Thoughts on Gretsch 'rock and roll' round badge kit

[zeph]

Im going to buy it, the seller passed on some more photos (i can't inspect in person) and it looks like the kick drum is the most worn piece on the kit but i think the price is still right. It has a few non original claws (so who wants to sell me some?!), some wear and tear like a strip of wrap on the hoop has come off, a little sun fading and the only worrying thing is that it looks like a some moisture got into the felt strip and mould developed, hopefully the damp hasn't mucked up the wood down there too much. picture attached:

[zeph]

from the front:

[KungFuGrip]

Originally Posted by Marty Black

Thanks for the Monkees pic, Idrum4fun! Pink Champagne Sparkle was my favorite '60s color also (on my Kents). Odd setup of Mickey Dolenz - left handed, sitting sideways. How did he ever work the bass drum pedal?

It's been a while since I read up on the Monkees, but my memory is that Mickey couldn't play at all when they started filming (and shooting publicity photos). They sent him on a crash course so he could first look the part and then play on tour.

FWIW, my 60s RB Gretsch set is interesting. The kick has the holes for a rail mount, but it was presumably fitted at the dealer with a Ludwig post and the toms only have holes for the Ludwig mounts. I wonder how common that was.

[zeph]

I was wondering if perhaps these aren't the wrong claws but just had different sorts on each side of the drum, I think that adds up numbers wise and I guess they got mixed up somewhere along the line changing heads

[vintagemore2000]

Some of them are slingerland not Gretsch.

[Dan Boucher]

One word of caution: Gretsch drums in that era do not have reinforcing rings on the inside. Those toms are relatively heavy owing to the cast hoops and double tone controls. If the bass was used without the front hoop on, sometimes the front of the drum will be out of round because the shell couldn't support the load without the assistance of a head bound to that side. Couple that with the tendency to have a head fitting issue because of slightly oversized shells, you may have a little trouble putting a front head on and getting the tuning you want. You might ask the seller to confirm the drum is in round on both ends.

Also, it looks as if there is a Ludwig mount on the bass drum.

Beyond that, they are cool drums.

[Purdie Shuffle]

Originally Posted by idrum4fun

Hi zeph!

http://www.vintagedrumguide.com/imag...r/gretsch4.jpg

-Mark

Mark - Just a couple of side notes... I get a huge kick every time I see the prices in the old 60's catalogs. A hundred bucks for a 'new' Gretsch chrome over brass snare drum, a hundred and thirty six dollars for a stinking new Gretsch 20" bass drum etc. Ah, the good ole days!

The other comment I wanted to make about vintage Gretsch drums is, you need to mike em either in-studio/practice room and especially if you're going to play them out. Grretsch drums have a great sound when tuned right, but they have no volume/projection. It has to do with the big round-over bearing edges they used. Brings out/enhances the low and middle end of the drums sound range, but because most of it is in the low registers un-miked the drums easily get lost in the mix. They don't 'cut' very well as a rule. Great Gretsch sound though... when AMPLIFIED.

John

[airborneSFC]

For some reason the rock and roll configuration never commands a lot of money. That being said I think they are great setups.

[zeph]

This one is 1300US, no snare and the kick pictured is the only rough looking drum, the rest are a little grubby but no damage or mods, Good price?

[andlours]

Seems a little high to me, but I'm not really a Gretsch guy.