Re: How to tell a Gretsch USA Custom?
dropdtune, if the drum has a silver sealer and paper tag inside, odds are it was made in the USA. I have never seen a non-US gretsch with a paper tag, even the new USA Customs have paper tags. Did you happen to see what color the tag was, greenish/white, orange/white, red/white/blue? This along witht he model/serial number could get you close to what era it is from. What was the finish on it, was it a wrap or stain and what color? If you want to be 100% certain that it is a USA made drum, you'll need to take a look at the bearing edges and check the plies. Gretsch Jasper shells were 6plies of alternating maple and gumwood. The gum is much darker than the maple and can easily be seen. Jasper shells are very easy to identify, even to the untraied eye.
Pre-mid 90s all Gretsch kits were made in the USA, they were not called USA Customs until production started heading overseas and the new USA line was started. All drum shells were identical, with exception of the blackhawk line in the 80s, and models were named for size configurations or hardware layout.
As for the price of $500, it seems very high to me. Gretsch stuff does fetch quite a bit of $, but $500 for a BD better be 100% original and in excellent shape. Expect to pay atleast $75-$100 for a replacement badge, and scrutinize every piece of hardware to make sure its there and original gretsch parts, gretsch parts are outrageously expensive. Any non-original holes will significatly reduce its value, and by significantly I mean $100s of dollars. Check that the wrap or finish is original, re-wraps are near worthless to the gretsch fiends, and some rare finishes are gold mines. Are the original inlays still in the hoops?
If everything appears original and in good shape, I'd start with a $300 offer and work your way up from there until you reach YOUR limit.
*****GRETSCH****BOSPHORUS****AQUARIAN****VALJE**** *
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