What would this 1981 Gretsch Jazz kit be worth?

[rolfwilkinson]

I'm having a hard time putting a value on this. I've searched sold listings on eBay etc, but maybe you can help me with this.

I believe this is considered "Baldwin" era, early 1981.

It is 18" x 14" bass drum, 14x14 floor tom, 12 x 8 tom. No hardware, comes with soft bags.

It is considered "rosewood". Has some scratches. The insides and bearing edges are mint.

It sounds DEADLY, like... I don't think there is a better sounding jazz kit on the planet.

It's hard to find these sizes in older Gretsch shells, and I don't want to sell it on eBay but locally, and so I just want to find a good number first...

 

[Whitten]

Great kit, lovely era!

 

[rikkrebs]

Here's a similar kit from the same era if that helps.

I like your kit much better.

VINTAGE 1979-1981 Gretsch Drop G Stop Sign Badge Bop Fusion Outfit in Black Nitron - 14x18, 8x12, 9x13, 14x14

VINTAGE 1979-1981 Gretsch Drop G Stop Sign Badge Bop Fusion Outfit in Black Nitron Vintage Drum Set. Sizes: 14x18 bass drum, 8x12 tom, 9x13 tom, 14x14 floor tom. Details & Notes: A jazz drummer's delight. This is a beautiful late 70's/early 80's Gretsch with the Drop G Stop Sign USA Badge made...

badgesdrumshop.com

 

[rimtap]

I bought an 80's era Square Badge Gretsch kit a couple years ago that the original owner had requested it with no mufflers and with a yamaha tom mount and yamaha spurs. It has a lot of cosmetic blemishes, including one area of outer ply damage on the floor tom, but the bearing edges and insides are mint and I paid $1700. You should be able to get more than that. Tim

 

[Pre ‘72]

Sorry I can’t really help with the pricing, but just have to ask… why are you selling?

 

[el_37]

I would say $2800-$3000 on the low end and $3800-$4000 on the high retail end. Private local sale would probably fall around $3000-$3200.

Finish is one of the more desirable ones, but it is still an 80’s era set.

A stop sign badge 18/14/12 sold on Reverb for $4500 recently- your set is in nicer condition- but that set is also older.

Do you have the tom arm that is missing in the photos? If not I would source one- the set presents much better for sale with it mounted.

 

[wflkurt]

Man these are nice. I have a rosewood 22,12,13,16 that was my first set used in 1983. I love them.

 

[thomasklau]

Some similar reverb listings that recently sold:

Gretsch Stop Sign Badge Be-Bop Kit 1971-1973 Walnut | Reverb

Vintage Gretsch Stop Sign Badge Be-Bop Kit!!! Circa 1971-1973 18" x 14" Bass Drum (original bass drum, not a converted floor tom) 12" x 8" Tom (snare stand not included) 14" x 14" Floor Tom - Original die-cast rims and original tension rods - Jasper Shells - Drums are in exc...

reverb.com

Gretsch 24/12/13/16" Vintage Stop Sign Badge Drum Set - Gloss Walnut | Reverb

Here is a phenomenal sounding set of vintage Gretsch Stop Sign Badge players! These are sized 14x24", 8x12", 9x13", and 16x16" and are in great shape for a vintage lacquer kit! The bass drum has a little bit of checking in its lacquer, but is in overall good shape and is not chipped or peeling. T...

reverb.com

 

[thomasklau]

I'm also in the bay area and am in the market for a bop / rock-jazz Gretsch kit, so would be interested when you do come up with a number!

 

[rolfwilkinson]

Oh good question. I'm moving to Turkey, and I have two drum sets. I'll put one in storage. Also, I'm playing a lot more guitar and singing these days. Just too much stuff.

Sorry I can’t really help with the pricing, but just have to ask… why are you selling?

 

[rolfwilkinson]

I would say $2800-$3000 on the low end and $3800-$4000 on the high retail end. Private local sale would probably fall around $3000-$3200.

Finish is one of the more desirable ones, but it is still an 80’s era set.

A stop sign badge 18/14/12 sold on Reverb for $4500 recently- your set is in nicer condition- but that set is also older.

Do you have the tom arm that is missing in the photos? If not I would source one- the set presents much better for sale with it mounted.

Yeah I left that thing behind. Never thought I'd ever sell the kit, but then, never thought I'd move to Turkey. Yeah my thoughts were along your lines, but then, finding one of these is so hard. I have found this one sounds better than any earlier Gretsch I've heard, but that might just be the ones I happened to hear. It's possible that these might recently have become more in demand. I was thinking of selling an amp I have, and was shocked to see that it had doubled in value over the course of about 10 years.

 

[el_37]

Yeah I left that thing behind. Never thought I'd ever sell the kit, but then, never thought I'd move to Turkey. Yeah my thoughts were along your lines, but then, finding one of these is so hard. I have found this one sounds better than any earlier Gretsch I've heard, but that might just be the ones I happened to hear. It's possible that these might recently have become more in demand. I was thinking of selling an amp I have, and was shocked to see that it had doubled in value over the course of about 10 years.

Round Badge 18/14/12 sets are still king- they bring well over $5000- over $10,000 if they are in rare finishes and/or were owned by someone famous.

Right or wrong- sound rarely factors in to the monetary value of an instrument. The collectibility or the fantasy factor plays a much larger factor than anything else.

 

[rolfwilkinson]

Round Badge 18/14/12 sets are still king- they bring well over $5000- over $10,000 if they are in rare finishes and/or were owned by someone famous.

Right or wrong- sound rarely factors in to the monetary value of an instrument. The collectibility or the fantasy factor plays a much larger factor than anything else.

Absolutely. I had that too, the coveting of the round badge. I've heard some that are awesome, but some that are just really great. At one point I bought a champagne sparkle anniversary edition with a round badge just out of that foolish fetishization, and it sounded aaaaalmost as good as this one. So I sold it.

 

[rolfwilkinson]

I'm also in the bay area and am in the market for a bop / rock-jazz Gretsch kit, so would be interested when you do come up with a number!

I hate to say it, but it took me so long to find this kit, and I know it's rare, so I'm going to start a bit high on craigslist before I put it up on reverb. Just search on Bay Area Craigslist, I will put it up tonight.. My name is Rolf, feel free to reach out.

 

[DolFan54]

I hate to say it, but it took me so long to find this kit, and I know it's rare, so I'm going to start a bit high on craigslist before I put it up on reverb. Just search on Bay Area Craigslist, I will put it up tonight.. My name is Rolf, feel free to reach out.

I would try A Drummer’s Tradition in San Rafael. He does consignments on certain drums. A Gretsch bop kit is definitely worthy!

 

[Stew26]

I hate to say it, but it took me so long to find this kit, and I know it's rare, so I'm going to start a bit high on craigslist before I put it up on reverb. Just search on Bay Area Craigslist, I will put it up tonight.. My name is Rolf, feel free to reach out.

Hey Rolf really like these pretty drums. Are these sold I assume?