Restoring this 50's Gretsch Single Tension Snare

[@johnschweiger6486]

Love your videos Mike. You speak to the novice, the intermediate, as well as to the experienced watching. Also you keep it real with common sense, humility, and clarity. I like especially that when you give a sound sample of a drum, it’s done WITHOUT being EQ’d! Just the raw sound of what it REALLY will sound like!!! I’m a fan. Keep up the great work!👍🥁

[@malonedrum]

Much appreciated John! And thanks for saying for all

[@philliptrammell6206]

I think it turned out great. Looks and sounds amazing. I was surprised with the crack it had lol.

[@malonedrum]

Yeah, in addition to getting a nice dry vintage sound, it does have the range to get quite cranked and modern sounding.

[@steverichdrummr]

I love the shade of stain that you used on this. Really nice job!

[@malonedrum]

Likewise! It’s a better fit on a lot of sets as well

[@vazquez808]

You’re a gangstah brother. I really dig your channel.

[@malonedrum]

Thanks man! I love making the content, so subscribe and it’ll keep coming

[@tmappe]

Love the relatively “open” tone you get from it - has some great character

[@malonedrum]

Yes, love that tone, and it’s not too ringy at the same time. Single flanged hoops.

[@geraldzydek1295]

Beautiful job of restoring that single tension GRETSCH. Not only does it look fantastic but sounds terrific. I love the tone of that drum. I enjoy your videos and the drums you work on. You get them to sound their Finest.

[@malonedrum]

Appreciate you watching!

[@BrandonMobley614]

This video has me looking for vintage single tension snares to restore on Reverb. I've never restored a drum before. I'm new to drumming in general. But this looks like a fun project. I can always reference this video.

[@malonedrum]

Yeah, please do!

[@robertbryant9380]

I had that exact same drum and refinished the same as you did in this video.

[@malonedrum]

Well I won't take any credit, but hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoy mine.

[@Pure_KodiakWILD_Power]

Love that high tuning.

[@malonedrum]

Yeah, surprising with a single tension drum to be able to crank it that high.

[@tobiaswinter1358]

Cool project, even when I would've liked to see it restored in the original color!

[@malonedrum]

Yeah, that would have been really cool to do, but I’m totally fine saying I’m not nearly as good with painting as I am with staining. I feel like stain is much more forgiving.

[@GregTardif]

Looks great & sounds awesome ! I liked the medium tuning the best. It’s nice to hear how dynamic it is.

[@malonedrum]

Surprisingly dynamic and versatile for what was designed more as a toy.

[@davidsuprenant893]

Mike I have the bass drum.22x12 it was the same color. In the process of redoing it.pretty cool being a single tension drum.

[@malonedrum]

Shoot, send that drum my way!

[@thomasnappo6309]

Well done😊

[@malonedrum]

Thanks

[@danielchernau3503]

The Jazz Combo model. Had one. GREAT sounding snare. Renown strainer blew, though.

[@malonedrum]

Yeah, I'm not a fan of the strainer, but it actually holds better than a lot of vintage snare throws I've used. Not ideal though.

[@danielchernau3503]

@@malonedrum it HELD okay, but it always had play in the snares on position and the sweet spot was like 90% of the way up. aggravating as hell actually. if I had kept it I might have tried replacing the throw with the 4 point butt, same holes, and trying the micro repro where the butt was.

[@jasonrobelia8829]

Nice work. I actually looked at that drum at one point when I was in the store.

[@malonedrum]

Ha, that’s awesome! Small world

[@jasonrobelia8829]

@@malonedrum I was half way through one of your videos when I'm like hey I remember that dude lol. I used to work there to back in the early 2000s.

[@malonedrum]

@@jasonrobelia8829 oh nice, I worked there as well. 2011-2013/14?

[@jasonrobelia8829]

@@malonedrum I remember talking to you there

[@NuDrums]

Looks excellent! Great job sir!

[@malonedrum]

Thanks for checking it out!

[@soup4495]

came out great

[@malonedrum]

Thanks!

[@stevevorass]

I worked at Schmitt music in college - haha. Loved Morgan Music!

[@malonedrum]

I didn't even know you were in that area!

[@stevevorass]

@@malonedrum I went to college there. Loved EC. I was back there to play a show recently and it was great to be back. Such a great area. Great video, as always!

[@malonedrum]

@@stevevorass Everytime I stop through the area, I’m reminded how special it was to be there for those 5 years in college. Amazing place.

[@adrianrivera-negron8280]

Another great video!!! That’s a keeper it came out beautiful and the mid and high sounds are very melodically great tone’s, kudos!!!✌🏼

[@malonedrum]

Thanks Adrian, I certainly love how this one has stood out from my other snares.

[@RobMilanowski]

Nice job… at first I thought you were going to try to repaint. I like the choice of staining. And… I like the sound.

[@malonedrum]

Yeah, repainting would not be in my wheelhouse, and I think the finish gives it a more aged look.

[@derrickbadenhorst7329]

I actually love the tone , whether it's low, medium or high, you're getting out of this vintage snare drum. Good job. Ps. I'm enjoying your channel. Regards Derrick Badenhorst from Port Elizabeth, South Africa 🇿🇦

[@malonedrum]

Appreciate it, fun to see support for the channel coming in from all over the world!

[@Sigh875]

Hey, I have a similar snare, a 4105 (not single tension though). Try a coated ambassador on top and diplomat snare side! Also try adding a 20 strand (or more) wire. You'll find that lows are nice and fat, with mids and highs more balanced. That being said the brightness and crack remind me of a lot of Slingerland tones from Toto songs.

[@malonedrum]

I enjoy the sound it has currently, but I’m a fan of a dry sound, at least with this drum in the mix of all the snares I already have and use, but nothing like a coated ambassador on a snare!

[@drewwainacht4674]

Thanks, Mike! My guess is the higher-than-rim strainers were supposed to allow you to use them using the stick. All my 50s snares are like this, but all have a screw so you can lower the bar when setting it on a flat surface. Weirdly, my new-ish Gretsch Brooklyn COB has a throw-off still higher than the rim lol...and it's not high enough so can throw it with a stick, it's just high enough to get in the way...AND it's the worst throw off design in the history of snare drums lol It bangs when you throw it off. My drum guy also says it won't last long, I'll have to replace it.

[@malonedrum]

Interesting thought

[@sierragold]

That snare sounds insanely good! Also, what is the ride cymbal? Very nice

[@malonedrum]

Bosphorus 20" Syncopation Ride

[@jerrysmith2509]

Definitely the medium tuning

[@malonedrum]

Yeah, it sounds good at all tunings, but if I were to choose this one over another drum, it’s be it’s medium range.

[@norbertrenner9364]

I'm a fan of single tension snares...and drums in genereal... it's the ease of tuning...redused weight on the shell....an almost free floating concept and sound.I guess its just fasion or general direction of design....like 18 or 20 inch deep bass drums these days,or the depth of the toms...like 12x8 to 12x9 to 12x10 or 12x12 and than back to 12x7....at least much more than bad sound or anything else ....that comes with that design...maybee the redused possibilities of having control on everything....but less of one thing is mostly more of something else....so first of all a question...of what you're after.

[@malonedrum]

Agree!

[@jonathanfrieze8497]

my step dad picked up one of these in mahogany finish still had the original gut wires on the bottom it was only missing the badge I finally today after having them for over 16-17 years ago while I was a freshman he also picked up a 14x11 maybe 10 in a red pearl finish both drums seemed to be near mint condition i rode the bus with the kid who's dad was a drummer for his whole life if only he had thrown out more than the 2 snare drums but I was thinking heavily about using the marching snare as a floor tom or I might just sell them both because they were freebies off the road i already have more drums than I know what to do with just recently sold my 15"x5" 1920s Ludwig for a cool 1k scored it for 550 I have a 14x6.5 Ludwig n Ludwig NOB that I put with my 1940s leedy 24"x14 that I lucked up and got for 35$ in marine pearl white. anyways I can tell you i left the old slingerland head that way there from the 60s or 70s and put a coated ambassador on top its such a dry quick decay drum I love it super unique I don't have the throw off I didn't know that until I watched you restore this one but it sounds amazing and free well no room to complain great video best of luck to you and everyone else who picks up a pair of sticks

[@malonedrum]

That's awesome. I'd love to find an old Gretsch marcher, like a 14" x 10-11". Just a Gretsch nut on the hunt for every little thing!

[@inventorsyndrome8894]

Do you reuse the same can of wd-40? (oops sorry, you clarified it later in the video - but I'll leave the comment here for yt algorithm)

[@malonedrum]

Thanks for the boost.

[@tomkelsey2303]

Does a low tuning ever sound good? 😮

[@malonedrum]

Sure, but I feel like typically with muffling

[@alanduncan1980]

Let's get rid of all that character and put some wood stain on this thing. Ha ha!

[@malonedrum]

Fair enough, but I didn’t want to deal with the constant flaking, especially with it being lead based paint. I actually use this drum on plenty of gigs, and sessions so better safe than sorry.

[@alanduncan1980]

@@malonedrum Don't mind me. I just liked the snare the way it was, but if you're saying they used lead based paint, then OK.

[@malonedrum]

@@alanduncan1980 I like the worn out look, and it did feel like a bit of sin stripping it off. Also like the wood stain too, so tough decision between the two.

[@microkit]

Cool resto! Please use a mask and proper ventilation (also possibly goggles and gloves) when spray poly.

[@malonedrum]

Won't argue with the PPE squad.

[@surfcollector]

No mask with that Poly?!

[@malonedrum]

Oh, Im using better PPE protocols nowadays