How is Gretsch?

butter · #1 (**permalink**) 04-29-2009, 11:39 PM

Lately I've become interested in Gretsch drums. I cant seem find the right piece kit I want, but thats not really why I'm making this thread

I've played Gretsch drums before at music shops and stuff, and I like their sound, they look good, and I've heard good stuff about them. However I have also heard that the hardware they use is bad. I've heard it falls apart, doesn't work well, etc.

Not sure what to think...

First if anyone has any experience with Gretsch drums, could you help me out? I just want to know how the hardware is, and any other thing I should know about them if I was to buy some.

Thanks
-butter

don11817 · #2 (**permalink**) 04-30-2009, 12:19 AM

I have a Gretsch Catalina Stealth kit and I love it. For the price it has turned out to be a very nice sounding and looking kit and the hardware is pretty decent.

The Gretsch drums have 30 degree bearing edges so they have a warmer more mellow sound, more like the drums of the 60's--but it's a full sound and sounds great live (big and punchy without lots of ring). All

The lugs seem just fine--never had any problems with any of them and the hoops are pretty standard. In fact, Gretsch lugs are used a lot by custom drum makers because of their easy availability and smaller size.

As for stands etc, Gretsch uses strictly Gibraltar for all of it. If you buy a Gretsch kit with a hardware bundle it will be all Gibraltar, and their website even refers you to Gibraltar's if you want to know anything about their hardware (Gretsch and Gibraltar are under the Kaman Music Group who also has a stake in Sabian cymbals-- so you will always see Gretsch drums with Gibraltar hardware and Sabian cymbals in all the ads)...

Here's a video clip about Gretsch and their Factory in North Carolina:

YouTube - The Making of That Great Gretsch Sound:...

Enjoy!

chezm · #3 (**permalink**) 04-30-2009, 01:41 PM

im glad you made this thread because i've been looking at Gretsch as well. I currently have a Pearl kit (old and destroyed), for my next kit i want something with a much warmer tone, but heavy presence. It's between Gretsch and Sonor, not sure which is better for what i want.

interesting video posted, thanks!

tomswift · #4 (**permalink**) 04-30-2009, 04:09 PM

I have 2 Gretsch kits and the hardware is great. Wonderful tom mounts, lugs, chambered floor tom legs and the die cast hoops are the best I've ever played. In the old days (60's and 70's) the tom mounts and kick spurs WERE sub par. Not any more. Today they're top notch, IMO.

cdawg mc bling bling · #5 (**permalink**) 04-30-2009, 05:13 PM

i've been playing a catalina mod kit for a few months now, and it's pretty good. the hardware it par, and i agree about the gibralter stuff. it is better than it used to be. my only complaint is the tom mount bounces a lot, but i just use a snare stand for better stability. kind of the nature of the beast.

butter · #6 (**permalink**) 04-30-2009, 10:25 PM

well i guess i heard about the 60's hardware then, cause it sounds like its pretty good now

butter · #7 (**permalink**) 05-04-2009, 11:17 PM

what kind of music is gretsch made for btw? anything specific?

tomswift · #8 (**permalink**) 05-05-2009, 07:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by butter

what kind of music is gretsch made for btw? anything specific?

Gretsch are made for *
* pop/rock
* teen
* diva
* new-wave/synth/easy-listening
* late-80
* 50/60/bubblegum
* trip-hop
* euro-pop
* dance
* jazzie/classical-influenced [
* ROCK
* rock&roll
* classic/hard
* punk
* alternative
* - indie
* - grunge
* - brit-pop
* nu-metal/rapcore
* progressive/psychodelic
* soft/pop
* industrial/new-wave
* HOUSE
* chicago/soul
* deep
* french
* disco
* funk
* electrohouse
* anthem/stadium/hard
* acid
* TRANCE
* classic/acid
* anthem/epic
* progressive
* dutch/uplifting
* lame?(ibiza,dream,pop)
* goa/psy
* german/tech
* hard
* nu?(neo,electro,minimal)
* D'N'B
* jungle
* D'N'B
* X-step(2,dark,tech,..)
* jump-up/rapping
* TECHNO
* detroit
* minimal
* hard
* HARDCORE
* happy
* freeform
* gabber
* hardstyle
* ELECTRONIC
* rave
* electro
* breaks
* ambient/chillout
* METAL
* glam/hair
* heavy/trash
* gothic/symphonic
* HIPHOP
* classic
* g-funk
* gangsta/hardcore
* popy??
* south/crunk
* BLACK MUSIC
* R&B
* soul
* blues
* gospel
* JAZZ
* classic?
* smooth
* freeform
* CLASSICAL
* pre-romantic
* romantic
* movie music
* FOLK
* country
* reggae
* latin
* italian-disco-polo/enjoyable-after-7-beers
* folk
* world music
polkas

For Most other styles you should use a different brand of drums

**Der Trommler** · #9 (**permalink**) 05-05-2009, 09:40 AM

I think you left one or two out tom.

The only thing different about a Gretsch is the bearing edges. They are 30 degree instead of 45 degree which gives you a slightly mellower tone. As pointed out by tomswift, they are great for anything you want to play.