Gretsch vs Ludwig – Who Makes Better Sounding Drum Kits?

Gretsch drums are typically played by many jazz drummers today, continuing to reflect how well they work in jazz settings. Their natural sound and smooth overtones cater well to the style.

Many Gretsch kits work well for other styles as well. There are several famous rock drummers that swear by Gretsch kits, loving them for their punchiness and boominess.

Gretsch drums use hardware that makes them instantly recognizable. They often pull off a vintage vibe, lending well to the rich history that they have.

One of the qualities that Gretsch drum kits are especially known for is the reliability of their tuning when being hit extremely hard. For any drummers out there, you know how difficult it is, especially for toms, to maintain solid tuning when you're playing high-energy music like pop or metal.

I find Gretsch to have that intersection of reliability and power that kits like Yamaha are mostly known for, combined with years and years of evolution from their early vintage kits to more modern ones.

Gretsch really appeals to powerful drummers who also delight in the warm lows that many vintage kits provide.

Choosing older manufacturers like Gretsch or Ludwig offers a fascinating journey through their evolution. You can hear how premium kits have built upon decades of trial and error, raising the bar with each new model.

Last year I got to work on the soundtrack for a show where we had to re-create different grooves from the '60s to present-day with live drum sets. For that particular project, I brought in two Gretsch kits: a vintage Round Badge series kit from the '60s and a newer Brooklyn kit.

They both had a similar vintage aesthetic to them to the point where they looked quite similar, but they couldn't have sounded more different, especially when you tune the Brooklyn to be a bit tighter and drier for '70s and '80s-style dirty funk.

That's the beauty of Gretsch versatility and sound.

Ludwig drum kits are often identified as rock drum sets. They have incredibly powerful tones and the shells are often quite large compared to other kits. It’s not uncommon for a Ludwig set to have a 24” bass drum. Massive.

That's also why they appeal to funk and hip-hop drummers. They have that powerful, warm, low-end bass that almost sounds like a sampled vinyl loop from an Akai MPC or a drum machine.

Look no further than the drummer for The Roots, Questlove, who these days is known more as Jimmy Fallon's musical director. And if you're into hip-hop, you probably know he's the mastermind behind that killer record "Voodoo" by D'Angelo — the groundbreaking album that won multiple Grammys and revolutionized the genre.

On the "Voodoo" album, Quest tuned his Ludwig kit to be very dead-sounding. He aimed to recreate the signature MPC-style vinyl loop sampling sound popularized by his hero, hip-hop producer J Dilla.

Only a Ludwig kit can capture that distinctive warm, jazzy sound with tight precision. Their signature tone naturally lends itself to hip-hop.

Today, lo-fi hip-hop and R&B have emerged as a thriving genre, led by influential artists like Alina Baraz, Sabrina Claudio, and Tom Misch. If you're curious about drum sounds in this genre, check out Splice and type in "Live Lo-Fi Hip Hop Drums," and you'll instantly hear the vibe.

I have a few tracks I've produced for artists in this style, and all of them have been tracked using modified Ludwig kits. By modified, I mean there's a lot of mixing up of hardware and cymbals.

For instance, we'll use toms and snares that usually don't go together (from different kits) and tune them to work well. We also change heads to the right type — usually Remo or Evans, which are the top of the line.

Although Ludwig drums aren’t as popular as they used to be, there are still a large number of drummers in the world who love and play them. Similar to Gretsch, they also have a rich history that would make any Ludwig owner very proud.

Drummers influenced by artists like Questlove and Anderson .Paak have sparked a new revival for Ludwig drums, especially among those who play contemporary R&B and urban styles.

Gretsch vs Ludwig

The flagship kit of Ludwig is the Legacy Series. Similarly, it also lends the same design as the famous Ludwig kits from the 20^th century. The mahogany shells produce wide and warm tones that display a huge amount of low end.

This one is total classic rock. Think Jim Keltner or Ringo from the Beatles, but with a bit more precision. Tons of bass on this one, making it amazing for urban styles.

I recorded with a modified version of this kit about 4–5 months ago. The kit was lent to me by a collector who has a recording studio in the Hollywood Hills.

After I auditioned the kit, I decided it was incredible except for the vintage original snare, so I swapped it out for Anderson .Paak's Pee.Wee signature model and it totally balanced the kit.

This snare is higher pitched and more modern, perfect for today's urban pop and hip-hop grooves. So, I had the best of both worlds: the warm retro three-piece of the vintage kit and a modern, punchy, tight snare.

Two more high-end Ludwig kits would be the Vistalite Zep kit and the Classic Maple Fab kit. The former is an acrylic kit that's ideal for fast, loud, high-attack scenarios such as metal and hard rock. The latter, as the name suggests, gets you a more recognizable maple sound.

Entry-Level Kits

Although Ludwig and Gretsch both have beginner kits that are cheap and packed with everything you need, the Gretsch Energy Series and Ludwig Accent are arguably the least popular entry-level kits on the market.

The real competition comes in the form of the Gretsch Catalina and the Ludwig Element Evolution. These kits wouldn’t be classified as entry-level, but they are very affordable and great kits to have as a beginner or intermediate drummer.

The Catalina is one of Gretsch’s most popular kits. It has a few different variations such as the Jazz Club setup. The drums are made from mahogany, giving them warm and resonating tones.

I have a Catalina at my studio and absolutely love it. I think one of the best choices Gretsch made was outfitting this kit with Remo heads preinstalled.

For one, they really keep the tuning super consistent and precise when you're playing with power, which on a Gretsch Catalina you most certainly will. They also use clear batter heads on the kick, which makes it way punchier.

The Catalina kick is also shallower than other Gretsch kits, making it tighter and less jazzy. This is why I choose the Catalina almost exclusively for modern recording. Punchy, yet retaining just the right amount of subs to blend with modern synth bass styles of music.

The Element Evolution is an all-in-one package from Ludwig, coming with drums, hardware, and cymbals. It can be classified as one of the best kits for beginners thanks to the Zildjian I cymbals that come with it.

The Element Evolution comes with Remo Pinstripe heads pre-installed. These can stand a beating! Nothing yells "rock kit" like these Remo heads.

One word of caution: the kick on this particular Ludwig is huge — almost like a marching band kick. Tons of resonance and definitely a challenge to tighten up. It works well for rock and fusion jazz but not great for faster-tempo metal or modern pop styles.

For kids, there's an excellent entry-level Ludwig kit created with Questlove. The Ludwig Questlove Pocket Kit — a collaboration with the celebrated drummer — delivers a warm, punchy sound with an urban feel that's perfect for young drummers.

You get a Ludwig 4-piece kit at a great price, and it comes with ride/crash cymbals and hi-hats. I wish this had been around when I started!

Everything in Between

The Gretsch Renown is a pro-level kit that costs just over $1,500. This makes it very affordable compared to other pro kits that are north of $2,000 or even $3,000. It’s a maple kit that has versatility as its standout quality.

Whether you’re playing on live stages or recording in studios, the Renown will do a fantastic job. It's unashamedly retro both in sound and look, and truly captures the earlier Gretsch sonic legacy beautifully.

Artists

Since both brands have been around for so long, they’ve had many of the greatest drummers of all time play on their drum kits. Some of the drum legends who played Gretsch kits were Tony Williams, Elvin Jones, Max Roach, Philly Joe Jones and Taylor Hawkins.

Current famous drummers who endorse Gretsch are Mike Johnston, Mike Guiliana, Keith Carlock, and Stanton Moore.

Although Ringo was the main catalyst for Ludwig’s popularity, another wildly famous drummer that boosted their brand was John Bonham.

He’s arguably one of the most well-known rock drummers to have lived, further raising Ludwig’s association with rock drumming.

Current drummers who endorse Ludwig are Vinnie Colaiuta, Carmine Appice, Jason Bonham, Frank Beard, and Nicko McBrain.

I've touched on Ludwig's growing influence in modern urban music, which has significantly expanded their market reach. Since urban music often relies on programmed beats and drum machines, the masterful musicianship and sound of artists like Questlove and Anderson .Paak have served as a powerful endorsement for what can be achieved playing real kits.

Especially Anderson, who you know from his solo material but probably even more from his collaboration with Bruno Mars to create the Silk Sonic duo. They've released multi-platinum singles like "Leave the Door Open," which won 4 of the top Grammy awards in 2022.

The song is a mix of retro Marvin Gaye vibes with modern production, perfectly illustrating the high demand there is for these types of drum sounds in modern pop and soul.

Besides being a great drummer, Anderson .Paak has become a bit of what Phil Collins was in the '80s — the singing artist who is also the drummer. Very few artists in pop have accomplished singing from the drum throne with success, and fewer still have done it in urban music.

So the pattern of artists like Mark Ronson with "Uptown Funk" and Silk Sonic having such massive success reviving these Ludwig and Gretsch kit-style soul beats is very good news for these drum companies.

Add to that the aftermarket loop industry that makes sample packs of these popular styles, and you'll see how it truly is a revival for a brand new vintage drum era.

After all, to truly make legit sample packs for Splice or Loopmasters in these artists' styles, you have to either own some of these kits or hire drummers that do.

Recording and Loop Production

These days many drummers (myself included) make most of our money recording remotely as freelancers on sites like Soundbetter or Airgigs. The process is straightforward: get hired, receive files or a DAW session via chat, record the beats, and collect payment.

I've also started having a lot of sessions creating loop sample packs for popular sites and third-party companies, including Native Instruments.

Those of you who are doing this type of work know that it's highly competitive and specialized—we're even categorized by specific genres in the search engines. For Rock, Metal, and Jazz, most bases are covered, with many proficient drummers already getting plenty of work.

However, there's less competition in funk, hip-hop, and electronic genres, so consider branching out to differentiate yourself and secure more gigs. Let these new sonic possibilities spark your creativity—and remember that a vintage Gretsch or Ludwig kit might just be your edge in the market.

I can confidently say these brands are essential additions to your arsenal. The only question left is how to decide?