whats the silver in Gretsch shells?

[spunkler]

Simple enough? Whats the silver stuff? Paint ,sealer? And where can I get some . I've opened a can of worms with this 70's refinish progect. Thanks

[tbmills]

its called gretsch silver sealer. dont know where or if you can get it. call gretsch, they could probably help you out. also, there are alot of vintage gurus here who have probably hit the same wall. maybe they can help. ill keep looking.

[harryconway]

It is "mystery stuff". Long held "secret" by Gretsch, they disclose "nothing" about it's origin, or composition. That being that....it's probably silver paint.

[GRUNTERSDAD]

Send me 19.95 plus S &H and I will send you the secret formula.
Mail payment to:
Johnny Gretsch
Seminole Florida

According to a Gretsch history book...it IS silver paint, nothing more.

[spunkler]

Thanks all. I'll go with the majority and use some good ole silver paint. Thanks again.

Originally Posted by spunkler

Thanks all. I'll go with the majority and use some good ole silver paint. Thanks again.

I don't have the book with me but the story goes (paraphrasing as I read it 3 years ago)

"At one point, Fred Gretsch wanted something to make his product stand out. One of the things that comprise 'that great Gretsch sound' was the use of silver sealer on the inside of shells. That silver sealer was (whatever the model number was) silver paint that Fred found at a local hardware store. The rest, is history."

[GRUNTERSDAD]

Probably that old silver paint they use to use to paint the radiators in old homes. The ones used to heat the house.

I forgot to mention that the silver sealer isn't just cosmentic, it does have an acoustic effect.

Gretsch and other drum companies discovered long ago that if you lacquer or paint the inside of a drum shell, the sound reflectivity increases.

The paint/lacquer fills in pores and imperfections in the wood shell resulting in a more uniform surface.

There is a bit of a difference you can here between a lacquered and unlaquered (inside) shell, especially nearfield.

[onedevilsst]

Originally Posted by spunkler

Thanks all. I'll go with the majority and use some good ole silver paint. Thanks again.

did you ever figure this, spunkler? I need to dowel and refinish on a bass drum project soon and need to do re-silver seal it.


ta!

[harryconway]

Originally Posted by trkdrmr

The paint/lacquer fills in pores and imperfections in the wood shell resulting in a more uniform surface.

And indeed, we would paint, or polyurethane, the inside of our Japanese 60's"cheesewood" drums, to get every extra bit we could out of them.

Originally Posted by harryconway

And indeed, we would paint, or polyurethane, the inside of our Japanese 60's"cheesewood" drums, to get every extra bit we could out of them.

............."cheesewood" :D

Would love to learn how this turned out. I doubt it is as easy as a can of spray paint from your local hardware store.

[audiotech]

Originally Posted by nhzoso

Would love to learn how this turned out. I doubt it is as easy as a can of spray paint from your local hardware store.

I heard it was, but then it would take all the mystique out of it.

Dennis

[Skulmoski]

Originally Posted by trkdrmr

I don't have the book with me but the story goes (paraphrasing as I read it 3 years ago)

"At one point, Fred Gretsch wanted something to make his product stand out. One of the things that comprise 'that great Gretsch sound' was the use of silver sealer on the inside of shells. That silver sealer was (whatever the model number was) silver paint that Fred found at a local hardware store. The rest, is history."

Somehow this has morphed into a "special sauce" type of thing.

GJS

[KONA]

After checking around lots I used this on my Vintage Gretsch.

[sXeDanimalsXe]

I was once told, or read that the pain on the inside of the shell was because during the war (WWI I think) they had lower quality wood, as most of it was going to the war effort. So they painted the insides to hide the cheap wood they used.

I also have been told that the paint does change the sound of the drum, allowing a more lively reflective sound.

But real people in the know... know the "special silver sealer" know it is actually the magic dust made out of Chick Webb's remains, and Phill Collins' spit. It's his spit that gives it the silver color. True story.

[harryconway]

Originally Posted by nhzoso

I doubt it is as easy as a can of spray paint from your local hardware store.

Rust - Oleum has been around, since 1921. A book I'm reading on Gretsch drums refers to the paint used as "galvanized fence paint" .... I think it is as easy as a can of spray paint ... from the local hardware store. As long as it's silver.

[Stixnergard2]

Originally Posted by harryconway

Rust - Oleum has been around, since 1921. A book I'm reading on Gretsch drums refers to the paint used as "galvanized fence paint" .... I think it is as easy as a can of spray paint ... from the local hardware store. As long as it's silver.

I use Rustoleum paint color name "Aluminum" for my Gretsch restorations and it matches great.

Originally Posted by Stixnergard2

I use Rustoleum paint color name "Aluminum" for my Gretsch restorations and it matches great.

How does it sound? Change it much or did you not really notice?

[8Mile]

The metallic silver flecks in that paint come from God's dandruff. True story.

[larryace]

And really, if you were going to make some special mystical sealer, what would you add besides the normal ingredients that are in a product that is applied to, and protects wood anyway? Eye of Newt? Comstock Silver dust? It's just silver colored wood sealer. No magic. No fun. Go play your drums.

[bobdadruma]

It's kind of an anticlimax when you first learn that Silver Sealer is just paint that can be purchased in any hardware store.
It was disappointing for me too when I first learned the truth!

The multi colored coating that was sprayed on the inside of Rogers drums was also sprayed on the inside of the trunks of cars during the 60's

[KONA]

Yes - as said above - it's just Silver (Aluminum) paint. The secret is probably the way the paint was mixed/diluted I think. Gretsch may have had a certain formula/thickness they used because I've found the paint is quite runny and you have to get it just right to have a nice look. I applied it with a soft rag and just wiped it on - it came out looking great.

[RickP]

Yup - Simply aluminum fence paint ; Rogers was trunk paint and Ludwig's was white ceiling paint. No big secret formulas.

[GRUNTERSDAD]

I was once told, or read that the paint on the inside of the shell was because during the war (WWI I think) they had lower quality wood, as most of it was going to the war effort. So they painted the insides to hide the cheap wood they used.

Yep those wooden battle ships used during WWII were in need of a lot of lumber. lol

[nickg]

if you're going to get a Gretsch kit the silver lined shells are the ONLY way to go!!!

[tamadrm]

Originally Posted by RickP

Yup - Simply aluminum fence paint ; Rogers was trunk paint and Ludwig's was white ceiling paint. No big secret formulas.

You got the closest.Its actually Galvenized fence paint,not aluminum.Check the Vintage Drum Guide.I think Rob Cook wrote the article.

Slingerlands "milk chocolate" interior paint was also just interior latex wall paint.

Steve B

[Fuo]

What about Neil Peart's fibro-whatever coating that he (and Tama?) used in the 80's?

[bobdadruma]

Think about it!
The drum companies are not in the paint manufacturing business.
Of course they are going to buy paint products that already exist.

[Les Ismore]

Originally Posted by GRUNTERSDAD

I was once told, or read that the paint on the inside of the shell was because during the war (WWI I think) they had lower quality wood, as most of it was going to the war effort. So they painted the insides to hide the cheap wood they used.

Yep those wooden battle ships used during WWII were in need of a lot of lumber. lol

Actually battleship decks were wood (teak and mahogany), also flight decks of aircraft carriers.

The HIGGINS landing craft boats were made mostly of wood. Higgins bought the entire 1939 crop of mahogany from the Philippines and stored it on his own. Close to 24,000 HIGGINS boats were produced.

PT boats were also made of wood, some 450 of em'. Fun fact- In the entire war only one subchaser received official credit for sinking an enemy submarine, despite numerous depth charge attacks made by SCs throughout the war against underwater objects. On 12 July 1943 SC 669 sank Japanese submarine RO 107 off Kolombangara Island in the central Solomons.

[B-squared]

Originally Posted by 8Mile

The metallic silver flecks in that paint come from God's dandruff. True story.

I think you need to work in the Gretsch marketing division......or maybe you do????

[KirbyM]

Originally Posted by bobdadruma

It's kind of an anticlimax when you first learn that Silver Sealer is just paint that can be purchased in any hardware store.
It was disappointing for me too when I first learned the truth!

The multi colored coating that was sprayed on the inside of Rogers drums was also sprayed on the inside of the trunks of cars during the 60's

Krylon still makes "Spatter Paint" for car trunks.

[tamadrm]

Sorry Matt,but it's actually galvanized fence paint,the stuff you use on chain link fencing.It's mentioned in several articles written by Rob Cook,John Aldridge and Chet Falzerano and confirmed by Fred Gretsch.

Steve B

[steadypocket]

Originally Posted by larryace

And really, if you were going to make some special mystical sealer, what would you add besides the normal ingredients that are in a product that is applied to, and protects wood anyway? Eye of Newt? Comstock Silver dust? It's just silver colored wood sealer. No magic. No fun. Go play your drums.

Yeah, and McDonald's secret sauce is just mayo with food coloring. Cant a guy believe in Santa Claus around here?

[paistepower92]

Originally Posted by steadypocket

Yeah, and McDonald's secret sauce is just mayo with food coloring. Cant a guy believe in Santa Claus around here?

Not Mayo, but Thousand Island. Also, remember, he knows when you're awake.

[tamadrm]

Yep...thats the same stuff.What makes it different is the galvanizing quality of the aluminum,and that is what makes the color a perfect match for what Gretsch used.Cheers

Steve B

[markdrum]

Yeah but Fred Gretsch had the paint applied by virgin supermodels brought in from Outer Mongolia. That was the big secret.

[Toolate]

Originally Posted by markdrum

Yeah but Fred Gretsch had the paint applied by virgin supermodels brought in from Outer Mongolia. That was the big secret.

Total lie. No supermodel is a virgin so it can't be true. Not in mind anyway.