VINNIE - The thread about Colaiuta

[Old Pit Guy]

It's a f'n drum company.

I get that part.

[chris perra]

It's got to be tough to change companies as much has Vinnie has lately with his level of profile in the industry.

Having to come up with something statement wise that doesn't make him look like a flake.

I'd love to hear... "I made a big mistake... Now I'm back... They are making a kit I want exactly to my specs and that's why I'm back"
It's never a good Idea to slander a former company but I'm sure there's a story there.

One things for sure.. It's not a fancy exotic finish that's getting Vinnie to come back to Gretsch..

[percusski]

I think Vinnie dropped his stick as soon as he played that drum

[Odd-Arne Oseberg]

I think it's well known that Vinnie has always been a Gretsch guy. Long before he even had his first endorsement.

We can only speculate on why he left. We'll probably never know, it's not really that important and nobody's business really. When it comes to choices in instruments it's a different matter, as I know I want that sound and I was exposed to it through Vinnie like he was with Tony. In any case, I think it was probably more a support and business thing.

Ludwig are the classic, most comparable, still in business brand. With the new Atlas line they also had a complete drum and hardware package. A one stop shop. It didn't work out. If Vinnie had gone radical with his tuning and head choices they might have sounded different too, but from what I heard, mostly from the web, but also a couple of shows I went to, I wasn't too impressed. Now he might have left for other reasons and there are many general sources with rumours about things generally being messy with Ludwig. Very different drums,no die cast hoops.......

What I can distill from the outside is that Vinnie is probably somone who just likes things to be simple, sound good and work. That's probably in regards to anything. Good attitudes, presence, avoiding drama etc...

Now he's back. Probably in part due to new GEWA, DW..... Though the drums are the same, there's probably a lot of things happening and changing inside the business.

We make a bit of fun, but Vinnie genuienly seems sensitive, open and emotional like that in other circumstances as well.

So he left Zildjian. Many people did. A long time ago. The big difference is he didn't go to Sabian, but somewhere else, the third really BIG company particularly known for it's consistency. There are other choices, but apart from Meinl I don't think they're even close to that market share.


Now, I'm a teacher and hobbyist. If I was destined to be a big name I would have worked around it somehow. I happen to use a lot of the stuff he uses as I guess I have similar tastes. I can even deal with the stick as it's still unique in that way and a bit less weight in the front does make it slightly more dynamically versatile. The dry cracking, probably due to the drier wood of Vics is annoying, though. Zildjians used to just more or less dent and slowly get chewed up. Vics chip and crack instead. It is the obvious company for the big names, though. No cymbal endorsemetn=no stick endorsement, so...
It's just my main drumset stick for amplified music. I have about 20 models for all sorts of things I use, really.


Anyway. Vinnie can sound good on anything, but on Gretsch he sounds the best to me and it's a classic fit like BB with his Lucille and so on...

[Odd-Arne Oseberg]

It's a f'n drum company.

I get that part.

Gretsch is a company that builds on a legacy of a couple of classic designs. That is the draw for most, I would think.

They brought the Broadkasters back, which I guess was big oroduct news.

We now have the Brooklyn, which I guess is the more modern kit.

They certainly don't need more budget lines. They are trying to improve those and that's probably the wisest investment. We're all making less money and you don't really bring your priced top level kit to any sort of bar. Still, if it's close to the real deal it makes you happier.


Moving shell construction could happen, maybe it will, but I think something like that would have been rumoured a long time before it was announced anyway.

They could start making sticks, but they don't really have a history.

They could start making acrylics, but why?

DW/Gretsch collaboration model. Sure, but what would it be and what would the market be?


There are many new trends in drum making, but so many other companies are specialising in in each little niche there.

Though nothing radical and new, they also have a big selection of typical snare choices. They cover all the classics with their on Gretsch flavour.

Where they may be lacking is a choice of smaller 10" and 12" snares for those interested in that, but that too represents a pretty small market. Most people don't really invest much in a dedicated FX snare, and if they do, it's the least likely to be the victim of any sort of brand loyalty. The snare bringing home the bacon these days, if I were to guess, is the Taylor Hawkins snare. Big name, kids like the Foo Fighters, nice drum and it's most affordably priced. Way more obvious for me to recommend to a young rocker than looking for and old Supraphonic or something, that really doesn't exist and never really ever did in my neck of the woods.

Custom shop with all sorts of sizes like Craviotto would be cool, but I don't see it happening.

Same with special finishes on the level with custom wraps. Don't see it happening.

Now, Vinnie being the name he is, does open up the potential for some signature products. Maybe a collection of snares like a couple of mains and a 12" aux, but that will take time, if it ever happens. Personally, I'm still pissed I never got a Millennium snare before they stopped producing those. How many snares does he have though and still it's the smae old suspects. Old hammered brass, his old Gretsch sigs, the Yamaha sig, the classic choices probably any session player has along with some Bradys and the wood hooped Club Custom that seems to show up in every studio photo lately. Signature products are sort of out unless it's either LTD or made to the new hip Jordison kid on the block. They'll get a snare, which is far enough. Signature kit like Vinnie used to have is probably out of the question. He's one of very few who could actually have one ever and was really nothing special except for his choice of finish.

Sticks anyone can have and they don't really represent much of an investment or risk at all.


Personally, I have my eyes set of my own signature drum head from Remo. It will be mostly like a regular Ambassador, but with a couple of drops of my blood in the coating. A cure for those slightly too anemic sounding tracks

[langmick]

[Odd-Arne Oseberg]

And those who switched still sounden the best no Gretsch.

[Rudy_Ment]

No doubt this old video will likely be somewhere in this thread, but since I can't find it, here it is.

[Odd-Arne Oseberg]

No doubt this old video will likely be somewhere in this thread, but since I can't find it, here it is.

That's the schnitz right there.

If anyone knew what aux he was using for that gig I think I'd have my main contender. Hear it real well on those techno ballads.

[electrizer]

I think Vinnie dropped his stick as soon as he played that drum

No, he dropped the drum when he was unboxing it