Gretsch Broadkaster

GRETSCH BROADKASTER THE RETURN OF A TIMELESS CLASSIC
The Broadkaster Sound Profile
Like its legendary predecessors from the 1950s, the all-new
Broadkaster faithfully produces warm, dense and punchy tones.
Thanks to the modern manufacturing advances and finishing
technology, today’s Broadkaster has even greater dynamic
response and sonic presence than the originals.
Vintage Gretsch Three-Ply Shells with the
Reverse Roundover Bearing Edge
The History
The Shell
In its Brooklyn, New York factory
during the 1920s, Gretsch
perfected its design of the first
laminated three-ply drum shell.
The shell was relatively thin,
yet constructed without
reinforcement hoops thanks to
the structural integrity that the
laminate-ply design provided.
The “Great Gretsch Sound”
was beginning to take shape,
starting with a shell that
produced rich, resonant
and pure musical tones that
have since become legendary.
Today’s Broadkaster shells are made one-by-one using maple/poplar/maple
wood (all North American) without reinforcement hoops. Each shell includes
an interior-ply scarf joint that supplies added
structural integrity to thin, musical shells.
Like all USA-made Gretsch drums,
shell interiors are finished
with classic Gretsch
Silver Sealer.
Throughout the next three decades, the Gretsch flagship “Broadkaster”
series used this original three-ply shell as its sonic foundation. After
years of research, development and testing, Gretsch designed a “reverse
roundover” edge that made the 1950s Gretsch Broadkaster one of the
most highly sought-after drums ever produced.
Today, in the Gretsch Drum Factory in Ridgeland, South Carolina, USA,
Gretsch is recreating its storied three-ply shell with an all-new Broadkaster
drum series. The application of advanced drum-making techniques to the
1950s-era three-ply shell has resulted in a modern-day version of a drum
that recreates the sonic brilliance and “That Great Gretsch Sound” of the
original Broadkasters.
The Bearing Edge
The all-new Broadkaster shell is hand finished
with the reverse roundover bearing edge on
the bass drums and toms. Using a Gretschexclusive radius, the inside edge of the shell
sits higher and rounds off down and away
to the shell’s exterior edge. This allows
greater surface contact between the
bearing edge and drumhead, resulting
in added tonal depth and warmth.
Broadkaster snare drums are finished
with Gretsch’s traditional 30º bearing
edge, angled toward the shell's interior.
This proven bearing edge technique produces a wide
range of tones while maximizing attack and projection.
The Hoops
Broadkaster toms and snare drums are outfitted with Gretsch’s
“302” 3.0mm, double flanged steel hoops. These hoops are
similar to “Stick Chopper” hoops used in the 1950s, but are
constructed out of a heavier gauge steel to stand up to today’s
more assertive playing styles. The 302 hoop helps to produce
a more open tone than a die-cast hoop and adds ambient
overtones to the overall tonal characteristic. Bass drum hoops
are standard-build six-ply maple and include Nitron inlays.
The Hardware Packages
Broadkaster kits are available in two different hardware
packages, standard and vintage. Standard package
includes heavy-duty Gretsch lugs, spurs and straight-sided
GTS tom suspension typical to Gretsch USA Custom and
Brooklyn kits. The Vintage hardware package features
hardware component styles used on 1950s-era Gretsch
kits, including drum mufflers, floor tom leg brackets, Rail
Consolette tom holder, spurs, bass drum T-rods, throw-off,
key holder and Remo® Fiberskyn bass drum logo heads.
The Finishes and Appointments
New Broadkasters are available in two Nitron wraps: Antique
Pearl and Anniversary Sparkle and two Nitrocellulose satin
finishes: Satin Classic Maple and Satin Copper. All drums
include a newly stylized and serialized Broadkaster internal
shell label and the iconic Gretsch USA brass Round Badge.
18-INCH MODERN BOP KIT
Gretsch pioneered the 18-inch bass drum, which has since become the preferred size for small group settings. This configuration
couples that small-but-powerful bass drum with traditional 12-inch tom and 14-inch floor toms. A Vintage hardware package
includes bass drum “T-rods” and internal mufflers. Satin Classic Maple bass drum hoops have matching Anniversary Sparkle inlays.
The Vintage hardware package includes
a classic "Snap-In" drum key holder.
BK-J484
4-PIECE SHELL PACK
Bass Drum:
14" × 18"
Mounted Tom: 8" × 12"
Floor Tom:
14" × 14"
Snare Drum:
5" × 14" (8-lugs)
Available as a 3-piece configuration without a snare drum (BK-J483)
Available with Standard or Vintage hardware (BK-J483V, BK-J484V)
Model BK-J484V-ASP
Shown in Anniversary Sparkle Nitron Finish
with Vintage Hardware
The Vintage hardware package features
Die Cast Bass Drum Claws and T-Rods.
The hoops are Satin Classic Maple with
matching Anniversary Sparkle inlays.
20-INCH CLASSIC JAZZ KIT
This timeless configuration offers diversity with a broad tuning range to perform exceptionally in nearly any
musical situation. The Standard hardware package includes heavy-duty hinged floor tom brackets and
Gretsch bass drum spurs. Satin Copper bass drum hoops include Mirror Chrome inlays.
Satin Copper-finished bass drums come
with matching lacquered hoops with
mirror chrome inlays.
BK-J404
4-PIECE SHELL PACK
Bass Drum:
14" × 20"
Mounted Tom: 8" × 12"
Floor Tom:
14" × 14"
Snare Drum: 5½" × 14" (8-lugs)
Available as a 3-piece configuration without a snare drum (BK-J403)
Available with Standard or Vintage hardware (BK-J403V, BK-J404V)
Model BK-J404-SCP
Shown in Satin Copper Lacquer Finish
with Standard Hardware
Standard package floor toms have
hinged brackets with memory locks.
22-INCH CLASSIC HERITAGE KIT
The Standard hardware package includes
the Lightning snare drum throw-off.
Traditional bass drum and floor tom sizes are combined with a 13-inch tom to round out the classic heritage
configuration. An alternate configuration with a 12-inch rack tom features a slightly more contemporary
voice for today’s modern musical settings. The Standard hardware package includes a bass drum mount plate,
single tom holder and “GTS” Gretsch Tom Suspension system. Dark Satin Walnut bass drum hoops are
adorned with Vintage Pearl inlays.
BK-R424
BK-RC424
4-PIECE SHELL PACK
BK-R424
Bass Drum:
Mounted Tom:
Floor Tom:
Snare Drum:
14" × 22"
8" × 12"
16" × 16"
6½" × 14" (8-lugs)
Available as a 3-piece configuration without a snare drum (BK-R423)
Available with Standard or Vintage hardware (BK-R423V, BK-R424V)
BK-RC424
Bass Drum:
Mounted Tom:
Floor Tom:
Snare Drum:
14" × 22"
9" × 13"
16" × 16"
6½" × 14" (8-lugs)
Available as a 3-piece configuration without a snare drum (BK-RC423)
Available with Standard or Vintage hardware (BK-RC423V, BK-RC424V)
Model BK-R424-SCM
Shown in Satin Classic Maple Lacquer Finish
with Standard Hardware
Die-cast bass drum claw with a Dark Satin
Walnut hoop and Vintage Pearl inlay
24-INCH CLASSIC BOMBER KIT
The Vintage package's highly stylized
Rail Consolette with clip mount
An impressive and powerful 24-inch bass drum is outfitted with 13-inch tom and 16-inch floor tom to provide extra thump and sonic
saturation. The Vintage hardware package includes the Rail Consolette tom holder, vintage diamond-plate floor tom brackets and
Microsensitive throw-off. Satin Classic Maple bass drum hoops feature matching Antique Pearl inlays.
BK-R444
4-PIECE SHELL PACK
Bass Drum:
14" × 24"
Mounted Tom: 9" × 13"
Floor Tom:
16" × 16"
Snare Drum: 6½" × 14" (8-lugs)
Available as a 3-piece configuration without a snare drum (BK-R443)
Available with Standard or Vintage hardware (BK-R443V, BK-R444V)
Model BK-R444V-AP
Shown in Antique Pearl Nitron Finish
with Vintage Hardware
Vintage package snare drums come with
the classic Microsensitive throw-off.
Antique Pearl (AP)
Anniversary Sparkle (ASP)
Satin Classic Maple (SCM)
Satin Copper (SCP)
GRETSCH BROADKASTER: BUILD SPECIFICATIONS
COMPONENT
STANDARD BUILD
VINTAGE BUILD
Shell
3-ply Maple/Poplar/Maple without reinforcement hoops, Gretsch Reverse Roundover bearing edge
Snare drum has Traditional Gretsch 30º bearing edge
Hoops
"302" Double Flanged
Tom Suspension
Floor Tom Brackets/Legs
Tom Mufflers
Bass Drum Spurs
Bass Drum Mounting Plate
Bass Drum Tension Rods
Straight-sided GTS with Gretsch G9025 Bracket
Direct-to-Shell Clip Mount
Gretsch G4825 with 12.7mm Legs
Gretsch G4823VMT with 9.5mm Legs
N/A
Gretsch G5540BMT Batter Muffler
Gretsch G5540MT Resonant Muffler
Gretsch G9013 Spurs
Gretsch G4966MT Vintage Spurs
Gretsch 4946MT
24-inch Bass Drums are Non-Drilled
Gretsch GVRMMT Rail Mount Consolette
with Clip Mount
24-inch Bass Drums include Rail Mount Consolette
Gretsch Key Rods
Gretsch G5454TMT T-Handle Rods
Gretsch G5463 Die-Cast Claws
Bass Drum Claws
Bass Drum Muffler
N/A
Gretsch G5430MT Muffler
(Resonant Side Only)
Single Tom Holder
Gretsch GTH-SLC
Gretsch GVRMMT Rail Mount Consolette
with Clip Mount
Gretsch Lightning Throw-Off
Gretsch Microsensitive Throw-Off
N/A
Gretsch G5447MT (on Snare Drum)
REMO® Coated Permatone with Gretsch Logo
REMO® Coated Permatone with Gretsch Logo
REMO® Clear Permatone with Gretsch Logo
REMO® GPCOR Coated Permatone with Gretsch Logo
Snare Drum Throw Off
Snap-in Key Holder
Batter Heads
Resonant Heads
Bass Drum Batter Head
Bass Drum Resonant Head
Bass Drum Hoops
REMO® Coated Powerstroke Permatone with Gretsch Logo
REMO® White Permatone
with 1950s-Style Broadkaster Logo
REMO® Fiberskyn
with 1950s-Style Broadkaster Logo
Antique Pearl: Satin Classic Maple Hoop with matching Antique Pearl Inlay
Anniversary Sparkle: Satin Classic Maple Hoop with matching Anniversary Sparkle Inlay
Satin Classic Maple: Dark Walnut Hoop with Vintage Pearl Inlay
Satin Copper: Matching Satin Copper Hoop with Mirror Chrome Inlay
GRETSCH. THE GREAT AMERICAN DRUM SET.
gretschdrums.com/broadkaster