The drum market boasts some truly legendary and iconic names, but perhaps none can claim the history that Gretsch Drums can. Making quality musical instruments since 1883, the company, founded in Brooklyn NY, is the oldest drum company that’s still making drums today. Fourth-generation family member Fred Gretsch, who remains closely involved in the business, ties the company to its proud, multi-decade history. From the 1920s, when Gretsch Drums invented laminate-ply drum shell technology, to the successive decades of building the music products that top producers, sound engineers and drummers in high-end recording studios demanded, the company’s cultivated an enviable reputation for sonic excellence…a reputation that remains intact today. The Retailer spoke to John Palmer, Product Marketing Manager, to learn more about a recent Gretsch release—the Gretsch Broadkaster—that combines vintage sound with modern advances.
The Broadkaster series dates back to the 1930s and the drums were constructed as a three-ply shell. According to Palmer, “Top performing drummers of the day were obviously drawn to the sound of these drums. From there, our legendary artist roster began to take shape.” Among the early Gretsch drummers who performed on Broadkasters were Louie Bellson, “Papa” Jo Jones, Shelly Manne, Max Roach and Art Blakey, along with many others. “These were guys who were at the forefront of developing modern-day drumming styles,” Palmer explained. “Their drumming defined not only styles that remain historically vital, but also fundamental sounds that remain classic to this day.” No wonder the excitement level is off the charts now that, once again, Gretsch Broadkaster is available. Still U.S.A.-made, the Broadkasters are built exclusively in Ridgeland SC.
So, how is it that a drum set from the mid-20th century came to be revived and rejuvenated? “A few things happened,” Palmer began. “First, Paul Cooper, Director of Production at Gretsch USA in Ridgeland SC, located a 1940s-era Broadkaster kit and purchased it for his own collection. He immediately began to reverse engineer the drums to better understand the distinctive sounds the kit produced.” Around the same time, the company noticed the beginnings of a trend in the market for high-end three-ply shells produced by boutique U.S.A. drum makers. “Getting some market feedback, especially from our Gretsch Round Badge dealers,” Palmer continued, “we thought the time was right to bring back our original three-ply shell Broadkaster series. We knew there was organic interest in these drums.”
Now, let’s take a closer look at the specs, starting with the shell. The three-ply construction is North American maple/North American poplar/North American maple, produced in the U.S.A. The shell interiors are straight-sided (without reinforcement hoops), which is a classic Gretsch specification and helps to deliver clear, resonant tones. “The challenge here was to produce a relatively thin three-ply shell, without reinforcement hoops, that would be structurally stable,” Palmer noted. “We achieved that by utilizing a scarf joint (overlap) on the inner maple ply.”
The reverse-roundover bearing edge (used on toms and bass drums) was also taken from the original Broadkaster series. The edge profile angles down from the inside of the shell to the outside, instead of outside to inside like Gretsch’s standard-spec 30-degree edges. “The reverse-roundover edge does not have a straight, 30-degree edge but, instead, is more of a rounded radius contour,” Palmer continued. “The radius contour increases surface contact with the drumhead collar to produce a very full ‘wood’ tone.” The snare drums get the standard Gretsch 30-degree specification.
Let’s move to hardware. “Toms and snare drums are fitted with our Gretsch ‘302’ three-millimeter double-flanged hoops,” Palmer stated. “Bass drums are fitted with our standard maple hoop. All drums include our classic Gretsch lug.” The company offers five basic configurations in four finishes. “From there,” Palmer continued, “we have additional options. You can get each configuration with or without a snare drum. Then, you have the option to select the standard or vintage hardware package.” The standard hardware package is the company’s “contemporary build” and includes the Gretsch Tom Suspension (GTS) system on toms with hinged tom bracket, hinged diamond-plate floor-tom leg bracket, fully adjustable spurs and lightning snare throw off. The vintage package includes a host of hardware appointments that are historically correct, including Rail Consolette tom mount for all bass drums (18- to 24-inch) with direct bracket-to-shell clip mount, vintage floor-tom brackets, and batter and resonant muffler on toms, with batter muffler on snare and resonant muffler on bass drum.
As already noted, the level of excitement about the Broadkaster cannot be overstated, and Palmer’s own enthusiasm was equally evident. “We’ve been really pleased with the interest we’ve seen for Broadkaster, especially among our artists,” he remarked. “We’ve had a huge number of requests from our artists for a Broadkaster kit. We love their passion.” The vintage appointments have been particularly well received. The dominant interest for these kits, however, has been more emotional in nature. Palmer described it as “a mixture of appreciating the unique sounds these drums produce, as well as having a connection to something that is historic.” He added, “It’s kind of like rediscovering a lost artifact.”
So, which drummers make up the market for Broadkaster? On the surface, Palmer noted, you’d say that vintage drum enthusiasts would love Broadkaster. “I mean,” he elaborated, “they can take a new Broadkaster kit out onto a gig and keep their vintage kit at home in a pristine environment.” The feedback the company’s received, however, suggests that a much wider audience exists. “I’ve noticed that younger drummers who are looking to develop their own sound are turning to pre-1970s vintage kits,” Palmer observed. “They want something different…something that connects them to a period in music that they’ve taken the time to research. Broadkaster gives these drummers another option…to play something vintage, yet modern.”
Following a September launch of the Broadkaster series exclusively via the Round Badge dealer group, all Gretsch dealers, as of January, are now able to offer Broadkaster. MSRPs range from $3,540.99 to $5,770.99. Broadkaster drums are currently available to order through any authorized Gretsch dealer. Completion times are approximately 12 weeks from order confirmation.