Vinnie's old gretsch

[Ned2]

What, exactly, did Vinnie use prior to getting his own signature kit (something I personally think is wrong but hey)? Is it just a custom Gretsch kit in maple? Is it a specific product line or something he picked out and chose from scratch? It is the most wonderful sounding set of drums I have ever heard, and I will eventually get one even if I have to save up for the next 30 years and go to the US to get it. But what was it?

[Randy walker]

His old Gretsch verses the new signature kit are fairly the same, except in the finish and his sig kit has shallower toms. ALL his kits have custom bearing edges. Plus he still uses ALL his Gretsch kits and not just the white sig kit.

[Klemme]

Yeah i noticed him using another Grestsch Kit on the Leno Show.

But maybe his other sets where elsewhere, so he had to borrow one from a local dealer?

[Randy walker]

Vinnie has quite a few Gretsch kits and does not need to borrow one for a TV gig.
He has the natural kit, a burnt orange kit, the white sig kit, a walnut(red) kit, plus a few others. Oh, and his original yellow kit from the Zappa days which I saw not too long ago at Drum Paradise where Vinnie keeps his gear.

[ladanny]

Randy, I'm surprised you don't HAVE one of Vinnie's old kits!!! [img]tongue.gif[/img]

Danny

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ February 09, 2004 10:41 AM: Message edited by: ladanny ]</font>

[Randy walker]

LMAO [img]biggrin.gif[/img]

[mja61]

Randy - Do you have any more details about Vinnie's specs for custom bearing edges? I read in an old interview (mid 1980's) that he preferred a snare without a sharp edge to get a fat snare sound, but I thought Gretsch drums actually have a sharper edge than most others.

[Randy walker]

Actually Gretsch edges are not sharp, not really sure how you could describe a Gretsch edge. They have never been very good at doing edges. Vinnie does like an extra wide snare bed and uses 42 strand wires. Bill Detamore does Vinnie's edges or at least has done them in the past and is considered to be the better cat for cutting Gretsch drums over say the Drum Nurse or some of the others out there.

[no_bells]

Randy-Did you stop by the Gretsch booth at NAMM? Just wondering of any new news. BTW, what's up with the stop-sign badge kits they had on display?

[Randy walker]

Went by Gretsch, they had on display a 5x14 Chrome over Brass snare which is being reintroduced. This was also the first in quite a few years that Gretsch has a full color catalog. Derek and I were eyeing it. That was about it, a few nice kits, one that was setup like how Neil Peart sets up.. Gong bass drum too.