Just by looking at those pics of the badges you have and the orange and white labels on the inside of the shells, they are definately mid 1960's.

I have a '66 Gretsch snare I'm restoring, and I did some reasearch on it.

On the labels, the first series of numbers are (I believe) model numbers, and the second series of numbers are production numbers.

Five digits on the second series indicates around 1966-'67.

You can check the Gretsch website to be sure. It's pretty easy to figure out, they explain it all on the site.

If the shells aren't completely obliterated, I would recover them.

I can't say what they'd be worth, but I do know that the hardware parts are very hard to come by. Hate to break up old vintage stuff, but there's probably more money in that, selling off the parts. Sad, but true.

Hope this helps!

The shells are in good shape except for the extra holes in them. The work is pretty straightforward as I see it.

Approaching this as a woodworker, I would patch the holes with bondo, spray primer on the inside and out and then add a gloss lacquer to the outer shells. But...

Will any of that effect the tone? I really dislike the idea of seeing the patchwork inside the shell, but on the flip side I don't want to affect the sound of these things

Thanks

Don't paint the insides! Leave factory!

But what about the holes filled with putty? Those will show too.

If you saw that on a vintage kit, would you buy it? (honest question)

If you part it out I need the 2 thumb screws in the pic,

and also 1 large lug. Let me know.

thanks,

Bill

Not the best sizes too.........so 6 of 1, 1/2 doz of the other

I would say that if you need the dough than part it out but if you are ok financially then sell it as a whole or apply your craft and bring them back to life. If they were restored period correct than I think you could sell them for a profit. By the way, piano black lacquer is very, very classy!

Thank for all the replies. I sincerely appreciate it. I think I've made up my mind. I'm going to put all the drums away save one, and just focus on restoring it.

The small tom. It's easily in the worst shape with no inside tag and drilled up like a piece of swiss cheese, it will give me a good idea of what I'm up against.

There is nothing I can do to bring it down in value, and it will cost the least in hardware to restore. If it turns out good, then I'll try and tackle the others. If I bomb then I'll part out the rest and be no worse off.

I'll totally be scouring these pages for advice and help along the way!

Thanks

-Peter

If you do end up painting the inside, use good due diligence and research the closest paint to the original. I'm not a Gretsch collector, so I don't know. There is most likely info on here about interior paint for Gretsch.

But what I do know that the #1 important thing is to preserve those inside tags, above all! Now that will be a trick, for sure.