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

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

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Күн бұрын

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In 1883, Friedrich Gretsch opened a humble instrument shop in Brooklyn, New York. Now, nearly 150 years on, the company has become a global powerhouse of premier instrument design, with Gretsch Drums employed by countless world-class musicians. Sweetwater recently had the privilege of being invited to visit the source of “That Great Gretsch Sound,” and who did we send? Our own rhythm royalty Nick D’Virgilio, of course! Down in Ridgeland, South Carolina, Gretsch Drums have been designed and built with exacting precision in the same factory for nearly 40 years. NDV got an up-close and personal look at the company’s uncompromising craftsmanship, sitting down for an in-depth discussion with two of Gretsch Drums’ masterminds: Paul Cooper, director of operations for 25 years, and Fred Gretsch, owner, visionary, and great-grandson of founder Friedrich Gretsch. Check it out!
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Пікірлер: 123

@sweetwater 8 ай бұрын

Which brand would you like to see Sweetwater visit next to get an up-close and detailed look at how the magic gets made? Sound off in the comments to let us know whose work needs a deep dive, and don’t forget to head over to Sweetwater to see our stunning array of Gretsch Drums shells, hardware, and more 👉 sweetwater.sjv.io/Gretsch_Drums

@skullandbones1832 8 ай бұрын

Laney Amplification

@smithshaven8584 8 ай бұрын

LUDWIG......Please.

@jonashellborg8320 8 ай бұрын

Im curious about learning more about Mapex, their kits like Saturn, and the Black Panther snare drums are all serious equipment, I’ve heard the snare drums live and the sound is awesome, and people praise their Armory line of kits too. It’d be nice to hear the same story as here - this was very well told!

@keithpratt1849 8 ай бұрын

How about a trip across the pond to Mapex.

@martinkent_ 8 ай бұрын

TAMA Factory in Japan!

@michaelanderson2881 8 ай бұрын

Man, I live less than an hour from there, I would have taken you to Hall's Steakhouse for a mere two hours of your time, wisdom, and funny stories! Maybe next time.

@charliecontrino1626 8 ай бұрын

AWESOME! I was born and raised in NYC and I have a Brooklyn made 60's Gretsch round badge so I too have always been a Gretsch fan! Glad they are still making great drums!

@paulgiacalone4471 8 ай бұрын

Great video , thanks for posting. I’ve been a Gretsch player my entire life. I was fortunate enough to have a father who was a professional drummer and played Gretsch. I’m still playing his 1971 kit til this day. I also have a Brooklyn kit and a half dozen snare drums including Vinnie colaiuta God Bless America snare drum.

@backcountryonthefly6179 8 ай бұрын

I purchased a 7 piece Gretsch Catalina maple shell pack about a year ago from Sweetwater for our band. Absolutely a fabulous kit!! They sound awesome , very easy to tune! Matt Emick the sales engineer there is awesome! Great companies Gretsch and Sweetwater

@CornerStoreDrums 8 ай бұрын

Sweetwater always brings top notch quality. Thank you!!

@drumjedi5301 8 ай бұрын

I've been there! Met and got a personal tour from Paul Cooper. It was an awesome experience!

@BeatsAndGuitars 8 ай бұрын

Sweetwater, a good chunk of my total income last year went directly to you!!! Keep it up you’re killin it!!

@MD-wk3gj 8 ай бұрын

Paul pushing to get all the employees to sign the 140th Anniversary paper is very cool.

@ivannio8519 Ай бұрын

A string of nice fellows talking Gretsch here. Thank you :) Watching from Denmark

@i_needausername7201 8 ай бұрын

Love love LOVE Gretsch drums! I have 2 Brooklyns, one in satin black metallic and one in abalone nitron. They sound AMAZING in any room in any conditions.

@ramencurry6672 7 ай бұрын

All the models are good. I use them for studio and they all sound good

@smithshaven8584 8 ай бұрын

Great job Sweetwater and Nick. Really great! Thank you.

@Pure_KodiakWILD_Power 8 ай бұрын

I love gretsch drums ( especially their snares ), and I never knew til now there was a Fred Gretsch ( very oldschool 1700's look 😂 ), or that their shop is in Georgia.

@ramencurry6672 7 ай бұрын

I think the Gretsch family moved to Georgia in the Savanah area

@stevenabi5095 8 ай бұрын

Gretsch drums just sound "right". Dream drums. Great inside video Nick! Awesome tour and interview!

@dmdrum101 8 ай бұрын

Finally was able to buy a USA Custom set last year- best drums I’ve played…the feel and vibe is just amazing

@allenmitchell09 8 ай бұрын

Man I'm from SC and didn't realize Gretsch was made here, which I'm from the Upstate, and Ridgeland is in the Lowcountry, but still cool to know.

@terrydrums 8 ай бұрын

Amazing. I am proud to say I finally, FINALLY was able to purchase my long-dreamed of set of Broadkasters from Steve Maxwell. Maybe I should start growing my sideburns like that… 😊

@tomhalbouty3653 8 ай бұрын

For me this is the best of the many great videos you have created. Thanks so much!

@terrydonegan1622 6 ай бұрын

Drum heaven.....God bless you all ❤️❤️

@gordgibson6654 8 ай бұрын

Nick this video is so sweet, thanks a million!

@edisonhill 8 ай бұрын

Great video into the history of Gretsch!! Thank you Sweetwater!!

@RobertSaxy 8 ай бұрын

What a great video about one of my favorite music instrument companies both the drums and guitars. I really like the different directions the sweetwater bodies are going in these days

@davidscott3994 6 ай бұрын

I have a Catalina Burch kit. I just love it. When I am ready for a new kit. I will buy another Gretsch kit.

@bgnPrinceton 8 ай бұрын

Dang.....that's a crazy drum shell inventory!

@progression_decibel 8 ай бұрын

I just moved to Georgia a year ago - I need to check that place out!!!

@gregmgm06 8 ай бұрын

Great video, well done. I like how personal it was.

@keithpratt1849 8 ай бұрын

I love Grey's h drums. They sound musical and are still the benchmark for drums. Thank you for this and all you do Nick. You are Mr. Drums.

@molotulo8808 8 ай бұрын

Love Sweetwater. Got my Moog Matriarch and my QSC E110 speakers from Sweetwater. I made a video showing my frustration with my Moog, but I still love it. Who doesn't love Moog. Way to go Sweetwater.

@davidlester9287 8 ай бұрын

Thankyou for this! It gave alot of clarity! There is something about a gretch kit. The sound is a clear note. Wow I just figured it out! Like a glockenspiel and zylofone. Been addicted ever since I heard a usa. Turned my cheap kit into Broadcaster sounding, while I work towards the real-estate cost of a usa custom

@Goodboy0953 8 ай бұрын

Hey Paul, Jason B. from Martin TN! Last time I spoke to you was around 84 at Jim’s Gulf station a cross from Gooch Hall you may have been heading to Florida. Glad you were able to make a career out of drums!!! They look fabulous ❤❤

@garydonnelly100 7 ай бұрын

My USA Customs were acquired through Frank's Drum Shop in Chicago in the early 80s when Baldwin owned them. Yes, there are flaws, particularly on the inside of the shells in the way the holes were drilled. Some of the mount and lug holes are pretty nasty from the inside with chipped silver sealer. I also had to remove all the lugs to put foam or cotton inside to eliminate the spring noise and I had to cut and install felt gaskets between the lugs and the shell, all something that they have done since Fred took back the company. But in spite of the flaws, the drums sound amazing to this day. I use the smaller shells for my Jazz kit and I'm in the process of cleaning up the larger shells to use for some big band work. So, if you want my two cents on which manufacturer to spotlight next, it's gotta be my other go to, Yamaha!

@thomasnappo6309 8 ай бұрын

Gretsch...Gorgeous sounding 🥁 drums..100%😊

@markmullen1852 8 ай бұрын

I'm drooling at that guys collection.

@alexanderfrederick1420 8 ай бұрын

What a fantastic video!! I do wish the background music could be left behind for these types of uploads though. Is it just me that thinks the music in these types of uploads afe very distracting/unsuitable? Maybe I'm too old 😅

@molotulo8808 8 ай бұрын

My mother was Austrian, I'm proud of my Ancestors. Gretch drums have always been my favorite even though I don't play drums. I do want a Gretch guitar. Are they related?Got my answer!

@chriswright2250 8 ай бұрын

Great Drum History.

@chrisphillips554 5 ай бұрын

What a fascinating articulate man, wonderful to listen to

@kylepalmer1645 8 ай бұрын

80's USA Birdseye Maple, 24x16, 18x16 13x11, Custom made 14x6.5 Birdseye Snare Drum, owned for 31 years, best drums ever...Renown's for my Wife, Silver Oyster Pearl...

@keathdavid 8 ай бұрын

Class act, the lot of you.👌

@hitchowa 8 ай бұрын

awesome vid. thanks for sharing. just love the committment to the sound and process of making the best drums in the world.

@NotMyWar 8 ай бұрын

Gretsch is awesome, I love my Gretsch Bell Brass Snare.

@paulcarlsen4088 6 ай бұрын

Glad he bought back the company.

@kentuckybest 8 ай бұрын

It doesn't look like anyone is to happy to be working there but the drums are still really great.

@PedroMelo2-qc5yq Ай бұрын

Top-tier video, for sure.

@andwhatshouldbe 8 ай бұрын

I have a Renown and an Electromatic Double Jet and love them both! Beats my Yamaha Absolutes and my soul mate Gibson SG in terms of playability, sound and vibe..

@rkaylor5769 3 ай бұрын

I play Sonor, but I must have a Gretsch. SW is where I’m buying it.

@dennislester9395 6 ай бұрын

Very nice. Why no mention of the 30º bearing edges? Also, I've always enjoyed the drum key holder on the snare drums.

@user-vf1rj9dd4k 8 ай бұрын

Mannheim. Interessant. Didnt know that.

@johnnelson2566 8 ай бұрын

I miss working there

@ikerzuazaga6218 2 ай бұрын

Good video!

@ramencurry6672 8 ай бұрын

Gretch , from Brooklyn to South Carolina. 2 different worlds

@chrisgranados5897 6 ай бұрын

Hey I have a early sixties round badge with center upolstery tack. With yellow flame satin wrap . Wondering if wrap might still be available direct from factory .

@jadamdavisart 8 ай бұрын

Super cool video!

@srwaite7 8 ай бұрын

NDV is like a kid in a candy store 😎

@andrewsun4385 8 ай бұрын

Awesome!!!❤❤💯💯

@celticpridedrums 8 ай бұрын

Great video and great interviews. Some questions: I think Gretsch never made their own shells, am I correct? they used Jasper shells and maybe Keller at some point? Gretsch was sold to DW, so does that mean Gretsch shells are now all made by DW? Are they all made in California or do some come from Mexico (Pacific Drums are owned by DW and made in Mexico, am I correct?) Finally DW was bought by Roland is that correct? So how does that affect the drum manufacturing? Help me out please if you can, thanks. Oh one other thing; when I toured the Ludwig factory in the early 80's in Chicago before they moved--I saw the shell construction process and they were using gum and maple to build their thick 6 ply shells at that time--were they first with the gum or did they copy Gretsch?

@williehamilton1533 8 ай бұрын

How about visiting noble and cooley.

@yonickyg9719 8 ай бұрын

well does Sweetwater sell those drums??

@Kaedes8140 8 ай бұрын

@@yonickyg9719 they do since a year ago I think

@thepluggy1 8 ай бұрын

@yonickyg9719 they do yeah

@kalvinmiller8233 8 ай бұрын

Great video

@aslepp754 8 ай бұрын

i love my Gretsch Marquee set

@chrisggoodwin777 8 ай бұрын

Is it me, or does Mr. Gretsch sound similar to Stan Lee?

@femaledeer 8 ай бұрын

Love the history

@mikew8622 8 ай бұрын

Very cool!

@SalMichael 6 ай бұрын

Gretsch USA Custom Forever..

@rickjones507 8 ай бұрын

So, Who is making the actual shells that they use... DW? Keller? I understand that the drums are sanded, finished and badged there at the factory. But where and by whom are shells made?

@dyamelendez 8 ай бұрын

Keller

@TM_Stone 8 ай бұрын

Fred makes them in his garage. It's an old family secret. The gray coating is made in big kettles in his kitchen.

@rickjones507 8 ай бұрын

the plot thickens...ha@@TM_Stone

@MassimoDagostin 8 ай бұрын

Haha. It’s been Keller for a really long time now.

@davidsuprenant893 8 ай бұрын

I thought DW was providing the shells since they got involved with gretsch.

@WhyTheHorseface 8 ай бұрын

Do they use Keller drum shells, made in Manchester, New Hampshire?

@thepluggy1 8 ай бұрын

I really want to get a Gretsch snare drum

@woody4269 2 ай бұрын

Sensational tour that Gretsch 53 snare has sonor vibes. Or, sonor copied t 53 vibe 🤷‍♂️

@caltown79 6 ай бұрын

probably a dumb question, but do they make and form their own shells or just perfect them from someone else?

@caltown79 6 ай бұрын

because you aren't actually a drum maker if you don't make the shell in my opinion. anyone can take shells and add hardware and paint them.

@StevenCarinci 8 ай бұрын

Do they make the shells or are they outsourced from Nordic shells?

@JulianFernandez 8 ай бұрын

Shells still made by Keller?

@rikkkretue4945 8 ай бұрын

Dang!!!!! Who knew!!!

@mikeschumacher9715 8 ай бұрын

60 Broadway shows it to be Gretsch Bldg #4. Where are the others?

@solo2r 8 ай бұрын

GMS !

@roybeckerman9253 7 ай бұрын

When snares came with most kits…

@dominikn19 3 ай бұрын

Crème de la Crème.

@roybeckerman9253 8 ай бұрын

What a pity BUDDY RICH never had a GRETSCH endorsement..🥁

@rosshd6374 8 ай бұрын

😍

@roybeckerman9253 4 ай бұрын

I thought Nick was a Ludwig fan as a youngster..

@davidmcaninch4714 8 ай бұрын

I’m not familiar with Gretsch other than the fact that it’s a legendary brand.

@jamiemcparland 6 ай бұрын

I own a LOT of drums. My Gretsch is the best sounding by far.

@jeremydale5080 8 ай бұрын

They source out their shells. Fyi

@yonickyg9719 8 ай бұрын

that great Gretsch sound ...was from the 3 ply shells... 3 ply... 3 ply at least Broadkaster is still that

@jeffreyalexander7504 8 ай бұрын

I've always been a fan of the 6 ply shells. They're a little brighter to my ears. They also seem to record easier. Just my take. But, I think most would agree with you. The 3 ply shells sound great in an acoustic setting and a smaller room. The 60's brought about changes and the 6 ply shells helped Gretsch drums adapt to closed mic recording as well as live performances with other instruments using microphones and/or electronics. Just my personal taste.

@ghostandbell2006 5 ай бұрын

☆♡

@banditY2K 4 ай бұрын

It would be nice if they could actually get their product to market. 75 week wait for a USA Custom w/ high gloss finish. Pathetic.

@davepounds8924 8 ай бұрын

Good old Nick pushing drums for Sweetwater!! I love how he tells everyone how much he loves Gretsch and adores there drums but on his recent tour with Mr Big there wasn’t a Gretsch to be found??? He’s a salesman first!!!

@michaelbooth4668 8 ай бұрын

He explained that it was a back line issue. DW simply has more drums over seas.

@davepounds8924 8 ай бұрын

@@michaelbooth4668 👍

@ramencurry6672 7 ай бұрын

I think a lot drummers only like Gretsch for studio recordings.