Buying Your First Drumset

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Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Written by Andy Ziker

Years ago, when I wrote Drumscapes (recently released in an upgraded version called Drumcraft by Cherry Lane/Hal Leonard), I included some general drum-related content. These were responses to questions I repeatedly received from students and their families. Drumcraft was going to be too big–it’s 140 pages as it is–so I decided to cut the content from the book and save it for later. The first installment, “Picking Out Your First Pair of Sticks,” was published here on Drummer Cafe, and now it’s time to talk about the drums.

Whom to Ask

Searching for your first drumkit can be an overwhelming experience. Receiving advice from friends and family who are drummers and music stores would seem logical, but even these sources can provide skewed and convoluted information.

For the inside scoop on drumsets (including cymbals and hardware) visit your local pro drum shop. They offer a wealth of knowledge that goes well beyond the topics covered below in this article. Having said that, not everyone has a pro drum shop in their backyard. Think of the following as a drum-buyers orientation, aiming to facilitate a more pleasant buying experience.

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Gretsch at Carnegie Hall: Capturing a Moment In Time

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Monday, May 20, 2013

Written by Fred W. Gretsch

It’s said that every picture tells a story. Well, there are a multitude of stories connected with the historic picture that accompanies this article. The occasion, the setting, and many of the individuals depicted in the photo all have fascinating histories associated with them.

Let’s start with the occasion. The photo was taken December 29, 1945—just a few months after the end of the Second World War. The management team of the Fred Gretsch Musical Instrument Company had gathered in Brooklyn to set a course for the second half of the 20th century. Their decision: Go full speed ahead with professional instruments.

To commemorate their decision the team traveled across the East River to Manhattan. There they planned to join with some of the leading drummers and percussionists of the day for a photo to be taken with a selection of Gretsch drums.

Of course, such a historic photo called for an equally historic location, which brings us to the setting. The sheer number of people to be included in the photo called for a sizeable area. The fact that notable musicians were to be involved called for a musical venue. So it made sense to hold the photo session on the stage of a concert hall. And what New York City concert hall could be more famous—or more respected—than Carnegie Hall?

Aside from its own legendary musical history, Carnegie Hall had a special attraction for the Gretsch team. Directly across the street was Steinway Hall, which was the headquarters of another venerable family-owned music business— and the two companies, had much in common. In 1853 German immigrant Henry Engelhard Steinway founded Steinway & Sons in Manhattan. In 1883 German immigrant Friedrich Gretsch founded the Gretsch Company in Brooklyn. (Both companies are celebrating major anniversaries this year.)

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