Members fesswrx Posted November 25, 2006 Members Share Posted November 25, 2006 Ok, well let me first start by saying I have been looking for a new kit for about 6 months now. My Export has served me well but is 8 years old and beat up pretty bad (one too many stands/drunks falling on it while playing out) It still sounds ok but I'm in a new band so a fresh start = a new kit. (good excuse eh?) I always wanted a maple kit, that warmth just sounds too cool to me but I just never seem to have that 1500-2000 bucks left after the bills are paid. Until I saw THIS kit last weekend. At first I thought to myself "this thing must be held together with rubber bands and duct tape for that price". After some thought and consulting the wife it was decided I should go for it. All I can say is I'm damn glad I did! This kit is a fantastic value IMHO. I come home tonight to find FedEx had been here. I carry the boxes to the studio and open things up. It was very well package and no damage in sight. I get everything unwrapped and I am just so blown away by the finish on this thing. It truly looks like a $2000.00 maple kit. I put it all together with the stock heads (except the bass drum, had an extra SK2 and regulator) and did a good once over tunning (thanks you drum dial), set it all up and go to town. It sounds damn impressive even with the stock heads. It is warm, yet open and projects way more than my Export did. Does it sound like a 3500.00 Yamaha Absolute Maple?, no but it doesn't sound like a 700.00 kit. I am going tomorrow to pick up a set of skins and I am quite sure it will sound even more impressive once the stock skins are replaced. The snare really impressed me as well, it seems very well built. It is very warm but still gives once hell of a crack on rims shots. I wish it had cast or wood hoops but instead has stamped (though they are Tipple flanged like the rest of the kit) I guess you can't have it all for this price. Overall I still can not believe I only paid 700 bucks for this kit. I think Gretsch hit a home run with this time. This will be the first kit (my 3rd overall) that I am ordering gig bags for. It sounds great and looks sweet, I want to keep it that way. If anyone is looking for a gigging kit, or even a primary kit (novice or advanced) I would give this one a look and listen. Two thumbs up Gretsch :thu: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members fesswrx Posted November 25, 2006 Author Members Share Posted November 25, 2006 Another pic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members the DW Posted November 25, 2006 Members Share Posted November 25, 2006 WOW!! NICE KIT!!! I love that color! What a bargain for the price. May you have many years of enjoyment from that kit. Beautiful! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members fesswrx Posted November 25, 2006 Author Members Share Posted November 25, 2006 Thanks mate! I am very, very happy with this kit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members tripod trilogy Posted November 25, 2006 Members Share Posted November 25, 2006 i have a catalina series as well, ash wood. extremely good for the price (100 less than the maple). gretsch is going to rebuild their name with this series. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members JBrig Posted November 25, 2006 Members Share Posted November 25, 2006 Great choice! I had the catilina maple and loved it. I only sold it to make room for my Mapex Saturn kit. But, you will enjoy the Gretsch. For the money it's awsome. The construction of the kit is great. They save money buy using Japenese maple which is softer and less expensive than the N. American maple found in higher end kits. But come on, still a great drumset. Great color choice, enjoy you new kit!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mparsons Posted November 25, 2006 Members Share Posted November 25, 2006 I want this really bad: Gretsch Catalina ash fusion kit! Your kit looks fantastic by the way! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members manoeuver Posted November 25, 2006 Members Share Posted November 25, 2006 that kit looks fantastic. glad you're so pleased! please enjoy responsibly: if you're gigging it, get hard cases. really. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members fesswrx Posted November 25, 2006 Author Members Share Posted November 25, 2006 Originally posted by T Hofmann that kit looks fantastic. glad you're so pleased!please enjoy responsibly: if you're gigging it, get hard cases. really. Yup I learned that from my Export. It has more dings and scratches than I can count. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members WillyRay Posted November 25, 2006 Members Share Posted November 25, 2006 Shell pack, eh? How much of the tom mounting hardware was included? Mounts but no stands? Would you give a full run-down on what was in the package OTHER than the drums themselves? /w Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members the DW Posted November 25, 2006 Members Share Posted November 25, 2006 Since the subject is Gretsch, I dug up an old picture of the Gretsch kit I "gave away", so to speak. Long story... Not sure which model this is though. I got it used in the mid 80's. The snare is a Ludwig Supraphonic, circa 1972. It went with the kit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members fesswrx Posted November 25, 2006 Author Members Share Posted November 25, 2006 Originally posted by WillyRay Shell pack, eh? How much of the tom mounting hardware was included? Mounts but no stands? Would you give a full run-down on what was in the package OTHER than the drums themselves?/w Well W, other than the 4 Toms, 1 snare, 1 kick and skins; it came with legs for the 14 and 16" toms and GTS Rim mounts for the 10 and 12" toms. Other than that, no stands, no snare stand or any other hardware. So I guess it is a bit more than a pure shell pack (meaning just the drums but not much more. I have all that stuff anyway so still an awsome value in my eyes... peace.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members fesswrx Posted November 25, 2006 Author Members Share Posted November 25, 2006 Originally posted by the DW Since the subject is Gretsch, I dug up an old picture of the Gretsch kit I "gave away", so to speak. Long story... Not sure which model this is though. I got it used in the mid 80's. The snare is a Ludwig Supraphonic, circa 1972. It went with the kit. awww...... Hey thats a nice finish on that kit as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members lownote Posted November 25, 2006 Members Share Posted November 25, 2006 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members BBDrums Posted November 25, 2006 Members Share Posted November 25, 2006 Originally posted by fesswrx Another pic Nice kit for the money. Got any pics of the other two kits? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Crusher Posted November 25, 2006 Members Share Posted November 25, 2006 Looks great!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members sherman22 Posted November 25, 2006 Members Share Posted November 25, 2006 Nice Purchase bro. enjoy the new drums, nothing like new drums. It is a feeling that only comes a couple times in life, so play the hell out those things, make them sing... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members fesswrx Posted November 26, 2006 Author Members Share Posted November 26, 2006 Originally posted by BBDrums Nice kit for the money. Got any pics of the other two kits? Only of the export. My first kit was a beat up swingstar I got at a swap meet for dirt cheap. here is the Export: Click Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members tripod trilogy Posted November 26, 2006 Members Share Posted November 26, 2006 here's a pic of my kit, the gretsch catalina ash. i like this color more than the blue shown above, it's deep red. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members BBDrums Posted November 26, 2006 Members Share Posted November 26, 2006 Originally posted by tripod trilogy here's a pic of my kit, the gretsch catalina ash. i like this color more than the blue shown above, it's deep red. Love the color:love: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members fesswrx Posted November 26, 2006 Author Members Share Posted November 26, 2006 Originally posted by tripod trilogy here's a pic of my kit, the gretsch catalina ash. i like this color more than the blue shown above, it's deep red. Looking good there! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members danny0816 Posted November 26, 2006 Members Share Posted November 26, 2006 i have a catalina birch kit in the same color...absolutly love it. people comment it all the time, too Glad the maple is working out for you:thu: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jakes Posted January 2, 2007 Members Share Posted January 2, 2007 Hi Lovely Kit. I just got the same one and have a few questions for you. Do your rack toms buzz when you hit them. Mine seem to have a vibration from the suspension mounting. When I look closer, they only seem to be resting on a couple of the rubber pads - not all. Have you noticed this? Also, the resonant-side hoop of my larger rack tom has a slight kink in it. It's slightly out of round. Do think this is going to have an effect on the drum? And lastly, what heads do you find work well with it? cheers Jakes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members theDan Posted January 2, 2007 Members Share Posted January 2, 2007 Wow, nice looking set there. I hear they're going to start adding more add-on drums for the Catalina series in February. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Dyzio Posted January 2, 2007 Members Share Posted January 2, 2007 Man that is a wonderful drumset!! I've been looking into getting it myself lately, but with my recent Christmas spendings, I don't think I'll be getting it for a while But hopefully I'll scrape up the cash to get one of those beauties. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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