I have a buddy in Austin that comes across these every once in a while and I think the last one he sold was for around $800. It was pretty nice too. As a matter of fact he just got it back from the guy he sold it to for $600. There might be some money to be made to the right buyer Gretsch stuff is pretty hot right now as we all know.

I really like this iPad but damn it's hard to type on!

Don't send it out to them. Send the shells to me and have the wrap dropped here as well. I won't charge you a handful of hundreds. I will do it for like, depending on how badly the wrap is done, around 50/shell, if it is not too butchered. If the mental giant used a gallon of contact cement, on the other hand....we might be in for a shell dance....give them a quick look and preliminary tug at the seams, and see how wonderfully attached the wrap is. And maybe, just maybe, he went for the tape and drape method. Send mabe two or three lugs so I have a good reference for the hole size in the wrap for the reemounting of the hardware and clean them up while I do the wrap. They will pre-cut the wrap, so it would be a snap to turn, like I said, if the mensa challenged junior sci-fi clubber did it the new fashioned way.

[COLOR="DarkRed"]You won't get your $ back on a resell if you go the Precision route. That is not to dis' 'em...I like Gary and Andrea and George.....just speaking from a monetary point of view. A rewrapped 3-pc Gretsch doesn't fetch $1g. Even the $800 GD mentions is a bit of a rosy prediction IMHO.

$500 pricetag ?...and the badges are gone and it's a bad rewrap job ?.....mmmmph.....yeah, I do suppose someone could get 5 bill$ for that...BUT then again...the mount hardware is GONE, too ?

I dunno, mate....I wouldn't touch it for more than $375. No badges, no stickers, no original connecting hardware, no original wraps ......

Why don't you do the re-re-wrap ? You did a hella good job on the Luddy bass I have here....[/COLOR]

Thank you. I saw the word "Gretsch" and figured it needed someone who knew what they were doing. It's the "ooooooo" factor. If a pro does the work, you don't take as big of a hit in resale. I may keep the kit, but I don't like bad investments if I can help it. I was thinking a nice gold glass would be nice. If you know of anyone else who could do professional work on these for much less, let me know. I'm seriously thinking about this kit.

To me $500 would be a "keeper project"price.How much do you spend,percentage wise,as a purchase price over the sell price?I don't think you'll eat it,but maybe not a big profit margin on this one.Originality seems to be everything.No badges or labels-ugh.....Now,if you could get a break on some particular step in the process,like the satin flame coverings being sold on Ebay,it might look better over all.Just my two cents.....

First off..........the sizes are a good score for that money - imo.

Second.........yes, because of the re-wrap - you may not (but you might) be able to get a lot of cash for the drums. You can never tell how Vintage Gretsch will shake out in the future........re-wrapped/edged or not.

I would say the shells in those sizes are worth at least $500. I would keep the drums - set them aside and take my time to buy badges & hardware off eBay or wherever.

If the wood is good under the wrap I would wait until a nice Gretsch eBay snare comes along - like the Red Sparkle 6lug 60's Gretsch I recently finished in Tung Oil for instance - and do the whole lot in a nice natural finish. It might take a while to put all this together but what a great project!

If you look at how 50's & 60's Gretsch drums are "scooped" up these days I would think just to have the shells in these sizes you could not go wrong. I'd go for it.

As far as restoration, yeah, it's doable. BUT. How's the bearing edges... if those are shot, then we're in for big dollars to make it live again.

All edges are good except the 12 reso. That one has a couple of small nicks. Not an issue unless you're anal like me.

[COLOR="DarkRed"]Send 'em to me - I'm a pro re-wrapper (says so right on my website). Then you can say they were re-wrapped by a pro and refer 'em to the pro's website ! Now - this project's gonna end up almost a total wash. DON'T offer even $475 for those. Say you buy 'em for $450 - for glass glitter you need 2 sheets so there's $200 mat'l. Then you gotta land a tom mount system and 3 leg mounts - add another $150. Look where you are already. Throw on some new batter heads - another $50. 3 badges - another $50. Look where you are now. Haven't even computed in any labor costs yet - yipes ! And forgot shipping co$ts too !!! Capisce ? A labor of love ? YES !!! Rescuing the remains of a classic ol' set ? YES !!! But a monetarily profitable venture ? Absolutely don't expect it Coffee Break2[/COLOR]