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Mike Johnston



About the Artist

Online Educator and clinician Mike Johnston began studying the drums at the age of 5. He spent the next 15 years studying privately with some of the greatest educator/drummers of our time including Pete Magadini and Steve Ferrone.

At the age of 21 Mike received his first major label record deal with his band Simon Says (Hollywood Records) and spent the next 5 years touring the world. He received a gold record for his contributions to the Varsity Blues soundtrack and has appeared on The Late Show with Dave Letterman as well as on MTV's Fashionably Loud.

Mike currently runs the educational website mikeslessons.com where he offers pre-recorded video drum lessons as well as "LIVE" on-line drum lessons nationally and internationally. Every year he hosts multiple International drum camps at the mikeslessons.com facility.

In 2011 & 2012 Mike was nominated for Educator/Clinician of the year by Modern Drummer magazine.

Mike has toured the US and Europe with Hollywood Recording artists Simon Says and Warner Bothers Recording artists FILTER.

Opening your first Gretsch USA Custom - Mike Johnston
Gretsch artist and renown educator Mike Johnston shared his experience of opening up his first USA Custom Kit. Check out the drums in action and watch as Mike goes through process of opening his new kit, setting them up and experiencing "That Great Gretsch Sound".





GRETSCH 130th ANNIVERSARY

Gretsch Drums is proudly celebrating its 130th Anniversary with a series of Limited Edition American-made drum sets and snare drums. These drums will be released throughout the year and each will include a specially designed 130th Anniversary interior shell label and a hand-signed Certificate of Authenticity. The labels and certificates will be numbered to indicate the production sequence of each drum.

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Catalina Maple

Carefully developed to produce tones that explode a balanced amount of warm low end frequencies

The Catalina Maple series starts with the Gretsch maple formula shell. We carefully developed the maple shell specification to produce tones that explode with attack and volume and project a balanced amount of warm, low-end frequencies. All Catalina Maple shells are 7-ply, 7.2mm.

The Catalina Maples are available in two configurations - a 6-piece shell pack set and a 5-piece shell pack set. Add-on drums are also available to allow for further drum set expansion.

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