They have a focused sound with a natural muting effect. They don’t ring as much. They tune well high or low and seem to sound good even if you aren’t super careful with tuning them. They are durable. Look good. Cool factor is part of it.

I like the Cast Hoops. On the Snare, the Toms, the Floor Tom. The Shell. Gum/Maple on Bass, toms, snare everything. The Cast Hoop you can really thwack. And I'll tell ya . You only have retune them- well never- every 30 years or so.

So. Low maintenance. High Quality (satin wood finishes), Rock Solid tone and heft. Not heavy but definitely not Light..Solid. USA.

I have 2003 (ish) gunmetal (bought dealer new old stock shipped direct from Gretsch) Broadkasters 14x18/10x12/9x10/12x14 in Satin rw

Have 1966 RB Redwinepearl 20/12/14/COB bought used in 1975

(also 16x16 converted to bass + 8x12 Red Glass RB)

Had Yellow Satin Flame 20/12/14/matching bought used also in 1975. Sold

Never let me down tuff drums. Never budge Never detune Tight tolerance.

Owned Ludwig (1st set in 1969), Premier (2nd set new in 1971) Couple Tama (new aqua Superstar and black Rockstar) Baltimore (satin bebop)- all gone- Gretsch survived.

Tuff drums.

Playing my 6 ply 18/12/10/14 gunmetal Broadkasters with a 1965 RB wmp 5" 8L survivor Renown snare. A few months back (September) playing with long time friends Kenny and Eric.

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMXl1pWUvp8"]Kenny Blake Eric Johnson The Tribune Democrat - YouTube[/ame]

Nice JDA! Great Gretsch Sound!

JB

I had a rb with a 13,16,24 and currently have a 22 kick. My main issue is changing the heads, it's an adventure to say the least.

The drums sound fantastic, the kick I have now is one of the best I've played. I don't think they're any better sounding than Ludwig, Slingerland or Rogers, just a little different.

I, too, have never understood why vintage Gretsch drums sell for so much more than a comparable Ludwig, Rogers or Slingerland kit. I've always felt that the drumming public at large feeds this perception.

Growing up, I really liked the look of Gretsch lugs and their die-cast hoops. However, their hardware, such as tom holders, tom and leg brackets and their Micro-sensitive and Lightning strainers were a real pain. While the "look" of the top/bottom muffler knobs looked pretty cool, those dual, rectangular, muffler pads take up too much real-estate. I did like the Pratt bass drum muffler, though!

Silver sealer? To my eyes, it's just marketing hype! Yes, I know I'm going to take flak for that statement! Gum/maple shells? I have a beautiful 2006 Pearl Export kit with 6-ply poplar shells that sounds fantastic. It's all in the shell diameter and bearing edges. We all know that Gretsch used shells that were not undersized. Add in the wrap and you now have shells that require the use of a rubber mallet to force on a drum head! Seriously!! Remo finally addressed this issue with their "Classic Fit" heads!

That "great Gretsch sound" was also achieved by the use of "reverse" bearing edges on the toms. Changing where the edge hits the head changes the sound! I also read that many the 50's drums used a cloth wrap between the shell and outer plastic "Nitron" wrap.

Please don't get me wrong. I know there are thousands of drummers who love vintage Gretsch drums. But, when I factor in every aspect of Gretsch versus the other American-made drums, I just don't understand how they can fetch two times, or more, than a comparable Ludwig, Rogers or Slingerland kit. I guess it's just perception!

All the above is just my opinion. YMMV!! Keep on drumming with the drums YOU love!

-Mark

This is good schooling for me, since I eventually would like to upgrade to a nice vintage American kit someday.

I was always perplexed at the vintage Gretch prices myself, and wondered what made them so much more expensive than the others. I kind of put Gretch out of my mind due to there expense. To rich for my blood. A nice 3 piece bop set is about $3000 or better!

I'm not sure I can justify double the price of a comparable Ludwig, or maybe 3 times the price for a comparable Slingerland, or am I oversimplifying things?

But Gretch isn't the only expensive vintage American kit out there, Rogers is right up there as well and I can't figure that one out either, but we can always do another thread someday called, "I Have Never "Gotten" Rogers Drums"...Excited

1950's--1980's Rogers drums were more expensive than those other brands mentioned in this thread largely due to the most innovative and most versatile hardware that the industry is still copying. Rogers drums were the DW of the industry before there was a DW. Of those American-made brands mentioned, Gretsch made and sold the fewest drums. The law of supply and demand comes in to play here. When you mix collectors' hype with short supply, the prices go up.

vintage Gretsch drums are not that different from modern Gretsch drums.

That's beauty 1)

2) You can spec a new Gretsch set (6 ply USA Cus) to be better than a RB reason? 3)

newer brackets check. Sharper edges Check Satin (and gloss) finishes myriad of choice Check No head fit issues Check...add additional available Tom sizes Check.

So when you see 12,000 RB$ 18" sets and 6000$ and 5000$ Don't Fret. New Gretsch (1800$-2500$ new) are near identical and Fresh.

Owned -for 45 years) both 1966 and 2003 models. There's not a lot of sound difference (if any at all) (equals none) . Just upgraded mounts and did I mention Fresh..

Gretsch have only changed details expanded color and size options sound remains

I hope the same can be said about comparing the forthcoming Sound King Slingerland drums to the 1950's and 1960's Slingerland drums. I also hope that there are some new Radio King models that are direct replicas of the 1940's and early 1950's Slingies.