Gretsch round badge

[russd]

I picked this Gretsch roundbage up off Craigslist locally a few months ago. She's gorgeous and sounds excellent. The 16" (not pictured) requires some work, but the other drums are perfect.
http://www.vintagedrumforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=37271&stc=1&d=1324861379

[fishwaltz]

Wow! That's sweet!

Great score!

[Olimpass]

Wow! She's a sparkler! Congrats! Beautiful!

[russd]

Thanks, guys. I've really enjoyed working on this kit and playing it a bit. The kick has a 4-digit serial number (on the standard Gretsch sticker). That's an early production number... but I'm not sure exactly what year. The other drums don't have a Gretsch sticker, nor do they show any signs of ever having a sticker. Likely early 60s since it's 5-ply and not a 3-ply. I would love to get some other expert advice so let me know if you have any other advice.

[Gravy]

Hey Russ, there was a kit like this on CL in St. louis awhile back. I regretted not acting fast enough and getting it. Where do you live? I think about that kit a couple times a week. It looked a lot like this one.

[blairndrums]

Let me guess.......it was $300-400 also..........

[Purdie Shuffle]

Let me guess.......it was $300-400 also..........

I don't want to know if it was! lol

Beautiful, rare find. Man, is that thing in sweet condition. Aged to perfection.

John

[caddywumpus]

VERY nice! There was a 12/12/16/20 silver sparkle RB in GREAT condition here locally for $1200 recently. Unfortunately, I was unable to purchase it. It was so beautiful it *almost* made me renounce Ludwig...

[blairndrums]

Nice find........!

I sold a set almost exactly like that to a band called Komeda......

They used it in a video called >... Cul De Sac .....on YouTube.com

Same color/sizes,maybe even same year

If anyone could do a link,that would be cool.......

[Purdie Shuffle]

Here ya go, Blair:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXbXGwxLQzE

Drums sound great BTW...

John

[blairndrums]

Thanks,Bro......



BTW.....The Gretsch kit was a find out of the local paper......

She told me it was a WMP Ludwig kit!........imagine my surprise!

$500 with A.Zildjians.........13-14 years ago though.........

Worked out real good for me..........

I was going to Australia for 3 weeks at the time,and with the $1,000+ I made on the kit,I added on another week,and went to New Zealand too!

[KCDrumDad]

Thanks, guys. I've really enjoyed working on this kit and playing it a bit. The kick has a 4-digit serial number (on the standard Gretsch sticker). That's an early production number... but I'm not sure exactly what year. The other drums don't have a Gretsch sticker, nor do they show any signs of ever having a sticker. Likely early 60s since it's 5-ply and not a 3-ply. I would love to get some other expert advice so let me know if you have any other advice.

What is the serial number? Per John Sheridan's Rule of Thumb, a four digit serial number on a round badge drum would be "early 60s." Here is a link to John's article on Gretsch's website - http://www.gretschdrums.com/?fa=historybadges.

I recently completed a "research paper" about using serial numbers to date Gretsch drums (last night I started working on a website at www.GretschDrumDatingGuide.com - more information available soon). Based upon the data I have reviewed, I would expect a four digit number to be from the 1962-63 time frame. Your set is interesting because of the mix of labeled and unlabeled drums. If these were sold together originally, this would indicate that your drums were from the time when labels were just getting started.

Rick

[Gravy]

Rick's research paper is great. I've used to narrow down the build date on my Gretsch drums.

Rick, will the report your drum section of your webpage eventually have form fields where you can fill it in on your webpage and send it in (all done on your webpage)?

Thanks,

Ray

[KCDrumDad]

Ray,

Thanks for the kind words.

I hope to enhance the website so that I can receive reports of drums as you suggest. I am not that web savvy, so it may be a while. Until then, just an email with the pertinent data will have to do.

Rick

[Gravy]

Thanks Rick, sorry to hijack.

[kellyj]

Wow! Your new old kit is worth 3-4 times what you paid. Congrats!

By contrast I'm going to pick up a 22,16,13 RB Champagne sparkle today that's been painted over and missing a bass rim and some claws with a few extra holes where a Rogers swivo mount was put on (otherwise in good shape) for $350.
It will need a ton of work but still worth the $$.

Your score though is outstanding. Enjoy!

kellyj