They never had Ringo to endorse their product.They exist.
Gretsch just never had the marketing people or the customer service to support the brand in the same way Ludwig and others did.
I think that's true. Gretsch had diecast hoops and whatever that silver coating was inside, and I can say with certainty that the Gretsch Round Badge drums I had just didn't resonate the way I would have liked. They were more controlled, but they sounded very edgy, almost harsh, and not warm at all. That was OK on the BD, but the toms just didn't sing the way I like. And that's the reason I sold them and never bought a Gretsch product again.I had a few people tell me back in the day...shop owners that the sound I was looking for..big breathy..open..round etc wasn't in Gretsch. More tonight after work. Just to get this off my chest.