My drums, I know approximately when they were made. I just got the Gretsch book today and it shows pics of the drum kit that I have. It says that Gretsch made the 3 ply shell up until about 58 and that they were making 6 ply shells from about 54 on. Is there anything on an old Gretsch kit that might tell you the year? Like a floor tom leg or a bracket mounted a certain way up until x year? Mine have paper tags but mine were also refinished before I bought them and painted black on the interiors. They still have the orange paper tags because I guess the guy I bought them from painted around them so I am assuming that perhaps they did in fact have the silver interiors but you can't be sure. The book says that the tags and silver sealer all started around 1958. I have not scratched it to see if they are silver underneath or not. The set I know is ruined value-wise as far as collecting goes but it was my first kit and it had the 5.5x14 snare, 9x13 tom, 16x16 floor tom, and the 14x22 bass drum which sounds outstanding. My late Mother bought them for me as my first kit back in 1984. I was just hoping there might be some info out there. My drums also got a Ludwig tom holder to replace the old rail consolette and I am sure the spurs aren't original. Thanks a million if you guys know of anything that may shed some light on the age of my old Gretsch drums.
Old Gretsch question Last viewed: 2 hours ago
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Ludwig Black Diamond Pearl 1966 5x14 S.S./13/16/22
Gretsch wood finish 1959 5x14/13/16/22
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Pictures would be helpful. I thought tags started in the early 60's. Enjoy those Gretsch drum. More help will be on the way.
B
It is difficult to tell what you have from the information in your post. A few pictures will help.
There are some age indicators in the hardware - i.e.: the type of diamond leg and cymbal mounts, the appearance of the badge. I do not think that anyone has been able to nail down exactly when these changes occurred. More like an "early 50s/late 50s" level of precision for those two characteristics.
While there is not universal agreement, the labels are generally thought to have started in about 1962. If your drums have labels, then they are likely from the 60s. If you provide your serial numbers, we may be able to narrow that down.
Gretsch drums with serial numbers,
Ludwig Keystone and B/O badge drums with serial numbers and date stamps,
Ludwig Standards from 1968-73, and
Ludwigs with paper labels from 1971-72
www.GretschDrumDatingGuide.com
As I said, my kit was refinished a brown/orange maple finish with black interiors. My kit sizes and as far as I can tell hoops and what-not look like this kit. When I originally got it in 1984 the guy who owned them had them refinished with the bottom heads removed and the lug holes plugged. Damn 1970's trends. Mine had the internal mufflers on the tom and floor tom which were removed, had the straight floor tom legs, the pratt muffler for the kick drum, and like this kit has the side kick drum mounted cymbal holder diamond bracket and a rail consolette. The floor tom legs have diamond brakets too with the thin tension wing nut things. I know the spurs are not original but I think the leg brackets are Ludwig. My tom holder is an old late 60's or early seventies Ludwig single tom L arm with small ratchet post. I don't have any pics of my kit but I will get some soon of it and my old 1966 Ludwig kit for you guys to see. My Gretsch, since they were my first kit, are my favorite and my Mom told me never to sell them. I told her I wouldn't. I have made a bunch of recordings with them and they sound fat. The kick is the deal breaker of all time. No one that ever plays that kick wants to play anything else again. It has a clear Emperor on the batter and a Pinstripe from 1989 on the reso, go figure. It sounds good though and aside from a Remo Muffl, it is open and booms like Bonzo junior.
Yamaha Cherry Wood Recording Custom 1987/2005 8/10/12/13/14/16/22
Ludwig Black Diamond Pearl 1966 5x14 S.S./13/16/22
Gretsch wood finish 1959 5x14/13/16/22
Slingerland Radio King Capri Pearl 5x14 Radio King
Gretsch Silver Sparkle Catalina Club Bop 2008 18/14/12/10/5x14
Gretsch Silver Sparkle/Black Stripe Catalina Club Mod kit 22/10/12/16
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