The new aniversary kits and snare drums, of which only 125 of each model will be built worldwide, have special 125th decals on the shell. Let\'s have a closer look.

125th anniversary limited edition: Progressive Jazz
Gretsch’s Progressive Jazz kit is modeled after the classic Gretsch “Birdland” kit from the 1950’s. The Birdland kit was used by some of Gretsch’s past master drummers – most notably Max Roach – and kept as the house kit at the renowned New York City jazz establishment.

The Progressive Jazz kit features classic 6-ply USA Custom shells, the same shells Gretsch has been using since the late 1950’s, and features gold-plated drum hardware.

Also included: Traditional jazz sizes, mounted 12” tom, Gretsch Round Badge, Cadillac Green finish and bass drum finished with gold sparkle inlay and vintage T-rods.

Sizes and prices
Sizes: 14 x 20 bass drum, 8 x 12 tom, 14 x 14 floor tom and 4.5 x 14 8-lug snare drum. Retail price: $6,145.00 / Minimum Advertised Price (MAP): $3,999.00

125th anniversary limited edition: Bop Kits
Inspired after their eternally classic Be-bop configuration, Gretsch’s Progressive Bop kit (RB125-B484-CG) conjures the essence of the many great Gretsch jazz masters.

Features include Gretsch classic 6-ply USA Custom shells, traditional be-bop sizes, mounted 12” toms, Gretsch Round Badge and Cadillac Green finish. The bass drum is finished with silver sparkle inlay and vintage T-rods.

Sizes and prices
Sizes: 14 x 18 Bass Drum, 8 x 12 Tom, 14 x 14 Floor Tom and 5 x 14 8-lug snare drum. Retail price: $5950 / MAP: $3859

Gretsch Classic Bop Kit with classic natural satin finish
Gretsch’s new Catalina Club Jazz “Bop” kit (CT-J484-SN) boasts a classic look with vintage tone. Mahogany shells include a single exterior basswood ply to enhance the vintage Satin Natural stain finish.

Other notable features include 30-degree bearing edges, mini Gretsch lugs, bass drum platform lift and BD mounted tom holder with GTS tom suspension mount.

Sizes and prices
Sizes: 14 x 18 bass drum, 8 x 12 tom, 14 x 14 floor tom and 5 x 14 snare. Retail price: $920 / MAP: $599

125th anniversary limited edition: Rock Legend kit
Gretsch’s 125th Anniversary Rock Legend drum set stands as a tribute to rock music’s legendary players. The Rock Legend set (RB125RL625-GMM) features classic 6-ply Gretsch-formula maple shells with 30-degree bearing edges and Silver Sealer interiors - the same Gretsch formula that was used when rock music was defining a culture all its own.

Other classic features include vintage rock sizes, mounted tom, Gretsch Round Badge, triple chrome-plated hardware and Nitrocellulose Millennium Maple Gloss finish.

Sizes and prices
Sizes: 16 x 22 bass drum, 8 x 12 tom, 14 x 14 and 16 x 16 floor toms, and a 6.5 x 14 snare drum (20 lugs). Retail: $7,995.00 / MAP: $5,199

Exclusive 125th anniversary appointments include:

• 2008 production is limited to 125 total kits (worldwide) for each drum set.
  
• A black Gretsch 125th Anniversary logo affixed onto bass drum shell, underneath the lacquer. The 125th logos on clear “Black Dot” tom batter drumheads, coated snare drum head and clear resonant heads.
  
• Fiberskyn resonant bass drum head with offset Gretsch Drums logo and coated batter/resonant heads with anniversary logos printed on each.
  
• Unique, serialized orange/white vintage internal shell labels applied to each shell.

Gretsch Catalina Club Mod gets ink job
Gretsch’s Catalina Club \"Tribal Tattoo\" (CC-M024-TAT) drum set features a distinctive silver tribal tattoo overlay on fine sparkle black PVC wrapping. To complement the tattooed design, lugs are not offset, as they are on other Club Mod set finishes.

Each drum has a different sized tattoo proportionate to its shell size, a subtle feature that adds to the kit’s overall boutique appearance. Other features include mahogany shells with 30-degree bearing edges and natural interior finishes, mini GTS tom suspension system and black hardware.

Sizes and prices
Sizes: 20 x 22 bass drum, 8 x 12 tom, 14 x 16 floor tom and 6.5 x 14 snare drum. Retail price: $999 / MAP: $649

Catalina Club Black Widow Mini Mod Groove Kit
The Catalina Club Mini Mod is a petite powerhouse featuring Satin Midnight Black lacquer finish embellished by a blood-red stripe overlay, the same color combination found on the back of a Black Widow spider.

Other Mini Mod (CC-M00412T-BW) notable features include mahogany shells with 30-degree bearing edges and natural interior finish, black hardware with offset lugs, mini GTS tom suspension system, and Evans G1 batter heads.

Sizes and prices
Catalina Club Mini Mod groove kit sizes: 20 x 20 bass drum, 8 x 12 tom, 12 x 14 floor tom and 6 x 13 snare. Retail price: $999 / MAP: $649

125th Anniversary Limited Edition: Silver Mist Snare
The Silver Mist snare features gold-plated hardware, 20 lugs, vintage orange/white internal shell label, gold 125th anniversary shell logo and gold-plated Gretsch drum key. Each drum is constructed from the USA Custom snare shell with 30-degree bearing edges and Silver Sealer interiors. Each is also equipped with die-cast hoops, vintage Gretsch Round Badge and Lightning throw off.

125th Anniversary Limited Edition: Curly Maple Snare
The Curly Maple snare has an exotic curly exterior veneer and includes chrome hardware, 8 tube lugs, vintage orange/white internal shell label and silver 125th anniversary exterior shell logo. Each drum is constructed from the USA Custom snare shell with 30-degree bearing edges and Silver Sealer interiors. Each is also equipped with die-cast hoops, vintage Gretsch Round Badge and Lightning throw off.

Gretsch welcome new endorsers
Gretsch Drums are also proud to announce the addition of new endorsers to their expanding family of artists. Drummers who were recently welcomed by Gretsch include Stefanie Eulinberg (Kid Rock), Ryan Yerdon (Puddle of Mudd), Garrett Goodwin (Carrie Underwood), Taylor Hawkins (Foo Fighters), Ryan MacMillan (Matchbox Twenty), Alex Rodriguez (Saosin), Sammy J. Watson (Mt. Helium), and Eddie Fisher (OneRepublic).

Gretsch Phil Collins drum set raises $240,000 at auction
The David Foster Foundation recently held their annual “David Foster and Friends” Charity Gala and Auction. Gretsch Drums provided a custom Phil Collins drum set for the auction and Gibraltar and Sabian outfitted the kit with hardware and cymbals. To sweeten the deal, Phil autographed the kit and threw in a trip to LA to see Genesis – truly making this a dream package for any Phil Collins fan.

Bidding on the kit was aggressive and the stakes were high. The bidding topped out at $120,000 thanks to two aggressive bidders. Because the bidding was consistent between two bidders, a second kit and trip was added to the auction if the bidding could be matched… and it was! A total $240,000 was raised from both kits.

David Foster Foundation
The David Foster Foundation aids and assists children requiring organ transplants and their families in their time of greatest need. Throughout the David Foster & Friends 21-year history over $8 million has been raised with the eventual goal of creating an endowment large enough to ensure the David Foster Foundation will be able to help families in need as his legacy.