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Gretsch Black Nitron with a Round Badge

black nitron gretsch hardware round badge toms
Posts: 4 Threads: 2

Dear Members -

I recently acquired another Gretsch kit in black nitron. It's a player's kit and needs a total going over, which we're doing because they've been a bit neglected. The size are 20/16/13. Until now, all my bass drums have been 22" so, when I saw this kit with the smaller 20" bass I had to have it.

I'm here looking for small toms (12 & 14) in black nitron,

as well and a few tone controls, L-bracket cymbal arm,

and floor tom legs from the late 50s - late 60s era.

Thanks to all,

Love this forum!

Posted on 10 years ago
#1
Posts: 877 Threads: 324

Congrats on the find. I can tell you from experience that the 14" will be a really tough search. Unless you manage to find one in any wrap to do a rewrap... Either way, if one shows up, be prepared to spend some serious coin. :)

Posted on 10 years ago
#2
Posts: 3088 Threads: 326

Groove-drummer - keep in mind that you have what Gretsch listed as the 'Bop Kit' in catalogs from the early '60s. Check out the link on this site to Vintage Drum Guide and the Gretsch catalogs. Also, the 20,13,16 setup was very popular at the time. I was watching a video of the Dave Brubeck Quartet recently in which Joe Morello was using a Ludwig in the same configuration. His normal bass was a 22 bass, but this kit had the 20 and sounded great.

My understanding is that gloss black carried by the wrap distributors today, Precision Drum in particular, is identical in nature to black nitron (Gretsch) and jet black (Rogers). This was something that Jack Lawton had mentioned once upon a time. I have Rogers jet black kit that had a big crack along the bottom and up the side of the bass. The kit was otherwise in excellent condition. I had the bass wrapped again and you cannot tell the difference between the drums.

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHdU5sHigYQ"]Dave Brubeck - Take Five ( Original Video) - YouTube[/ame]

Posted on 10 years ago
#3
Posts: 3088 Threads: 326

Sorry, wrong clip. That on has a 22 bass.

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9GgmGLPbWU"]Dave Brubeck Quartet - "Blue Rondo à la Turk," live - YouTube[/ame]

Posted on 10 years ago
#4
Posts: 4 Threads: 2

Man is Morello cool or what?!

Thanks for that!

The Brubeck family is/was big in Westport where we live, although his kids may have moved to nearby towns.

Don't think my 20/16/13 technically qualifies as a bop kit, you know I had a 20/14/12 in Black Nitron years ago, but foolishly sold it cuz I prefered the other larger rock size Gretsch kits i had. Clearly I sold the wrong kit!

So, the reason for this latest purchase and hunt for orphan BN toms.

I'm about 85% along in the restoration. Fitted new ginger glass hoop inlay, swapped in 2 tone controls for the floor tom, swapped in different heads. Thankfully, the last owner has 'em for 20 years, and took pretty good care of them

Posted on 10 years ago
#5
Posts: 4 Threads: 2

no kidding AtlantaDrumGuy -

Finding a 14x14 in anything round badge could be almost impossible - at least for reasonable money - but i certainly would consider a rewrap.

I just got a sample of black gloss from precision drum in the mail and it's very close to the black nitron - but a lot more shine cuz it's obviously newer

Any thoughts on how to get it dulled properly?

Cheers!

Posted on 10 years ago
#6
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