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3ply coctail and 49 24" bass drum - Gretsch Last viewed: 13 hours ago

Posts: 2713 Threads: 555

I ducked down across the boarder to Blaine Wa. today to pick up my eBay mail. The stuff has been accumulating......14 packages! Mostly smalls but I did pick up my 14x24 3ply - yes finally a 3ply! - cocktail drum and this nice old 1949 24" Gretsch bass drum. Got a 1967 Ludwig (Keystone badge with S/N puts it at 67) snare in a case with some very old....I'm guessing 67 or brushes. These WFL brushes were waiting in Blaine as well - looks like the original WFL box too.

I like these old Gretsch Brooklyn drum cases - not much to them but they have that 50's travelling look.

The cocktail drum is the single head type and has what apprears to be the original calfhide head. The bass drum has an old calfhide head as well. Both drums have their badges. I like those cymbal and rail mounts on the bass drum. That rail looks anchient. It looks like the old spur mounts were switched out for moderns....spurs came with the drum.

The snares on the cocktail drum are intact. The WMP wrap is damaged and the ply is separating. The drum may have been sitting in water or a very damp area for a long time - there may be water damage/rot in the lower part of the drum. If that is the case it is serious and the drum may have to be significantly altered to bring it back to life...........AS IN A VERY RARE 3PLY 50'S GRETSCH 14" FLOOR TOM ! Now that is one of my Holy Grail drums....You rarely see them for sale and when you do you're looking at well over $1000.

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Posted on 12 years ago
#1
Posts: 10714 Threads: 579

Sweet scores Gary.

Your drummers not much good is he!? What you need is someone that's as good as me. ! John Henry Bonham !!
Posted on 12 years ago
#2
Posts: 5356 Threads: 87

Really cool stuff and quite a haul. I was wondering if you were going to make a 14" FT. Those Luddy brushes are cool. I had a pair of those and remember the red knobby rubba handles. Yes Sir

Glenn.

Not a guru just havin fun with some old dusty drums.
Posted on 12 years ago
#3
Posts: 2713 Threads: 555

I will make the decision on the 14" tom project once I get a chance to look at the drum more carefully. I don't want to do it if the drum can be saved and brought back to life as it was - a nice single headed cocktail drum. Maybe I should go double bass and copy Mr. Bellson's kit (huge tom between the bass drums) - kidding of course, but it does look like he had a 'cocktail-like' drum there.

The white Ludwig brushes in the photo (in the case) are sweet. I played them last night and they have a very nice solid feel. The brush wires are fantastic = must be the metal they used back then because the modern ones just do not have that feel/weight. My Brushfire brushes, as nice as they are, do not seem as good as these ole Ludwigs.

The Ludwig drum does have a stamp inside the shell - Arpril 14 1967.

From FFR428

Really cool stuff and quite a haul. I was wondering if you were going to make a 14" FT. Those Luddy brushes are cool. I had a pair of those and remember the red knobby rubba handles. Yes Sir

Posted on 12 years ago
#4
Posts: 5356 Threads: 87

Gary, thanks for the info on the brushes. I was going to grab some new ones but I'll hold out for a vintage pair. Glenn.

Glenn.

Not a guru just havin fun with some old dusty drums.
Posted on 12 years ago
#5
Posts: 2713 Threads: 555

Glenn

The Brushfire brushes are great and I use them a lot. I think these days they are the closest to what the old full vintage brushes are. I don't think you can go wrong with the Brushfires. But, if you like the feel/weight of the vintage ones - ya for sure - hold out for them. I'm not saying all old brushes are better than the new ones - but I have had a half dozen or so modern brushes in the past 5 years and they do not hold up or feel anywhere near as good as the vintage ones......with the exception of the Brushfires.

That could be just me though so it's best to try as many as you can of course.

From FFR428

Gary, thanks for the info on the brushes. I was going to grab some new ones but I'll hold out for a vintage pair. Glenn.

Posted on 12 years ago
#6
Posts: 2713 Threads: 555

The finish on this drum is almost perfect - it is going to be difficult to 'cut' it down to a 14 tom it's such a nice drum - on the outside. The inside = a different story.....some ply rot and separation in the bottom half of the drum.

The leg supports were so badly rusted I got all the screws out but one - it snapped off in the chrome barrel leg support. It can be drilled out and tapped for a new screw not trouble.

Has anyone got any extra wing nuts for these nodal leg supports?

There were none with this drum.?

Posted on 12 years ago
#7
Posts: 5356 Threads: 87

Thanks for the info on the Brushfire brushes Gary. I'll check those out.

Glenn.

Not a guru just havin fun with some old dusty drums.
Posted on 12 years ago
#8
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