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Gretsch RB Aqua Satin Flame

Posts: 109 Threads: 10

I bought these at the old Mars Music in Bridgeton, MO back in 2001. It was a 3-piece 13/16/20 in aqua satin flame. The rail mount had been removed, and either a Ludwig or Tama mount had been installed leaving some massive holes. The mount was no longer on these when I bought them, but besides the rail mount & diamond plate, they were complete.

I was going to just plug the holes and recover the 3-piece, when an orphan yellow satin flame 16" floor tom showed up on ebay shortly after I picked these up.

So, I bought the orphan and refinished them all in newer aqua satin flame. The color and design is slightly off from the original, but it's pretty close. Besides, with the holes, I figured I was doing this kit a service. Oh, and the orphan's wrap what split and pretty bad also.

Shortly after finishing the set, I found a 6-lug snare on ebay that was complete but the wrap had already been removed. I figured I needed to add it, and had left over wrap to refinish it.

I played this kit on & off in a local band for about 6 or 7 years, until I moved for work. I didn't install a rail or cymbal holder on the bass, or the diamond plate on the tom, but picked them up off of ebay over the years. I used a snare stand for the tom.

While living in Charleston and no longer playing in a band, I figured I'd put is on ebay and see what I could get. Before I did, I installed the mounts on the bass & tom.

It sold way quicker than I thought it would, and I had a lengthy description of all work that I had done to it.

By the way, it had all of the paper tags, and when I plugged the holes I painted the interiors to match. You really couldn't tell there had ever been any work done.

After it sold, I really wished I had kept it because I'll never get another Gretsch RB.

Thanks,

Steve

Posted on 6 years ago
#1
Posts: 55 Threads: 12

I've got a most of a RB kit in those colors. 14x5.5", 12x8" and 20x14" with a Gretsch New Classic 14x14" in Merlot sparkle. Got the bass and the tom together and there's no extra holes in either although the rail mount is missing the clip for the tom so I have the tom on a snare stand for now. The snare was in great shape except the hardware looked very pitted but it all cleaned up great. Again no extra holes. Put a vintage AMRAWCO Standard Calfskin head on the snare and it's a match made in percussion heaven! Aint never getting rid of them.

[img]https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4572/38980914362_3c3d7597a0_z.jpg[/img]Untitled by Rick S., on Flickr

[img]https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4597/38980904152_0eeb9812c9_z.jpg[/img]Untitled by Rick S., on Flickr

[img]https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4518/24152877517_c2bb9fcdb6_z.jpg[/img]Untitled by Rick S., on Flickr

Posted on 6 years ago
#2
Posts: 109 Threads: 10

From Pythonman

I've got a most of a RB kit in those colors. 14x5.5", 12x8" and 20x14" with a Gretsch New Classic 14x14" in Merlot sparkle. Got the bass and the tom together and there's no extra holes in either although the rail mount is missing the clip for the tom so I have the tom on a snare stand for now. The snare was in great shape except the hardware looked very pitted but it all cleaned up great. Again no extra holes. Put a vintage AMRAWCO Standard Calfskin head on the snare and it's a match made in percussion heaven! Aint never getting rid of them.[img]https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4572/38980914362_3c3d7597a0_z.jpg[/img]Untitled by Rick S., on Flickr[img]https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4597/38980904152_0eeb9812c9_z.jpg[/img]Untitled by Rick S., on Flickr[img]https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4518/24152877517_c2bb9fcdb6_z.jpg[/img]Untitled by Rick S., on Flickr

Don't. You will regret it, just like I do! DOH

Posted on 6 years ago
#3
Posts: 55 Threads: 12

Don't regret what you did. You learned some things along the way. What I learned is I'm through buying old drums that were modified from original with extra holes or needed repairs to anything other than possibly a rewrap. As long as they've not been messed with and have decent bearing edges I'm interested in them. Also, there's tons of old Gretsch's out there like mine or better waiting to be had still. Them old Jasper shells are different to what Gretsch has been making as of late. I'm surprised how much I like how this particular RB snare sounds! I've had two much more recent USA Maple Custom snares and an early 80s Gretsch Jasper wood snare and none of them sounded all that wonderful. I actually expected this RB to be along the same lines or worse and it turns out it sounds real good. Sounds like vintage Art Blakey or Mel Lewis or Philly Joe to me. I will cherish it always. The bass and the matching tom have the historic vintage tones and the FT although from a different era and possibly different source of wood fits in perfectly with the rest of the kit. I am probably going to go all vintage or newer calfskin with this kit as the snare has a sound and a feel that is amazing with the old head on it.

Posted on 6 years ago
#4
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