Help ID’ing Gretsch kit with concert toms

[Jjsnail7]

I recently picked up this cool, rather old smelling Gretsch kit:

24” x 16” bass drum
16” concert floor tom
15” concert rack tom
14” concert rack tom
13” concert rack tom
18” floor tom (last pic, this one has a reso rim, unlike the others)

Also came with a cool 14” x 6” Rogers snare I included in the pictures

From my research, it seems like these might be 80s? Maybe a custom set for a touring performing? They all have the same badge and paper on the inside. Any ideas on ID’ing these? Thanks!

 

[JDA]

(Gretsch) Look like (by serial no.) 1977
(Arkansas production era

 

[drumsforme]

What you have according to the serial number and the Orange/white tag indicates it was manufactured in late 1977 in Arkansas (Baldwin Era).

 

[drumsforme]

Can you show us a picture of the tom mounting system and the bass drum mount......?. I'm thinking it would be ball and socket with a hex rod

 

[Jjsnail7]

Thanks, that’s awesome to hear, more ~vintage~ than I originally thought!! Any opinions on Gretsch kits from that era? It sounds great to me (better now with new heads) and I love the sizes and concert style for what I do, which is why I got it.

Another question: how would one go about cleaning up the outside of the shells? Murphy oil?

 

[Jjsnail7]

Can you show us a picture of the tom mounting system and the bass drum mount......?. I'm thinking it would be ball and socket with a hex rod

Unfortunately, it did not come with original Tom mounting hardware. I’d love to source original hardware for that. The guy gave me a metal Ludwig stand for mounting two toms but it’s pretty cumbersome and difficult to situate. Just been using a snare stand for 1 rack tom at a time.

 

[drumsforme]

Thanks, that’s awesome to hear, more ~vintage~ than I originally thought!! Any opinions on Gretsch kits from that era? It sounds great to me (better now with new heads) and I love the sizes and concert style for what I do, which is why I got it.

Another question: how would one go about cleaning up the outside of the shells? Murphy oil?

Here is some good advice from the folks at DW:.....BTW-If you should choose to remove the lugs before cleaning, Be VERY careful- The lugs of this era used self tapping screws and sometimes folks can have a hard time getting them reinstalled,

Care of DW Lacquer Finishes:​ Caring for any of our Lacquer finishes could be compared to caring for your car. Since our lacquers are of the same caliber as those in the auto industry, we recommend a similar process. For a thorough cleaning, we suggest you remove all lugs and hardware from the shell. Clean the drums with a solution of mild detergent (dishwashing soap works well) and water, then dry completely with a soft clean cloth. To add a great shine, procure a petroleum-based liquid wax from an auto parts store. Follow the directions on the wax using small amounts on a soft clean cloth. Applied sparingly will yield the best results.

 

[JDA]

Heed the above..about threads.
and get a fine new towel and just start buffing
to get the dust out

just some dry buffing
I wouldn't immediately introduce liquid
immediately
but that's me : )

 

[Skyrm]

Thanks, that’s awesome to hear, more ~vintage~ than I originally thought!! Any opinions on Gretsch kits from that era? It sounds great to me (better now with new heads) and I love the sizes and concert style for what I do, which is why I got it.

Another question: how would one go about cleaning up the outside of the shells? Murphy oil?

Nice Kit, I loved my Gretsch Walnut finish kit - for 27 years!!

That almost sounds like the "Nighthawk II" kit from 1981 catalog: http://www.drumarchive.com/Gretsch/

This may help with cleaning. This is the finish Gretsch used back then. https://www.google.com/search?q=cleaning+nitro-cellulose+finish

Enjoy them!!

 

[ThomasL]

Here is some good advice from the folks at DW:.....BTW-If you should choose to remove the lugs before cleaning, Be VERY careful- The lugs of this era used self tapping screws and sometimes folks can have a hard time getting them reinstalled,

Care of DW Lacquer Finishes:​ Caring for any of our Lacquer finishes could be compared to caring for your car. Since our lacquers are of the same caliber as those in the auto industry, we recommend a similar process. For a thorough cleaning, we suggest you remove all lugs and hardware from the shell. Clean the drums with a solution of mild detergent (dishwashing soap works well) and water, then dry completely with a soft clean cloth. To add a great shine, procure a petroleum-based liquid wax from an auto parts store. Follow the directions on the wax using small amounts on a soft clean cloth. Applied sparingly will yield the best results.

I don't think DW uses nitrocellulose lacquer, so I would not try that. Guitar polish should be safe.

 

[studrum]

I have much experience with the Gretsch self-tapping screws. I would suggest NOT removing the lugs when you clean the drums for this reason.

 

[studrum]

Great drums, but sorry about that Rogers snare. It's from their Pile-o-Junk series, brought in from far across the sea.

 

[pedro navahas]

That is a 24x14 bass drum, and if you want to part with that 18 I’d be interested

 

[Jjsnail7]

Nice Kit, I loved my Gretsch Walnut finish kit - for 27 years!!

That almost sounds like the "Nighthawk II" kit from 1981 catalog: http://www.drumarchive.com/Gretsch/

This may help with cleaning. This is the finish Gretsch used back then. https://www.google.com/search?q=cleaning+nitro-cellulose+finish

Enjoy them!!

Thank you!