Gretsch Catalina Club Jazz vs. Club Mod

[themixtape]

Hey gang. I'm new here. Hi!

I'm looking to sell my Roland digital kit (TD-6S V-Tour), and pick up a Gretsch Catalina Club Jazz or Club Mod... I miss acoustic drums.

What I want to know is... does anyone have either? How big are the kick drums? Gretsch's site has 20x22 for the Mod but is that 20 DEEP or 20 WIDE (head width)... from the photos it looks like it might be 22 deep and 20 wide but I'm not sure.

Conversely, the kick on the Club Jazz... says it's 14x18... is it 14 deep, 18 wide? That would make more sense...

Also, how do they sound? I have nowhere local that I can try these out, have to order either online.

Two final questions.... re: the tom holder... on the jazz, it's mounted to the kick. On the Mod, it's mounted to the cymbal stand. I prefer that being as I like my tom hanging LOW and to the side.... could I do this with the Jazz kit? And the Mod has a 6.5x14 snare vs. the jazz which has a 5x14 snare. I currently have two used snares (I collect them sometimes) and both are 5x14 Yamaha and Pearl... I hate the way they sound. I'm thinking 6.5x14 might be a better way to go... as I like warmer snares with body ("indie" snare sound).

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

-C

[BertTheDrummer]

The mod is 20" deep with a 22" diameter the jazz is 14" deep with a 18" diameter. Gretsch seems to list all of their sizes depth x diameter (as can be told obviously by the snare size). All toms can be mounted on stands if you have the right hardware.

I've played both kits and they are completely different, so I don't think I'd make a decision based on snare drum size and if you can mount the tom on the bass or not. If you don't like the snares you have, why don't you sell them (if you decide to get the Jazz you can sell that one too if you don't like it) and buy one you do like. I prefer the Catalina Mod myself, I think it fits more modern styles of music as well as the ability to do more classic styles. The Catalina club jazz is just that, it's made more of a jazz kit, I think the really small bass drum leaves a bit to be desired when it comes to playing more modern music. Without knowing really what kind of sound your looking for, or what kind of music you play its hard to make a recommendation either way

[Jusstickinaround]

The jazz kit is the one, don't let the 14x18 kick fool you. I have an Evans Emad on it and it sounds like a 22" kick, it's easier to transport and you can also get that jazz sound if that's what you want with a different head selection and higher tuning. The toms sound like a million bucks and although I don't use the snare that much it has a very nice kind of vintage woody sound, it reminds me of an eight lug 60's Ludwig gold sparkle snare I once owned.

[Jusstickinaround]

Here's a photo showing how I mount the 8x12 tom, the tom arm is easy to work with and you can postion the tom almost anywhere you like.

[thecraponline]

Personally, even though I have had very little experience with either kit, I would go with the club jazz. The smaller sizes are easier to transport - and I've heard lots of people say that 18" bass drums can sound a lot bigger than they are (providing you don't fill it with heavy blankets). As for the snare, if you don't like the sound you could always sell it and the other two snares you mentioned, and buy something that really works for you. Also, it's always possible to put your rack tom on a snare stand, or clip the mount to a cymbal stand, so that shouldn't be a concern to you.

[themixtape]

Thanks for all the replies so far!

I still can't decide yet. Haha. The kind of music I do is basically everything, really. Recording-wise, a lot of mellow indie rock stuff like Ida, Low, L'Altra, etc. I also like to rock out from time to time and do some upbeat Jimmy Eat World-ish stuff and also oldschool punk and hardcore.

Live, most of the time I'm playing in a Pinback-ish band, indie rock stuff with a pop sensibility.

I'm leaning toward the Mod kit... because as much as I like jazz, I also want and need a modern sound, kit-wise.. but sometimes jazz kits sound more modern than the rock kits.

I just don't want to be inconvenienced by a huge kick drum, which gets in my way in my small practice space and also takes up a lot of room in our vehicle for transporting to gigs (we all go in the same truck).

Thanks again for all your help, everyone! More info is always good. :)

-C

[themixtape]

Oh, I forgot to mention also that I am left-handed.... so that tom arm thing kind of worries me as far as being able to reverse it so the hi tom is toward my right when I'm sitting at the kit... the arm according to the photos of the Club Jazz seems like it isn't really universal, which is a drag...

Any ideas? Now I'm leaning toward the Jazz kit, because of the small kick and the vintage-sounding snare drum (I love vintage-sounding snares).

Thanks!

-C

[skippy]

i have both kits and they are very different kits. the mod is louder than my jazz because of the sizes. i would say if you are playing "everything" then go with the jazz cause its way easier to make small drums sound big than to make big drums sound small. and i you do get the jazz kit then get a riser to clamp your pedal to so you dont have to cut your beater down and it will get it up off of the floor and make it more resonate and sound bigger. get an emad for it or something along that style head and dont put anything inside of the bass drum. and i dont know what you mean about the tom arm on the jazz kit looking like you wont be able to set it up lefty. just tae off the top head and swith the rim mount to the oposite side. clivk the link in my sig to check my kits out if you are interested. oh and if you dont want the tom mounted on the bass then pick up a mount that you can put on a cymbal stand or something. or maybe put it on a snare stand. and i would also sugest ec2 clear heads for the toms. anymore questions pm me and ill try to answer and even with a pic if neccesary. both are great kits so you caould always pick up both like i did.

[matt_rockett_16]

hey im looking at the club jazz, all iv heard are good things about it. can anyone tell me the price, canadian dollars, i have just seen it on sites and in my drum teachers studio.