Any anniversary celebration is special. But when it’s a double anniversary, that’s extra-special. And when one of those anniversaries marks 130 years…well, that’s unique.
So it was with the Gretsch 130th Anniversary celebration, which was held this past May 4 at Randy Wood’s Pickin’ Parlor in Bloomingdale, Georgia. The location was appropriate, since Bloomingdale is just “down the road a bit” from Pooler, which is where my wife Dinah and I reside. And the Gretsch USA Custom Drums factory is located just across the river, in Ridgeland, South Carolina.
The setting for the event had a somewhat rural... Read More
Gretsch Takes Part In CoverBand 2010 Contest
July 23, 2009
Get The Great Sound Of Gretsch Drums . . . And A Trip To California!
Attention Gretsch drummers (and those who’d like to be): I want to let you know about a great new online contest that Gretsch is proud to be a part of. It’s called CoverBand 2010, and it offers you the opportunity to have your performance viewed by thousands of music fans around the world. Those fans, in turn, will cast their votes, and the top five vote-getters will become the contest finalists. A panel of celebrity judges will select the winners in seven performance spots. Besides naming the best drummer, the judges will also select the best bassist, vocalist, two guitarists, and two percussionists. These winners will become the members of CoverBand 2010.
And when I say “winners,” I mean BIG winners. Each CoverBand member (as well as seven runners-up) will receive a prize package of top-quality professional gear from some of the biggest names in musical-instrument manufacturing. Along with Gretsch drums, those names include Audio-Technica microphones, Genz Benz amplifiers, Gibraltar hardware, Hercules stands, Latin Percussion, Ovation guitars, Sabian cymbals, Schecter guitars, Takamine guitars, and Toca Percussion.
But it gets better. The seven winners will also receive an all-expenses-paid trip to the 2010 NAMM show in Anaheim, California…to perform in front of the entire music industry. Karl Perazzo, the great percussionist with Santana, will serve as music director for the band. The winners will also have an appearance on a Musician’s Friend catalog cover in 2010.
Here’s how the contest works: Individual musicians and vocalists, not bands, will compete for the seven spots in CoverBand 2010. All you need to do is upload your video to coverband2010.com between July 15 and September 15. The public will vote between September 16 and October 15. The celebrity judges will pick the winners from among the five finalists in each musical category—and those talented folks will become CoverBand!
The contest has started, so don’t waste any time. Upload your best performance for a shot at becoming a member of CoverBand 2010. It’s your chance to become a star!
Official CoverBand2010 Prize Package.
DRUM SET Winner: Gretsch Catalina Ash 5-Piece Black Shell Pack ($999); Sabian HHX Performance 4-Piece Cymbal Set ($1,636); Gibraltar Stealth Vertical Mounting Package w/Tom Mount & Snare Basket ($360); Gibraltar 9608NRG drum throne ($92.99). ($3,088 total!) Runner Up: Gretsch Catalina Club Rock kit. ($1445.00 total!)
VOCALS Winner: Audio-Technica ATW-3141a wireless microphone system ($799); Audio-Technica 2020USB Studio Condenser Mic w/USB Digital Out ($249); Toca 13” Black Mamba Djembe with Bag ($409); LP Aspire Conga Set ($499); Hercules MS501B mic stand ($64.95). ($2,021 total!)
Runner Up: Audio-Technica ATW-3141a wireless microphone system ($799); Hercules MS501B mic stand ($64.95). ($864 total!)
ELECTRIC GUITAR Winner: Genz Benz Black Pearl 30 2x12 Amp ($1,499); Schecter Hellraiser Solo-6 Electric Guitar ($1,069); Hercules GS601B iStand guitar stand ($49.95). ($2,573 total!)
Runner Up: Schecter Hellraiser Solo-6 Electric Guitar ($1,069 total!)
HAND PERCUSSION Winner 1: LP 45th Anniversary Oak Bongos ($459); LP 45th Anniversary 11" Ash Quinto ($839) and 45th Anniversary 11 3/4" Ash Conga ($859); LP 45th Anniversary Cabasa ($54); LP 45th Anniversary Mambo Cowbell ($55). ($2,266 total!)
Winner 2: Toca Sheila E. Signature Wood Congas set (three drums, $2,190); Toca Sheila E. Signature timbales set (two drums, $610). ($2,800 total!)
Runner Up 1: LP Karl Perazzo Timbales ($669); LP 45th Anniversary Oak Bongos ($459). ($1,128 total!)
Runner Up 2: Toca Elite Pro Conga set ($699); Toca Synergy Freestyle 14” djembe ($279). ($978 total!)
Gretsch USA Custom
Hand-crafted every step of the way
The epitome and legend of "That Great Gretsch Sound." The USA Custom series is hand-crafted every step of the way in our Ridgeland, SC factory by highly experienced and skilled drumsmiths. Our legendary Gretsch formula 6-ply shell is the cornerstone of our legendary sound. Shells are completed with 30-degree bearing edges, Silver Sealer, die-cast hoops and custom finishes - ingredients all combined to make a sound long recognized for its classic clear timbre, balanced tone and explosive projection. Custom design your Gretsch dream kit "a la cart" by choosing your desired drum sizes, colors and hardware options. The Gretsch legend continues.
The NEW Gretsch USA Custom Order Guide will explain the many options that are available to help you design a drum set that matches your individual voice as a drummer.
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.
