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Refinishing late 50s Gretsch drums - maybe

Posts: 2713 Threads: 555
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I'm thinking seriously about refinishing my late 50's Gold Sparkle Gretsch drums. I have a few reasons why:

1) I always wanted Ray Ayotte to build me some drums.

2) I don't need another drum kit and Ray has agreed to carefully remove the Gold Sparkle wrap - preserving it for whomever owns the drums in the future - they would have the option of putting the Gold Sparkle wrap back if they want to do that.

3) Ray recently finished my Will Tillman shell - the late Mr. Tillman made it for me in 2012 - a 6.5x14 3ply shell. The drum is gorgeous in a Custom made for me Red Walnut Sating Sheen finish. I liked it so much that I had Ray put the same finish on an Orphaned Gretsch StopSign Badged 8x12 tom that came to me with the finish ruined. I want Ray to do the same with my late 50s drums.

However.....

If someone wants to buy my Gretsch drums for my price of $4000 usd I will sell the drums - that way I could have Ray build me a kit with that money and not have increased my drum collection. And, that certain 'someone' that has to have these drums will have an opportunity to do so.

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Posted on 5 years ago
#1
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Dude! You can't, you simply cannot do this. I'd like to stop you by buying the kit, but it's not in my budget with three kids. That is a beautiful set, and anything that you get done might be as great, but it's just not the way to go.

You know this.

Posted on 5 years ago
#2
Posts: 2713 Threads: 555
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From Rik_Everglade

Dude! You can't, you simply cannot do this. I'd like to stop you by buying the kit, but it's not in my budget with three kids. That is a beautiful set, and anything that you get done might be as great, but it's just not the way to go.You know this.

Yes - I have guilt - I'm a fan of old drums.....any old drums. I have some antique drums that I just leave as is and only have tucked new heads and carefully cleaned. I'm getting a lot of feedback about this .....mostly in the "do not do this' comment area. I'm far from going ahead with this as Ray's quite busy. So at the very least - for now - it's not a done deal. I'm hoping there is a buyer out there and I know if I do sell them I will have huge seller's remorse. I bought them from the daughter of the original owner...he passed away in 2005. Same first name as me....Gary. He bought them new from a little music store (long since closed down) in the small town where I lived here in BC Canada. His daughter said he bought them in 1960. I'm thinking the shells were probably made in late 59....were on the shelf for a while....an order came in and they were shipped out to Canada to the music store. And who knows if Gary bought them right away or if they were sitting there for a while. I say late 50's because the bass, rack tom and snare are 3ply and the floor tom is 6ply. Gretsch was changing from 3 to 6 ply in the late 50's. Some kits at this time went out with mixed ply (3 and 6 as in my kit) - it's not uncommon to find kits with a mix of plies from this transition time.

If someone would be interested in buying the drums I do have some Gretsch parts and maybe even an orphaned drum or two to thrown in with the sale. I'd have to see what I have in 'the drum room'

Posted on 5 years ago
#3
Posts: 5295 Threads: 226
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Post them in the For Sale section...

Cheers

1976 Ludwig Mach 4 Thermogloss 26-18-14-14sn
1978 Ludwig Stainless 22-22-18-16-14-13-12 c/w 6-8-10-12-13-14-15-16-18-20-22-24 concert toms
1975 Sonor Phonic Centennials Metallic Pewter 22-16-13-12-14sn (D506)
1971 Ludwig Classic Bowling Ball OBP 22-16-14-13
1960's Stewart Peacock Pearl 20-16-12-14sn
1980`s Ludwig Coliseum Piano Black 8x14 snare
1973 Rogers Superten 5x14 & 6.5x14 COS snares
1970`s John Grey Capri Aquamarine Sparkle 5x14 snare
1941 Ludwig & Ludwig Super 8x14 snare
Posted on 5 years ago
#4
Posts: 2010 Threads: 19
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There's no guarantee that the outer ply under that wrap is particularly nice looking. For that reason alone I'd be leery of stripping them when they still look nice as is. I'm not sure if those are worth $4 grand but you can figure that whatever you spend having them stripped and redone they will be worth at least that same amount less after it's done (for example take a nice $1000 drum set, spend $500 having them rewrapped and now you have a nice looking drum set worth $500). Rewraps generally only make financial sense if the original wrap is truly messed up although sometimes aesthetics outweigh dollar concerns.

But they are yours, so whatever makes you happy is the way to go.

Posted on 5 years ago
#5
Posts: 2713 Threads: 555
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I discussed with Ray the possibility of the outer ply being not good. He said he could fix that.

I am very much ahead cost-wise at this time as one of the cymbals that was given to me when I bought the drums is worth $100s more than what I paid for the drums. I'm sure i could get back what I've invested even after the cost of refinishing.

As I've said above.....I'm months away from making a decision on this. It's great to have this feedback. Thanks

Posted on 5 years ago
#6
Posts: 771 Threads: 132
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Those drums look great and i can't see why anybody would want to alter that...We have all seen horror stories of painted awesome vintage kits because the owner didn't like the retro finish but you understand what many others didn't at the time.

Keep fixing them up...
Posted on 5 years ago
#7
Posts: 42 Threads: 12
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If it ain't broke don't fix it. If it were me and I wanted some custom work done I'd either find a good name-but-beat-to crap tubs or buy some new raw Keller shells and go nuts.

Posted on 5 years ago
#8
Posts: 2713 Threads: 555
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I'm trying to sell them now

Posted on 5 years ago
#9
Posts: 2713 Threads: 555
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I've decided they are way too nice to alter. I did have them for sale for a few days but have decided not to sell at this time. I'm having way too much fun playing them.

I'm trying NOT to buy more drums ....that's why I want Ray to do something with the drums I have. But...these late 50s Gold Sparkle Gretsch drums are just way too nice to alter.

After alll....even if I own them now....I'm only the 'caretaker' so-to-speak of them at this time. They will surely outlive me.

An aside: Have you ever thought about this: The new drums we buy now...the new ones we have...will be 'Vintage drums" or at the very least 'old drums" some day....and maybe sought after....just like we now look for the 'vintage' drums of yesteryear.

Posted on 5 years ago
#10
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