Gretsch Drums\u00a0is a subsidiary of The Gretsch Company that also manufacturers guitars.\u00a0 Both Grestch drums and guitars were very popular and sought after in the 1950s and 1960s.\u00a0 During the 70s and 80s the guitar portion of the business suffered which caused Gretsch to slide into bankruptcy and thus the drum brand was also affected.\u00a0 However, through a series of mergers and acquisitions both the drums and guitar brands have reemerged today stronger than ever before.<\/p>\n
Today, Gretsch is a top drum manufacturer with over 200 professional drum endorsers including the likes of Charlie Watts of the Rolling Stones and Taylor Hawkins of the Foot Fighters. \u00a0Unlike other top drum makers, Gretsch\u2019s makes little hardware and accessories to accompany the drum shells and snares they produce. \u00a0While they market some mounting hardware, the majority of the hardware they utilize is made by Gibraltar and is even promoted directly on their website.<\/p>\n
Gretsch Drum History<\/h2>\n
In 1883 The Gretsch Company was founded by Friedrich Gretsch and originally made banjos, tambourines and drums.\u00a0 In 1895 after his death, Friedrich\u2019s son Fred inherited the company and ambitiously moved operations to a new 10 story building at 60 Broadway Street in Brooklyn, New York.\u00a0 The company was then passed down to Fred Gretsch Jr. who ran the company until it was sold to Baldwin Piano Co. in 1967 when production was moved to DeQueen, Arkansas.\u00a0 In 1982 the company was bought by Charlie Roy, however shortly after as Gretsch was in bankruptcy Fred Gretsch III bought the company back and continues to own Gretsch to this day.<\/p>\n
Key Gretsch Drums Milestones<\/strong><\/p>\n\n
In the late 1980s Gretsch bought the Slingerland Drum Company<\/li>\n
In 1994 Gretsch sold Slingerland to Gibson but retained the Leedy Brand.<\/li>\n
In 2000 Gretsch signed a distribution deal with Kaman resulting in more global visibility<\/li>\n
In 2007 Kaman purchased manufacturing rights and equipment to make Gretsch drums<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Gretsch Drum Lines<\/h2>\n
With over 13 different drum lines, Gretsch carries more varying drum kits than most other major drum brands.\u00a0 Gretsch\u2019s high end drums lines are manufactured in Ridgeland, South Carolina, where the company is headquartered, while other less expensive lines are imported by Kaman from drum plants in Asia.<\/p>\n
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USA Custom<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 High end kit totally\u00a0customizable\u00a0with over 75 drum sizes and 60 finishes ($4,000+)<\/li>\n
Signature Sets<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Made to Steve Ferrone Specs featuring 6ply Maple\/Gumwood shells ($5000)<\/li>\n
Brooklyn<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Old school look with modern attributes made in South Carolina ($1,800-$2,800)<\/li>\n
New Classic<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Retro\u00a0style\u00a0with 3 pre-configured shell packs and 5 finish options ($1,600-$2,400)<\/li>\n
Renown Purewood Hickory<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Featuring 100% american hickory shells with natural gloss ($1,800-$2,600)<\/li>\n
Renown \u201957<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Classic car design in choice of 3 colors\u00a0options\u00a0with matching throne \u00a0($1,200-$1,800)<\/li>\n
Renown Maple<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Designed for touring drummer with 6ply shells and 30 degree\u00a0bearing\u00a0edges ($1,400-$1,600)<\/li>\n
Catalina Maple<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Features 7ply maple\u00a0formula\u00a0shells and custom Gretsch by Evans heads ($700-$900)<\/li>\n
Catalina Birch<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Features 7ply birch shells, matching bass drum hoop and ball-socket tom mount ($750-$850)<\/li>\n
Catalina Club Jazz<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Four piece set with mahogany shells and traditional \u201cbe bop\u201d drum sizes ($600-$680)<\/li>\n
Catalina Club Rock<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Big mahogany shells with basswood exterior and glassy reflective shine ($800)<\/li>\n
Energy<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Complete drum set with double braced hardware and Sabian SBR cymbals ($700-$800)<\/li>\n
Renegade<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Beginner drum set with hardware, Remo heads and brass cymbals included ($500)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/p>\n
Gretsch Catalina Maple Drum Set<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n
Gretsch Snares<\/h2>\n
Gretsch offers several snare drums that follow the same epitome and legend of \u201cThat Great Gretsch Sound\u201d and are typically sold separately when purchasing a Gretsch drum set.<\/p>\n
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Signature Snares<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Available in Steve Ferrone, Stanton Moore and Mark Schulman Models ($300-$1,200)<\/li>\n
USA Custom Wood\u00a0<\/strong>\u2013 Maple snares available in 5\u00d714, 8\u00d714, 6.5\u00d714 and 5.5\u00d714 sizes ($1,000+)<\/li>\n
USA G-5000 Solid Wood<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Maple 5.5\u00d714 model as well as 6.5\u00d714 and 7\u00d713 Walnut models ($1,000-$1,200)<\/li>\n
USA G-4000 Metal Series<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Available in various sizes and wide variety of metals (Prices vary widely)<\/li>\n
Full Range Series Snares<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Wide variety of tones, price points and sizes\u00a0(Prices vary widely)<\/li>\n
New Classic Snares<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Available in 6.5\u2033 and 5.5\u2033 by 14\u2033\u00a0depths with 10-lug die-cast hoops ($380-$440)<\/li>\n
Renown Maple Snares\u00a0<\/strong>\u2013 Six different snare options with 10-ply maple shells and die cast hoops ($270-$330)<\/li>\n
Brooklyn Metal Snares<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Three snare options with varying sizes, lugs and metal type ($300-$400)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Gretsch Drum Review<\/h2>\n
There is no doubt that Gretsch drums have a long history and are among the top and most popular drum brands in the world. \u00a0With endorsers from a wide range of music including Steve Ferrone of Classic Rock band Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and Danial Davison of metalcore band Underoath, Gretsch has a drum line for drummers at all levels and from all genres. \u00a0While they have a few drum sets priced on the lower end to compete for the beginner drummer market space, for the most part, Gretsch drums tend to be higher priced to match their level of quality. \u00a0Gretsch drums also feature a\u00a0unique\u00a0sound that no other drum brand has. \u00a0It something that has to be heard and drummed to be understood.<\/p>\n