I would call it a "Max Roach" in my collection whether correct or not. I think you did well on that auction. Enjoy! Post some more pics when you get it!

Mike B

I think we covered this pretty well over on the other forum but I would say that the reason for the change in the name was due to some change in the commercial relationship between Max Roach and Gretsch, not because they changed the construction of the drum sometime after 1958, when the 6 ply version with the 4pt snare tensioner was still called the "Max Roach" model. Perhaps the name change simply had to do with Max no longer using that particular model himself. Maybe dropping the name saved Gretsch a bit of money on each drum if they had been paying Max a royalty on each one sold for using his name. We may never know the reasoning behind the change but the drum remained the same. So whether it's an MR or a PJ snare is a technicality depending on when it was made or sold but the drums are the equivalent to each other and it would take a real nitpicker to think either name couldn't apply.