I bought a very cheap round badge kit last week on CL, 13/16/20, as a project. They were rewrapped in simple black gloss, with coated heads and of course tacked badges, and I didn't bring a drum key with me to look at them so I ended up buying them without looking under the hood.
The 16 has the paper tag inside and is basically original. The kick has remnants of its tag, but has had the Pratt muffler holes plugged, as well as the holes for the rail mount and cymbal arm bracket, and an epoxy putty repair on a ripped out badge grommet. Structurally sound though, and good edges.
The 13 is something else, and I'm wondering if it's an earlier Gretsch, from the 40's or 50's. It appears to be a 3-ply, with a flatter bearing edge than the 60's drums I'm used to seeing. Outer ply looks to be maple, and laps over in an odd way.
It has plugged holes for both a 60's spade plate and a more modern Pearl through-shell mount. It has holes and wear from Gretsch mufflers that appear to be in the right place. And it has holes for lugs which have never been tampered with. Came with genuine Gretsch lugs and cast rims.
What do you guys think? Earlier genuine Gretsch, or imposter?
