the SSB are 6 ply shells and are the very same shells that the roundbadge 6 ply shells are. the only real thing that is quirky is the hardware mostly bass drum/tom mount.

http://www.gretschdrums.com/?fa=historybadges

Like the Gretsch website says, they switched to the second stop sign badge in 1979 so the kit you're looking at is 78 or earlier.

Vintagemore was correct, the tom mounts kind of sucked. If you're setting up a 4 piece and put your rack on a snare stand it's a non issue.

I have a set of 79 Gretsch and they're amazing drums. Jasper shells just like the round badge, same bearing edges, etc.

The only real issues are the mounting hardware and there were some quality control issues right after they moved from Brooklyn to Arkansas (at around the same time as the badge switch).

The hardware will be obvious if you look at any set. The mid seventies design was pretty poor. A lot of drummers buying new sets opted to get some other brand of hardware installed on their new drums. The Gretsch stuff isn't unusable but just isn't ideal. Not a deal breaker but something to be aware of. Truth be told the mounting hardware on the RB drums wasn't particularly great either although pretty much neither was anyone else's at the time (except for Rogers).

The Quality control issues were things like drums being shipped without having the edges cut, crooked lugs, that sort of thing. Supposedly this was all confined to a brief period right after the move since most of the Brooklyn workforce opted not to make the move to Arkansas (big surprise) so they had a mostly new staff of workers that had to learn how to do their jobs. This period should have only lasted a few months before things got up to speed, and one imagines that anything majorly wrong has either been fixed or weeded out in the ensuing 40 years, but this has cast a bit of a shadow over the SSB drums although they probably don't deserve it overall.

As mentioned above they were the same Jasper shells (still being made in Jasper Indiana) and the drums were made on the same machines (but by different people) as the RB drums. The only major construction difference was that the toms were now vented by a breather hole in the new badge whereas the RB drums had the tacked on badges on the toms. Also some early SSB bass drums came with metal hoops for a period of time. Other than that there wasn't a lot of difference and the SSB drums can sometimes represent a real bargain for vintage Gretsch drums.

My understanding is that the square-badge kit I bought new in 1984 is also made of the same Jasper shells as the other eras that preceded it. Furthermore, the tom mount on mine has been incredibly sturdy and reliable. I dare say I haven't seen a better tom mount... certainly better IMHO than the mounts I've seen on today's kits. I also have a round badge kit that I prefer (mainly because it looks cool). But objectively, my 84 kit is probably better made overall and certainly more convenient and reliable for gigging. The tom mount is the one shown in their 1983 catalog, which is easy to find online.

The Jasper shells lasted into the early 2000's when Jasper went out of business. Gretsch used up their supply on hand and then had the same 6 ply maple/gum layup made elsewhere (most likely by Keller but Gretsch chooses to remain mum about their source).

Gretsch really hit their stride about the time they changed over to the square badge in the early 80's. The new Tech-ware hardware was as good as anyone else's and the fit and finish on their drums was top notch. The USA Custom series was just that, custom built drums with beautiful lacquer finishes and functional hardware.

This is 100% genuine, bought in Manny's NYC, and has been beautifully restored by the #1 man in the UK - The full Monty, including re-cutting of bearing edges. One owner since new (me!), and although it's advertised as 1972, I've tracked back and now realise that I returned to the UK in late 1971, so that must be the correct year of manufacture ....

[ame]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/131125164039?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT[/ame]

The kit was originally lacquered walnut, which I hoped to restore, but couldn't remove the factory stain without damaging the outer ply, so I had them wrapped in black Nitron.

My plan was to put them away for my grandchildren, but they've turned out so special that It would be madness to give them to a child, so if my grandson or any of my 3 granddaughters show interest, I'll buy them an inexpensive kit to learn on. Likewise, if I was to go back to playing again after almost 30 years, I wouldn't want to be dragging them in and out of cars and gigs …… My buddy who has a lovely 60s round badge gave up using it on gigs, and bought himself a Catalina Club which sounds really good, is much lighter for humping around, and inexpensive enough that a few scratches and dings don't really matter …..

I'm in no rush to sell, (proceeds will go to the grandchildren, all currently under 3 years old) and plan to take them to the UK National Drum Fair in September, where those who will appreciate them are likely to be!

Maybe see you there?

http://ukdrumfair.com/next-show/

Hi!

Thanks for all the advice. My budget is kind of tight at the moment, so I've decided not to buy more drum kits and rather save up a bit.

Thanks!

I'll get my Gretsches one day!

Gilnar,

Depends what are you looking for but kit sized 22,13,16 generally has better market price for buyer than other configurations.

I suggest you should look for transition period early SSB. They are basically the same as RB's.