Thanks to my father I’ve been playing a Gretsch kit my entire life,from a kid until now at the age of 51. The one kit that was my fathers is of my birth year 1971. I’m still playing them today. Still look and sound amazing. I was at the premiere of this documentary at Gretsch Night in Manhattan at the Cutting Room last Tuesday night. Fred and Dinah Gretsch were there, along with Paul Cooper and Andrew Shrieve( who I was able to meet and speak to) . It was an awesome night . Thank You Gretsch Family .

When I was a teenager in the 60's, Ludwig was "the" drum set to have because of Ringo's appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show. I joined a garage band and played drums very badly for awhile, being self-taught. I couldn't afford a brand name kit at the time, so I used a discount cheap set and had Ludwig drums on my wish list. I discovered a local professional jazz drummer and begged him for lessons because I wanted to learn to play like Buddy Rich. He quickly made it clear that he did not teach and wasn't interested in teaching me or anyone else. It took awhile, but I wore him down because he saw that my passion was sincere and I was not focused on rock & roll anymore. He was intense, just like Mr. Miyagi in "The Karate Kid", started with teaching me the bare basics and made it clear that if I didn't improve when I came back for the next lesson, he would quit teaching me. I kept trying to pay him after each lesson and he said, "Pay me next week." When he finally moved away, he said there was no charge because I had always improved. He was a purist and a gentleman. He played GRETSCH. He was talented enough to fill in for Ed Schaugnessy when he was on vacation with the NBC Orchestra on the Johnny Carson Show. I changed my mind about playing like Buddy Rich and adopted Joe Morello as my hero. "Take 5" hypnotized me. Then Jerry Granelli with Vince Guaraldi introduced a new soft way of playing. My favorite living drummer is Jeff Hamilton. Over the decades, I've tried many other brands, models, sizes and styles of drum kits, but GRETSCH has always had the best sound for my needs. "That Great Gretsch Sound" is the only ways I can describe it. I'm 74 years old and I'm still learning. My favorite cymbals are dark K Zildjian and guess which company was the first to import them to the USA? Yeah...... Thank you, Gretsch family, past and present.

Thank you very much for this fantastic compilation of the worldwide Gretsch family. I'm German, almost 70 years old and play jazz since more than 50 years. Had a Pearl kit, always hussling to achieve the sound of my heroes Elvin Jones, Max Roach and Art Blakey, with no success at all. Then, in 1975, had the chance to buy a 73s Gretsch Jazz kit 12-14-18 in dark walnut, and there was my sound, my feeling of music. I never ever changed and still play it. Of course over the years I bought a couple of other toms in almost all sizes, same period, same dark walnut, to fit my kit to different music styles in jazz, namely jazz rock - always getting the same response and inspiration from my beloved drums. Today, when I go into my studio, sit down behind my kit and start playing, it is like having a really good conversation with a best friend.

How many Gretsch kits do you need? Just one more. That's so true!!!!

Its great to have Shane from DCP on the documentary too, the guy really knows and loves drums

Gretsch drums have their quirks. I have a late 70s Gretsch that have over sized shells as was their common place complaint back in those days. I can get Remo classic fit heads on the toms but the kick drum won't accept a head without cutting the flesh hoop with a hack saw to make it fit. Something to be aware of.

So happy to be part of the Gretsch Family. "If you get it, you get it."

I started my drumming career playing Pearl, cause that’s what my mom played. But 6 years ago I got my hands on a Gretsch kit, and literally I have no desire to play anything else! Like I’m definitely a life long Gretsch guy now. Fantastic sound, timeless looks, incredible quality…. What more could you ask for.

1965 Midnight Blue Pearl. Still playing them all these years later. Where did the time go ??

I was blessed to be gifted a 1953 round badge that a customer gave me. Came with Zildjian ‘50s cymbals too. Her Dad was a jazz drummer way back in the day in Las Vegas. I restored it, and it sounds amazing. I did update the hardware, but kept the old stuff.

Easily the best DRUM video that has come out in a good minute.... PERIODTTTTT !!! :D I can easily watch another 40 minutes of this type of goodies 🖤

Proud to be the owner of a Gretsch drum set.

Keith Carlock at 26 mins. Mind blowing 😮😮😮

Fantastic documentary, so proud to be a Gretsch! 140 years of Gretsch and more to come!

I was sitting in a restaurant in Glasgow one evening with my wife. I was wearing a Gretsch t-shirt and an American tourist who was leaving after his meal came over to me to talk just because he saw my t-shirt. He was so excited about it too, it was lovely! It is a community. I already own a beautiful Gretsch Renown but am waiting on a vintage 1960's round badge kit that I have bought arriving. It is right now making it's way from Vancouver, Canada, across the Atlantic to Glasgow, Scotland. Can't wait! If you know, you know.

My first kit was a Gretsch. My new kit is a Gretsch. They are a legendary brand and I am proud to play Gretsch… gotta love that Great Gretsch Sound .

Thanks, Gretsch. Beautiful drums. Beautiful presentation.

My first pro level kit purchased in 1978 was a Gretsch. The most recent new drum set I purchased in 2022 was another Gretsch USA Custom. I have owned almost 40 kits over the years and the most of any brand has been Gretsch. When my most recent kit arrived it was like coming home for me. Gretsch bass drums are magic and the Toms just have this incredible tuning range. Congratulations on 140 years Gretsch . Here is to another 140

I was blessed to meet Fred Gretsch at NAMM in 2018 and he was the coolest guy ever. I’ve played their Catalina Club line for 15 years now and they never let me down. Such a great company and product. Their Brooklyn kit is my holy grail kit that I’m working to own one day.

Great Documentary! Thanks Everyone!

Gretsch Yes ! Mine since 1974 is a stop bagde black nitron 18" Super instrument ! depth of sound, nuances, colors, timbres, rimshots

Thank you for this fantastic documentary which brings together a multitude of experiences from estimable and respected drummers. Thank you to the other muisicians for their passionate comments on youtube. And, above all, thank you to the teams who still build these timeless drums to this day. We love Gretsch and everyday we do. All the best to you all deep people!

The hype is strong in this video

Proud member of the Gretsch family - 1980 USA Custom !

In 2021 I bought a Gergo Borlai signature snare drum after looking at snare after snare after snare of every construction material, size, configuration and brand. I saw Memphis Drum Shop's video and I immediately called them and bought THAT drum, the one in their video (it had only been posted a week so I got lucky). It's my main snare and probably now my favourite that I've ever heard and played. You guys are knocking it out of the park. Always loved Gretsch guitars but never had the chance to try any drums. I'm now a fan for life.

I currently play a Brooklyn kit with a pair of Ridgeland snares, 5x14 and 6x14, and every show we play I get nothing but compliments from the crowd and sound guys. Love Gretsch!

Thank you Gretsch for making these great instruments! I play a brooklyn and also a catalina club. They both are great in different situations. There's a special feel to gretsch drums which changed the way i'm playing. Thank you for bringing that magic to us! Greetings from germany!

Thank you Gretsch!

❣️Being a Gretsch artist is a badge of honor; it connects me to a truly extraordinary musical family. Big love to the Gretsch fam.

I couldn't be happier, I have been using a U.S.A Custom in Sonic blue gloss. Thank you Paul Cooper and Team Gretsch.

Great production! Family!

Everything from the Catalina line to the USA custom kits are incredible. If it weren’t for Gretsch drums I wouldn’t be as excited to get behind the kit every time. From having played vintage kits in studios, to my little Catalina club that I use for practice and home recordings, everything that offer sounds fantastic and I will always be excited whenever get to play anything from Gretsch.

so happy and proud of my brooklyn's- i've got a 24" kit and a 20" kit love them both...thanks to shane and tony at drum center of portsmouth THE BEST! your drum brother don fab. p.s. excellent stories...andrew shreve.

Beautiful Sounding Drums

First time I heard a gretsch kit live was a a small club in Downton Ventura Ca. It sounded so, so good. The drummer and I had a good talk, I looked that kit over and under. Still remember that day and I that stand out sound. A new gretsch custom is on my list for this year.

I have been playing drums for over 20 years. Ever since I was 9 years old in 1999, I have played in a brass band almost all my life, first in Roskilde Garden for 14 years and now in the Danish Home Guard's Music Corps Roskilde for 12 years. Am 33 now. The first snare drum I bought that didn't come with a used kit was the Gretsch Drums S-0514-MPLSE 14"x5 Snare. It has felt like the perfect pair of drumsticks for years. My first drum kit, bought for my own money, was a Gretsch Catalina club rock set in copper sparkling. When I started in the Home Guard's Music Corps Roskilde, I introduced that we play with carrier when we march. There I bought myself, Taylor Hawkins signature Gretsch snare drum and use it as my snare when we were out playing. The snare drum is the best all round drum. It has played on many marches, large concerts with well-known Danish singers and at competitions. The weekend we all got the bad news about the death of Taylor Hawkins. We were going to a brass band competition and I had to play the drum kit for all our numbers. I took it as a tribute to Taylor and we won the division we entered. So Gretsch has always felt me ​​through my musical journey. 🎶🥁🎺😊👍

I remember as a kid, my first dream set was a Gretsch Catalina birch in cherry red lacquer. I've got to play many many kits since then... but I stumbled upon one of those so many years later. And man... how? I don't know. It still is my dream set today - that's how great Gretsch drums are!

I love Gretsch!! Love my Rn1 kit. ❤

Im so happy and proud, that I can play and always enjoy my Gretsch kits😍🤗🥁❤️ and to be a little part of this large family of Gretsch drummers🙏🏼🤗

Playing a Gretsch kit is eye catching as well as ear catching, I love the feeling of playing a brand that's been around since 1883❤

Gretsch - the one and only drum brand i will play for the rest of my life!

watching it for the fourth time 😁

My refurbished 60's Gretsch round badge snare drum has the magic mojo. I've received many positive comments about how good it sounds. Of the numerous other snares I have from various eras and manufacturers, it's my favorite favorite.

I been to the factory , it was amazing . Paul Cooper was nice enough to to give me a little tour! I’ll never forget

I have a 60s era round badge kit.

Ive been playing Gretsch my whole life. 62 champagne sparkle. 13 , 16, 22 x 14: They are " The Drums " , when I was coming up there were 2 kits in studios , Gretsch & Ludwig . I prefer the Ludwig snares but all other drums must be Gretsch . Also I play guitar and Gretsch are the ultimate. I learned on a 6105 nashville rally . I recently purchased a steamliner rally because of what theyve done to them and I must say for any musician Gretsch is Heaven.

Thank you very much. I really enjoyed this programme. Everything discussed resonated with me. I bought my USA Custom just before my 60th birthday and have never been happier playing the drums.

Very nice !

Love!

Everytime I sit down at my 1970s Gretsch kit I feel like a kid on Christmas day. I get an endorphine rush that I don't get off of my other kits.

Great documentary featuring so many of my favourite drummers!

The USA Gretsch kits are out of my financial range right now, but do own the Renown Maple kit, and it sounds fantastic……

Thank You for a truly fascinating historical account and firsthand endorsements from very many special musicians!

Love it! More Vinnie though😂

truly amazing!!!!

I got a Gretsch Catalina Club Rock last year and it’s the best sounding kit I’ve ever had. Made tuning so much easier

Now that you know, you know! … and don’t ever forget it!

Great history 👍👍👍

Love my Gretsch kit!!

Amazing!!!!❤

An absolute instant classic!! 🥁🔥💯

I love my Rogers kit but that's one thing I notice about my round badge. The response! The sticks just fly off the shells and makes it super easy to play. The 22 kick needs nothing inside to sound punchy and full, while the Rogers will sound quite boomy and uncontrolled without anything in it.

New Gretsch USA Custom in Seafoam green on its way to me next week. I can't wait to take the first shell out of the box! Better yet, set them up and let them sing.

Playing gretsch drum kit here at home since 2015 😁🥁

Been playing Gretsch since early 60’s

I didn't know Ricky played the drums!

Always a fan when drum companies recognize the workers like this, what a nice short film and to be immortalized as a Gretsch drum builder, is an honor, I will own one of these kits one day! I salivate over the burnt orange sparkle with the marine inlays on the hoops and the t style tuning rods, killer damn drums! And all this is coming from a guy who has played pearl and zildjian his whole life! Gretsch and SundayDrumday goes well together eh??? lol

Bought my first round badge last year. Dream kit 60s round badge! Finally got one but looking for additional sizes for sure

Just picked up a 125th anniversary usa custom(cadillac green). So looking forward to digging into the world of gretsch 🥁👍

My first kit was a Gretsch 60's round badge champaign sparkle. When I was 16 I traded my Gretsch kit for a Ludwig Vistalite. I was playing in a working rock band. Then I went to the Slingerland brand it was a Chrome kit with concert toms. Then I went back to a Gretsch Rosewood kit 20 10 12 14. I then stopped playing. Got back into it 23 years later and went with an OCDP kit. I did not like those. So I then went to the DW brand. I also purchased a Gretsch Brooklyn Kit. I still have them. Then back in 2017, I purchased a Craviotto kit which I loved and played up until this year, when I sold them just a few weeks ago. That was my live kit. I purchased in 2021 Gretsch US Customs and I also bought a mid 80's Gretsch which is being refinished by Seppo from TRS custom drums in the Yellow Tony Finish. Now just a Gretsch guy. I played my first live show with my US Customs and my band mated our FOH engineer told me the kit just sounded amazing. So now I have US Customs a Brooklyn kit and US Gretsch drums from the mid-80s era square badge. I am so happy with Gretsch drums and should have just stuck with them. Glad I came back to Gretsch. They have this thing. The sound tone attack is so responsive and the overall sound is amazing. Also, the feeling I get playing Gretsch has never been the same playing any other brand I have played. The Craviotto's a close second. Gretsch is number one!! They are unbelievable. y

Simply: WOW 🤩! This makes me so proud and honoured to play Gretsch Drums (Brooklyns)… Awesome tribute to my favourite drum brand! Makes me wanna earn the badge even more haha!

I NEED a Gretsch kit in my life….

Steve Ferrone, lovely man

Happy to see Steve Maxwell on here

That Great Gretsch Sound is not just a clever slogan... it's the TRUTH! Well done.

What an awesome tribute to my favorite drum maker! 🥁

Great documentary. I love Gretsch drums. My dream kit is a set of Broadkasters in satin walnut. Unfortunately, I’ll only ever be able to afford my Catalina Clubs. Still Gretsch, though.

Someday I will be possible my dream..It's have my first Gretsch kit...someday

34:46 it would be so easy to dismiss Mike Johnston as just “another KZfaqr” and gloss over what an absolutely phenomenal player he is and how beautifully he makes that set sing…

I’m down to two Gretsch kits a 60’s round badge 18,12,14, 5,with a extra 20” and 13” all in Tangerine Sparkle and a 1971 Stop sign badge Gretsch 18,12,14 5 in Black Diamond Pearl.

As Cindy Blackman said they sound better as they age. I can attest to this first hand. Bought my square badge Gretsch around 91 because it was the prettiest drum kit I'd ever seen: satin rosewood and my fifties era Slingerlands were just to old to gig with anymore. I played them for years and then got a good deal on a new DW kit. So I put the Gretsch away for a few years. Recently I used them at a gig for the hell of it and god damn. They're now my live kit. The DWs I keep in the practice studio.

Had been playing since High School in the school band and orchestra and then in all kinds of bands. After graduation from university, I was😊pursuaded by my drum teacher to turn in my leedy and ludwig mixture for a new 1963 gretsch bop set of 5/12/14/20 which I got in red sparkle. Still play them in swing/dixie/concert bands to this day. Love them. Only downside is the snare. Steve Maxwell says they can be boxy in sound. Very poor response so I use either a superphonic or a 6.5 Black Beauty especially for the rolls I need for concert work. Still may look for a Gretsch COB vintage snare though.

No mention is made in this documentary of the Catalina and renown series of Gretsch drums. I know that the two aforementioned drum lines are not made in the USA.

❤

Nothing sounds like a Gretsch. My Pearl maple/gum is trying though. God bless you all 🙏

I play A 4 Piece Gretsch Catalina Club in A Pearl White Marine Finish And Soon I Will Have my First USA Custom Kit

Love my gretsch Catalina maple kit best drums ever made

Legenda em português por favor? Gretsch drums é sensacional!!!👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

My almost 40 year old Gretsch sound better today than they did brand new. Which was a surprising phenomenon I started noticing about 20 years ago. They have a few scratches here and there and the glossiness of the lacquer finish has faded somewhat but to this day they are still the very best recording drums I own. Sometimes shockingly so. My DW Collector Series aren't even in the same league. If I had to I'd sell the DW's long before I'd even consider selling the Gretsch.

What about BILL STEWART? One of the most recognizable Gretsch sound over all the contemporary artists…

It would be intersting to see a documentary on the sale of the company to DW.

Let's not forget, the player makes the drums work not the other way around. Also consider tuning and acoustics.

Mine have a weird keystone badge. I prefer them but yaknow. ..

Just finished watching, and I feel greedy for wanting to watch and hear more from you guys. But, I’m also thinking, what more is there to say? :)

I have 2 gretsch kits 1 USA in caddy green gloss and broadkaster in natural satin

30 minutes in, still waiting for Budgie.

At least Slingerland and Ludwig made their own shells back then.

Choosy drummers choose Gretsch. I have both a Brooklyn and a Renown kit. Wouldn't trade either one for any other make of drums in the market. Gretsch is my voice.

buy this thing

What's DW's role in Gretsch? I thought they bought the company back in 2015, but it's all very unclear.