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NEWS
PRESS RELEASES
July 11, 2008
GRETSCH CELEBRATES 125th ANNIVERSARY WITH "NIGHT OUT" DEALER EVENTS


Gretsch Night Out 125th Anniversary Event at Fork’s Drum Closet.

Gretsch Drums takes their 125th anniversary to the streets with “Gretsch Night Out” events at select dealer locations. Fred and Dinah Gretsch are on hand at each event and share stories about the company and their family heritage. Gretsch Drums product manager, John Palmer presents guests with an overview of the product line and answers product related questions. Following each event, Fred and Dinah are available to meet with guests and sign drums and other Gretsch memorabilia. In addition, a full complement of drums is available at each store location, including commemorative 125th Anniversary models. Gretsch Night Out guests also get a sneak peek of the company’s new “Making of That Great Gretsch Sound” factory dvd. For the first time ever, viewers are treated to a personal tour of the company’s Ridgeland, SC factory by Paul Cooper, Gretsch Drums Factory Manager, as he escorts viewers through several of the hands on processes that go into making each Gretsch USA drum. "We are pleased to have our top dealers and true Gretsch Drums enthusiasts share in our 125th anniversary celebration. By having Mr. And Mrs. Gretsch convey their personal stories about the company and family heritage, they provide unique insights into the legacy that Gretsch has created," says Palmer.

Recent Gretsch “Night Out” events were held at Drum Headquarters, Memphis Drum, Fork’s Drum Closet and Steve Maxwell Vintage and Custom Drums. Gretsch Night Out artist appearances have included Duane Norman, Lemar Carter, Tommy Wells, Jack Gavin, Ray Fryoux and Gregg Stocki.

FRED GRETSCH PERSPECTIVE


As direct 4th generation Gretsch family descendant, and with over 40 years of diverse music industry leadership, Fred W. Gretsch has cultivated a singularly unique perspective and vision. Here, Fred shares his rich and varied experiences, including his involvement with current activities as well as personal reflections.

December 15, 2009
Not Fade Away


A few days ago I happened to hear one of The Rolling Stones’ early hits: the Buddy Holly classic “Not Fade Away.” Besides making me appreciate, as always, the great drumming of long-time Gretsch endorser Charlie Watts, that song, and its title, brought to mind a question that drummers have asked me many times over the years: "Why do some drum finishes fade or lose color over time, and what can be done about it?"

At Gretsch, we take great pride in the beautiful lacquer finishes on our drums. We think our unique nitrocellulose covered finishes are pretty nifty, too. So it's just as important to us that those finishes look good for many years as it is to the drummers who own the kits.

The single biggest cause of drum-finish “fade” is light—specifically, ultra-violet rays. That’s right: The same rays that can give you a nasty sunburn can make a drum's finish lose its color over time.

Additional culprits include environmental agents like cigarette smoke and the kitchen fumes common in clubs that serve food. Not only do these agents settle on drums and create a dulling film, they also contain chemicals that can penetrate a finish and bleach out its color. Fortunately, many clubs and other performance venues have become smoke-free in recent years. But a lot of drumkits spent long hours in smoke-filled rooms before this environmental advancement took place.

Once a finish has faded, it's virtually impossible to bring it back to its original condition. So prevention is the best course. Fortunately, it's also very easy. You just need to protect your drums from the fading effect of UV rays and environmental agents.

This can be accomplished by covering your drums with a cloth sheet or dropcloth when they're set up, and casing or bagging them up when they're not. And this doesn't just apply to gigging situations. You’d be surprised how many drums have “fade spots” on one side from being set up or stacked near a window at home!

Take these simple precautions, and your Gretsch drums should retain their beautiful appearance for many years to come.

ARTIST NEWS
February 02, 2010
NAMM 2010


It was a busy show for Gretsch drums! Check out our video section to listen to our various Gretsch artist interviews!

Here are a few of the artists that stopped by to say hello!

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As part of our commitment to improve design and quality of our instruments, Gretsch Drums reserves the right to change pricing and specifications without notice.

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