I have a set of Gretsch "Defender" drums. They have some historical cache, but I've found that there is very little interest in these sets, & they command very little $$. They're really not great drums, & I would trade them in a minute for a set of Round Badges. (Best of luck w/ your quest, but I'm guessing you will wait a long time to find someone who would trade a complete 18" kit for your set)

Hi,

I don't have any Gretsch drums to trade, but I would be very interested in buying your kit...you could then I'm sure find what you are looking for. There are many very nice gretsch sets for sale...I could even help you do some searching online.

Not sure if you are at all interested in this but please email me here or at [email]roarkq@hotmail.com[/email]

Thanks

Robin

In a heart beat i would trade a Gretsch Rolling Bomber set for a Gretach 12,14,18,14...But then again you would have to fine a fool to do the trade....Mikey

yeah,as the G. kit wanted is a 8-10K kit!

If I were a collector and not a player, I would want to own at least one war time kit. The Rolling Bombers are the Caddy's of those kits. I have a Leedy Alliance kit in mint original condition that sits in the corner of my "too crowded" studio. I don't play any gigs where I could use those Leedy's. They are just novelty kits but also highly collectable....to the right collector. I also believe that they are more endangered than the Gretsch be-bops. I would make that trade in a New York minute and I think there are collectors out there that own more than one be-bop kit that would jump on those Bombers. There is a place in New Hampshire called Repercussions that sell the most gorgeous vintage drums...some are original and some have been refurbed. They always have Gretsch be-bops for sale. I have no idea how much they charge but if you can sell your Bombers as Roark suggested, you can probably find what you're looking for. Good Luck!

What is the value on a roller bomber? I've had a few prog jazz 20.12.14 kits and i have one bop rb kit with an 18". - Haven't seen many of the roller bombers to know the value on these. Nice prog jazz pulls what.. 2500-3200 depending on color? bops are 6-10K depending on condition and color as well..

I believe you're about 6k off. A modern Gretsch kit might be in the ballpark.

I've probably been corrupting the terminology a little. The Gretsch "Bop" kit offered in the 50s was 20/13/16 and supposedly designed with the help of Davey Tough (Artie Shaw, Benny Goodman, Dorsey etc) Their "Progressive Jazz" kit was 20/12/14 which most of us assume to be basically a small group jazz kit. The 18" bass drum was offered as "optional" in the 60s and 70s with the "Progressive Jazz" kit. Only starting in the 80s was the 18/12/14 sizes featured in the catalog with it's own picture and new title "The Jazzette". We old timers have always referred to any 18/12/14 kit as "a small be-bop or bop kit". In fact the 18" bass drum was not used until the be-bop era was long gone. The "hard Bop" era of the 60s, featuring Miles, Trane, Joe Henderson and the Blue Note Cats saw the introduction of the 18. So the highly sought after round badge be-bop kit is actually the 20/12/14 "Progressive" and the very rare 18/12/14 "Progressive". The 80s Jazzette Kit would still be a nice find and probably demand big money also. 50s Round Badge BroadKasters 22/13/16/5.5 can bring $2000 to $2500.