I assume you bought the set New from a dealer, right?

If so, Gretsch must have had alot of stock drums with different badges at the factory in 1979, and so they bundled them together to make some full sets for the dealers. This was not uncommon at the time, and several drum manufacturers did this. Some even matched center lug drums with dual lug drums within the same set!!

The Rosewood finish on your drums was done the same way, by skilled craftsmen, so that will look the same.

Great drums, in any case, even if the badges are different. Enjoy 'em!

Still, some of the badges are from a later date then 1979, when I bought them new from a dealer in London.

I'm going to sell them because I don't play anymore.

Could you give an indication of it's value ?

Martin

Tib:

Your set is a combination of the first and second Stop Sign Badges, and the 80s badge.

The Badge with "That Great Gretsch Sound" was used from around 1970-1979,the the second stop sign badge that said "Drum Makers Since 1883" was used for a short while until the "Square" badge came in around 1980.

Your set is interesting because it seems that is was assembled at the factory at a very transitional time. The "square" badge drum you have must have been one of the first thousand or so made in late 1979 , and it was coupled with some older stock drums that had the same Rosewood finish to make a complete set.

Unfortunetly, to a collector, this isnt good. Collectors want all the same badges on their drums, especially on a Gretsch set.

Value? Hard to say. I'm going to make an estimate of around $1500.

In the end, its worth what someone will pay for it.

Your drums sound great, I am sure of that.

Ok, thanks

yep i have the same sort of situation with a 5 pc. black nitron set. (mixed badge)I call it a 79-80 (lol) In any event you have a $1000-$1250 set to some one looking for a USA bop kit. the only thing other than the mix badge i can say is rosewood is very popular and the market is flooded with that finish.

what did that set cost u back in 79 ?

Just the 4 shells about 460 pounds, the pound being worth about 3.5 times more then now.

And I almost forgot, there's a COB round badge snare as well in pristine condition.

Left over from my first Gretsch set, a champagne sparkle 18-12-14 which I bought in Denmark in 1966. Sadly enough this set was stolen from my car in 1979. :mad:

You do have a very interesting kit. Since you bought it new as a complete kit and have the sales receipt, you have the important documentation that it was sold together.

It's an original matched kit that has two of the most sought after drum sizes, the 18" bass drum and the 14" floor tom. I'm not saying you should sell the drums individually, but 18" bass drums can go for $800 to $1,000 and the 14" floor tom can go for $600 to $800. Natural shells have also been known to sell for more than wrapped shells. If your kit is complete, unaltered (no additional holes) and in good condition (minimal wear), I would value it a little higher. Maybe around $2,000 to $2,200. There are other members that are more knowledgeable in Gretsch than I am, so hopefully they will chime in.

Based on the 1981 Gretsch catalog, your kit was sold as the Jazzette.

http://www.gretschdrums.com/ebooks/catalog_1/index.html#/14/

It came standard with the infamous 4165 chrome 10-lug snare, but had the optional 4158 wood 10-lug snare like yours.

Since you have a mixture of three types of badges, your kit is unique. There are members on this forum that would be interested in documenting it. They would be interested in the type of hardware used, style of stickers/labels on the interior of the shells and the serial number sequences. Since you have the original sales receipt, it also has the date, which would be helpful for members that are working on the Gretsch Dating Guide.

Thanks for posting.

-Tim