As it is a "Rock and Roll" outfit> (20,12,12,16),I believe the drums came RB,but as I said.I think someone drilled for mic cords.......

Have a Great Gretsch Day !

I also hope you wre not offended here,its not the way this forum works.I see an attempt to help you identify your kit.As a Gretsch lover,im very curious about your kit and very interested in it as well,but an asking price of 5k or close to it is going to bring questions.If you say they came that way from the factory,and i have no intention of disputing that with you,you have many Gretsch experts here VERY curious and baffled...I trust you will see it that way....No low blows intended.

Great Post Wayne, more of what I expect from a forum of this nature.

I can assure you all , I purchased this set from Groth Music company off the show room floor brand spanking new in 1967 with the vent holes already in the drums. I think it highly unlikely the music store retrofitted this set before selling it new to me new. Logically it came from the Gretsch company the way it was sold to me.

I believe this was Long before drum mikes came in to common use. I recorded in Chicago in 1967 at Columbia Records, even in a state -of-the-art recording studio, only a boom overhead mike was used in that time period.

To suggest holes were drilled in for mikes shows the limited perspective some self proclaimed experts here have.

Trust me on this, I have never altered the shells of this set other than the removal of the moonglow coverings , replaced with a 10 coat lacquer finish.

Please!

OK, let's get past the vent holes. Even tho they may be original, you have still altered the originality of these drums. Although they are still gorgeous, the original wrap, regardless it's faded condition, is still removed. That has a huge impact on this type of drum set. We are not talking about MIJ, or even Ludwigs and Slingerlands, which are a dime a dozen, regardless how much the collector loves originality in them, pales in comparison to the factor of importance placed on Gretsch drums by collectors.

Again, I am now in any way trying to be unfriendly, just infomrative. I have a serious character flaw, in that I rarely will pull punches. I tell it like I see it, even if is not rosy and shiny. Just truthful.

I do wish you good luck with this sale, I just see the factors from a collectibilty point. I have been around antiques and collectors all my years, for a good 40+ years(my mother was a dealer). I know what they look for and what turns them off. Whether it is porcelain, Carnival Glass, dressers....primitve furniture...I hope you get my point.

Rusty, please don't take offense...no harm meant. Glad you're here, welcome to the forum.

Understand that we deal with this sort of thing on a daily basis, and we spend a lot of our time trying to help people determine what is or isn't original, since it has such a significant bearing on the value. Like all vintage/antique markets, in the vintage drum world originality is everything.

Among the members here, we have seen thousands of RB Gretsch sets, all original, and not one single one has had vent holes in the toms. No vent holes in the toms is part of the Gretsch RB sound, so it sets off a flag when there are vent holes.

Also, understand that we constantly see strange things, especially on ebay, where the seller claims everything is all original, like an 80's Ludwig strainer on a 40's Slingerland drum. So this is where we're coming from...we are skeptical right off the bat. We aren't disputing you personally, since you obviously know the drums better than anyone...we're just "calling it like we see it."

For the record, it is very possible that a music store drilled the vent holes. In the 60's, it was completely normal to see store-done modifications on drums...we commonly see mixed-brand hardware on sets, like a Rogers mount on a Camco bass drum, or a Slingerland mount on a Gretsch kit. These were not factory done, but were services provided on a custom basis by dealers. This would be a more likely scenario for the vent holes than Gretsch doing it at the factory.

But, for the sake of argument, let's say Gretsch did drill the vent holes. Let's say, that for whatever reason, Gretsch decided to make one single set, out of the thousands they made, with vent holes in the toms. Who knows, maybe someone custom ordered them that way from Gretsch, and then never came to pick them up from the store. IF the original wrap was still present, and it looked like the grommets were period correct and had never been messed with, AND you had some documentation, such as a photo of the set new at the store, or a statement from Gretsch, it would be an interesting novelty. Unfortunately, because the wrap has been removed, even if the vent holes are original, without proof they are nothing more than extra holes. And the fact that the wrap has been removed is such a big deal to collectors that it supersedes the originality of the vent holes.

It's a beautiful kit, and a very well done refinish job! I don't know what you are asking for them, but based on years of watching ebay auctions, I would place the value at around $850 to $1250, and more toward the high end of that figure if you are willing to ship internationally.

Thanks,

Bill

Rusty...mlvibes is pretty much on the money regarding the value.With a combination of missing wrap,which would have been cool to see,and economic conditions,i,d offer you 1k,but please dont be insulted,its just the way things are at the moment.

Thanks all for your courtesy and in-depth comments.

At one time there seemed a superabundance of old Gretsch drums around to be had. It's getting nearly impossible to find any today.

I will continue to hang on to them, they are in a good home now, the museum where thousands of people young and old alike get to see them daily, kids love them !

The collectable market is very soft right now, however money really is not the point as I can always let the museum acquisition them and I take a tax write-off for the amount I'm asking.

The holes will always remain a mystery, at least you got to see a real piece of Minnesota's Rock'N'Roll History! The original Epicurean drumset.

Regards All,

Keep up the good work !

Lesson Learned "Historical Correctness" it not always what it seems !

Do you have any recordings of that kit or the Epicurean,s from back in the day?I love hearing that old music.What type of music did y,all play back then?