Most of you guys probably have already seen this post on DFO..

I just wanted to share the kit with guys who are active here only.

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OK - where to start?

So i'll break the post up in case some of you don't want to read through the entire story of these drums.. BUT YOU SHOULD!! LOL The story on the drums will follow the description and help i need for a resto...

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DESCRIPTION

Today, i just landed a Gretsch Round Badge BOP KIT! I'm flying in the clouds right now - haven't been able to think straight for the past 6 hours. Of course most of you know the rarity of the 18" bass drum. Well this is my first Gretsch!! Not bad? I'm a Rogers fanatic..... Maybe i'm done with gretsch already.. LOL

So the drums are in great condition. The interiors are SUPER clean - 6 ply - 4 digit serials on ALL the drums (which are factory - i got them from the original owner's nephew. SEE THE STORY...) I do need help finding some correct parts and i need some wise advice on how to restore some parts of the drums.

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HELP NEEDED - parts and advice!

I am somewhat paranoid to start working on the drums... although i am a design student and have handled many great vintage Rogers drums.. i haven't ever worked on restoring drums of this $$ .. You can image i don't want to mess anything up! So here we go!

First off - the floor tom needs a new leg and leg mount. I think they were exposed to some type of salt water and i can't even loosen the mount to take the leg out. The corrosion is terrible.. It is strange because the rest of the drum is in great condition - didn't seem like even the wrap reacted to any of the water.

Second - as most of you could already see from the photos... the inlay has come off and is being held on by the claws.. (correct me if i'm wrong) but unlike Rogers, Gretsch glued their inlay instead of using staples.. So which type of glue should i use and what methods should i take to go about doing this?

Third - again, the seem has lifted on the bass drum (in photos) and has also started on the floor tom.. again, any help with how to glue it down and what to use..

I do need some parts for the drums.. although i am trying to recoup from the $$$ (although it was almost a steal. ) But please let me know if you guys have any of these parts. - I'm not familiar with the pricing of Gretsch parts yet - only Rogers.. lol I also need a few tension rods.. only like 3 or so (i need to go back and check..)

Also need spurs..

... just realizing that i also need a new strainer.. or a replacement lever.. this one broke off. bummer

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THE STORY

Late one night I decided to check craigslist before going to bed. Sure enough i ran across a listing with a gretsch 'GOLD' bop kit.. 18,12,12,14,14... and it had no price. So i sent the guy an email although i had NO $ to even negotiate with. Later that next day, he sent me an email with his number asking me to call him. His name is Richard and we started talking and he explained to me that this kit belonged to his uncle who recently passed away. This was his uncles beloved kit that he special ordered in the early 60s with 2 rack toms (hints the mount factory mounted in the middle of the bass drum). So i told Richard that i was just interested in talking to him and he gave me some numbers that he wanted for the drums that were VERY reasonable.. but still out of my league.

So we continue to talk as he received many calls, emails, and guys showing up to view the drums.... well - through luck, Richard really starts to like me after talking for a while. So he said.. "well, I'll just hold the drums a while for you.. and we'll try to work something out."

Well we finally agreed on a price.. which was surprisingly a LOT lower than what he wanted and although he was getting cash in hand offers for the drums he kept to his word and held on to the drums. Yes, i got a SWEET deal on these! Two weeks in, i finally was about to gather some money and he made the drive into my town (today). Upon meeting him, he starts to tell me about his uncle. Richard said that his uncle was a hard gigging drummer in Texas and was like a father to him. He had the drums most of his life and gigged them very regularly... 5 moths ago, his uncle went to a show (not his gig) and the drummer let him sit in and play. Well, when the gig finally came to an end.. Richard's uncle got up to thank the drummer of the band for letting him play - and as his wife tells the story, she said that as soon as he shook the drummers hand, he dropped dead instantly. Richard proceeded to explain to me that the drums needed to go to someone that is going to play and love them like his uncle did.. and not just let them sit around and collect dust or flip them to make a profit. He believed that his uncle passed away doing what he loved.

Maybe this story didn't justify how great i felt receiving these drums and how fascinating it is knowing the history from the beginning of the drums' life.

Enjoy the photos!! and any help would be appreciated!

Thanks!

-Chris