Hi Bob, Seasons Greetings! Interesting story about the 1950's Pearl kit. In my case, I selected the fiberglass shells because of the strength and thiness of them. I worked at a drum shop right out of high school and we made drums and repaired music instruments. The owner was an old man named Pop LaLonde. He was an inventor and had been a band instrument repairman all his life. He was also a very good drummer - the the vaudevil style (showman, lots of rolls and stick twerling).
Anyway, he also said the thinner the shell the more resonance. My Sonar drums had thin wood shells w/o the reinforcing rim like Ludwig had but they sounded great. The fiberglass Pearl shells were thinner yet. That is why they have such a great tone and are bright sounding. After all these 43 years, those shells are perfectly true.
All the best to you and family. Good luck on your Les Paul. Post pics when you are done!
Jimmy