Gretsch Drums

Gretsch has been building instruments since 1883, and drums in Brooklyn since the early twentieth century. The round badge, the silver-sealer interiors and the thin maple shells add up to what the company has spent decades calling "That Great Gretsch Sound" — warm, focused and round, which is why Gretsch became the jazz kit for players like Tony Williams, Elvin Jones and Art Blakey.

It's never been only a jazz brand, though: the USA Custom remains a studio staple across every genre, the Renown and Catalina lines put the sound within reach of working drummers, and Taylor Hawkins' Gretsch years gave the brand one of rock's great modern ambassadors. Here's our Gretsch coverage, plus every Gretsch item in the Rig Vault and who plays it.