My Gretsch: Part 2

[TopCat]

Well, after the success of part one - here's the sequel, with new toys.

Specs:

Drums
Gretsch Renown Purewood (Walnut)
22x18, 10x8, 12x9, 14x11, 16x13 (not shown)

Pork Pie 14 x 7 Solid Shell Walnut snare in high gloss.
Pearl Chad Smith sig snare (Not shown)

Kick's got an Aquarian SKII Batter, 'stock' reso, Toms have either G1's or coated Ambassadors, basically whatever i had lying around that wasn't two-ply with G1's on reso. The snare's got a coated ambassador batter and a stock clear ambassador snare side.

Cymbals
7" Stagg Black Metal Bell (In the bg on the practice pad)
8" Stagg DH Splash (Awesome)
10" Istanbul Sultan Splash
14" Sabian AAX Stage Hats
16" Sabian AAX Stage Crash (Not Shown)
16" Sabian AA China (Not shown)
17" Sabian AAXplosion Crash (Not shown and now cracked, thanks to some ass at a gig.
18" Paiste 2002 Full Crash
18" Paiste 2002 Medium
20" Paiste 2002 China (!)
20" Sabian AAX Stage Ride

Hardware
Assorted, two Pearl B-1000 Stands with the winglocs, some top end Premier stuff, which is shite, and some semi-pro Sonor gear that beats the crap out of the Premier. DW5002 double pedal, Gibralter hihat stand. Vater Stewart copeland sig and 7A sticks. That's about it.

For me, this setup is the best thing since sliced bread..and there's me almost wanting a rack not too long ago, ugh!

oh, the 16" Stage crash and 16" China are gonna be up for sale, if anyone's interested.

anyway, on with the pics..

http://img74.imageshack.us/img74/7866/newfrontsmallhs1.jpg

http://img74.imageshack.us/img74/681/newdrivers1smallmo5.jpg

http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/2339/newdrivers2smalluz4.jpg
Yay for new Paistes. Had to share.
http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/3383/mmpaiste1smallbh1.jpg

http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/3749/mmmpaiste2smallaa9.jpg

http://img431.imageshack.us/img431/3731/pig14bd.jpg

Enjoy, and uh, sorry for the mess, my band can't keep tidy.

[Class A Drummer]

that is an absolutly amazing drum set. At a rock camp i did at the end of the summer, we used that kind (same finish and everything) and it was absolutly amazing.

[dom]

wow i really love gretsch drums! Your set looks great. I know you have probably gotten this alot but how does walnut sound? Also are your bearing edges the 30 degree or are they 45?

[TopCat]

Thanks for the comments, the walnut has a dark resonance with a softer than maple attack. They're very warm, and sound fantastic recorded. I believe the bearing edges are 45 degrees, like the other Renowns.

[mind_drummer]

Awesome set ! I must say that it shook my body and heart in a good way :-)

Which year is the set ?

[TopCat]

Thanks! I believe it's from last year. It's a limited edition, only 100 were made.

[Class A Drummer]

Thanks! I believe it's from last year. It's a limited edition, only 100 were made.
wow if only 100 were made then it wasnt the same kind of set... oops. Still, thats must sound amazing.

[TopCat]

wow if only 100 were made then it wasnt the same kind of set... oops. Still, thats must sound amazing.
It might've been one like mine or possibly the Catalina, they do a finish called Dark walnut, I think.

[Class A Drummer]

It might've been one like mine or possibly the Catalina, they do a finish called Dark walnut, I think.
yeah probably. But now that i think of it, the finish on the one i played look a little darker and not as new. But idk.

[Wegadrummer]

Well, that is one superdupergreat kit.. Everything looks so smooth.. I see you like taking care of them..

[TopCat]

I see you like taking care of them..
Drums? Sure. Cymbals? I'm far too lazy.

[fatedrummer]

nice man,

got a piece of history there!

sweet kit and cymbals

fatedrummer

[Hex]

That walnut finish is beautiful. Gretsch would do good to make those more readily available.

[franklinj]

That looks really, really nice. I love those Sultan cymbals. Their look is enough for me to buy one : )

Is that a little splash in the 2nd picture or an accent cymbal that youre not using?

[e0n]

Really nice setup! Beautiful and clean.
Nice with the Paiste 2002 20" china! Do you like it?
I've got the same cymbal myself, just the 22" version! :P I think it's a bit too heavy and thick for a china, but man, it makes a lot(!!) of noise when you hit it!! Do you agree?

-Rock on!

[TopCat]

Thanks for the comments everyone.

That looks really, really nice. I love those Sultan cymbals. Their look is enough for me to buy one : )

Is that a little splash in the 2nd picture or an accent cymbal that youre not using?Thanks, it's the stagg 7" bell.

Really nice setup! Beautiful and clean.
Nice with the Paiste 2002 20" china! Do you like it?
I've got the same cymbal myself, just the 22" version! :P I think it's a bit too heavy and thick for a china, but man, it makes a lot(!!) of noise when you hit it!! Do you agree?

-Rock on!I love the 20" China, it roars. I think that 22 of yours might kill small animals. Just a question though, how do you transport yours? I'm having real trouble, it wont fit in my case with the other cymbals because of that enormous bell/pit/thing.

[e0n]

I'm a "spare-time drummer", and therefore I do not transport my cymbals at all. The whole thing is just standing in my room.
But it seems like it would be a living hell to transport the thing though. The only thing I don't like with the cymbal, is that it doesn't have the "usual" china-sound. It has got a lot of overtones and stuff, so it sounds more like a broken crash-cymbal than a real monster-china... But hey, that's just my opinion.

-Rock on!

[radeq]

:) nice kit, I;m not a big fan od piaste cymbals, but these look great :)

[Drummer Karl]

TopCat, your kit and line up is awesome. I really enjoy to see it, it looks confortable and the finish is also amazing!

Karl

[TopCat]

Thanks for the comments Karl and Radeq.

Eon, yeah, i know what you mean about the china, i use it as often as a crash and i love it for deafening bandmates. I want to gig it..but who wants to carry a loose cymbal? Might as well carry a sign that says 'Rob me'.

[Rhythmic Disciple]

Top Cat, nice kit and I'm jealous of those Paiste's!!! That China must be a beast...

Oh, and I thought you might like to know that your bearing edges should be cut to 30 degrees, if they follow the standard Renown series drums.

Can I have the 18" Full Crash please?!


Chris

[TopCat]

Top Cat, nice kit and I'm jealous of those Paiste's!!! That China must be a beast...

Oh, and I thought you might like to know that your bearing edges should be cut to 30 degrees, if they follow the standard Renown series drums.

Can I have the 18" Full Crash please?!


Chris
Hey chris, thanks for the comments.
The full crash rocks my world, so no is my answer, sorry! As for the bearing edge, i read somewhere that renowns were 45, but you're right, they're 30. 45's are on the snares.

You guys will be able to hear all this gear october 29th-ish. Got studio time booked (Woo).


Edit* Which part of wales are you from?

[Fardunda]

Wow, thats a lovely looking set Top Cat. I bet it sounds as good as it looks.

question: How do you like the combination of the full 18 and the medium 18 crashes? I am thinking of getting a 18 inch full and a 20 inch meduim for my crashes. Do they work well together?

Cheers mate

[TopCat]

Wow, thats a lovely looking set Top Cat. I bet it sounds as good as it looks.

question: How do you like the combination of the full 18 and the medium 18 crashes? I am thinking of getting a 18 inch full and a 20 inch meduim for my crashes. Do they work well together?

Cheers mate
Hey, thanks, yeah, the crashes work well, i'm tempted to buy the 20 medium now though, i love the 18, but sometimes the full is so bright its a bit overbearing when you hit the two together.

[Exident]

Hey Top Cat,
realy nice setup. A simple setup but very comfortable (like mine)! The color is realy cool too. I like those wood-laquer finishes. Nice cymbales :D , setup too very comfortable...but you have so many things you are not using...why you don´t place them at your set? I would add the toms, a second snare and the cymbals if i could!

Realy nice set!
great
toby

[defunkt]

How does that 7" Stagg Black Metal Bell sound that you are'nt using?
I've never seen one before

[TitanSound]

Always liked this kit...and it looks stunning with you're new 2002's :)

Bet it sounds like an untamed beast.....get those recordings up quickly!!!

[TopCat]

Hey Top Cat,
realy nice setup. A simple setup but very comfortable (like mine)! The color is realy cool too. I like those wood-laquer finishes. Nice cymbales :D , setup too very comfortable...but you have so many things you are not using...why you don´t place them at your set? I would add the toms, a second snare and the cymbals if i could!

Realy nice set!
great
toby
Thanks Ex, the reason why I dont use them all is because I have a second kit which I use for gigging, and some of the stuff generally stays with that.

How does that 7" Stagg Black Metal Bell sound that you are'nt using?
I've never seen one before It's pretty sweet considering it cost me about 13 quid. That's the wonder of stagg accent cymbals. (The small one's that is)

Always liked this kit...and it looks stunning with you're new 2002's :)

Bet it sounds like an untamed beast.....get those recordings up quickly!!!
Thanks alot mate, I can't wait to get her back in the studio, the recordings will be up asap.

[Pablo Diego]

i love gretsch, for is the queen of drums, great drum kit, congratulations!

[gretsch223]

After staring at this set for 4 hours....WOW!!!!!!!.....I love it!!!!! Great set up and great drums!!!

[Drumsword]

Man O man that is a sweet looking set. I absolutely love the finish, next set I get I am thinking of going for a dark wood finish. Actually if I can talk the wife into second mortgaging the house I might get a set of Brady's.

[LiveGoat]

Man that is a sexy kit. I'm usually not a fan of natural finish but that finish rocks my world. Look forward to hearing it.

--LG

[hardrocker74]

Sick. I was not really in to the gretsch sets until like a month ago i played a catalina maple live all mic'd it was sick. I thinking of buying one now

[Synthetik]

Knockout!

Those drums sound as good as they look. Gretsch has a wonderful rich tonality to thier kits. That thing is *very* unique. How many all walnut kits are there? Not many.

It's great to have such a nice kit that so few people have. And you didn't need to rob a bank to afford one.

[TopCat]

Hey guys, thanks for the kind comments. Should've checked back sooner!

Recordings are up yo!

http://www.drummerworld.com/forums/showthread.php?p=230728#post230728

[GRUNTERSDAD]

That has to be one of the best looking wood finishes I think I have seen to date. I assume that is stain and laquer over real walnut. Just absolutely gorgeous. And its nice to see someone not too paranoid to mix cymbal companies. Good job.

[rendezvous_drummer]

Can I have them?.....it's a legitamite question!

[Audun_D]

Thats a truly awsome kit! I love the brown finish! Kewl cymbals =)

[Synthetik]

Hey guys, thanks for the kind comments. Should've checked back sooner!

Recordings are up yo!

http://www.drummerworld.com/forums/showthread.php?p=230728#post230728

First: you did a great job with the music! Kinda like a modern twist on a 60's surf music basis.

Second: When I tried that kit, I imagined the tonality would find it's home mostly for jazz. You have proved that there really isn't a genre that a kit must stick to. IIRC, someone called that specific kit "too mellow for rock." And it really isn't. The tone is the strong point, and as a good sounding kit- it seems to do it all.

[TopCat]

Gruntersdad - Cheers, the finish is even better in person, I assure you ;)

Rendezvous - I'm afraid I've already given them away.




...

Audun_D - Thanks!

Synthetik - Thanks for the kind worda bout the music and the drum sounds. I've used the kit is several different contexts and I'm glad you can agree that it fits a wide range of genres.

[xkevinx]

this sure looks like a perfect exemplar of that great Gretsch sound.

[TopCat]

this sure looks like a perfect exemplar of that great Gretsch sound.
It sure is, cheers. Check out the thread in my signature if you want to hear that great gretsch sound in action.

[YAMAHA DRUMMER]

beautiful set of drums , i love Gretsch drums but i don't like the fact that the Renown has 5 lugs to each drum... it's very uncomfortable and hard to tune ....

[TopCat]

beautiful set of drums , i love Gretsch drums but i don't like the fact that the Renown has 5 lugs to each drum... it's very uncomfortable and hard to tune ....
Only the smaller toms, i didn't like at first but they're surprisingly easy to tune regardless.

[Gretschdrummer]

nice kit! i just bought a Catalina Birch in the Dark Walnut. Yours is much more beautiful..

[TopCat]

nice kit! i just bought a Catalina Birch in the Dark Walnut. Yours is much more beautiful..
Thanks alot. The birch kit's are awesome though.

[harley-g]

That is a seriously gorgeous kit, TopCat. I'm definitely looking into getting a white resonator head for my kick, like the Walnuts. It gives it such a sweet look. Once again, amazing.

[joeybeats]

Hey, TC. How did I miss this thread? That is indeed one gorgeous kit you have.

And, I listened to your songs at myspace and the DW link, just outstanding. You a playa! Hope you have great success with your band. Joey

[drummerchick435]

that is an absolutly amazing drum set. At a rock camp i did at the end of the summer, we used that kind (same finish and everything) and it was absolutly amazing.

What rock camp was it? I'm going to one this summer. PM it to me.

[skippy]

love that kit man. ive got to gretsch kits and i love em. they are some of the best drums around. anyways nice kit.

[tamadrummer132]

that is the best looking finish i have ever seen in my life.

APSOLUTELY beautiful kit.

-love it

[TopCat]

That is a seriously gorgeous kit, TopCat. I'm definitely looking into getting a white resonator head for my kick, like the Walnuts. It gives it such a sweet look. Once again, amazing.Thanks, but actually the Walnut didnt come with a white one, black was standard..ther was an 'accident' at a gig and i got it replaced. White looks sexy.

Hey, TC. How did I miss this thread? That is indeed one gorgeous kit you have.

And, I listened to your songs at myspace and the DW link, just outstanding. You a playa! Hope you have great success with your band. JoeyGlad you like the stuff, always nice to hear that people like your work!

love that kit man. ive got to gretsch kits and i love em. they are some of the best drums around. anyways nice kit.Cheers, they are indeed.

that is the best looking finish i have ever seen in my life.

APSOLUTELY beautiful kit.

-love it
haha, i'm glad you like it so much. You can have it.

just kidding.

Cheers guys.

[tamadrummer132]

that is the best finish i have ever seen. congratulations.

[TopCat]

that is the best finish i have ever seen. congratulations.
Thanks...Again2000000000000000000

[tamadrummer132]

lol oops. i alredy replied once..