1950s Gretsch Birdland Original!
1950s GRETSCH CADILLAC GREEN 'BIRDLAND' ROUND BADGE 'BOP' SET If you have any questions about this kit, please contact me.
DRUMS:
20 x 14" Bass Drum
16 x 16" Floor Tom
13 x 9" Tom Tom
ADDITIONAL ITEMS:
DRUMS
14 x 5.5" Gretsch 1960's Round Badge 'Name Band' Model 4157 in Mahogany.
HARDWARE
Gretsch 1950's Snare Drum Stand
Gretsch 1960's Hi-hat
Gretsch 1960's Cymbal Stand
Slingerland Bass Drum L Cymbal Arm
CYMBALS
Avedis Zildjian 1950’s 15” Hi-Hat Cymbals “small stamp” Light T901g & B931g
Avedis Zildjian 1970’s20” Avedis Zildjian Sizzle Ride 3 rivets
Avedis Zildjian 1970’s20” Avedis Zildjian Crash
BACKGROUND:
There are rare drum sets and then there is the Gretsch 'Birdland' Cadillac Green, 'Round Badge' drum set!
There are so many different factors that make up why this is such an iconic kit, it is almost, where do you begin? You could indeed, pick any of these!
*Only 50 were ever produced between 1953 - 1959.
*Less than a dozen sets are currently now exist.
*Only two are known to reside here in the UK.
*This 'Birdland' 'Bop' set configuration is a very rare find!
*The hardware was astonishingly, 24-carat-gold-plated.
*Built by Gretsch to be the 'house kit' at the legendary Birdland Jazz Club at 1678 Broadway, New York City.
*Every famous drummer of the era, from Art Blakey, Charlie Persip, Elvin Jones and "Philly" Joe Jones would play these kits.
*A non catalog set of drums that few drummers at the time of release could only dream to aspire to.
IMAGE 1
IMAGE 2
I acquired this beautiful and very rare set of drums on October 27th, 2021 from my good friend Mark at Rusty Drums.
With regard to the history of these drums and this particular set, it is, shall we say, evolving all the time, so I will date the most recent update at the end of the article.
Jumping back in time, in the 1950's, the Gretsch drum company were very proactive with regard to promoting their products as thanks to the vision of head of A&R Phil Grant, the rise of what was labelled 'Modern Jazz' saw many of the world's top drummers sat behind a Gretsch set.
Slingerland had ruled the 'Big Band' era but now there was another company wearing the crown. As the drum sizes reduced to accommodate the in favour jazz trio, the 'hip' drummers wanted something new and were discovering Gretsch had the sound they were looking for and 'That great Gretsch sound' motto was born.
