Historical and the tech behind the sound ..never grows old ..like you my friend

Love that great sound

Early 80's Gretsch kits in larger sizes seem to be a highly coveted "sweet spot" era for rock - especially for recording.

The most trustworthy man in drums

Thanks. Yes, if you look back at Bonham, Ginger Baker, Ringo and many others, they all made it work with that hardware. Bonham even used a shell mounted cymbal arm for his ride and it worked for him, and we know how much of a workout that cymbal would get. Here's one for you: All of the ball-in-socket designs you see today came out of the 60s era Rogers swivomatic hardware (their tom holder). That was the first design of this type. Everyone copied that idea and put their own spin on it. Steve

The question of "gretsch in the studio" is a very good one. It is a mistery why the 3 ply shell of today is not made with a gum wood core, but from poplar (maple/polplar/maple). It would be so interensting, if the broadcasters / 3 - pliers of the old age consist of a poplar core too. I have of course 2 possiple theories, why it is poplar but dont want speculate about it.

Thanks for the additional discussion, Steve...points well taken! Love seeing your business doing well!

Thanks Steve, I am an owner of several vintage kits including an early 50's Gretsch Broadkaster kit. Your videos are so informative. You are an icon in the vintage drum world.

@stevemaxwelldrums

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***** Thanks for the kind words, Bob!

Steve always has a great way of giving us information. Some pictures of the old endorsers and more shots of vintage drums you have would add to this series. Thank you for taking the time to provide this history.

Fabulous video and fabulous drums...

Thanks, Steve. Your style is spontaneous, but you pack-in the info. Very informative and enjoyable.

Thanks Steve, really enjoyed it.

Thanks! I appreciate the feedback. I am trying to figure out the ideal content for these and want to layer in more photos, so thanks. Want to keep these in the 5-7 minute range.

Steve, Most informative and most enjoyable. Keep 'em coming!

Love this video..I own a lovely gretsch maple..Here n the UK , it's even harder to find vintage gear..

Thanks so much! Steve

In the late 60's the brand was sold to a piano company and didn't get back into Gretsch family hands until the mid 80's--I know that there are good kits made from this time so I can only assume the quality and consistency dropped in that period. You are absolutely right about drum sound description--like picking out straws from a hay bale and giving each a unique trait. The descriptions can really only be relative to one own aural experience

Very true. The 80s kits are very nice as well. Still the same great shells. I have a big band style Gretsch kit that is 13/16/16/22/22 and it's fabulous. Great for big band or rock. Very full and open. Steve

Very nice job! I enjoy these videos very much. Keep up the great work.

Thank you very much for ALL these videos. It's a chance to learn so much & hear things that I would never really be able to hear in a good sounding sound file. God bless.. Hope to get to one of the shops some day. I'm wanting a Gretsch snare since hearing them on the site.

Thank! Will do! Steve

Thanks! Steve

Well you got my subscription to your channel after seeing the 1950's Copper Mist kit but, this is just delightful. Looking forward to more episodes very informative and really sows a seed for me to do some research. Top Job

Thank's Steve, very nice

Thanks!!

Very informative.

Thanks for the video Steve! Could you share a little info about when specifically Gretsch used that fully-round-to-the-inside edge. I've always found that edge to be the most "Gretschy" sound. Thanks again

I agree with koalafireball totally. I am from Europe and own "new" USA Customs (built in 2005-2010) and would be very much interested in a sort of comparison Video (with Steves worthy verbal infos as intro or outro) between the sounds of the 3 ply versus the 6 ply (and there custom vs. brooklyn).Interestingly enough, (to my big astonishment) some of the vintage drums shown by steve in the videos are sounding to me like brooklyns (have more shine to them). Mics? A second big Topic for me is the question, if the drums of Max on "the drum also waltzes" or those of Elvin, Art Taylor etc. were closer to the new "Broadcaster" (Maple/Poplar/Maple) OR closer to the 6 plie shell . Thats because I do not know for shure If Gretsch switched to 6 plie in the EARLY or LATE Fifties an because I do not know If Art Blakey, Art Taylor, Mel, Elvin (in their Bebop period) PLAYED already 6 shells. Do the Badges mark that difference ? Thanks for the beautiful playing too - reminding me of Buddy Rich

Kirsch Drums Players Gretsch moved away from the rounded over edge right around 1970, with the move to the first octagonal badge.

Were the 3-ply drums maple/gum/maple or maple/poplar/maple?

So what happened throughout the 70's and into the 80's that makes kits from that era less sought after? And what is the difference in sound? I've heard that they made some bad kits in that era, but what is a bad kit? Were the shells out of round? Poor quality in wood construction? I really enjoyed the video but I was kind of hoping for some more personal preference, not just the facts because words often used to describe a drum sound has become very, very vague to me. Thanks!

Vintage drums are pretty cool, but vintage hardware is terrible for rock playing. Pearl revolutionized bass drum spurs, tom mounts, and adding nylon/plastic bushings to sections of stands in the mid-to-late 70s. Pearl's Optimounts seem to be the best tom mount these days...resonance and stability. My 2 cents. Great videos, Steve!

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