Hi guys, I have a set of my dad's gretsch drums from 50s or 60s. I've held onto them for five years now and have decided to sell them. They are not in the best of condition. Do you think it would be worth it to spend the money and time to restore them before selling them?
Should I restore my dad's gretsch drums?
Well you must provide us drum geeks with more drum details then what you provided... for example... what color are they... what sizes are they... and if possible can you provide us drum geeks a good clear picture(s) of this drum set to better serve you.
Gretsch drums are obviously highly sought after by collectors and players. Honestly if it is a highly desirable kit you will likely get as much for the kit restored as unrestored. A vintage buyer may prefer to do the work or pick the person to do the work. There are lots of different preferences in restoration methods.
Agree with O2 and Jim,
Pictures help and yes, I am one of the collectors that prefer to do my own work, plus I find it saves me money as the owner has not had to invest time or $ to do the work him/herself.
Michael
Some of my favorites from the kits in the collection
58 WFL New Yorker Blue Sparkle
67 Ludwig Hollywood Red Psychedelic
69 Ludwig Standard Red Ruby Strata
70's Ludwig BOP "Ringo" Kit
A few of my favorite snares
20's Leedy Black Elite
51 Leedy & Ludwig Knob Tension
58 WFL Buddy Rich Classic Blue Sparkle
63 Walberg & Auge Sea Blue Agave Green Pearl
66 Leedy Shelly Manne Blue Agate Pearl
Yeah, throw up some pics! The set would definitely be worth more if it was something really obscure like Cadillac Green with gold hardware, instead of something more common like White Marine Pearl
WMP is not so common in Gretsch!
Really? I didn’t know that. I’m still learning a lot of the fun facts about vintage drums. OP, your drums could be valuable if they’re Cadillac Green or White Marine Pearl. ;) BTW, what are the more common 50’s round badge finishes?
Hands down... the most common drum wrap for just about every vintage American drum manufacturer (from 1950 to 1970'ish) is BLACK DIAMOND PEARL (BDP).
However some 50/60+ years later and was made by the tons a nice complete BDP kit or BDP orphans are now considered to be hard to find.
So basically "any" 1950s/1960s wrapped Gretsch RB kit is desirable... especially if the kit is in jazz sizes.
I guess you'd know on the WMP Blair, but I had several in WMP over the years.
I am still mystified as to what that Gretsch kit was that I sent you back around 1993 or so. I was convinced it was a very smoke-faded green sparkle, but you said you didn't get any green sparkle. It was definitely earlier 60's and had the smaller lugs on the floor tom. Very greenish, but might have been a silver sparkle turned green by the smoke.
It was a Daddy's Junky Music find. When I got it off the floor, it had cymbals, hardware and drums. You only got the drums because I had bought them for my son and he wanted two toms on the bass. So I sold you the drums and got him a rock 'n roll set in moonglow satin flame. Needless to say, I should have kept the 20, 12, 14 and stashed it until now.
On the original thread by rainy may, I say, better to let the buyer decide whether to restore them or not - especially with Gretsch. Your best price is likely to be "sold as is - no returns."
Gretsch made more WMP in the 50s..for some reason..in the 60s-70s...not so much!
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