Like everything else around you , except odd lordly things, wrap has become cheaper and cheaper over the years. Originally, there was no glitter , it was just some companies' spin on sparkle. If you look at the really old sparkles, especially the European stuff ,it is fine grained with many very tiny particles,of differing sizes and shapes in a fairly deep substrate. Glitter as it emerged as a separate thing was the same but with glass particles, in a deep substrate, so there was more diamond like refraction.

Nowdays, the sparkle has uniformly cut, hexagonal, particles, laying flat in a thinner substrate. It gives more of a sheen effect, when viewed at a slight angle and a sheen straight on. It has almost no refraction. Glitter, more resembles the older sparkle, although , I suspect that the particles are now plastic chips. They are larger and less elegant, but refract and reflect everywhere on the surface a little, no matter where you view it. The effect is that of twinkling rather than a sheen.

There is a small production of odd specialty wraps in Italy and some low quality stuff from the orient but basically all wrap currently comes from the same source----Delmar. Individual brokers; Jammin' Sam,Precision,Drummaker;etc. may have different patterns or colours but that is because they have contracted Delmar for that pattern/colour----and the names are added on by the broker----so one companies tangerine glitter is another companies orange glitter, or ripple becomes oyster and so-forth.The construction is the same. I have heard, that some suppliers wrap is poorer than another's. I have received samples from them all and bought from 3 of them and it all looks like Delmar to me.

I feel it depends on the drum, the base color and the actual batch of the wrap. The best thing to do is call the seller(s) and ask for some samples. Then take the samples and put them around the house for a week or so. Which ever wrap catches your eye the most is probably the one you should purchase. Take your time, because this will be something you have to live with for a while.

To answer your questions:

Is the glitter just a little more intense?

[INDENT]Yes, glitter can be more intense. Glitter is actually crushed glass and is larger than sparkle. Sparkle is metal/plastic symmetrical flakes and smaller.[/INDENT]

Can you see much difference unless they are side by side?

[INDENT]I think this depends on the base color of the wrap. Some glitters just "pop", as opposed to the equivalent color in sparkle, like Blue Glass Glitter. When you order samples, ask for the same color in glitter and sparkle. Put them side by side and under different types of light. Take time to make your decision, because if you are re-wraping a kit you'll be spending $350 - $400.[/INDENT]

Another thing to consider is the thickness of the wrap. Glass glitter is thicker than sparkle. If your shells had a sparkle and the heads were tight, the glass glitter will be even tighter. A good gauge for glitter thickness is the thickness of a credit card. When you order samples, ask for at lease 3 or 4 different colors in both glitter and sparkle. This way you can place the samples around your shell and test fit a head. Gretsch is known for producing shells that are a little over-sized.

Good luck with your wrap selection and let us know what you decide.

- Tim

I have heard more then once that the OLD Gretsch Champagne Sparkle had real bits of copper in it...and,if you look at it close,it does look like that..

True or false ?

Rogers referred to their wrap colors as 'Sparkle' in their catalogs, but they were indeed made with crushed glass. Except for Champagne Sparkle, which had metal, probably copper, flakes in it.

The wraps used by some other companies at that time had metal (aluminum or some other material) flakes in them instead of glass.

The wraps made today are referred to as 'glass glitter' in order to distinguish them from the sparkles available now.

The current champagne, known as Bermuda Sparkle, has copper (and possibly some other metal) flakes in it, and that's one of the reasons that it's so expensive.

Here's an example of silver and green sparkle and glass glitter Ludwig kits, I prefer sparkle wraps. The glitter is a little too much, especially under lights.

I had been looking for ROOT BEER for years.I found some in glitter and I bought it.Its a bit thicker and I shaved down in inside of 3 heads to get them to slide on.Other than that its great. Everywhere I take them I get lots compliments.My drumming, ho-hum,the drums A-! !!!!

Good Luck,Vati

I ordered samples from Jammin Sam's a while back. The samples were not marked as to what they were. I couldn't tell the difference between glitter and sparkle.

I have a swatch of Burmuda Sand (Sparkle Wrap) aka Champagne Sparkle sold by PrecissionDrums is pretty much identical to my Gretsch Champagne Sparkle wrapped 2011 drums. Precissiondrum told me it was more expensive that their other wraps because it has real pieces if Silver and Copper in it. They've discontinued it though.

I have a cheap ole bass drum - Luan wood - made maybe in the late 40's - 50's - that has a sparkle wrap that looks like modern "Glitter"

The wrap is probably worth more than the bass drum shell.

I ordered both glitter and sparkle when considering a rewrap project. To my eyes, there was a huge difference. The glass glitter wraps reflected much more light, and sparkled like mad. The sparkles were more subtle. In the end, it all comes down to what you like the most. Me, I think glass glitters totally outclass sparkles. But there are trade-offs: glitter wraps are thicker, more brittle, and harder to work with. They're also more expensive.

I agree with the advice to order samples of both and see what you prefer. Enjoy!