70's Gretsch USA Customs?

[inaglasscage]

It's been a while since I've been on here but I'm curious to hear what you folks have to say about this Gretsch kit I recently acquired. I bought it off a very friendly gentleman here in Los Angeles about a month ago. He explained that he got the kit years ago and originally it had a black wrap which he removed and refinished with a walnut stain. They are all power sizes of: 10",12",14", 20" kick. The shells are all virgin with no extra holes for hardware and on RIMS mounts. So I referenced the SS badge and inside tags on two toms (the only drums that have inside tags) and apparently they're from 1973; however, the bass drum spurs and definitely NOT from the 70's and I believe were only implemented in the early 2000's (Gibraltar). Also, is it possible that Gretsch manufactured any kits from the early 70's that were strictly virgin shells with no mounting holes? Something's not adding up here and I don't quite know what to make of all this. Not surprisingly, these drums sound awesome! Your thoughts and opinions are much appreciated. Please see photos

 

[JDA]

28233 is 1973; didn't recall power toms power toms back then but dunno..

 

[inaglasscage]

28233 is 1973; didn't recall power toms power toms back then but dunno..

same here

 

[JDA]

could have bought stickers off ebay, Badges too.. and they were originally square badge- I see the bass drum is a power size too- and now they look like that.

Hey as long as they sound like Gretschhhh

 

[inaglasscage]

could have bought stickers off ebay, Badges too.. and they were originally square badge- I see the bass drum is a power size too- and now they look like that.

Hey as long as they sound like Gretschhhh

True… and only two of the drums out of four have inside tags. Very suspect

 

[JDA]

well it was the best $300 you've ever spent Right? : _)

 

[inaglasscage]

well it was the best $300 you've ever spent Right? : _)

$525… and yes!

 

[D. B. Cooper]

Do they all have the silver sealer?
Is that black chrome on everything? Even the lugs? That would definitely not be 70's.

 

[JDA]

that's not the cheap hardware; may have been painted/powd coated/ but it's USA stuff :

actually the set looks pretty good (and a different color than the brown pic)

 

[inaglasscage]

Do they all have the silver sealer?
Is that black chrome on everything? Even the lugs? That would definitely not be 70's.

Silver sealer is on the inside of every drum and all the hardware is indeed black. Yes, black hardware would not be 70's. And, thanks for the quick feedback guys!

 

[inaglasscage]

that's not the cheap hardware; may have been painted/powd coated/ but it's USA stuff :

actually the set looks pretty good (and a different color than the brown pic)

Yeah, he said taking the wrap off was quite a pain and no small task to refinish all the shells. I just put all new coated emperors on the kit, tuned it up and man they sing! Definitely that Gretsch sound

 

[DolFan54]

I had a 70’s walnut kit years ago in the mid 90’s that had virgin 13, 14 & 15 toms as well as the 26” bass drum. Definitely unheard of and rare from the 70’s.

Power toms & power bass drum from the 70’s? That sounds fishy.

 

[inaglasscage]

I had a 70’s walnut kit years ago in the mid 90’s that had virgin 13, 14 & 15 toms as well as the 26” bass drum. Definitely unheard of and rare from the 70’s.

Power toms & power bass drum from the 70’s? That sounds fishy.

Agreed