This is Gretsch pro caliber drums the best they made then, they are jasper shells that is the creative research hardware from the 80's period.

There is no such thing as Gretsch "Grand Prix" drums. Grand Prix was simply the name of a set configuration consisting of the regular Gretsch drums of the time. The Grand Prix set was a standard five piece 12/13/16/22 set so this isn't one of those anyway.

Drums from that era would have shells made by Jasper (6 ply maple/gum) which was the company Gretsch subcontracted their shell production to (although they apparently did occasionally get shells from Keller too). Gretsch started calling their top of the line drums "USA Customs" sometime around the early to mid 1980's but they were/are basically the same drum they had been making since the late 50's when they went to the 6 ply shell.

Looks like a nice set.

Thank you guys for the information. Like I had mentioned, I did get an opportunity to play them and their sound alone was what sold me on buying them. This is my first foray into Gretsch drums so my knowledge of them is lacking. Thanks again!

Those are nice. Really clean looking kit. I remember someone posting pics of them a while back no? Anyway I like the BIG sizes!! Bet that bass really BOOMS! What snare are you getting for them or did it come with one? If you don't mind me asking what price range are those 80's Gretsch kits in?

FFR428, It didn't come with a snare. Just as well because I like to mix up my snares/kits. I am paying $1000 for the kit which is in near mint condition. I think it may be a little high price-wise, but it has a certain sound "mojo" that sold me on it. It's on layaway at a mom & pop drum shop and I should have it within a month and a half. I prefer to give my business to local shops when I can. Also, it could have been me that posted these pics not too long ago. The most noticeable bad thing is on the kick drum resonant hoop - someone at one point in time drilled two holes through it, maybe for a bass drum anchor? Either way, there's no signs of stress damage on the hoop and I can live with the holes.

Thanks Mike. That's a lot of drums for the money and I think that's a pretty nice deal. Good on you for supporting a mom n pop shop! They'll be a lot of fun to play that's for sure!

The bass drum hoop had a factory installed anchor that has been removed. You can pick one up from ebay or maybe from a member here.

I have a Grand Prix set in black nitron that I bought new in `81.

Drums look like those, except for the sizes being 12, 13, 16, 22, as was already mentioned, and my bass drum spurs are standard Gretsch. I am not sure the spurs on your bass are Gretsch, but they may be.

I also have a double tom mount on the bass. I would rather have a virgin bass like the one in your photos!

Those might be Gretsch spurs but they aren't correct for that time period. This set was likely a special order and they may well have ordered it without any spurs and then installed the spurs of their choice. The spurs that are on there work better than the Gretsch telescopic spurs of that era would anyhow.

The two holes in the hoop are for the bracket for the Gretsch single point bass drum anchor.

Okay, I finally got my Gretsch kit home and I love it (I love big drums). I want to gig it this weekend but unfortunately I've run across a little problem related to the floor tom legs & their mounts. To be more specific, the four legs are only knurled approximately 5-6 inches from the top of the leg and not down the majority of the leg like other manufacturers do. The knurled portion on the legs is a slightly larger diameter than the rest of the leg and basically the eye bolt in the mount will only "grab" that knurled portion and securely tighten and hold it firm. If I try to tighten it up on the smooth part of the leg, it won't hold it firm no matter how tight I make the wing nut and the tom slides to the floor!. The problem is that the floor tom will be WAY too high if I tighten it up within the knurled area. It's actually taller than the 26" kick!

Has anybody run across this problem? If so, what was your solution? I'll take pictures at lunch today to illustrate my point.

Oh, and I do have the factory memory locks on the legs, but this isn't a viable solution as it does hold the height but it still allows the legs to rotate and they will still fall out if I pick the drum up... Help!

Also, as Vintagemore2000 mentioned, the mount is Creative Research hardware - if this helps any.