I'll chime in until someone with more knowledge replies. It is my understanding that stop sign badges will be the 6 ply maple-gum configuration.

I guess you can always measure shell thickness too, right?

Anyone know what 3 ply should measure versus six ply?

3 ply shells have 3 very obvious, clear-cut plies, and there's no mistaking them for anything else. The plies are usually light-dark-light. Anything else is 6 ply.

Here's a pic of a 3 ply edge:

[img]http://www.classicvintagedrums.com/images/bn_mr/use_07.jpg[/img]

Thanks,

Bill

70's = 6-ply. Remove a lug and grab a mag-glass or loupe. Plies can easily be seen.

B

Perfect. Thanks.

Do Gretsch edges typically have the gray paint on them? Mine do.

Not from what I've seen.........so far.

I recently restored a late 50's round badge kit that had the original heads, they had never been removed. The edges were clean as a whistle, no silver paint on them anywhere.

John

my 16" 70's floor tom does. i've also had a 1960's snare that did.