Depends what you have into the stuff to begin with as well. My 1941 WFL marble set was all original except for the dual strainers on the snare. fortunately no extra holes were used and an adapter plate was used to spare drilling. I hunted for 5 years on e-bay to find the right parts as they have been discontinued since 1950. it was well worth it and besides I only had $400.00 into the whole set!
Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I rest my case...
Mike Curotto
Personally, I love it when I see prices like that on vintage gear....as a seller! ;)
Personally, I like the MS strainer. It does work best with the adjustable butt end.
I will agree with the high prices these thing fetch, two this past week on Ebay sold for $400 (+/-). There were only so many snares made with this throw, so there must be an awful lot of counterfit Gretsch snares out there.
Buyer beware!
Hi all! I know this is an old thread, but wanted to alert you to the new Micro-sensitive strainer being offered by Steve Maxwell. Looks pretty good to me! Here's the link...http://cgi.ebay.com/Gretsch-NEW-Micro-Sensitive-snare-strainer-/160600710364?pt=Vintgae_Drums_Percussion&hash=item25648c5cdc
I did buy a very expensive Gretsch MicroSensitive strainer on eBay. I got a good deal at $200. I needed it for my 58 Gretsch kit...and was very happy to find it. However, the brass barrel thingie that the dial threads through soon stripped out. A local drum builder....with all his fancy tools and expertise, built me a new part....out of steel...= no more stripping.
But....when I saw Gretsch's new MS strainer I bought one...and I bought the new butt end as well. I am impressed. The old bugs have been worked out - it works like a dream and is very solid. It retro-fits to the original shell holes. I took the original strainer and single point butt end off my 58 snare drum, put them in zip-loc bags and stored them. I have the best of two worlds.....I have the original parts AND new parts that work and will not easily give out on me. Way to go Gretsch!
Hi all! I know this is an old thread, but wanted to alert you to the new Micro-sensitive strainer being offered by Steve Maxwell. Looks pretty good to me! Here's the link...http://cgi.ebay.com/Gretsch-NEW-Micro-Sensitive-snare-strainer-/160600710364?pt=Vintgae_Drums_Percussion&hash=item25648c5cdc
";;;OK.......... I need someone to explain to me (very slowly, please!) what seems to make the Gretsch Micro-Sensitive Strainer the alleged "holy grail" of vintage American-made strainers.
..."
Not really the Holy Grail, it just adds to the value of the snare drum if the original (working) strainer is there...same can be said for any other vintage snare drum/strainer. That Gretsch strainer has been nick-named the Micro-S**tative strainer for the obvious reasons.
Kaman/Gretsch now makes the repro of that strainer which is much more beefier than the originals...but...nothing trumps original hardware on a drum.
Mike Curotto
I agree totally here. I've been buying vintage drums for a very short time (3yrs.) but I learnt very quickly that it is always better...Vintage-wise...to have the original parts...no matter how terrible they might be by today's, or even back in the day's, standards. It's supply and demand that pushes the price up. If there were boxes of MS vintage strainers around they probably would sell for a reasonable price. They were $12 new back in the day I think. They'd probabley be $100 or so in today's market if there were lots around...just like the new ones are ($88). Look at what a Gladstone original drum costs....or the kit for that matter. I think the one for sale now is, correct me if I'm wrong, an all-time high asking price for a drum kit ....$165K "firm."
And I say that's fantastic if Mr. Palmer and Steve Maxwell get that price. If I had the money I'd be all over it.
[QUOTE=Mike Curotto;129109Kaman/Gretsch now makes the repro of that strainer which is much more beefier than the originals...but...nothing trumps original hardware on a drum.
Mike Curotto[/QUOTE]
