Can anybody definitively tell me if the 2003 anniversary snares are jasper shells? I've heard both, I read somewhere that the jasper shells were a bit thinner than the new (keller?) shells because of some microwave process they used. I just recently bought a 2007 bop kit in champagne and found the matching snare which is a 2003 roundbadge. The seller was claiming those 120 aniversary shells were jasper. Doesn't matter much to me but I'd like to know if I ever re-sell the kit.
Thanks!
PC
Nobody? Somebody out there surely must know, I have searched high and wide for an answer to this question but can't seem to find one.
Gretsch used jasper shells from 1958 to 2003
2003 is right around the time Jasper went out of business. As I recall Gretsch stated that they had an ample supply of Jasper made shells on hand and it was a year or two before the "new" shells materialized so you're probably safe with a drum from 2003. especially an "anniversary" model.
I have lots of jasper shelled Gretsch drums and a few more recent ones with the "new" shell and I can't see any difference except the new shells might be made a bit better. I can appreciate the desire to have Jasper shells (all things being equal I prefer them myself) and yet I can't really justify that feeling based on the drums I own.
I have a Gretsch 120th Anniversary snare which I purchased new. It does indeed have a Jasper shell - at least that's what was widely promoted when I bought it. However, there is nothing on the drum to officially identify it as such. But it is a great snare, in my opinion. Enjoy yours.
Got it. Anybody know about the thickness issue? I'm thinking that the jasper shells probably varied in thickness. I'm a long time sonor player and I do have to say I like these gretschs, very unique sound.
