The book will be distributed by Hal Leonard. After the UK Drum Fair, Amsterdam-based drum teacher and vintage drum connaiseur Winnie Mensink will also sell the book in his vintage drum shop annex museum Hide Hitters.

The Gretsch Drum Book, a Rebeats publication, is authored by Rob Cook in collaboration with John Sheridan and with assistance from Lee Ruff and Fred W. Gretsch.

It has been in the research phase for approximately seven years, and is similar in layout and content to the books that Rob Cook has written and published on Ludwig, Rogers, and Slingerland.

There is a family background section, complete business history, endorser section, and dating guide which includes all catalogued Gretsch snare drums and outfits over the entire 130-year history of the Gretsch drum company.

The dating guide also includes sections on catalogs, colors, hardware, badges, and shells. Says Rob:

"This one would have impossible for me without the help of collaborators who are experts on Gretsch drums. I have been working with John Sheridan on this book for something like seven years. Over the last two years I also received a great deal of assistance and support from Fred W. Gretsch and Lee Ruff."

Certain sections also benefitted from the expertise of other individuals with expertise in specific fields. Gretchen Elsner-Sommer, sister of Fred W. Gretsch, is a family genealogist who wrote the family history section. The K. Zildjian dating guide was created by Bill Hartrick. Comments Rob:

"Gretsch not only had an exclusive distribution agreement for K. Zildjian cymbals that predates the existence of Zildjian manufacturing in America, but actually owned U.S. Trademarks for A. Zildjian, K. Zildjian, and Zildjian. I believe this is the first book to explain this sequence of events and relationships with charts and images that serve to clarify this complex history."

The book is a 288-page, 8.5x11 paperback and will cost $40.00. It will be sold at retail only through Rebeats and Steve Maxwell Vintage and Custom Drums in New York and Chicago.

A limited-edition hard cover edition has also been produced exclusively for Fred Gretsch Enterprises.

In January of 2014 the paperback edition as well as Ebook editions will be made available through the Hal Leonard Corporation.

For more information on the book and release events, please visit gretschdrumbook.com