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Gretsch USA Rosewood Snare Date Identification

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Hi,

I recently picked up a Gretsch USA rosewood snare 14x6.5. I'm interested in trying to date this drum. It seems like it could be from anywhere between the 80's and now.

I think it is missing it muffler and part of the strainer is missing.

Cheers

Posted on 6 years ago
#1
Posted on 6 years ago
#2
Posts: 2010 Threads: 19
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My guess would be that it is from the mid to late 80s because it had a muffler installed . But you're right, this drum could have been made almost any time from then to whenever it was they changed the badge (mid 2000's I think). Sometimes there is date information on the tag inside.

Posted on 6 years ago
#3
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Stop Sign badge dates it to the 70's. It's missing the snare rim gates, tone control and parts of the butt plate are not original, but it looks to be a really decent player. Enjoy.

John

Too many great drums to list here!

http://www.walbergandauge.com/VintageVenue.htm
Posted on 6 years ago
#4
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From K.O.

My guess would be that it is from the mid to late 80s because it had a muffler installed . But you're right, this drum could have been made almost any time from then to whenever it was they changed the badge (mid 2000's I think). Sometimes there is date information on the tag inside.

I thought it was a Stop Sign badge???

John

Too many great drums to list here!

http://www.walbergandauge.com/VintageVenue.htm
Posted on 6 years ago
#5
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Great, thanks for the info, its a real pain trying to find definitive info on this snare elswhere. I was actually just given this snare so I'm going to restore it and get it playing again.

Posted on 6 years ago
#6
Posts: 2010 Threads: 19
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Square badge with the USAs on it. Was introduced in the early 80's (briefly dropped in favor of the "Drop G" stopsign badge) and then brought back and used all through the rest of the 80's, thru the 90's, and on into around 2005 or so (I think). At around that point, before they went back to a revised stopsign design (and ultimately back to the round badge) they changed it so it didn't have the USA's on it, replacing that with "since 1883" on each side.

There was a pewter colored version used on the USA Maple series and also the earlier Broadkaster series. Another silver version, blank in the area where the USAs were, was used on imported drums.

So this particular badge had a long run and therefore isn't particularly helpful in dating Gretsch drums. A drum with that badge could be from anytime between 1980 and (roughly) 2005.

As I mentioned above, the muffler would lead me to think this was on the older end of the spectrum but it was possible to order a drum with a muffler installed all through that time frame, although it probably didn't happen a lot.

What is the color and information on the paper tag inside (if there is one)?

Posted on 6 years ago
#7
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This is all the is written on the inside of the drum. Cheers

Posted on 6 years ago
#8
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Also, could you please tell me if the following parts will fit the drum:

Gretsch G5540 Tone Control

Gretsch G5375 Lightning Snare Drum Throw Off - Chrome

Gretsch G5379 Lightning Snare Drum Butt Plate - Chrome

Cast Snare Butt Plate - Satin - B-3ST

Thanks for all the info thus far and for anymore I get! Very helpful and will allow me to bring this drum back to life. Also, I need to replace some tension rods, isnthere a special size I’ll need or will I just be able to go to a drum shop and get them?

Cheers!

Posted on 6 years ago
#9
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