Can't help with vintage Gretsch; however- your handle is COOL AS HELL!!!!

Well that was simple enough. Thanks a bunch!

Hey Chris, those are very nice looking pieces. I also have 70's Gretsch walnut kits, but my two are much darker and almost turning red with age. I've seen darker/browner finishes and some lighter. I've also seen there can be dramatic shade variances with the older walnut finishes, probably depending on how much UV the've seen.

That said, to me, your finish does look more like antique maple. Do your drums have the orange/white tags inside and if so, what are the serial #'s? For your own comfort, you only need to provide the first two #'s, but indicate the number of digits (18***, for example). This can better date them (approx). I have a 70/71 kit where the 16" FT has 22*** SN. That kit has the clip-mounts, I've attached a pic of one of my slightly newer (74/75 walnut kit, for your reference. They look really red in this pic, but it's the lighting.

Either way, hope you find the matching pieces, soon.

B

Bill,

Thanks, for the info the drums still do have the tags in them. I'll get back to you tonight with the serial numbers. Interestingly I have only ever seen one drum for sale that looked like a match to this finish. It was being sold by an Ebay store front named Cheri Willoughby's Repercussions. They had a 14x14 for sale that ended up selling for a price way out of my range, but had it listed as a Gretsch Factory Finish. Have you heard of this by chance?

Anyway, aside from that one drum, I have yet to come by any drum closely matching their colour.

Chris

I would agree that those are Antique Maple. The version of AM in the 70's was much lighter, and more beige, than the version from the 80's until present. Here's a kit I sold a while back, for comparison, which looked a bit lighter in person: http://www.classicvintagedrums.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=93&products_id=683

Thanks,

Bill

The serial numbers on both drums are (66***). Also the "Gretsch Guaranteed for Lifetime Shell" is blacked out with a marker on both pieces. I thought I remember reading somewhere that there was a time when Gretsch started doing that to their labels.

Thanks much for your time.

Wow those are quite nice Slingy mounts and all. That color is very close to mine. I am quite convinced that these two pieces are 70's AM.

Thanks a bunch.

Also can anyone recommend a source for edges and aftermarket Gretsch parts? The 13" needs a replacement die cast counter hoop, and unfortunately the edges on these were recut double 45.

thanks,

Chris

I hope you were the winner (5 mins ago) of the like-colored 12" tom, with the BIN auction on ebay.

B

They look like a light Walnut to me, but then again maple or honey maple is not out of the question. Is it possible they were refinished at some point by a previous owner? That could well be you issue. If they are lighter than a cataloged color, that could just be the photo finishing that is making them appear lighter. Have you actually placed them next to a kit you know for certain to be issued as Antique Maple?