Well...I've done some cleaning up on this drum today, and did some research on the model as well.....also touched up the chipped lacquer finish in spots. Buffing and waxing to occur later after the paint cures. The chrome cleaned up nicely, the cheap taiwan snares are gone and replaced with a Puresound Metrix 30 strand set I had kicking around (see last pic above). I am going to order a new Gretsch muffler and Drumkey and holder for it. The exsisting holder's clip is missing.....unless someone knows what kind of clip is supposed to be in there and can be had by Gretsch still? And as soon as I find the correct strainer, the yamaha one will have to stay. I'm not planning on plugging the extra holes, or re-wrapping this drum, just going to leave the finish as is and live with the holes. A battle scar or badge of honor maybe? As it stands, this drum sounds a lot more expensive than the model was originally intended to be! What a great sound! Rivals some of my favorite Ludwigs....maybe I'm gonna be a Gretsch convert! LOL
BTW, I found out it is a Dixieland model snare, probably from about 1964 to 1969 or so? (my best guess anyway) The earlier pics and catalogs I've found all show the Dixieland with single flange hoops and claws. The cast hoops don't appear in the catalogs until the 1964 catalog on the Dixieland. Also the tag inside was originally marked 4105, but the 5 was grease penciled over with a 4 and looks to be original and something done by Gretsch at the factory. So this would be a Dixieland model 4104? I've also heard that Gretsch started marking out the gauranteed shells wording on the labels at sometime? This one is not marked out, so maybe with this info someone can chime in and give me a closer approximation of age of this find of mine?
Also, see my wanted posting for a renown style strainer for this drum. I would like to at least put one back on the drum to make it look correct. Note that I said correct and NOT original.....the drum can never be original again since it's been messed with over the years.....at least I can make it more correct.
