Comments? Go fot the Gretsch Catalina Maple?

[Cool Cat Magee]

Hey, I currently have a 5-6 year old yamaha rydeen and I think its time to upgrade, my snare isnt sonding good and my toms just sound cheep. I think i'm going to and get this (http://www.guitarcenter.com/shop/product/buy_gretsch_drums_catalina_maple_fusion_shell_pack _with_free_16_floor_tom?full_sku=103667150&src=4WFRWXX) from from guitar center, is this a "pro" kit? Is this snare quality? Basicaly anyone with experience with this, if you could give me some info on this, vs my rydeen would be very appreciated!
Thanks a lot!!

[Drummer Karl]

Catalina Maple, pretty new line of Gretsch. It`s maybe not a "pro" kit but for the money, the Gretsch kits are amazing!! The only thing I don`t understand is why the Catalina Maples are even cheaper than the Catalina Birch...

okay, but all in all, it`s a great kit...tune em good ;-)

Karl

[nhzoso]

That is the cheapest all maple kit I have ever seen. I wonder if it's a different grade of maple? Is there anyway you can hear it first before buying it??

[Drummer Karl]

That is the cheapest all maple kit I have ever seen. I wonder if it's a different grade of maple? Is there anyway you can hear it first before buying it??

yes, really nice price for a 100% maple kit...nice for the price.

BUT always remember: You never get something better than the price.

Karl

[Cool Cat Magee]

yes, really nice price for a 100% maple kit...nice for the price.

BUT always remember: You never get something better than the price.

Karl
yeah, thanks.
Is there anyway you can hear it first before buying it??
thats what I was wondoring, Ive heard a couple recordings here and there, and Ive heard a lot of good reviews about this kit. So I just anted some of you guys who own it to give some facts, thanks!



OH, and how does this compare to A yamaha stage custom advantage, THIS (http://www.gretschdrums.com/img/06/cc-m024-bs_lg.jpg) gretsh catalina, and a Tama superstar custom?

I really need your comments so if you have any info please post!

[Cool Cat Magee]

I called GC and they said they have this set there, so ill give it a go.

[radiofriendlyunitshifter]

i like mine a lot. great kit for the money. they seem to have qc issues with their hoops

though. from my experience and that of another forum member (lexhitreset). aside from

the warped hoops, which were replaced, the drums were in perfect condition, including

bearing edges. they sound great, especially after the factory heads are replaced.

here are some pics of mine:

[Cool Cat Magee]

i like mine a lot. great kit for the money. they seem to have qc issues with their hoops

though. from my experience and that of another forum member (lexhitreset). aside from

the warped hoops, which were replaced, the drums were in perfect condition, including

bearing edges. they sound great, especially after the factory heads are replaced.

here are some pics of mine:
Cool thanks! I'ts probably going to be this, gretsch catalina mod, stage custom, or a tama superstar.

[Fardunda]

Some nice kits for comparison there but I would also recommend that you check out the Sonor Force 2005/3005 (birch/maple) kits as well.....

[Les Ismore]

I would stick with Yamaha and get the new 'Tour Customs' all maple with 60 degree bearing edges. These are Maple Custom Definitives redone to sell in the USA market. Way cooooool.

100% Maple Shell
Tour Custom drum shells are 100% maple. The bass drums are 7-ply 7mm and have a warm, deep tone; the toms are 6-ply 6mm, with lots of warmth and resonance and have a wide tuning range. The matching wood snare drum has body, yet plenty of high end and is very articulate at all dynamic levels.

60 Degree Bearing Edges
All Tour Custom drums have 60-degree R2 bearing edges. This is something new for Yamaha on a maple shell drum set. This bearing edge has a rounder profile so that there is more shell to head contact. This gives the drums clarity in the low-end fundamental and added warmth.

Two Hardware Options
Tour Custom drum sets are available in any of the three suggested configurations with our 800 series double-braced hardware for going on the road, or our popular 700 series single-braced hardware for gigging around town. You can also get Tour Custom as a shell-pack with drums only or custom order your drum set ala carte from a full range of available component drums.

Four Beautiful Lacquer Finishes
Tour Custom drums are all finished in high-gloss lacquer, three translucent and one solid finish. The Brown Sunburst (BSB), Ocean Blue (OCB), and Sakura White (SAW) allow the beauty of the maple grain show through. The Black Onyx (BKO) is a deep, rich, solid black finish.

[Cool Cat Magee]

Thanks for the comments guys, buttt......
I GOT A NEW SET!
Ah man and its a TAMA STARCLASSIC!
It was an amzing deal at GC.
Ill post pics for you later

[LexHitReset]

i ordered from GC before they normally kept them in stock, the kit and it was defective, 4 warped hoops and bass drum bearing edge had a good dent.

then when i returned it they tried to sell me on a new catalina club mod. bass, snare, and rack was good, but the floor was definitely junk, no resonance at all!

but their renown kits they had there sounded really tight.

i'm not recommending it, but i've heard alot of better news form the catalina birch series, and the ddrum maple dominator series.

or better off, just hold off and get a sonor 3005 kit. 1000 for it and you'll get hardware too.

the yahama tour customs wouldn't be a bad idea either.

[Miggle]

good choice on going for the starclassics.

I got a Gretsch catalina maple myself. I'm happy but for the price it wasn't really worth it. I would've gotten a superstar set or the Force 2005 if I had known better.

14" hoop is a bit warped, but dont see it affecting the sound since its really minor. The bearing edges aren't perfect. The rack toms sound nice to me. The snare did for a while.. changing heads of this one soon (from reverse dot to amb coated). The 14" floor tom gives a warped sound but i think thats because of my tuning. G2 clear heads. Will be installing amb coated on the drums soon.

[Drummer Karl]

Thanks for the comments guys, buttt......
I GOT A NEW SET!
Ah man and its a TAMA STARCLASSIC!
It was an amzing deal at GC.
Ill post pics for you later

wooow! congrats mate! but...what starclassic?? Maple, Performer, old or new generation, so Performer Birch Bubinga or full birch??

and could you post some pics maybe?

Karl

[YAMAHA DRUMMER]

the Tama starclassic maple is a great set . great choice , i don't like the low end of Gretsch ... i don't think they worth the money , they sounds like s**t .
take care .

[Cool Cat Magee]

Yeah guys I got the Birch one. It was only 800 for a 5 peice, because it was a floor model. It already had evans g2s on em so they sound nice. And its funny you mention the gretsch catalina mod being good except for the floor becasue it was like that on the one I tried there!
ha, well Ill be posting pics in am inute, thanks for the comments and for having such a nice forum

[Fat Elvis]

wow nice going on the starclassic! Defenately one of my favorite kits ever. Beautiful... what finish did you get? Virgin kick or no?

please we need pics!!!

[Paul_Klein]

Even though you got a different kit, the Gretch Catalina is reviewed in this month's Modern Drummer.

They liked it, and appearently you can hear an mp3 of the kit in action on their website.

[mikec]

Just got this kit and played it at a gig last friday. I was really impressed with the sound and quality of the Gretsch Catalina Maple...The only thing I have to do now is tune the 16 floor tom. I noticed the sound was kinda flat.. Any tuning suggestions? I have an emperor on the top and just the stock gretsch resonant on the bottom.


TIA
Mike

[dom]

Just got this kit and played it at a gig last friday. I was really impressed with the sound and quality of the Gretsch Catalina Maple...The only thing I have to do now is tune the 16 floor tom. I noticed the sound was kinda flat.. Any tuning suggestions? I have an emperor on the top and just the stock gretsch resonant on the bottom.


TIA
Mike

I had the same problem and it was a simple fix for me. I sanded down the interors(they are left raw) and put about 2 coats of shellac on. It made the grain in there and the wood over all really pop! the sustain and flat sound is fixed for the most part the reso heads suck and i have a feeling onve i get rid of those it will be great! after doing that work there was a huge diffrence if not new heads shellac and a little time can and will do great things

[fusssion]

Just got this kit and played it at a gig last friday. I was really impressed with the sound and quality of the Gretsch Catalina Maple...The only thing I have to do now is tune the 16 floor tom. I noticed the sound was kinda flat.. Any tuning suggestions? I have an emperor on the top and just the stock gretsch resonant on the bottom.


TIA
Mike

Resos WILL make a difference!

This has nothing to do w/ the Catalina Maple, but ......remember the tip from Evans ....
... if you have a 2 ply on the batter,...put a 2ply clear as a reso on a floor tom to give it a nice boom without killing it! I've done it, ...and it works!! EC2 coated on top,.....G2 clear on the bottom. In your case....do a clear emporer on the bottom. Not sure if this stands true w/ the Remo people, ....but I can't really see how it wouldn't be the same!

[Skacatz]

I don't think of it as a Pro grade kit, but very nice for price. I don't think you can go wrong. I changed the heads on mine pretty much immediately though. I love it.

[mikec]

Thanks for help guys...I will replace the reso head.

[mikec]

I also noticed the bass drum hoops are a tad warped. Did you contact gretsch on this? Or did you just buy the replacements?


TIA

Mike