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Gretsch snare ID help

Posts: 37 Threads: 10

I bought this 14" x 5" used in the 80's. I don't see any markings. It seems to be COB because a frig magnet doesn't stick but has a little attraction. Unoriginal throwoff, but I might have the parts stored.

Can you tell:

* What era/model?

* What are those 'isolation washers'?

** Is there a decent, cheap, and easy way to clean it up without fully disassembling it?

>>>>

And I get "Reported Attack Page" warnings when I click on some of the "Important Web Site Pages" links (using Firefox). What's up with that?

Posted on 8 years ago
#1
Posts: 1427 Threads: 66

Best to pull the lugs and strainer to clan it up. The extra time is worth it.

I would suggest CLR to soak the lugs and tension rods in. The shell can be cleaned with windex or other glass cleaner. Once clean, wax all the chrome with a good carnauba car wax. The hard last not the liquid stuff (I use 1-grand blitz wax).

Reassemble and enjoy!

I don't have a specific model for you but I think that 4-point strainer is correct for my old wood round badge shell.

Cobalt Blue Yamaha Recording Custom 20b-22b-8-10-12-13-15-16f-18f
Red Ripple '70's Yamaha D-20 20b-12-14f
Piano Black Yamaha Recording Custom Be-Bop kit 18b-10-14f
Snares:
Yamaha COS SDM5; Yamaha Cobalt Blue RC 5-1/2x14; Gretsch round badge WMP; 1972 Ludwig Acrolite; 1978 Ludwig Super Sensitive; Cobalt Blue one-off Montineri; Yamaha Musashi 6.5X13 Oak; cheap 3.5X13 brass piccolo
Posted on 8 years ago
#2
Posts: 10714 Threads: 579

It is model # 4160, brass shell.

Your drummers not much good is he!? What you need is someone that's as good as me. ! John Henry Bonham !!
Posted on 8 years ago
#3
Posts: 37 Threads: 10

Would a 4160 come with a Renown butt plate (I'm sure that's original) versus the fish one? Maybe it's an early 4160 since they used leftover Renown parts? Were there any Renown COB snares?

This one (excepting the 1st picture) has the Renown butt plate with a Lightning strainer.

https://nickhopkindrums.wordpress.com/2016/03/30/gretsch-4160-snare-drum/

I found out the drum key fits in the vent hole!

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Posted on 8 years ago
#4
Posts: 10714 Threads: 579

From sgtlethargic

Would a 4160 come with a Renown butt plate (I'm sure that's original) versus the fish one, Lightning, or Microsensitive? Maybe it's an early 4160 since they used leftover Renown parts? Were there any Renown COB snares?This one (excepting the 1st picture) has the Renown butt plate with a __?__ strainer.https://nickhopkindrums.wordpress.com/2016/03/30/gretsch-4160-snare-drum/I found out the drum key fits in the vent hole!

Here give this a look. [ame]http://www.drumarchive.com/Gretsch/Gretsch_66.pdf[/ame]

Your drummers not much good is he!? What you need is someone that's as good as me. ! John Henry Bonham !!
Posted on 8 years ago
#5
Posts: 37 Threads: 10

Here's the hole pattern for the strainer. I doubt I would've approved of the drum shop guy drilling extra holes for the later Ludwig p85 (ugh) strainer.

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Posted on 8 years ago
#6
Posts: 6524 Threads: 37

Well it`s brass so you got that going for you. A Coppersmith could hammer softer brass into the extra holes and polish it up so you wont find them. They will never fall out. Wont work with steel.

You and I could hammer Lead ( fishing weight or something)with a wood dowel pointed to that size, into the extra holes and scrape off the extra with a spoon and polish it with cloth. you wont find that either, it will never fall out and the Lead is only a little heavier than the Brass and the color blends.

It`s a drum,.....Hit It !!

.....76/#XK9207 Phonic Sound Machine D454/D-505 snares !i
Posted on 8 years ago
#7
Posts: 586 Threads: 22

Yours is the first version of the model 4160 snare drum. It had no decorative ring at the center of the shell like later versions (Note that the catalog in vintagemore's post shows both versions - without decorative ring on the cover and with it on page 10). The model 4160 originally had a microsensitve throw and a four point butt. There were made this way for several years in the 1960s. This was not just using up old Renown parts. Nick Hopkin provides a nice summary of the changes in the model through the years in the article that you linked above. https://nickhopkindrums.wordpress.com/2016/03/30/gretsch-4160-snare-drum/

Collecting information about the following for ongoing research projects:
Gretsch drums with serial numbers,
Ludwig Keystone and B/O badge drums with serial numbers and date stamps,
Ludwig Standards from 1968-73, and
Ludwigs with paper labels from 1971-72
www.GretschDrumDatingGuide.com
Posted on 8 years ago
#8
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