The set is pretty rare having the Starlight Sparkle wrap that was available from 1958 to 1962 only. It has a beautiful light lavender tint in the light.
Read more1959 Starlight Sparkle Gretsch Broadkasters Name Band drum set.
1969-1970 Gretsch Gold Snares
“The gold Gretsch snare was circa 69-70 and done right on the cusp of the transition from Round Badge to SSB.” -Steve Maxwell
Read moreCross-Use of Paper Labels and Serial Numbers in Gretsch Guitars, Banjos and Drums in the Early 1970s
The serial number schemes and paper label designs used with Gretsch guitars and banjos differed from those used with Gretsch drums. On a few occasions in the early 1970s, drum serial numbers and drum abels appear on guitars and banjos and guitar/banjo serial numbers and labels appear on drums. This article is written for the vintage guitar, banjo and drum communities so that this fascinating interaction between these areas of Gretsch manufacturing is more widely understood.
Read moreFrom Editor George Lawrence
My first drum set was a three piece no-name Japanese stencil kit made by Pearl: 22x14, 9x13, 5.5x14 with one ride cymbal on the bass drum and a hihat. It seems I have come full circle now.
Read moreMy 40th Anniversary with my Gretsch Set
You were all I thought about from the time I started taking drum lessons the year prior. When the time had come to get you, you were not at all what I had pictured in my head as my 12 year old mind was set on finding a nice shiny Ludwig set that would stand out. The choice that fateful day back in June of 1983 was between you and the Ludwig Tivoli lighted set of Vista-lite drums set up in the window of Looney Tunes music that was at the southern end of Main Street in Concord NH
Read moreVintage Gretsch Drum Finishes, 1970-1981, Stop Sign and First Version Square Badges
This study reviews data gathered from a representative sample of Stop Sign Badge and first version Square Badge Gretsch drums produced from about 1970 through about 1981
Read moreVintage Gretsch Round Badge Finishes
Just how common are the various wraps and finishes that Gretsch used on its vintage drums? This study reviews data gathered from a representative sample of Round Badge Gretsch drums produced from about 1962 through about 1969.
Read moreThe Rare 1930s Gretsch Heavy Brass Shell Snare Drum
In the 1930s, Gretsch was in the early stages of developing their metal brass shell snare. These models started off with a center beaded shell that was one piece, seamless in design and plated nickel over brass. The very first models came equipped with six tubular lugs, single flanged hoops and an outsourced strainers from a major drum competitor. It is important to note that catalogs referencing these early 30s model snare drums are very rare and hard to come by. Most
Read moreModel Numbers in Vintage Gretsch Drums
Tags from a 1963 Gretsch Round Badge set
Gretsch began placing paper labels inside their drums in about 1962. The paper labels possessed both model numbers and serial numbers. The focus of this article is on how model numbers were presented on the paper labels.[i] Knowledge of how Gretsch expressed model number is another useful dating tool.[ii]
Read moreHomage to Charlie
I never met Charlie or any other of the Rolling Stones but I feel fortunate as I was able to indirectly help put a rare WFL drum Charlie owned back to original shape. Charlie acquired a late 30’s WFL twin snare drum that had off-set lugs and the type of strainers that often broke at the tip. Charlie’s drum had one broken strainer and his tech, Don McAulay was looking to find a replacement strainer
Read moreMid 1960s Gretsch Round Badge Drums without Silver Sealer
One of the many unexplained mysteries of vintage drums is the existence of vintage 1960s Gretsch Round Badge drums which lack the typical silver sealer interior paint. This was an era before clear drum heads, so few people saw the inside of their drums. However, Gretsch was marketing “The Great Gretsch Sound” and part of that sound was allegedly the silver sealer they applied to the interior of their drums starting in about 1954.
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