Why not leave the drum alone and buy an Acrolite for less than $100 that has everything in its proper working order?

First of all, the Gretsch drum is just this side of being considered a "toy" and is never going to sound like anything you'd want to actually use. It's a conversation piece -a historical piece.

You can do a lot of things to a drum like that in an attempt to make it work, but it's likely not going to happen. And if you go messing with it, you'll completely negate any of the historical value of it.

Why go through all that work for what is essentially a toy drum?

2 cents

Definitely appreciate your thoughts. I guess where I might differ with you initially (and the only reason I posted at all) is that I think it sounds and plays -- even as-is --significantly better than a toy. :confused: That said, I'm not here to convince anyone that this is some high calibre snare drum. I know where it falls in the heirarchy, so to speak.

I'm surprised that you think it has historical value. Just 'cause it has some age on it? I guess that doesn't mean that much to me outside of its sound, so I'm not likely to keep it around for that reason alone. In other words, if it ain't worth fixing, away it goes.

I'm not sure -- other than installing a throw-off and having the snare bed worked on -- what I could really do to "make it work." I mean, it's a very thin maple shell that seems to me eminently usable. Could you be a little more specific about what's likely wrong with it ... and why I'll probably end up disappointed after throwing some good money at it? I'm certainly not hell-bent on trying to get it to where many other drums already are. If better not to start, I'd obviously rather know that now!

Thanks. And, again, much appreciated.

Jim, what type music are you going to be playing this drum to or with? What o-lugs is saying, is the gretsch is already a certain type model drum already, if you drill and Install and alter the drum it will destroy the originality and any collect ability it may have down the road. Just sale it and get an acrolite.

If played alone, I would likely do a lot of rudimental drumming on it. Classical etudes. That kind of thing. As part of a kit, jazz. So, whatever the case, period-appropriate.

Meaning cheap student drum, I think? I guess this is what I'm asking when I ask what is inherently wrong with it? If I just said 6-ply / 5 mm shell, 14" x 5" without re-rings, would anyone balk at that? Is it the mere 6 lugs that turns people off?

P.S. I hope I'm not conveying the wrong impression, here. I have *absolutely nothing* personally invested in this drum at all. It would be impossible for anyone here to offend me with regard to this thing :-) So, I'm not liable to be defensive in the least. But, I do want to learn/understand.

I definitely get that. I just wonder what value it could possibly take on that it hasn't already?

Hmmm, I had one and sold it ... maybe 25 years ago??? I kinda regret that move as I'm getting the sense that everyone here thinks they're pretty OK drums! I did at the time, too, actually. But, it's not what I'm looking for at the moment. In all honesty, I'm not *really* looking for anything at the moment. Just thought this might be a fun and cheap little project that I could carry out on my own without doing too much damage(!) But, I guess it comes back to the idea that the drum may not be worth lavishing really any amount of money on, so I'd be happy to figure that out before it's too late...

Hi again.

I didn't mean to seem pushy or anything. Sorry if I came off that way...

I just wanted to point out that IF you enjoy the sound of teh Gretsch drum already, then you should keep it "as-is", in my opinion. It's not a particularly valuable drum even in mint condition, but it is what it is.

Your ideas to upgrade it WILL have an effect on the sound and after you did all of the stuff that you want to do with it, it might not be for the better....in which case, you'd have an expensive "cheap" drum....if that makes sense.

When I say it has historical value, I am saying that "junior" or "juvenile" type drums are not offered anymore as such.

The kinda cool thing about a drum like that is that it has "made it" this far in life and remained in great shape. It has avoided all the pitfalls that are so common to drums meant for beginning players...that usually ended up looking like most kids' toys.

As a utilitarian musical instrument, it has little value. However, as a TOY, it may have a much more significant value one day. But, if you physically alter it in any way, then it's lost that.

I mention the Acrolite because it's a REAL drum intended to be used as such and it's also readily available for the right price -no better drum deal out there! But there are also other real drums out there, too. In fact, there's TONS of them. And so, for that reason, it seems like better advice to leave the intact ones intact.

You can easily get a Keller shell and fix it EXACTLY the way you want to do for about the same money that you'd have to invest to bring that junior drum into the real world.

Generally, we like to encourage people to leave original and intact vintage drums alone.

Hi,

That little drum is a sweetie.

I love to experiment on some of my drums; others I let grow old as they are. Chez moi, this drum would probably be a keeper, but not a player.

Thanks for the pictures, really charming.

Patrick

PS, you may want to test its marketability in the antique toy world.

It's your drum do what you want. BUT you asked so here it is. Every time i see a vintage drum that some one has cobbled on I think " Why did they do that?" Now with that said one of my upcoming projects is turning a 13" Slingerland tom into a snare drum. I'm going to use a very common late 70's shell and a new after market bottom rim. I would never use a Radio King shell. So any way I'd leave it alone, that's my 2 cent's