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Gretsch Defenders... help! Last viewed: 5 hours ago

Posts: 3 Threads: 2

Hi Guys,

This is a repost from the non american category. I have know found out these are american drums...

I've got the chance to get some Gretsch Defenders here in the UK. I think these drums are from 1940's and possibly European?

I just wondered what you guys thought about these? Will they require a lot of restoration? Do you have any idea on how they will sound?

Also, are there any potential problems you can think of with owning these drums? I can see the bottom heads are tacked which may be problematic.

Any help would be much appreciated! I've attached some pics for you to look at.

Cheers,

Rob

[Attachment: 16346]

[Attachment: 16347]

Posted on 15 years ago
#1
Posts: 5176 Threads: 188

They look cool.

They will be problematic in terms of tuning due to the tacked bottom heads.

Calfskin heads are temperamental along with the weather, so when you can't "tune" the bottom head, you'll mostly get a "thuddy" non-resonant sound.

The bass drum will probably sound great.

If any of those lugs break, you'll be hard pressed to find replacements.

Likely, they were built during the war when all ferrous metals were rationed to be used to make armaments.

These will not make a practical drum set for a modern-day working drummer, in my opinion. They will make a nice conversation piece and have interesting historical/nostalgic value, though.

"God is dead." -Nietzsche

"Nietzsche is dead." -God
Posted on 15 years ago
#2
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