What year did Gretsch start their USA Custom line?
Also, I'm trying to find out if Gretsch offered a black wrap in the 60's or was the only black finish a nitrocellulose lacquer ?
I did scour the catalogs, and all it states is "Black Nitron". So is that a lacquer?
Thanks in advance
SC
What year did Gretsch start their USA Custom line? Also, I'm trying to find out if Gretsch offered a black wrap in the 60's or was the only black finish a nitrocellulose lacquer ? I did scour the catalogs, and all it states is "Black Nitron". So is that a lacquer? Thanks in advance SC
Black nitron is a plastic wrap not painted.
Okay, but the other 1950's and 60's "Nitron" Gretsch finishes are lacquer finishes... So you're saying only the black nitron is a plastic wrap? I think its very strange that they would use the same word for two different finishes, but this is new territory for me.
SC
Okay, but the other 1950's and 60's "Nitron" Gretsch finishes are lacquer finishes... So you're saying only the black nitron is a plastic wrap? I think its very strange that they would use the same word for two different finishes, but this is new territory for me. SC
That isn't what I'm saying at all, I have access to almost all of the 50's 60's gretsch catalogs, here is one.
[ame]http://www.drumarchive.com/Gretsch/Gretsch_63.pdf[/ame]
Thats great, and thanks for showing the catalog. I don't see anything in there that clears it up, but perhaps I've overlooked something. I appreciate your response to my question .
However my second post was not meant to dispute what you were telling me, but after searching online and becoming confused due to the fact that the word Nitron is used for both lacquer and also apparently plastic wrap... I was just trying to understand.
SC
Thats great, and thanks for showing the catalog. I don't see anything in there that clears it up, but perhaps I've overlooked something. I appreciate your response to my question . However my second post was not meant to dispute what you were telling me, but after searching online and becoming confused due to the fact that the word Nitron is used for both lacquer and also apparently plastic wrap... I was just trying to understand.SC
SC Sorry I didn't really answer your question, yes it's darn confusing, they do call a lot of their colors Nitron, painted and some wrap finishes.
Nitron was their word for "Pearl" so Nitrons were wrapped drums. Some of the finishes, like Cadillac Green were usually painted onto clear wrap so it can be confusing.
I have a Progressive Jazz snare in Black Lacquer. I think you could get custom lacquer colors done (not 100% sure about Gretsch but Ludwig would definitely do it) whereas the nitron finishes were limited to whatever was cataloged.
I think the USA Custom line started around 1983 when Charlie Roy took over. Their attitude was that all their drums were "custom" built...which was more or less true since they were selling them in such small numbers by that point. I know that by 1986-87 when I was shopping for a new set they were definitely listed in the price lists as "USA Custom" which at that time was the only line Gretsch had other than the abysmal imported "Blackhawk" line of that era which were just stencil kits. The USA Custom line remains the link to the earlier round badge and stop sign badged drums, more or less following the same "recipe" as those classic drums.
Okay thanks guys. I didn't realize they painted onto a clear wrap. I guess they more or less did the same thing with the espresso burst back when it originally came out but it was over wmp?
Much appreciated.
SC
I believe the Expresso wrap is a clear wrap and the shell is painted, at least that's how they are doing it now for Steve Maxwell.
Coffee Break2
I believe the Expresso wrap is a clear wrap and the shell is painted, at least that's how they are doing it now for Steve Maxwell.Coffee Break2
I was referring to when that wrap originally came out, not the repro stuff at SM. I think it originally came out in the 50"s, but could be 1960's.
