Gretsch Tom USA Broadkaster Nitron Wrap

From the 1920s through the 1950s, the Gretsch Broadkaster series was considered the brand's flagship line.

Its thin, three-ply shells revolutionized drum construction and laid the foundation for the incomparable "That Great Gretsch Sound"—a sound that would captivate the era's most famous artists and make music history.

This iconic series was revived in 2014, ushering in a second golden age. At the Gretsch workshops in Ridgeland, South Carolina, an original 1947 kit served as the blueprint; utilizing modern technology, the team created a replica that is as faithful to the original as possible. The Broadkaster is now one of three premium series handcrafted exclusively at this facility.

Broadkaster shells—crafted from a three-ply blend of maple and poplar—feature an exclusive, hand-finished roundover bearing edge that maximizes contact between the shell and the drumhead. The result is an incredibly warm, round tone. This sound is further enhanced by "302" steel hoops, modeled after the "stick chopper" hoops Gretsch produced in the 1950s.

Configuration options for Broadkaster kits are virtually limitless: with every conceivable size—from 16- to 26-inch bass drums and 10- to 18-inch toms to 13- and 14-inch snare drums in various depths—paired with countless high-quality finishes, there is ample room for creativity. And when you add the choice between vintage and standard hardware, there is virtually no application for which a Gretsch Broadkaster set wouldn't be suitable.

Like their legendary predecessors, today's Broadkaster kits deliver a warm, full, and punchy sound that—thanks to modern manufacturing and finishing techniques—offers even better dynamic response and acoustic presence than the original.