Luv'em. I picked these up a couple months ago. Have never had as many comments on them as these get. Sound is the biggest comment. Friends who've heard all my sets over the years are really diggin' these.

The tom mounts sucked back then. I put together a Ludwig/Pearl combo that fits the stock hole. Works well, no deadening. Heads can be a problem, but they can be managed. Stock Remos fit mine snugly, but ok. They're keepers.... [IMG]http://i933.photobucket.com/albums/ad173/wdonley/IMG_0776.jpg[/IMG]

Emerald green pearl ! very nice ! always wanted one . Is that a mid 70's ?

I believe the emerald and red pearl were only available for a short time around 1970. About the same time as the badge switch because there are some examples wearing Round Badges. The metal bass drum hoops were used at around that same time.

I have a set from the same era but in Tangerine Sparkle. It might just be my favorite Gretsch set (and I have three Round Badge sets).

I've heard the Emerald Green pearl was a one year only item. Dunno, I've tried to confirm that. *But*, they sound great! I was gigging an early Rogers Dayton kit for the last 5 or so years. I sold them last week. These are that good. And I've owned RB and Renown sets.....

Some "purists" put them down but I love them!

Double tom mounts were good enough for Tony Williams and Max Roach, too. Reminds me of a JR Robinson interview in Modern Drummer about 15-20 years ago. He was the only guy using a bass drum tom mount (when racks were king). The interviewer asked him if he was getting any grief from engineers, to which he replied, "I don't know what these guys are hearing."

I think the mount probably matters more on the toms in terms of allowing them to ring. At higher tunings, it wouldn't be much of a problem, but at lower tunings, it starts to deaden them.

If I were looking at a kit like that, the only thing I'd be worried about is if the mount is original and/or are there extra holes.

Why would they offer 2 of the coolest finishes EVER for only 1-2 years?

The concern with the Gretsch 70's ball and socket tom holders is that they put a fist sized hole in the shell. That's not a great thing for resonance.

I once bought some drums like that, not knowing any better. They did not sing as well as did a friend's Gretsch toms with Monster brackets (and no RIMS). I was able to find some Gretsch Jasper shells, drilled for lugs but sans the tom mount hole, and sell mine to someone who didn't care about the holes.

Unless the kit is a steal, I'd look elsewhere.

Ok for those pertaining to the ball and socket mounting issues check this vid out.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1kPSQ2R3Og[/ame]

Oh and check this out too!!

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsfepOsXvcc[/ame]

Not so bad eh?