As such, there are a lot of vintage specimens hidden under beds, lurking in closets or parading in plain sight on shop walls and Reverb listings. Half the battle of finding a great deal or pre-empting conflict is accurately dating the guitar in question. The guide below is intended to help you identify the production year of any Gretsch guitar, given the serial number and its location on the guitar. This information has been compiled from multiple sources cited at bottom.
Dating of Vintage Gretsch Drums Based Upon Serial Numbers: Challenging the Legend, Lore and Lies
How to Date Gretsch Drums | Our Pastimes
Gretsch was sold to Baldwin Piano Co in Gretsch drums are popular among country and rock artists alike and have been played by performers ranging from Phil Collins to Eddie Fisher of OneRepublic and Debbi Peterson of the Bangles. Dating a set of Gretsch drums accurately is a challenge that relies heavily on comparing the physical characteristics of your drums to those found in vintage drum catalogs. Locate the badge on your Gretsch drums. The badge is a metal piece affixed to every drum, usually located in front of the drum. This is the best way to narrow down the possible date of your vintage Gretsch drums.
I get emails all of the time with a basic drum description and a serial number from visitors in hopes I can unlock the history of their drum. I think in general serial numbers do play an important role in the commercial market especially electronics and other high end items. In the 60's Insurance companies made it mandatory that serial numbers be put on items so they can be documented. Unfortunately drum companies never really prescribed to any code of documenting a drum based on that serial number.
Slingerland "Lite" snare. LOT B Gretsch Snare Drum Brooklyn Series 6. Gier spent five years on the research for this page book.