Product Close-Up Gretsch Renown Birch and Walnut Drumsets Two new shell offerings expand the tonal spectrum. Acouple years back, Gretsch revamped its Taiwanese-made “touring drummer” Renown series so that it stood closer in line with the company’s top-end U.S.-made counterparts. Upgrades included Gretsch-style rounded T-rods on the tom mounts and bass drum spurs, a sleeker and more lightweight GTS suspension system, stronger and better-fitting tom mounting brackets, and a silver embossed round badge. Gretsch also added Remo USA batter heads, and the interior of the drums feature the company’s signature “silver sealer” finish. Originally available with maple shells only, the Renown series has been expanded with birch and walnut. We were sent identical setups of the new offerings (18×22 bass drum, 7×10 and 8×12 rack toms, 14×16 floor tom, 5.5×14 snare) to see what types of tones the different woods would provide. Consistent Gretsch Appointments In addition to the upgrades […]

July 2015 Issue