Study of Gretsch Round Badge "Born Together" Sets

[KCDrumDad]

In November I completed a study of 304 Gretsch Round Badge drums sets with serial numbers to try to establish a guideline for the range of serial numbers one can expect to see on a set which was born together. It is posted at my website. George Lawrence just posted it to Not So Modern Drummer yesterday. Link: https://www.notsomoderndrummer.com/...ogether-vintage-gretsch-round-badge-drum-sets

Working on a few other topics, so there should be more articles in the future.

 

[Osahead2]

Fantastic article! Very interesting... thanks for a job well done.

 

[Skeet6]

Neat! Sent you an email with my SN's as well on a born together set.
Mike B

 

[Osahead2]

In November I completed a study of 304 Gretsch Round Badge drums sets with serial numbers to try to establish a guideline for the range of serial numbers one can expect to see on a set which was born together. It is posted at my website. George Lawrence just posted it to Not So Modern Drummer yesterday. Link: https://www.notsomoderndrummer.com/...ogether-vintage-gretsch-round-badge-drum-sets

Working on a few other topics, so there should be more articles in the future.

Hmm, did I ever provide you with my serial numbers to my born together "what, I believe to be" a 1968-9 RB walnut bop kit with matching snare drum?

I'm also curious as to how many of these walnut RB bop kits have surfaced to date.

 

[KCDrumDad]

Skeet - Thanks - I received your email. Great info.
Osa - I have gathered information about your set which you have posted before.

 

[K.O.]

Excellent work as always Rick...despite your new "bohemian" look....Hippie!

 

[JazzDrumGuy]

Excellent info. I really feel stupid today. Any chance you have a breakdown of bass drum sizes for these kits? I'm trying to see how rare an 18" round badge bass really is. I've never owned one but I've owned others including a square badge and I'm converting a stop sign badge FT. However, I've heard so many good things about a real 18in round badge.....

 

[KCDrumDad]

Excellent info. I really feel stupid today. Any chance you have a breakdown of bass drum sizes for these kits? I'm trying to see how rare an 18" round badge bass really is. I've never owned one but I've owned others including a square badge and I'm converting a stop sign badge FT. However, I've heard so many good things about a real 18in round badge.....

Eight of the 304 potentially born together sets included in the study had 14x18" bass drums. Twenty-six of the 3,955 round badge drums that I have recorded on my list are 14x18 bass drums. Be careful not to extrapolate and draw a lot of conclusions about total production of 18" bass drums based upon these numbers. My list has about 3.4% of the 116,000 or so round badge drums produced with serial numbers. It is not anything official from Gretsch, but a large accumulation of reports of drums for sale on ebay or reverb over the last 14 years or owned or reported by forum members. The 18" bass drum may be over reported because they get so much attention or may be underreported because many people who have them don't sell them.

 

[RogersLudwig]

Eight of the 304 potentially born together sets included in the study had 14x18" bass drums. Twenty-six of the 3,955 round badge drums that I have recorded on my list are 14x18 bass drums. Be careful not to extrapolate and draw a lot of conclusions about total production of 18" bass drums based upon these numbers. My list has about 3.4% of the 116,000 or so round badge drums produced with serial numbers. It is not anything official from Gretsch, but a large accumulation of reports of drums for sale on ebay or reverb over the last 14 years or owned or reported by forum members. The 18" bass drum may be over reported because they get so much attention or may be underreported because many people who have them don't sell them.

I have a progressive jazz set from 1965-66 (12/14/20/5.5). Would you like the serial numbers? I purchased it from a pawn shop in southern New Mexico, but I'm pretty sure it was born together, but no firm evidence. the weird thing is the tag on the 14 FT is wildly different in number

 

[JDA]

"It was a Biker way out in the woods of Herminie Pa." that I answered an ad and he came to the door brought the drums out on the stoop there and I pulled the money out of my pocket" 1975 was the year.

He had all the interiors dusted (except the snare) with day-glo orange. I later redid the 12 in silver and covered again the paper tag so I don't have that number (until I or someone else takes to removing the silver and uncovering)
but..

Chrome Over Brass 5 Microsensitive 8L snare
84126
14X14 big lug Floor tom
78654
14X20 bass drum
77719
small tom 8X12
"covered" unknown at present.

All came together I guarantee
Red Wine Pearl Gretsch round badge all.

(I like a doofus had the rail removed, and a ludwig tom post installed in 1976)
(I like a semi-doofus had the Micro replaced when it ceased to operate; in 1976 with a side throw Lightning. (operations done in 76 at euWulitzer boston)
(I like a clumsy-doofus dropped the small tom (with no bottom rim or head) 12 on soft carpet (at Berklee also in 1976) and damaged/broke loose/separated a small section diagonally of bottom bearing edge right on/at the seam) I later glued and have left alone for 44 years.

I still have the drums (and use the floor with my mini gig with the 2 red glass.

(more pics if want/ on my other computer)

No picture handy of the snare 5 microsensitive
but I have it.
I also have the two original bd hoops but one's warped and both missing a good 65% of inlay)
Someday Hawthorne is going to hand over every wholesale dime for them (kidding! maybe not.. I still use/need the floor tom..

Did you get my numbers Richard?



Good cause I'm exhausted.

 

[KCDrumDad]

RogersLudwig and JDA,
I had both of these sets on my list from earlier posts on DFO. Thanks for sharing and making sure I have the info.

 

[ThomasL]

This is a bit off-topic as it is outside the RB era, but do you know when Gretsch started using (mostly?) consecutive numbers for kits? I had a mid-70s SSB kit with serial spread similar to the RBs, but my 80s kit had consecutive numbers (except for one number missing in between).

 

[KCDrumDad]

I have documented consecutive numbers on different model drums in the same set in the 1970s. For example, I have recorded a five piece set with four consecutive numbers that was sold as a complete set and then parted out by a parts stripper in 2012. The serial numbers were 17331, 17332, 17333, 17334 and 17353. That would be from about the 1972-73 time period.

 

[Osahead2]

"It was a Biker way out in the woods of Herminie Pa." that I answered an ad and he came to the door brought the drums out on the stoop there and I pulled the money out of my pocket" 1975 was the year.

He had all the interiors dusted (except the snare) with day-glo orange. I later redid the 12 in silver and covered again the paper tag so I don't have that number (until I or someone else takes to removing the silver and uncovering)
but..

Chrome Over Brass 5 Microsensitive 8L snare
84126
14X14 big lug Floor tom
78654
14X20 bass drum
77719
small tom 8X12
"covered" unknown at present.

All came together I guarantee
Red Wine Pearl Gretsch round badge all.

(I like a doofus had the rail removed, and a ludwig tom post installed in 1976)
(I like a semi-doofus had the Micro replaced when it ceased to operate; in 1976 with a side throw Lightning. (operations done in 76 at euWulitzer boston)
(I like a clumsy-doofus dropped the small tom (with no bottom rim or head) 12 on soft carpet (at Berklee also in 1976) and damaged/broke loose/separated a small section diagonally of bottom bearing edge right on/at the seam) I later glued and have left alone for 44 years.

I still have the drums (and use the floor with my mini gig with the 2 red glass.

View attachment 473810
View attachment 473810

(more pics if want/ on my other computer)

View attachment 473811
View attachment 473811


No picture handy of the snare 5 microsensitive
but I have it.
I also have the two original bd hoops but one's warped and both missing a good 65% of inlay)
Someday Hawthorne is going to hand over every wholesale dime for them (kidding! maybe not.. I still use/need the floor tom..

Did you get my numbers Richard?

View attachment 473815

Good cause I'm exhausted.

Hi JDA, I believe those Red Wine Pearl & Emerald Green Pearl kits are still considered to be quite rare... to this day, I've only seen a few of them surface. I still have my two kits however my kits both have a much later (higher) serial number grouping. One RB and the other is SSB.

 

[JDA]

have Mike A check his set Richard..

1960's GRETSCH ROUND BADGE 4-PIECE DRUM SET IN RARE RED PEARL FINISH! BEAUTIFUL! | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 1960's GRETSCH ROUND BADGE 4-PIECE DRUM SET IN RARE RED PEARL FINISH! BEAUTIFUL! at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

 

[JDA]

and another set popped on bay

Gretsch Early 60's Progressive Jazz Drum Set 12/14/20/14 Red Sparkle With Snare | eBay

Progressive Jazz Gretsch. A tiny piece of the red sparkle on snare is detached near/under the rim.less than 1" piece. see picture. Parts have been taped over by previous owner as the pictures show.

www.ebay.com

another

Vintage 1966 Gretsch RB 3pc Drum Set | eBay

<p dir="ltr">This auction is for a very clean 1966 Gretsch Midnight Blue Pearl 3pc 6 ply,drumset the sizes are:14×20,9×13 and an outstanding rare natural finish 14x14 floor tom.The 13" tom and the bass drum have their silver interiors with paper tags.As previously stated the floor tom has the...

www.ebay.com

and

Vintage Gretsch Red Glass Glitter !! 20,16, 13, 12 | eBay

<p>Vintage Gretsch Red Glass Glitter !! </p><p>Ok so here it is. Everything you need </p><p>all original drums </p><br><p>what an amazing sounding and looking vintage drum kit </p><p>(I replaced the Bass Drum hoop strips to match . now it's even more amazing!)</p><p>READY TO PLAY </p><p>LOCAL...

www.ebay.com

 

[KCDrumDad]

JDA, lots of sets show up on ebay every week. When there are no serial numbers provided or pictured, I will sometimes pursue them by contacting the seller, depending upon my time availability. That is how I built my list. I do the same for Ludwig and Ludwig Standards.

 

[JDA]

yes thought I'd give you something to do ; ) lol

and..I suspect more and more old sets may be showing up..
so grab the numbers when you can)

 

[poetman]

Hmm, did I ever provide you with my serial numbers to my born together "what, I believe to be" a 1968-9 RB walnut bop kit with matching snare drum?

I'm also curious as to how many of these walnut RB bop kits have surfaced to date.

Can you post some drum porn pictures of this kit? Wood stained rb kits are the best!

 

[KCDrumDad]

Can you post some drum porn pictures of this kit? Wood stained rb kits are the best!

Osa will be happy to do that, although he has done it before: https://www.drumforum.org/threads/my-rarest-round-badge-gretsch-bop-kit-ever-found.111638/