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Gretsch RB Bop Clone

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Maybe this is cheating for the gallery, you guys tell me. I built this kit from test grade Keller 6-ply shells because they're the same ply count and thickness as 60's Jasper shells. The whole thing is done to 60's bop kit specs.

All hardware is vintage Gretsch, with the exception of the floor tom rims (modern generic), the spur heads (vintage MIJ), and bolts for the floor tom brackets. This includes every tension rod, washer and screw. The bass drum badge is a reproduction I had made. 60's bearing edges, of course.

I tried to take every possible measure to make the kit look authentic. This included dry brushing the interiors silver and roughing them up to look old, lightly staining the bearing edges for an aged appearance, and reusing the 22" moth-eaten felt on the Pratt muffler I had.

I still have some perfecting to do, getting or making faux paper tags, getting 14" Gretsch rims and making a snare. Eventually the only tell that it's not a rewrapped original bop kit should be that the shells aren't oversized. Though if the wrap is taken off all the layout markings are there.

Played them last night for the first time. I've never owned a real bop kit to compare to, but these do sound great!

60's Gretsch Progressive Jazz Green Sparkle
'61 Slingerland Bop Kit Sea Green Rewrap
Round Badge Bop Kit Clone Red Sparkle
'67 Pearl President 13/16/22 Red Oyster Pearl
Posted on 8 years ago
#1
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Nice kit and a job well done... excellent details.

But, I'm sorry... a Keller shell no matter how it's made will NEVER sound as good and warm as any 50 year old Jasper shells... it's just not the same... I'm just saying... and yes, you are cheating because the gallery is reserved for vintage kits not new ones.

~ A true Gretsch & Camco fanatic ~
Posted on 8 years ago
#2
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Kit looks great - my concern would be; why do you need to treat the inner shells, and particularly fabricate the paper tags, unless you have intentions of misrepresenting the kit...? To the casual observer, I think you've done more than enough for appearances sake.

LOGOS - Vinyl Bass Drum Brand Logo Decals
http://www.ebay.ca/usr/barrhavendrum...p2047675.l2559

Barrhaven Drum Guy
Posted on 8 years ago
#3
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Very nice looking drum set. You did a great job. I doesn't bother me if you put it in the gallery, just accurately represent it in your comments.

Posted on 8 years ago
#4
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I have an non-misrepresented RB fake 14" I bought on ebay, basically it was $150 for $200 worth of hardware and a free shell thrown in. Sounds pretty good & Gretschy, but I have enough legit floors that I don't think I'll need it. I painted the inside and stamped "FAKE" with letter dies by the badge tack. If I put a paper tag in it (and I probably won't), it would say "THAT GREAT GROTSCH SOUND?" or something, and "REPRO" as the model name.

I don't necessarily have a problem with DIY-cuz-you-can't-buy (hell, I'm working on a gigantic pile of it right now), but I'd make it easily identifiable as such, in a way that would be difficult to disguise by unscrupulous sellers down the road. I wouldn't misrepresent it, but somebody using my hard work to rip somebody off would really chap my buns.

Posted on 8 years ago
#5
Posts: 1296 Threads: 208
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Fabulous! Now make one in "polished maple" and sell it to Osahead2!Clapping Happy2

Never play it the same way once.
Posted on 8 years ago
#6
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From orangemi

Fabulous! Now make one in "polished maple" and sell it to Osahead2!Clapping Happy2

Ha, low blow!

60's Gretsch Progressive Jazz Green Sparkle
'61 Slingerland Bop Kit Sea Green Rewrap
Round Badge Bop Kit Clone Red Sparkle
'67 Pearl President 13/16/22 Red Oyster Pearl
Posted on 8 years ago
#7
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From DaddyNowhere

Kit looks great - my concern would be; why do you need to treat the inner shells, and particularly fabricate the paper tags, unless you have intentions of misrepresenting the kit...? To the casual observer, I think you've done more than enough for appearances sake.

The kit is a portfolio piece for me. If I do decide to sell it I'll certainly represent it accurately. It was partially an exercise in attempting perfection, and partially just because I want a bop kit but I'm not willing to shell out the dough.

If I were intending to misrepresent the kit I wouldn't have shown you guys, and posted it to the Facebook restoration group, and also Reddit.

60's Gretsch Progressive Jazz Green Sparkle
'61 Slingerland Bop Kit Sea Green Rewrap
Round Badge Bop Kit Clone Red Sparkle
'67 Pearl President 13/16/22 Red Oyster Pearl
Posted on 8 years ago
#8
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From CaptainCrunch

...somebody using my hard work to rip somebody off would really chap my buns.

Most everyone into vintage drums in my town knows me, and I have a reputation to maintain. And when a kit I bring to a gig catches another drummer's eye, I'd much rather talk to them about all the work I put into it than how much money it might be worth.

But, this is a fair point about buyers down the road. Maybe if and when I do the tags I'll mark them as repros there.

60's Gretsch Progressive Jazz Green Sparkle
'61 Slingerland Bop Kit Sea Green Rewrap
Round Badge Bop Kit Clone Red Sparkle
'67 Pearl President 13/16/22 Red Oyster Pearl
Posted on 8 years ago
#9
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I know there will be strong disagreement about this, but based on my experiences I believe that the key tonal elements of a round badge kit are, in order of importance:

Whatever heads you use

The unique bearing edge contours

The die cast rims

The non-ported toms

The Jasper shell shape, i.e. no re-rings, 6-ply, thickness

The hardware on the shell, its weight, shape, orientation

The Jasper shell wood, maple and gum

The age of the shell (insignificant sonically compared to the above items)

I didn't put it on the list because I'm not sure, but I suspect that the oversized diameter of the shells actually has a lot more to do with the sound than the fact that the wood is 50+ years old. Oversized shells would seem to make more head contact than smaller ones, in a similar way to the reverse roundover contour causing more head contact.

And I'm convinced that the silver "sealer" does nothing; the reverence for it is just people hearing with their eyes.

60's Gretsch Progressive Jazz Green Sparkle
'61 Slingerland Bop Kit Sea Green Rewrap
Round Badge Bop Kit Clone Red Sparkle
'67 Pearl President 13/16/22 Red Oyster Pearl
Posted on 8 years ago
#10
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