Gretsch Drums

Gretsch Drums

File:Gretsch-logo-drums.jpg
Company type	Private
Industry	Percussion instrument manufacturing company
Founded	1883
Headquarters	Ridgeland, South Carolina , United States
Key people	Friedrich Gretsch, Friedrich Gretsch Jr.
Website	www.gretschdrums.com

Gretsch Drums is a drum manufacturing company, based in Ridgeland, South Carolina.

Drums were part of the Gretsch Company range of musical instruments from its founding in 1883. Gretsch drums have been used by many important drummers from many different traditions, such as Gene Krupa and Phil Collins.

Their current motto is "That Great Gretsch Sound!"

History

Gretsch was founded by Friedrich Gretsch, a German immigrant who opened his own musical instrument business based in Brooklyn, New York in 1883.

After Friedrich's sudden death in 1895, his enterprising son, Fred Gretsch Sr., took over the business as a teenager. He expanded the business, moving it to a new ten-story building at 60 Broadway Street.

Fred Gretsch Sr. handed over the family business to his son, Fred Gretsch Jr., after retiring in 1942. Soon after taking over, Fred Jr. left to serve in WWII as a Navy commander, leaving the business in the hands of his younger brother, William "Bill" Gretsch. Bill Gretsch died in 1948 and the company was again run by Fred Jr.

Fred Gretsch Jr. ran the company until 1967 when Gretsch was sold to Baldwin Piano Co. In the early 1970s Baldwin moved drum production from Brooklyn, NY to a plant in DeQueen, Arkansas.

In 1982, the company was bought by Charlie Roy in a deal with Baldwin United. This also included the purchase of Kustom Electronics, Inc. At the time both companies were being managed from the Chanute, KS. Kustom factory. Soon after the deal was inked Mr. Roy moved the business offices to Gallatin, TN while the manufacturing of Gretsch drums remained in DeQueen, AR. In 1983 the company celebrated its 100th anniversary with a line of limited edition drums with a special finish and "centennial" badges signed by Mr. Roy. There were to be 100 Limited Edition kits manufactured and sold. No one is sure how many kits were actually built.

In 1985, Gretsch was bought back by a member of the Gretsch family, Fred Gretsch III (the son of the late William "Bill" Gretsch, and nephew of Fred Jr.), who continues to own the company to this day (2008).

In the late 1980s, Gretsch bought the remnants of the Slingerland Drum Company, which was later sold to Gibson, with Gretsch retaining the Leedy brand which had been part of the Slingerland purchase. In 2000, Gretsch signed a distribution deal with Kaman to distribute Gretsch drums and this partnership has resulted in a much higher visibility of Gretsch brand drums since that time.

In February 2007, Kaman purchased the right to manufacture Gretsch USA Custom and Signature drums. They also purchased the majority of the equipment used to make Gretsch drums. They now lease space from Fred Gretsch in his Ridgeland building. The drums are being made by the same people that have worked there for the last 10–15 years.

Today, Gretsch's top of the line drums (USA Custom & Signature Series) are manufactured in Ridgeland, South Carolina. while other less expensive lines are imported by Kaman from Asian-based drum plants.

More recently, Gretsch has begun sponsoring drummers that are seen as talented. Fred Gretsch has begun signing drummers of all styles to endorse Gretsch drums while on tour. Since 2002 more than 200 drummers have been signed.

Players

• Makoto Izumitani
• Derek Kerswill
• Zac Farro
• Shawn Crahan
• Taylor Hawkins
• Chris Brien
• Hanna Ford
• Tre Cool
• Brad Wilk
• Matt Sorum

Drumset Lineup

Current Gretsch Products

• Blackhawk - Entry level drum set made of 6-ply Basswood/Poplar shells.

• Blackhawk H3 - The Blackhawk H3 drum pack pairs the popular Gretsch Blackhawk kit with premium cymbals and hardware for the ultimate complete package.

• Renegade - Gretsch Renegade series is a complete drum set package designed specifically for the entry-level drummer and packed with value. Toms have "quick" sizes, which provide punchy tones and allow for lower positioning.

• Energy - New for 2011, the Gretsch Energy drum set package comes complete with hardware and Sabian SBR cymbals. The Gretsch Energy series is perfect for the first time buyer and packed with features that are found on semi-pro drum sets, including non-drilled bass drum.

• Catalina Club Rock - Gretsch's Catalina Club Rock kit features mahogany shells and 30 degree bearing edges for a deep, warm, classic rock sound. This 4-piece configuration gets back to groove basics with big drums for big grooves.

• Catalina Club Jazz - Jazz drum set made of 9-ply Philippine Mahogany shells. The set includes Gretsch's mini GTS tom suspension system.

• Catalina Birch - These drums feature the distinctive sound of Birch shells: Explosive attack with a deep low-end fundamental. The Birch shells are finished with 30-degree bearing edges and natural interiors to produce a Gretsch sound that is filled with tonal punch and depth.

• Catalina Maple series - A new Catalina Maple series with Maple shells that are 7-ply, 7.2mm. Gretsch equipped the shells with "Gretsch Classic" features and hardware, including 30-degree bearing edges, fully adjustable Gretsch ball-and-socket tom holder with 12.7mm tom arms, 9020-style mounting brackets and the famous 5-lug configuration (a standard Gretsch feature for over 50 years). Available in two configurations - a 6-piece shell pack set and a 5-piece shell pack set. Add-on drums are also available.

• Renown Purewood Wenge - The latest addition in the Renown Purewood series legacy is Wenge (pronounced "weng-gei"). Wenge's fundamental overtones are deep, low and rich. Shorter sized toms are used to project quick and lively tones that add clarity.

• Renown Maple - Semi-professional level drum set made of 6-ply Maple shells with Silver Sealer interior. The set includes Gretsch's GTS tom suspension system.

• Renown57 - Gretsch shatters conventional drum design with the Renown57 in Motor City Blue. Inspired by the great American car companies from the 1950s, the Renown57 incorporates timeless, iconic car design elements and applies them to drums. Now available in new colors.

• New Classic - At a time when Retro is as hip as ever, Gretsch embellishes the retro vibe by offering a true new professional drum set in the New Classic series.

• Brooklyn Series - The Gretsch drum design team molded the Brooklyn series by combining classic Gretsch elements while infusing it with new attributes. They expanded upon traditional drum designs to shape a sound that retains fundamental Gretsch characteristics while projecting a fresh voice.

• New Classic - Professional, retro-style drum set made of proportionate Maple/Gumwood shells with Silver Sealer interior. Proportionate shells increase in thickness as shell diameters increase to give a full, balanced tonality across the entire drum set. The bass drum is made of an 8-ply shell, the toms are made of a 6-ply shell, and snare is made of a 10-ply shell. The set includes Gretsch's ITS tom suspension system.

• USA Custom - Custom drums feature the original Gretsch formula 6-ply maple shell that has been applied for over 50 years. Each drum includes 30-degree bearing edges, the original Silver Sealer inner shell finish and a choice of Nitron Covered or Nitrocellulose Lacquer finishes to give you that "Great Gretsch Sound." Curly Maple and Harlequin Finishes are also available.

Signature Series

• Steve Ferrone Signature - Signature drum set made of 6-ply Maple/Gumwood shells. The set includes a 1955 Cadillac green gloss lacquer finish, chrome hardware, Gretsch's GTS tom suspension system, and Steve Ferrone Signature badges.
• Chris Brien Signature Series Snare Drum

Special Edition Series

Special Edition sets use the modern-day square badge design but in antiqued pewter finish instead of the traditional brass material that has been used on all previous series of Gretsch drums.

• Broadkaster series - reintroduced in 1998 and features gunmetal plated die cast hoops and lugs and satin lacquer wood-grain finishes

• USA Maple Series - introduced in mid-2001 and features chrome-plated hardware and satin wood-grain finishes.

Discontinued Gretsch Products (partial list)

• Vinnie Colaiuta Signature - Signature drum set made of 6-ply Maple/Gumwood Shells. The set includes white wash high glass lacquer finish, black chrome plated lugs, brackets, and hoops, Gretsch's GTS tom suspension system, and Vinnie Coliauta's Signature badges. This kit was discontinued in early 2012 when Vinnie abruptly switched to Ludwig drums.

• Catalina Stage - Semi-professional drum set made of 6-ply Mahogany shells. The set includes Gretsch's GTS tom suspension system.

• Catalina Elite - Semi-professional drum set made of 6-ply Mahogany shells. The set includes Gretsch's GTS tom suspension system.

• USA Broadkaster - Professional drum set made of 6-ply Maple shells. The set includes Gretsch's GTS tom suspension system.

• USA Maple - Professional, custom drum set made of 6-ply Maple/Gumwood shells.

• Renown Purewood Beech - Professional drum set made of 6-ply Beechwood shells.

• Renown Purewood Mahogany - Professional drum set made of 6-ply African Mahogany shells.

• Renown Purewood Walnut - Professional drum set made of 6-ply Walnut shells.

• Renown Purewood Cherry - Professional drum set made of 6-ply Cherry shells.

• Custom Series 70's LTD - Professional, custom drum set made of 6-ply Maple/Gumwood shells.

• Blackhawk SX - Entry level 7 piece drum set of mahogany shells.

• Blackhawk EX - Entry level 5 piece drum set made of basswood shells.

Hardware

Gretsch does not currently make their own drum hardware, but instead offer hardware packs from Gibraltar Hardware.

Current Gibraltar Packs

• Gibraltar 5600PK - Medium-duty, double braced hardware.

• Gibraltar 6600PK - Heavy-duty, double braced hardware.

• Gibraltar 9500PK - Professional, double braced hardware.

• Gibraltar RACKPK - Professional, double braced hardware that includes Gibraltar's Road Series Rack System.

Badge History

• 1883 to 1971 - The original Gretsch Round Badge design. This was the first badge used on Gretsch drums going all the way back to 1883. The badge was round with GRETSCH written across the top and DRUM MAKERS SINCE 1883 along the bottom. The Round Badge was attached to snare drums and bass drums using a standard brass grommet which also provided a vent-hole for the drum, but it was attached to tom-toms using a carpenter's upholstery tack which therefore left those drums unvented. Final production of Gretsch drums with the Round Badge was in 1971.

• 1971 to 1979 - The next badge design for Gretsch was an octagon-shaped badge. This brass badge had the GRETSCH logo written in block type with an elongated letter "T" in the middle of the Gretsch name. On the right side of the brass grommet, the word DRUMS appears in block letters. To the left, the initials U.S.A. appear in block letters. The bottom section of the badge reads "THAT GREAT GRETSCH SOUND". Final production of Gretsch Drums with this badge was in mid-1979. This is the only badge to carry the famous "Great Gretsch Sound" tag line.

• 1979 to 1980 - The second version of the octagon badge went into production in late 1979. This badge is very similar to the previous badge but the tag line on the bottom was changed back to "DRUM MAKERS SINCE 1883" in block letters.

• 1980 - A brief glimpse into the modern day drum badge. In 1980, due to the popularity of multiple-tom outfits, the badge was changed to a square shape with the corners cropped. This would allow the badge to look the same no matter which way the tom was mounted. The brass badge had the GRETSCH logo in block letters above the grommet. The GRETSCH logo below the grommet was placed upside down to allow for the varied positioning of the toms. U.S.A. was on the left and right side of the grommet with the left U.S.A. letters upside down. This badge would be used in 1980 and then shelved for a brief period of time before it was brought back into production.

• Early 1981 - A short return to the octagon badge. This time the brass badge was redesigned with the GRETSCH logo in the drop "G" font above the grommet. U.S.A. appeared to the right of the grommet and DRUM MAKERS SINCE 1883 was at the bottom of this badge in block letters.

• Late 1981 to 2012 - Back to the square badge design. By late 1981, the brass square badge had returned and is still being used on Gretsch Custom Drums today.

• 100th Anniversary Badge This special badge was used in 1983 on a limited production of exotic wood grain kits with all gold hardware. Only 100 sets in these special finishes were produced. The badge was a large upright rectangle with the corners cropped. The Gretsch logo features the drop "G" logo style and the badge reads "THE CENTENNIAL 1883-1983" along the top in block letters.

• 120th Anniversary Round Badge

• Early 2013 to Modern Day Gretsch announced in late 2012 that they are going back to the round badge in early 2013.

See also

• List of drum makers

External links

• About Gretsch Drums
• Gretsch Drum Forum: A community dedicated to Gretsch Drums