Thanks fellas,

Well, the 66' Ludwig set is what it is and what John says: they were pumping out drums by the ten thousands so quality control must have been less.

The Gretsch isn't museum quality and has a couple of flaws.

- 1 hole drilled just under a 13" lug. (somebody must have installed a bigger lug at one point)

- Small triangular piece of wrap missing on the floor tom seam.

- Small crack on one of the bass drum spurs.

Besides that, the wrap looks killer and shines like new.

The shell size on the 13" and 16" allow Remo heads to fit easily. The 20" bass drum however is a different case and some serious force is needed to push the head over the bearing edge. I wonder if the Aquarian American vintage heads would fit better. Some say not and state that regular Ambassadors are wider than the Aquarians,… if somebody could let me know exactly, I would appreciate.

My beloved Gretsch kit ...[IMG]http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f164/sonor23/DSCF1325-1.jpg[/IMG]

Great kit! I'd still like to pick up an early 60s Ludwig kit for rock and roll stuff but I'm a Gretsch guy first and foremost. So sweet, enjoy! I think the Aquarian American Vintage heads are gonna seat better, they do in my neighbourhood.

beautiful kit

looks like someone stuck those big goofy modern rubber tips on the floor tom legs and bass drum spurs

I would change those if I were you.....which I am obviously not :)

here is my round badge (which has all original stands and matching snare since this pic was taken a few weeks ago)

welcome to the Gretsch family!!!!!!

[IMG]http://imageshack.us/a/img222/8246/myroundbadge.jpg[/IMG]

Congratulations on your new kit. Glad you like them. That said, I don't think you can generalize all post-Ringo Ludwigs as inferior drums. I've never read anywhere that Ludwig changed their production methods to get them out of the door in a hurry. I have a '65 Super Classic that sings like an angel. Conversely, the Gretsch '62 kit at the shop down the street sounds like crap. It's all subjective, but there are some good drums and some bad drums.

Again, congratulations.

Stephen

That chrome gromett on the BD don`t look original ? Maybe re-wrap ?? It don`t match the other toms !! Didn`t think Gretsch used chrome on brass !!

it wouldn't match the toms because the only drums that use a grommet are the kick and snare

the toms use an upholstery type push pin

but the bass drum grommet does look chrome though

if it is then it was replaced....which doesn't necessarily mean the drums were rewrapped because these old kits lose badges all the time

it also could just look that way in the picture.....sometimes when these badges are polished the grommet takes on a chrome like tone

Thanks for all the input guys,…

Here's a close up shot of the bass drum badge. I don't think it's chrome.

I've done a few re-wraps myself and I honestly don't think that these drums have been redone.

It could very well be that the grommet has been replaced at one point but like Gvdadrummasum says, many of the bass drum badges got lost because the original grommet would't stay on.

I've done the magnet test and it won't stick to grommet nor badge.

Thanks,

Great looking drums, congratulations.

Do you find it easy to play the hanging tom in that position?

When using the rail consolette in stead of a snare stand, my tom is in the exact same awkward position. I guess I'm gonna order one of these extensions.

I admit that those rubber feet don't look good but on some old drums they do miracles and open up the sound in a way you wouldn't imagine.

This set came with them but I used them on some Slingerland floor toms and the difference was day and night.

What`s the BD gromett look like on the inside, your photo shows damage,..I think !!