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

[@sweetwater]

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]

Laney Amplification

[@smithshaven8584]

LUDWIG......Please.

[@jonashellborg8320]

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]

How about a trip across the pond to Mapex.

[@martinkent_]

TAMA Factory in Japan!

[@paljoeynyc]

great guy paul. ...gretsch is fortunate to him a part of the gretsch family. i been playing gretsch drums since june 1967. the summer of love.

[@charliecontrino1626]

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!

[@CornerStoreDrums]

Sweetwater always brings top notch quality. Thank you!!

[@paulgiacalone4471]

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]

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

[@gordgibson6654]

Nick this video is so sweet, thanks a million!

[@drumjedi5301]

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

[@i_needausername7201]

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]

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

[@stevenabi5095]

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

[@BeatsAndGuitars]

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

[@smithshaven8584]

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

[@edisonhill]

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

[@michaelanderson2881]

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.

[@tomhalbouty3653]

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

[@RobertSaxy]

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

[@johnnelson2566]

I miss working there

[@dmdrum101]

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

[@MD-wk3gj]

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

[@Pure_KodiakWILD_Power]

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]

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

[@ivannio8519]

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

[@terrydrums]

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… 😊

[@bgnPrinceton]

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

[@keithpratt1849]

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.

[@thomasnappo6309]

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

[@progression_decibel]

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

[@allenmitchell09]

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.

[@keathdavid]

Class act, the lot of you.👌

[@chrisphillips554]

What a fascinating articulate man, wonderful to listen to

[@molotulo8808]

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.

[@terrydonegan1622]

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

[@gregmgm06]

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

[@davidlester9287]

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

[@markmullen1852]

I'm drooling at that guys collection.

[@hitchowa]

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

[@davidscott3994]

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

[@chriswright2250]

Great Drum History.

[@garydonnelly100]

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!

[@kylepalmer1645]

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...

[@Goodboy0953]

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 ❤❤

[@NotMyWar]

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

[@PedroMelo2-qc5yq]

Top-tier video, for sure.

[@molotulo8808]

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!

[@paulcarlsen4088]

Glad he bought back the company.

[@kentuckybest]

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

[@alexanderfrederick1420]

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 😅

[@jadamdavisart]

Super cool video!

[@andwhatshouldbe]

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..

[@PaulaCastles]

Interesting

[@rkaylor5769]

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

[@andrewsun4385]

Awesome!!!❤❤💯💯

[@user-vf1rj9dd4k]

Mannheim. Interessant. Didnt know that.

[@dennislester9395]

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

[@ikerzuazaga6218]

Good video!

[@kalvinmiller8233]

Great video

[@chrisgranados5897]

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 .

[@femaledeer]

Love the history

[@ramencurry6672]

Gretch , from Brooklyn to South Carolina. 2 different worlds

[@aslepp754]

i love my Gretsch Marquee set

[@srwaite7]

NDV is like a kid in a candy store 😎

[@mikew8622]

Very cool!

[@celticpridedrums]

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]

How about visiting noble and cooley.

[@yonickyg9719]

well does Sweetwater sell those drums??

[@Kaedes8140]

@@yonickyg9719 they do since a year ago I think

[@thepluggy1]

​@yonickyg9719 they do yeah

[@SalMichael]

Gretsch USA Custom Forever..

[@rickjones507]

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]

Keller

[@TM_Stone]

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

[@rickjones507]

the plot thickens...ha@@TM_Stone

[@MassimoDagostin]

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

[@davidsuprenant893]

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

[@thepluggy1]

I really want to get a Gretsch snare drum

[@rikkkretue4945]

Dang!!!!! Who knew!!!

[@WhyTheHorseface]

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

[@caltown79]

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

[@caltown79]

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.

[@chrisggoodwin777]

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

[@rosshd6374]

😍

[@StevenCarinci]

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

[@JulianFernandez]

Shells still made by Keller?

[@woody4269]

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

[@mikeschumacher9715]

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

[@solo2r]

GMS !

[@dominikn19]

Crème de la Crème.

[@roybeckerman9253]

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

[@roybeckerman9253]

When snares came with most kits…

[@davidmcaninch4714]

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

[@roybeckerman9253]

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

[@jamiemcparland]

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

[@ghostandbell2006]

☆♡

[@jeremydale5080]

They source out their shells. Fyi

[@yonickyg9719]

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

[@jeffreyalexander7504]

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.

[@triprack]

Nick - time for a trim. Starting to look like Beetlejuice.

[@GT-fx8fd]

Sell sell sell aye 😂

[@banditY2K]

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]

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]

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

[@davepounds8924]

@@michaelbooth4668 👍

[@ramencurry6672]

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

[@joshuadillon4396]

I’m seriously still wondering why we can get other folks to represent Sweetwater. Get out of the way older generation.

[@stephenoconnor8257]

I will never buy anything made in South Carolina

[@tomtom1484]

Hey, let’s get to those specs right now!