Gretsch Drums: A Firsthand Look at Premium Craftsmanship 140 Years in the Making

[Jules]

Gretsch has ruthlessly stuck to old school ways of doing things. I have been to their factory and seen it in action. What makes Gretsch unique is that they refuse to modernize. They have really old equipment, in most cases (some of it actually originated at Slingerland) and an old soul when it comes to building drums. I had a boat load of Gretsch gear a few years ago, and there is certainly a unique magic to the sound that probably comes in part from their oversized shells.

Gretsch still maintains their place on the modern drum world despite being old school as can be. This is one of very few drums brands currently under the control of its founding family, though ownership changed a few times along the way.

[tcbetka]

In the late 90s I purchased a USA Custom set with 8/10/12/14/16 (all suspended via RIMS mounts) and a 22" kick. Wonderful kit--and sounded great. I was a little afraid to play out with it though, given the tendency of those lacquer finishes to crack when exposed to temperature shifts. Playing in Wisconsin in the winter, the drums are invariably going to get cold on the way to the gig. So I would just play out with the Yamaha RC kit I bought in early 90s. Never had a single problem with the finish on those Yamaha drums--and of course we all know how the Japan-built RC series sounded, even the pre-Y.E.S.S. drums. Played those drums on a few hundred gigs in the 90s, and they didn't owe me a thing...that's for sure. They definitely paid for themselves.