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Gretsch "Lightning Throwoff" exist on RB snare?

Posts: 4 Threads: 2

Hey guys,

First of all, im new to this site, and love it. Everyone provides so much great insight! So, a big thanks to everyone that takes the time to help educate!

There's a round badge kit out there im looking to purchase.... Everything looks original and legit, but im curious about a couple things... Did gretsch sell RB snares at any point with the lightning throw offs (the square looking throw with the lever in the center)? Ive seen one or two of these on older snares, but they are only the lightning throws that have the lever to the left of the throw off, instead of centered.

Also, in the same kit, the kick is virgin with no rail mount, and the tom tom has no mounts as well of course... Was this common?

Any thoughts on this? I hope i have the terminology correct for the throw. Let me know if theres any confusion there.

Thanks!

Posted on 11 years ago
#1
Posts: 10714 Threads: 579

See if this helps ? http://www.vintagedrumguide.com/gretsch_snare_drums_catalog_pages.htm

Your drummers not much good is he!? What you need is someone that's as good as me. ! John Henry Bonham !!
Posted on 11 years ago
#2
Posts: 4 Threads: 2

I saw that, but the problem is theres such a large time gap between '64 and '77. The throw on the '64 snares are close but the lever is on the left whereas the one im looking for, the lever is centered.

I found on another forum, copied below, that there are multiple eras of this same throw im looking for, and the first was in late '69, and the second was in '74, so it is possible some RB snares were made with the first era lightning throws...

http://www.drumforum.org/index.php?/topic/6201-gretsch-lightning-throw-off/

Posted on 11 years ago
#3
Posts: 750 Threads: 69

Yes, there were some round badge drums with the lightning throw-offs. I had a blue sparkle version several years ago.

Posted on 11 years ago
#4
Posts: 586 Threads: 22

The Lightning throw with the throw arm on the left appeared on round badge drums starting in about 1967/68 when it replaced the Microsensitive. It was on model 4157 and 4160 snares. The version with the center throw arm was not introduced until about 1973, after the stop sign badge had been in use for several years. It seems likely that the throw on your snare is not original.

Pictures would help. A serial number from the paper label inside the drum would help, too.

Collecting information about the following for ongoing research projects:
Gretsch drums with serial numbers,
Ludwig Keystone and B/O badge drums with serial numbers and date stamps,
Ludwig Standards from 1968-73, and
Ludwigs with paper labels from 1971-72
www.GretschDrumDatingGuide.com
Posted on 11 years ago
#5
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