Thanks again guys! This is great. I may even want to try to finish a shell myself some day with this. I don't think I can buy Nitro Cellulose lacquer anymore (as of this year) here in BC Canada. It has been banned here so I'm told. I did buy some rattle-cans a few years ago when I restored some drum hoops. I probably could not even have it shipped in....it would be stopped at the boarder.

You need a friend in the US to bring it in, then.

Just re-read earlier posts- maybe you could have the shoppe building your drum spray your drum with this product.

Hello Kona, I sucesfully refinished a Gretsch kit in Cadillac green with my father a few years back. It was my 2nd kit, and my dads first drum job so its not perfect. It took us ages to find the right color, finally after seeing a jeep in a parking lot, this is what we used: Jeep Green Metallic Clearcoat, with nitro cellulose laquer. (Check out http://www.wkjeeps.com/wk_colors.htm) Curtis Novak, a fine chap who builds guitar pickups for my father, helped us a bunch with the paint job. (check out http://curtisnovak.com/restorations/Gretsch-CadiGreen/) Be carefull with some colors, it can be lighter and more blueish like the new Gretches they put out nowadays:

[Attachment: 30069]

Compared to an original RB:

[Attachment: 30075]

Here's the rack tom to my refinished kit:

[Attachment: 30074]

Sorry for the crappy quality.

Good luck, and I hope this helps!

It looks like Curtis Novak could probably give you a paint chip for the Cadillac Green, then if worse comes to worse; however, I am certain Jeeps were sold in that colour in Canada. Looks like Levon nailed it!!!!

Gary send mike an email or pm and ask him who painted his drum.? http://www.vintagedrumforum.com/member.php?u=919

I did. I actually phoned him. It was a person in North or South Carolina...a car-shop paint guy that did his drum.

I'm pretty sure Arnie...my drum builder.....has got someone lined up now that can do a fine job of matching the paint it sounds like. I'm finding that Gretsch had a Cadillac Green wrap (Nitron) and a Nitrocellulose Lacquer.

I'm really not too fussy about getting the exact matching colour as long as it has not got the 'bluish' tint. I prefer more of a Forest Green Cadi Green.

I too have quested after the perfect Caddy Green color. I just think it looks so classy.

What I have decided to do is rather than look for colored lacquer, I exhausted the automotive paint idea and hit upon the realization that the color quality that gives it it's unique beauty is that the color contains a little blue as well as the green. I will be dry mixing aniline dyes both green and blue in the perfect mix in plastic water bottles till I get the shade I want, then using clear lacquer, or better yet, tung oil to get the desired finish sheen. separate both processes, first get the color right then apply clear finish of your choosing and you will hit on the perfect faux Caddy Green.

Glen

Ya - if you look at the photo I posted above - that's what I'm looking for. Mostly green but with that classy bluish hue......not too much blue though (not for me anyway).

And a higher Res shot of LevonPerdie's post above. I think a New paint job in this tint would be dynamite....