Re-wrapping is cool and all but you have the thing where the wrap is new and the rims/lugs etc. aren't. It can look kinda weird to me. Plus all that history or "mojo" that you lose. And the new wraps just don't look like the originals...

As always it's personal taste. Again I'd have no problem just gluing down the floor tom flap as it faces the player anyway and to me would actually look kinda cool. :)

I hope you are able to get this kit....I mean since there's no way I'm going to get it :)

Mitch

I'm still weighing it up. I want it, I've always wanted an old Gretsch kit and I'm sure I could make it beautiful. Even at £500 for me it is a significant investment, so who knows right now.

Well, I went and downloaded that first picture...just so I have it, y'know.

Also noticed looking at the ad this time it says "recently rescued from an outhouse" - if that means the same thing there as it does here you might want to inquire about the kit's aromatic state...:)

I hope it smells great and you end up getting it for a good price.

Mitch

I'd completely missed the out-house thing. I imagine that's just an out building, nothing too smelly! Still it's something to bear in mind in terms of damp. If so is there something I should be looking for? The guy has invited me over to look at the kit so I might do that before buying.

That was my thoughts, that he meant a outside storage bldg. I would go give it a look before buying, it may help you to do a face to face deal also.

Okay, "out building" whew! That's good. But yes look for dampness/water damage on the bottom of the bass drum shell. It looks dirty in the pics but not damaged so that's good. Basically dampness could cause ply separation so I guess remove a head from each tom, front head off bass drum, and check bearing edges.

If you have pictures of your kids or pets I'd take them along and show up with coffee and donuts or tea and scones, make a friend and then do a deal...just a thought...:)

Mitch

It didn't smell! Bearing edges were perfect, no dampness and no ply separation. Wrap coming away at the seems on the floor tom and on the bass drum, might clean up nice. I would be tempted to re-wrap though. All hardware present and correct.

Now, do I do it?

There's something odd about the rail consolette, which appears to me to be back to front, unless the badge is the wrong way round, and that cymbal post certainly isn't original unless the tom tom fitting was originally on the other side of the bass drum ....

Even then, it's not where I would expect to see it. Almost looks like a conversion for a left-hander.

That said, it's what it is, and 500 quid is probably fair for an early 70s stop sign kit: I wouldn't let mine go for less than £1750 for the 3 drums, but it is absolutely mint - restored by the UK's No1 man and with an immaculate provenance - 1 owner since new!

Well I bought the Club Date kit pictured for $350.00 CDN, and it was knackered, as you say. We're in the same position when it comes to these kits - we're not in the US, where they are more plentiful and thus much cheaper.

So I would say yes, go for it. Were you able to get the price down even a bit?

Mitch

I had a look inside the drum and it didn't look like there were any additional holes drilled, so I'm not sure what happened there. To be honest it didn't look like any work had been done to it but I'm not an expert so wouldn't know what I'm doing.

He'd happily take £400 with my old Yammy DTXpress III as part exchange. I think this is the closest I'm going to get to get a stop sign kit. I'd love it to be immaculate but sadly I'm not sure I can afford that.

One thing that is worrying me is the wrap and how much it would cost to get it replaced. The chrome looks like it would clean up quite nicely.