Just how rare are these badges? The ones that do NOT have a drop G font, but that say "Drum Makers Since 1883" rather than the more common "That Great Gretsch Sound."
Are they valuable, i.e. more valuable than the other SSB's? I have several that came off what I think is a '79 kit, and I'm in the middle of a plug/wrap restoration of them. Some came with SSB #1, some with SSB #2, and one with a drop G SSB. It made me curious.
Yes, but it of course doesn't have any info on what the market for them might be. It does say that they're rare.
than the other SSB's? I have several that came off what I think is a '79 kit, and I'm in the middle of a plug/wrap restoration of them. Some came with SSB #1, some with SSB #2, and one with a drop G SSB. It made me curious.
Bamp. No one has an opinion on this? No one is looking for these versions?
Rarity doesn't always equal value. It would depend on whether someone (or at least a couple people) really wanted or needed that particular style of badge either for a drum or a badge collection. The average person might not care enough to pay more for this style of SSB over the other versions. I know that if I were restoring a drum that needed a badge from that era I'd probably prefer to have the "correct" badge but I doubt I'd be willing to pay much of a premium for it if the other SSB versions might cost a lot less (and decent looking counterfeit versions can be had for $20, if you know where to find them).
As mentioned above your best bet would be to put it up for auction and see where the dust settles. it would only take two motivated bidders to drive the price up...and if it doesn't happen it probably means that these are worth about the same as any other SSB.
The value is not in the badges, it's in the thin shells SSB gretsch kits are some of the best sounding drums I have ever played AND could still afford.
I guy I used to roadie for had a yamaha recording custom, maple custom, etc, etc. but he always kept a set of Gretsch drums for certain sessions.
I saw him on FB almost 20 years later and he is STILL using those drums for recording.
I managed to find one in a local pawn shop a few years back and it's my most versatile set. (Drop G by the way)
As far as which badge, I'd just make em match if you have already removed them.
That was the first thing I did, no instances of this version for sale or sold recently.
I don't really want to go through the trouble of making them all match, i.e. putting half my badges on eBay and then tracking down the matching ones to replace them. Most people would never notice the different stop sign badges anyway. So I'm going to keep what I have. If the version two was worth significantly more because of scarcity, I was planning on selling mine. But it looks like the answer is probably no.
BTW, the value is definitely in the shells, I own a Gretsch that I gig with and love. But monetarily the value is undeniably in the badges too, just look what RBs go for on feeBay these days.
That was the first thing I did, no instances of this version for sale or sold recently.I don't really want to go through the trouble of making them all match, i.e. putting half my badges on eBay and then tracking down the matching ones to replace them. Most people would never notice the different stop sign badges anyway. So I'm going to keep what I have. If the version two was worth significantly more because of scarcity, I was planning on selling mine. But it looks like the answer is probably no.BTW, the value is definitely in the shells, I own a Gretsch that I gig with and love. But monetarily the value is undeniably in the badges too, just look what RBs go for on feeBay these days.
There have been original kits posted here with three types of badges, even though all of the drums were sold together as a kit.
When it comes to "collector's value", a drum with an un-tampered badge is always the highest. A RB shell with a missing or altered badge will have lost resale value. I know, it's really crazy, but that's just how it is. Kind of like a car with a missing or altered VIN tag (this is actually illegal).
Please post some pictures of your project when completed.
-Tim
