Could be a Ludwig shell on the bass. Could use Gretsch lugs without re drilling

Yeah, this is a funny set. Regarding the floor tom. Look at that seam. That would be the most spectacular perfectly finished seam on any late 50's Gretsch...so I don't buy that this is original 3 ply, or even a 60's Gretsch. And then having the badge directly on that seam? Haven't seen it like that ever. And I buy the above guy's thought that the bass could be Ludwig...We'd have to look at interior shots.

But a really cool Frankenstein kit...for the right price: Not $2000.

I had a 14 by 18 Silver Sparkle Gretsch once that had re-rings...3 ply?>>Thinking so...

The "set" is a mongrel for sure: 80's FT and snare, but the 6 ply 8x12 and 3 ply 12x18 are legit RB era drums. At some point in it's life the BD tom mount was moved from the top to the side and another was added to the other side to accommodate two toms. It's got a "skinny stick" badge which puts it into the late 50's early 60's era. And yes, despite what Lee Ruff says, 3 ply w/re-ring BDs do exist and don't sound like a Ludwig! Cool Dude

Actually, I think that three ply 18" bd without rerings are the odd birds. Those usually had rerings.

Man, all those rail mounts and extra holes are making me dizzy!!!

I really doubt the bass drum is RB legit... for starters...

Q: Why on earth is the badge not centered? Typically that location was where Ludwig placed their Keystone badges on Jazzette bass drums. Gretsch RB was always centered on bass drums... Marchers was different story...

Q: Why is it a 12x18? Again, I say Jazzette so please don't say it was special ordered... or was some transition type drum because it's defiantly not.

Q: Why is the drum a natural wood finish? I say it's a Jazzette... Ludwig offered mahogany and maple finish from 1966 to 1969. And we also know RB era Gretsch never made a maple wood finished drum set in any size until 1969 and when they did it was a walnut finish not a natural maple.

* I happen to own both type of bop kits... RB bop kits and KS Jazzette kits! And without any inside shell photographs, I say Ludwig for sure.

Below is my 100% all original 1969 walnut finish 14x18/12/14 RB bop kit with matching snare... this set has no extra holes or mods. Also is my 100% all original 1968 natural maple 12x18/12/14 KS Jazzette kit with matching snare... this set has no extra holes or mods.

[QUOTE=Osahead2;352416] And we also know RB era Gretsch never made a maple wood finished drum set in any size until 1969 and when they did it was a walnut finish not a natural maple. Why is it a 12x18? Why is the drum a natural wood finish?[QUOTE]

Below is a 1963 Charlie Persip ad (PIC could have been shot earlier) on the Gretsch website showing him playing a "natural polish maple" kit in 14x18; 8x12; 14x14; 14x5.5 sizes. That's the earliest verified date I know of for a natural maple finish. Notice the floor tom legs holders, they have the visible mounting screw heads which were used until/through 1962.

Gretsch offered tenor parade toms and snares in 12x18 and 12x16 sizes in wrap/lacquer/painted finishes. The badges were nearer the batter head side than the middle. A painted finish shell would probably require a maple outer ply. Re-rings would make sense on a 3-ply version marching tenor/snare taking into account the extra tension they could be under.

FYI

Extra holes suck but that's a perfect cowbell mount...

What year did Ted Reed's book come out?

I always thought those were maple finish on the cover.

Shelly Manne had a natural finish Leedy kit in the late 50's so the concept was out there, if someone thought to request it. They'd do any color lacquer on request, including, one assumes, clear.

I don't want to start WW3 over my opinion about Gretsch RB natural maple finishes. All, I know which is 99.9% sure Gretsch first publicly offered wood finishes in 1969 on DRUM SETS which was only walnut. Why don't we see more RB natural finish drum sets or orphans is beyond me?

And I'm NOT talking about any other drum makers during that time... I'm only talking about Gretsch Drum Company which, I know they made marchers tenors etc and some of them might have been factory natural maple... but, I'm talking about drum sets only.

Yes, yes, yes, we see cool pictures of drummers with natural maple Gretsch RB drum set all the time especially famous players back in the day but even so some of us today (not me) will foolishly strip new & used high-end drum set all the time so why couldn't they foolishly strip their high-end kits too back 50+ years ago?

Nowhere in any Gretsch catalog or advertisements prior to 1971 does it mention publicly that Gretsch offered customers a natural maple drum set option. Which by economic standpoint is the absolutely cheapest way to sell a drum... would be in natural.... no wrap... no paint... hardly nothing at all... just a natural shell with parts on it... And on top of that Gretsch catalogs or advertisements certainly never mentioned you could buy "custom order" "special order" jazz bass drum sizes like 10x18, 12x18 etc. And when you do see them today something is always fishy about them...

So, I'm still not sold on this natural maple bop kit in question until somebody show me concrete proof.