Those serial numbers are mid 90's, maybe '96 or even '97. The 80's started out at about 115000, and then reset around 1983. Serial number 40000 is around 1990. Those hoops were an option at the time, so they are probably original. I know of a drum purchased in Aug of 94 with serial number 48xxx, and another purchased in Jan '96 with serial number 52xxx.

Really? I emailed Gretsch and even they couldn't tell me that. They said that a few fires wiped out a lot of the records. Well it is possible that the guy that my seller got these from was mistaken. But I have seen quite a few pictures of 80's Gretsch Kits that look exactly like this with the natural hoops and disappearing spurs.

As for the sticker, here is a link to the auction,

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110456820134&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

there are two pictures with so-so views of the sticker. I'll definitely get better pictures when this comes in probably Thursday or Friday.

That would be a bummer if it wasn't actually an 80's set, but regardless, for $1800 I think I still got a great kit for a great price considering a new USA Custom runs well over $3000 and that's without the vintage upgrages like the spurs which I know are an option.

The tom mount is different. It looks like a newer model which was probably switched out for some reason at some point.

I just saw this http://cgi.ebay.com/used-gretsch-drum-set_W0QQitemZ220511324989QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item33577fcb3d

Take a look a the edit at the end of the auction. Seems he was corrected and the kit is not an 80's if the person correcting him is correct.

So it seems like possibly this person and the guy my seller got them from just assumed by the badge.

Well that kind of stinks, but hey it's still a *****in' kit :)

Oh and the seller says that these shells are a little thinner than the current USA Customs which was common in the 80's.

Just another wrench in the date works ;)

I wish I had a sticker guide..this is what I do have. Late 70's tom has a white/orange sticker. My 2007 USAs have an American flag sticker. The sticker in your auction looks like the stickers I noticed on the 90's Gretsch drums. You will have to find out if that is also an 80's sticker. I thought the bassdrum tom mount looked newer. mlvibes seems to have it Mid to late 90's kit. Which is still great.If it turns out to be a 90's sticker, I believe you are entitled to a slight refund, you are not getting what you bidded on. Will the seller knock off $300? I think $1500 would be fair.

As much as I'd like to get the drums for cheaper, I've been talking back and forth with the seller and have already told him that even if these are not 80's Gretsch's (according to not just the guy who sold him the drums, but other sources as well they are 80's) that I still want the drums. I almost bid on a newer USA Custom set last year that looked just like this but didn't have the cash. It had the vintage spurs, single tom mount, but matching hoops and no mufflers. I dig the natural hoops and the mufflers so that's a plus for me.

I only see asking for a refund to be fair I felt that he purposely misdated the drums, but I don't believe he did. If indeed he was told something and it turned out to be wrong, that's not his fault. The bottom line is they are still great drums, in mint condition so he says and by the look of them, and in all likelyhood have the Jasper shells and the features I want. So the age doesn't really matter to me. Why should it? What is another 10 years if the drums are the exact same that they would have been 10 years prior? If they were listed as being from this decade I still would have paid the same price which I feel is fair. Not a GREAT deal, but a fair one.

You the man Mr. Compactness! Your drums are going to sound great anyway, and that's the most important thing. I'm finding out that there's always a story with any drum purchase.

Hi,

I have a similar SB Rosewood finish set of Gretsch (20, 12, 13, 16). They have the same blonde bass hoops and techware hardware. I bought it a few years ago, put it on stage that night and have been gigging it regularly ever since.

I have always assumed that the Techware mount assemblies and floor tom legs gave you an 80's era ballpark. Telescoping spurs are also an older hardware. The hardware does look like Techware to my old eyes. (And a whole lot nicer than my --still functioning but ugly--hardware.)

The major point is they sound terrific, and the wood polishes up beautifully.

Patr8ci

How can you decipher the techware hardware? This auction where the seller was corrected on the age has a similar kit http://cgi.ebay.com/used-gretsch-drum-set_W0QQitemZ220511324989QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item33577fcb3d is this techware as well?