George Way sold to DW

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So Roland owns DW, George Way, Gretsch, PDP, Gibraltar, and LP?
 
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I know nothing about how Ronn has been producing his drums, Dunnett, Way, Milestones...etc.
Does he get his snare shells from others? Does 3rd party provide him lugs, wires, heads...etc?
Cause he doesn't seem like doing his edges, nor "create" his shells.
Seen him few times he highly regards his own stuff (especially his "Crystal reso heads, which just seemed like Remo Diplomat), but he is not producing on his own right?
Always seeing him putting them altogether after getting all of the components so was curious how production works.
 
2J3L said:
I know nothing about how Ronn has been producing his drums, Dunnett, Way, Milestones...etc.
Does he get his snare shells from others? Does 3rd party provide him lugs, wires, heads...etc?
Cause he doesn't seem like doing his edges, nor "create" his shells.
Seen him few times he highly regards his own stuff (especially his "Crystal reso heads, which just seemed like Remo Diplomat), but he is not producing on his own right?
Always seeing him putting them altogether after getting all of the components so was curious how production works.
Click to expand...
I believe the Way shells, hardware and lacquer or wraps were done by Reliance in Taiwan or perhaps a different Asian factory. They came here (Vancouver actually), and had edges done and final assembly. I've never heard that Bill Detamore did those edges; maybe somebody is thinking of Rogers drums. I thought Ronn had been doing his own edges on the Way drums.
 
jay040 said:
So Roland owns DW, George Way, Gretsch, PDP, Gibraltar, and LP?
Click to expand...
Not to derail the thread, but not Gretsch. They never owned Gretsch brand as such, it was and is with the Gretsch family - DW held the license to manufacture, market and distribute Gretsch Drums. That license is now held by GEWA music, which is a German-based company that was the European distributor prior to acquiring the global license.

More info: https://www.musicincmag.com/news/detail/gewa-music-acquires-global-license-for-gretsch-drums
 
bellbrass said:
I believe the Way shells, hardware and lacquer or wraps were done by Reliance in Taiwan or perhaps a different Asian factory. They came here and had edges done and final assembly. I've never heard that Bill Detamore did those edges; maybe somebody is thinking of Rogers drums. I thought Ronn had been doing his own edges on the Way drums.
Click to expand...

Tyro said:
Not to derail the thread, but not Gretsch. They never owned Gretsch brand as such, it was and is with the Gretsch family - DW held the license to manufacture, market and distribute Gretsch Drums. That license is now held by GEWA music, which is a German-based company that was the European distributor prior to acquiring the global license.

More info: https://www.musicincmag.com/news/detail/gewa-music-acquires-global-license-for-gretsch-drums
Click to expand...
I think this is correct: Fred Gretsch Enterprises owns the name & rights to all branding, and the manufacturing and distribution is the only thing that has changed over the years. I wonder if the USA drums will still be made in Ridgeland, SC going forward....my guess is yes.
 
Tyro said:
Not to derail the thread, but not Gretsch. They never owned Gretsch brand as such, it was and is with the Gretsch family - DW held the license to manufacture, market and distribute Gretsch Drums. That license is now held by GEWA music, which is a German-based company that was the European distributor prior to acquiring the global license.

More info: https://www.musicincmag.com/news/detail/gewa-music-acquires-global-license-for-gretsch-drums
Click to expand...
Strange...When I was at DW in 2019, there was an area that was Gretsch and they used to have job postings for the South Carolina location. I think that the post which said that they've been sold to a company in Europe is correct. Maybe someone who is more of an industry insider, such as John DeChristopher, could shed some light on this.

1stdrumlessonsonline.com

Triplet Cookbook for Drumset Independence

This must have book breaks down the triplet rhythm, making playing them much easier and culminates with a basic understanding of four way independence. “Mi...
1stdrumlessonsonline.com

Mike
http://www.mikemccraw.com
http://www.dominoretroplate.com
https://drumcavedave.com/
https://www.youtube.com/user/drummermikemccraw
http://twitter.com/mikemccraw
http://www.skillpages.com/mike.mccraw
 
Last edited:
retroplate said:
Strange...When I was at DW in 2019, there was an area that was Gretsch and they used to have job postings for the South Carolina location. I think that the post which said that they've been sold to a company in Europe is correct. Maybe someone who is more of an industry insider, such as John DeChristopher, could shed some light on this.

1stdrumlessonsonline.com

Triplet Cookbook for Drumset Independence

This must have book breaks down the triplet rhythm, making playing them much easier and culminates with a basic understanding of four way independence. “Mi...
1stdrumlessonsonline.com

Mike
http://www.mikemccraw.com
http://www.dominoretroplate.com
https://drumcavedave.com/
https://www.youtube.com/user/drummermikemccraw
http://twitter.com/mikemccraw
http://www.skillpages.com/mike.mccraw
Click to expand...
DW never owned Gretsch, they had a license to produce and distribute the USA lines (USA Custom, Brooklyn, Broadkaster). The import lines (Renown, Catalina, Energy) were similarly licensed to Hal Leonard.
The license did not transfer as part of the Roland acquisition, and GEWA now owns that license.

Gretsch is still owned by the Gretsch family.
 
retroplate said:
Strange...When I was at DW in 2019, there was an area that was Gretsch and they used to have job postings for the South Carolina location. I think that the post which said that they've been sold to a company in Europe is correct. Maybe someone who is more of an industry insider, such as John DeChristopher, could shed some light on this.

1stdrumlessonsonline.com

Triplet Cookbook for Drumset Independence

This must have book breaks down the triplet rhythm, making playing them much easier and culminates with a basic understanding of four way independence. “Mi...
1stdrumlessonsonline.com

Mike
http://www.mikemccraw.com
http://www.dominoretroplate.com
https://drumcavedave.com/
https://www.youtube.com/user/drummermikemccraw
http://twitter.com/mikemccraw
http://www.skillpages.com/mike.mccraw
Click to expand...
DW did not own Gretsch; Gewa does not own Gretsch.
Having exclusive distribution rights is NOT the same as owning. Having an area in a building with a sign does not constitute ownership.
 
2J3L said:
I know nothing about how Ronn has been producing his drums, Dunnett, Way, Milestones...etc.
Does he get his snare shells from others? Does 3rd party provide him lugs, wires, heads...etc?
Cause he doesn't seem like doing his edges, nor "create" his shells.
Seen him few times he highly regards his own stuff (especially his "Crystal reso heads, which just seemed like Remo Diplomat), but he is not producing on his own right?
Always seeing him putting them altogether after getting all of the components so was curious how production works.
Click to expand...
Always been shrouded in “mystery” all of his projects….
 
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