesive strip.) Thus wrapping a drum shell with Bum Wrap is easier than wrapping a Christmas gift. Sounds like a joke, but honestly, I achieved perfect results with my first drum wrapped with Bum Wrap. After years of practising I have yet to master the art of gift wrapping. Detailed video instructions can be found here, with some additional comments in the FAQ.

Cutting the Vent Hole
Cutting the Vent Hole

Wrapping the DIY Micro Drum Kit, we tried both the recommended method and going a bit more traditional route and glueing the entire wrap as an additional ply. The recommended method is super-simple and just about fool-proof. However, even if one somehow managed to fail, Bum Wrap will send out a replacement for just the cost of S&H. There are two ways to glue wrap to the shell. The most common is to use contact cement or spray adhesive. This method works great but leaves little room for error as it’s an instant, irreversible bond. Lining up perfectly straight is crucial. I tend to use regular “non-instant” glue which is just about as fool-proof as just securing with the pre-applied strip. This method allows for re-positioning and the existing strip greatly aids in securing it in place while curing.

This wrap is a tad thinner and a fair bit softer than most. Bum Wrap recommends using a Philips-head screwdriver to punch the holes, or an Exacto-knife to cut them out, I found drilling to work just as well.



Wrapping up the Drum Wrap Review

Drum Wrap’s selection is virtually limitless since you can order them in your own custom design as well as choices of truly unique patterns and even wood grains. The only limit is that there are no sparkles or glitters. We give Bum Wrap Drum Co. 8/10 for Designs.

Ease of installation gets 10/10. We can’t imagine the existence of easier installed wrap.

Value for money receives 9/10. Any other wrap with the same wow factor can easily cost up to twice as much.

Since we only just finished installing this wrap we won’t rate for durability at this time. In about six months this page will be updated with a durability rating.
 
I recovered a 13,16,18,26 Ludwig kit in this about 1.5 years ago. I used the “Ed Sullivan” pattern,which is a black oyster “Ringo” color. It looked great was easy to install, and held up great. I just sold the kit last week because I got a new one. If I were to ever do another rewrap I would definitely use them again, unless I wanted a sparkle or Marine pearl, which they don’t offer.

And the Bumwrap owner is a decent guy. I bought my wrap from him, and awhile after he contacted me to buy some drums I had for sale then.

The new owner said the quality look and the color were big factors in his decision to buy my Ludwigs.

Hope this helps.
 
On top of everything else, they will custom print wrap designs for you at no additional cost. In this thread I chronicled how I worked with them to recreate a facsimile of Ludwig's Blue Strata wrap to complete a set of Ludwig Standards. They were great to work with and I would definitely do so again.

So how does it hold up.
I've had my floor tom wrapped in Bum Wrap wrap for four years now; after dozens of gigs it still looks brand new - and I transport my kit without cases.
 
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