Thank you for all the input folks, I am much obliged.
I had wondered if they were rewrapped but where on earth would one find so much of the stuff? That's a heck of a lot of pearl to somehow harvest and move to these drums. Seems barely possible, and why would the pearl get moved to a single-tension drum?
Doesn't it seems that if one had the wherewithal to pull off such a rewrap, one would be clever enough to disguise it?
If you inspect the drums carefully , it's usually easy to tell a rewrap or original. Look along the bearing edges, & seams. The missing part of your strainer is a simple screw on handle, that regularly shows up on ebay for Slingerland 3 point throws. It would also be worthwhile to track down some period hoops for your snare.
I've been buying lots of parts via eBay since 2009 - I'm relatively new at this. I buy mostly Gretsch parts and drums. Sure, I have gotten a few good deals....mostly form folks on this Forum and other Forums. But I have to say - even in this economy - prices are going up for what I have experienced.
My take on these drums as far as worth goes - and I'm not suggesting parting them out.
The lugs are probably worth well over $100.
The bass drum and tom badges are $150 plus for the pair
The rest of the hardware is at least $150 +
That leaves the shells. Three ply shells are getting scarce and I would put a value of at least $300 for the shells alone.
These are just educated estimates and I get this from my own experience in looking around and buying Gretsch drums and parts.
Yes, it may be tough to sell the complete kit for $700 or so but the value is there. It's not a bad deal at $500
So I think these are a very good investment and they will only go up in value. Nice drums too.
I'm about to take some more snaps of details, seams etc.
I just met them yesterday, so I have no strong opinions yet regarding the rewrap issue, I'm truly at a loss as to how it would be possible. The only way I can see it is if someone had NOS sheets of wrap. Does that happen?
Harvested pearl from a BD or cannister throne? That's possible for the snare only. The BD and FT would be obvious. The BD would show holes and the FT would be 2" too short. The only conceivable source for harvesting that would yield big enough pieces would be a cocktail drum for the FT and an entirely lugless single-tension juvenile marcher - in pearl. Highly dubious, isn't it? Short of New Ancient Stock sheets of this wrap, the rewrap scenario seems fat-fetched to me.
I'm not commenting on the wrap or re-wrap other than they look beautiful.
They're just very nice drums...period.
Again....the shells themselves have lots of value.
I think you got some very nice drums.
Congrats !!
The only way I can see it is if someone had NOS sheets of wrap. Does that happen?
Yes. A friend of mine has 2 full sheets of NOS Leedy Fiesta wrap. His dad worked in the vinyl business for 30 years and somehow managed to get a hold of it.
Really? Wow, so it is plausible. Fiddlesticks I guess, but I'm still happy to have them. I wish I could know for certain though.
They are so gorgeous.
Really? Wow, so it is plausible. Fiddlesticks I guess, but I'm still happy to have them. I wish I could know for certain though.
They are so gorgeous.
That's got to be one of the prettiest wraps I've ever seen!
Will you be using the snare as a snare, or as a rack tom?
I'm about to give it a go with snare as tom. Sounds mighty fine as a snare.
