the official blog of the Percussive Arts Society

Catalina Special Edition Shell Pack in Walnut Burst Gloss
Gretsch Drums is proud to introduce a special edition to the Full Range family, the CS2, Catalina Special Edition Kit in Walnut Burst Gloss. The competitively priced set is only available for a limited time.

The hybrid shell featuring a seven-ply walnut/maple construction has a warm, resonant tone. The CS2, only available through 2020, features a shell with a natural wood interior that has been sealed to protect it for a lifetime and labelled specifying the year of production and the species of wood used in its manufacture. Its satin wood counter hoops, secured with vintage-style hoop clips combined with 30-degree bearing edges offer a punchy, focused sound. The mounting hardware includes a “gas cap” bass drum mount plate and a direct-to-shell mount on the rack tom.

The CS2, Catalina Special Edition kit in Walnut Burst Gloss is available in 4- or 5-piece shell packs.

Limited Edition River Cypress Kit 
Gretsch Drums is proud to introduce the River Cypress Limited Edition exotic kit to the USA Custom line. New for 2020 and available in extremely limited quantities, this finish has been hand crafted at the Gretsch USA factory.

Each time-honored hybrid maple/gum shell is finished with a veneer from wood that is estimated to have been submerged for 60–150 years at the bottom of the Pee Dee River Basin in South Carolina, near the historic Smiths Sawmill, located 120 miles from the Gretsch Factory. The slow-growing, indigenous species benefits from the minerals in the river, giving it a beautiful gray patina. Each drum’s exterior is hand-sprayed with clear nitro-cellulose gloss lacquer, while the interior is treated with Gretsch’s exclusive Silver Sealer.

Available in two configurations, only 60 kits will be crafted, each outfitted with a standard hardware build that includes Gretsch’s signature die cast hoops, bass drum mount with tom holder and 4825 direct-to-shell tom brackets. Gretsch Permatone heads by Remo USA complete the offering.

Choose from a versatile standard 4-piece or traditional bop configurations.

Custom Black Copper Snare Drum 
Gretsch’s Black Copper snare drums include all the elements of a classic copper shell, but with a very unique twist. The new snares have a thin layer of black powder coating applied to their 1-mm copper shell, which adds just the right amount of control to the overall sonic character of the drum, while still retaining the traditional warm, articulate sound. The finishing touch is a laser engraved round badge logo exposing the copper shell hidden underneath.

Because of its softer composition, copper delivers a combination of dry warmth, punch, and dynamic range, resulting in a player-friendly snare drum that’s well-suited for a variety of musical applications. A Lightning throw off, 42-strand snare wires, 45-degree bearing edge, die cast hoops, and Snap-In key holder round-out the features of this unique snare drum.

These new drums are available in two sizes: 5 x 14-inch (G4160BC) and 6.5 x 14-inch (G4164BC). For more information, visit gretschdrums.com.