The following is a response I received concerning the existence of round badge era Gretsch natural maple finish drum sets:
I was just made aware that our Natural Maple was only available to Artists until the 1970 catalog, when they became available to customers.
I hope this helps.
Christopher Coyle | Gretsch Consumer Relations
“That Great Gretsch Sound!”
I believe Chris is referring to the 1971 Supplement Catalog which features the maple finish as a choice.
But that means they do exist (just in very small numbers).
I know one is pictured on the cover of one of Ted Reed's drum books which came out in the late 50's/early 60's.
In my reply to Chris I asked if we could then safely deduce that any verified original RB maple finish kits would have been "artist" owned/played. He has not replied as yet. We have to remember that an "artist" could have been anyone from a dealer to a local player to an internationally known star.
The Band
Well orangemi that's really funny because to date NONE of these so called natural maple Artist kits have NEVER been seen by any modern day human (or posted on any historical/vintage drum web site) or documented in any reliable vintage Gretsch drum research book to date... and I'm not talking about any old school magazine advertisements.
So, I'm sorry, I still don't buy it... I need way more proof... so as far as I'm concerned FACTORY ORIGINAL natural maple Gretsch RB drum sets don't exist.
Well orangemi that's really funny because to date NONE of these so called natural maple Artist kits have NEVER been seen by any modern day human (or posted on any historical/vintage drum web site) or documented in any reliable vintage Gretsch drum research book to date... and I'm not talking about any old school magazine advertisements. So, I'm sorry, I still don't buy it... I need way more proof... so as far as I'm concerned FACTORY ORIGINAL natural maple Gretsch RB drum sets don't exist.
Okay but the phrase, "I was just made aware that our Natural Maple was only available to Artists until the 1970 catalog, when they became available to customers"...is the utterance of a madman, if no such kits were ever produced or left the factory. Did he really forget to add, "Oh and by the way that never happened" ? :)
Mitch
Okay but the phrase, "I was just made aware that Natural Maple was only available to Artists until the 1970 catalog, when they became available to customers"...is the utterance of a madman, if no such kits were ever produced or left the factory. Did he really forget to add, "Oh and by the way that never happened" ? :)Mitch
A mer simple unofficial quote from someone within Gretsch is not enough evidence to believe natural maple (1960 to 1969) RB kits exist or excited. Any factory documents or a "real" kit seen/photographed or reviewed will help support such a mer simple unofficial quote.
Look guys you just don't throw "Artist" drum sets away... somebody must own one?!
And what I find extremely odd about all of this is that "they" don't mention anything at all about the only true wood finished RB kits... which was only offered during the early first haft of 1969 production... which was the walnut finish as seen only in catalog #44... no natural maple RB kits were offered pre 1970.
[...] Any factory documents or a "real" kit seen/photographed or reviewed will help support such a mer simple unofficial quote. Look guys you just don't throw "Artist" drum sets away... somebody must own one?!
I read your thread from 2012, the last comment has a link which I reproduce here. Isn't this photo of Charlie Persip, with accompanying text at the bottom, the proof you seek?
http://www.gretschdrums.com/ebooks/a...ndex.html#/30/
I'm only joining in for fun here - no special knowledge but it's an interesting question. It occurs to me that if only known, working artists purchased kits in this finish, they could well be rare enough to almost never be seen.....but I do realize you are saying one has never been seen, without the "almost"...
Mitch
I just happened across this..... http://www.drummerworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=88900
At the bottom of the page is where he posted these. I was mistaken with what I had written earlier. Before the photo of the drums were posted he makes mention of having personally bought this kit factory fresh. So unless I'm way off ( which I may very well be ) is this not a natural finish round badge? Or this a later year than what's being discussed?
That Charlie Persip ad is proof enough for me. Gretsch would have hired the photographer and the ad agency. They would not have done all this and let someone bring in a set they had stripped the wrap off of. If anything they probably did these photo shoots when an artist was picking up a shiny new set of drums rather than having them bring in their gigging sets which might show some wear and tear.
Gretsch was known to be pretty cheap with their endorsers, generally only giving them one set at a time and taking the previous one back from them.
As to where these drums might be today that's anyone's guess. Maybe tucked away in an attic somewhere still waiting to be found by anyone who understands their significance. Or maybe Gretsch took them back from the artist and, since they weren't a cataloged finish, either destroyed them or wrapped them and shipped them out as new. I doubt we'll ever know. I'd sure like to find them though...
