Gretsch ID help needed

[french22]

In my country we would say "OMFG!!"

Rick, that's a master piece of analysis you provided to me. Merci beaucoup!

It's definitely really nice from you to have shared your knowledge in such a detailed way.

Only the name of the lady who assembled the drum is missing now and I wouldn't be so surprised to read that one of you has the complete listing of Gretsch Drums employees to match with S/N.


Now the ball is in my park: I have to disassemble this kit for the "cleaning of the century", change heads and provide you with some nice pictures.

Rick, thanks so much again for your help.

[KCDrumDad]

You are quite welcome. Enjoy your cleaning effort and be sure to post pictures.

[AZBill]

Just wanted to ad that I just picked up another 70's walnut kit (22/14/14/16/18) with a matching 5x14, 10-lug snare. Sadly, the BD has no interior tag. All tags are in the 23K & 24K serial number range and are the "full tag" type. The drums need some major cleaning and a going over.

TGIF!!

PS - I'd love to see pics of the various tom-mounts Gretsch ws offering from '70 to '79. Was it just the two tpyes (hex/ball and slot and tab)?

[KCDrumDad]

Bill,

Please send me some of the specifics on your new acquisition so that I can include your drums in the log that I have been compiling. I look for model and serial numbers, sizes, colors/wraps, throw type, label type, color of ink used for model number, model number handwritten or stamped, and lug casing mount screw type (round or hex).

Post here or mail me at Rick at GretschDrumDatingGuide dot com

Thanks.
Rick

[AZBill]

Sure, Rick. I'll put together the info from both of my kits and forward via e-mail. The 2 mounted toms I just received have consecutive SN's. I was very surprised. Glad to help your project out.

Bill

[french22]

Here it is: I finished the cleaning today. Lots of scratches but I was able somehow to attenuate them a bit (just a little bit)



Unfortunately, pictures are only in artificial light as it has been raining cats and dogs for days

Thanks again for all your help

[KCDrumDad]

Looks nice. Good work on the cleanup.
Rick

[french22]

Today was the first day without rain since a long time (and no, I'm not living in SEA) so I took the old lady out for a few pictures.

She was reunited with a younger 1981 6.5" snare for the photo shoot.

Scratches aren't too visible in daylight but they are still there despite the heavy polishing work: abrasive compound with felt disk on hand drill, then mild abrasive compound with light felt disk, then polishing compound and, to finish, Teflon wax.

Have you any better process to "revive" a black nitron? I could change it but importing 3 sheets from Delmar in EU, will cost an arm and two legs.

[AZBill]

Wow!! They cleaned up very nice, F22! Question: Your BD t-rods and legs are very different than the two kits I have. Were those changed somewhere along the line? (Rick, are those OE?)

Thanks,

B

[french22]

Thanks AZBill

Yes you're right, they are indeed different:
- T-Rods and claws are all Rogers. Don't ask me why
Finding 20 Gretsch T-Rod / claws here in France will be a pain in the back: Gretsch hasn't been widely distributed in the past and there is very little second hand hardware going around. I haven't seen any repro neither.

- Drum Legs are 100% Tama SuperStar ones. The previous owner surely wasn't impressed by the original "insect" legs so he put bigger ones. I've lost history accuracy but gained more stability.