My Gretsch Catalina Birch

[ProgDrummer]

Man, is she a beauty! Found her on Craigslist used but with absolutely no scratches. Perfect condition for $650. I used to play on my grandfather's WFL (before Ludwig) 3 piece from 1952-4, but kinda hard for progressive metal, double bass, etc. Still going to be using that set, but mainly my jazz explorations. I'll post some pics of her later as soon as I get my camera fixed.
Back to the Gretsch. She can SING! I could compare her sound closely to a Tama Starclassic Performer. I REALLY recommend this set, seeing as the line is about to end. The bearing edges are perfect with no nicks whatsoever. And the finish truely makes it look like fine furniture. Also, all heads came with the set, including never used stock heads and all rims were replaced with diecasts.

7-piece Gretsch Catalina Birch in Wine Red
8x7 Rack
10x8 Rack
12x9 Rack
14x14 Floor
16x16 Floor
22x18 Bass
5x14 snare

Heads:
Evans EC2 Clears on all Toms, Gretsch Stock on resonant with e-rings
Evans EMAD 2 Clear Batter Head on Bass
Evans Genera G1 on Snare batter, Snare side Stock with e-ring

Sticks:
ProMark Marco Minnemann Signature Hickory
ProMark Mike Portnoy Signature

Cymbals: Hurrah for bargain bin prices!
Zildjian ZBT 18 Crash/Ride (crack 13 inches long)
Zildjian ZBT 22 Ride
Zildjian ZBT 14 Hi-Hat Bottom on Top, Zilco 14 top on bottom
Wuhan S Splash 10 inch
Zilco 14 Crash
Wuhan 12 and 18 Chinas (both crack and almost sound like filtered)
Zilco 10 Splash

Hardware:
3 Pacific Drums P/D 700 Boom Cymbal Stand
1 Pacific Drums P/D 700 Straight Cymbal Stand
Pacific Drums HH920 Double-Leg Hi-Hat Stand
Pacific Drums DP402 Double Bass Drum Pedal (single chain)

Accessories:
Roc-n-Soc Nitro Throne
Pearl Glockenspiel Set
Mexican Puffer Fish with Professionally-Installed Googly Eyes :P

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b336/danzman2652/dandrums001.jpg
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b336/danzman2652/dandrums002.jpg
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b336/danzman2652/dandrums004.jpg

[ECVail]

She's a beauty! And a great price too. Congrats.

[boomboomda]

I have almost the same kit except mine is caribbean blue, and I have a 14x12 and a 14x14 tom.
I like the sound of the Catalinas not bad at all.

[aydee]

sweet!............................................ .................................

[Class A Drummer]

God damn i want a Gretsch set badly. Every time i see one it makes me want one even more. Im thinkin i might sell my Session and buy a Gretsch.

[fourstringdrums]

Looks great! That's my favorite color on the Birch kits. You got lucky with the deal too especially because the Catalina Birch is discontinued. I don't know why, I had one and it was a great kit.

[fijjibo]

Looks great! That's my favorite color on the Birch kits. You got lucky with the deal too especially because the Catalina Birch is discontinued. I don't know why, I had one and it was a great kit.

Does that include mine?

(mines mapex though)

[fourstringdrums]

Does that include mine?

(mines mapex though)

Yeah....ok...:) I like the dark reg mahogony stain anyway. I might prefer wraps for classy looks and durability now (because I'm clumsy) but that color always gets my attention.

[Skacatz]

I have the same kit. Sound great and as pretty as any furniture you would have in your house.

[joeybeats]

Love it. Nice purchase. Joey

[scarlit]

i've been thinking about buying one of those

[LostSiren]

i have a gretsch catalina birch and i think its great! im just trying to move on to a custom set now

[Mapex589]

Those drums sound great!!! Enjoy your new set.

[maddrummr]

Looks super-duper sweet

next up are the cymbals.

[chuzwazza]

yeah, I love that kit too! deserves better cymbals but ;-P Do you play any cool left hand kinda gooves on the glokenspiel?

[ProgDrummer]

Yeah! Actually, I'm trying to work on adding that into one of my songs. Before, I used it in guitar sessions, like Transatlantic's "Duel With The Devil" but I am gonna try to incorporate it into the set. I'm gonna try to get a Meinl Byzance 18 Med Thin Crash soon to replace that other 18. My 18 right now has the rip about to cut straight through the cymbal. If that happens, then I'll cut the cymbal except for the bell and have my own little crappy sound effect!

[gretsch223]

Wow! Beautiful gretsch! I love the sizes of all the toms in your set up. How much did it cost for all the shells (including the add ons).

[ProgDrummer]

Actually, thanks to Craigslist, I was able to find this set with all the trimmings with 2 PDP cymbal stands and new Evans heads for $650. Was a 15 minute drive :P Quite fortunate!

[k7mto]

Great find. I have a Tama Starclassic Performer kit but I'm tempted to buy this Grestch Catalina Birch 5pc shell kit advertised for $325 (if not gone already)...

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/msg/398923551.html

http://images.craigslist.org/010110010306010408200708166d670ef942c466ffb1006012 .jpg

[ProgDrummer]

Well, it's been several months since I bought my Gretsch and I am still pleased with what it brings to the table. I have several new additions with a bright yet mysterious tone in mind with my cymbal setup. This includes (from left to right sitting in the driver's seat):
10" Zilco Splash
6.5" Stagg Black Metal Bell
8" Stagg SH Splash
14" Zilco top hat, 14" Zildjian ZBT bottom hat
10" Wuhan Splash top hat, 12" Wuhan China (w/ "anti-airlock system" aka 'crack') bottom hat
16" Sabian Vault Crash
18" Sabian Vault Crash
14" Zildjian ZBT top hat, 14" Zilco bottom hat
18" Wuhan China
20" Zildjian ZBT Ride

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b336/danzman2652/bored146.jpg
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b336/danzman2652/bored149.jpg

Overall: Great sound for what I paid! Vault's were bought on eBay new for under $200 each. I love the Staggs, but especially love the BM Bell. Harrison sound with a little bit more obscurity.

Next improvements: Probably Iron Cobra DB Pedal w/ Power Glide. Need to save for college, but we'll see.

[bojangleman]

whats the specs on that fan? im in the market for a good one, trying to get the most bang for my buck..haha :p
very nice kit man! cymbals too!

Alex

[rritter]

If you like your kit half as much as I like mine you will be totally satisfied. The Catalina Birch series drums are great.

Here is my kit, look familiar?


http://www.user.shentel.net/rritter/IMGP4867BrightSmall.JPG

[ProgDrummer]

That's so WEIRD! It is a great sounding kit as soon as you get some nice skins on it. This one will last me a while :P

[Muffled Tom]

Where's the puffer fish? haha

Nice kit man. Just dust it off every once in a while, or at least before a photo shoot.. nothing makes a drum or cymbal look uglier in a pic than a layer of dust.

And the fan.. reminds me of myself. When its summer here in Brazil, I always get a fan to keep myself cool.

[PinkZepplin]

One of my favorite kits I ever played was a Gretsch Catalina Club that they had at GC. Don't know why, just felt right. I'd imagine this set is probably 5 times as rockin.

[cavica]

Man I really like the finish on thouse drums, very eye catching for some reason. Like the cymbal additions you made to the kit as well.

p.s. how do you like the hornets? A friend of mine had a pair but I never really tried them out.

[GRUNTERSDAD]

How did i miss this thread from another Gretsch Brother. Love that set and man what a price. Same as I paid for my 5 piece Renowns. Good job.

[frank0072]

that set has the perfect sizes. If I can ever buy another kit it will be in those sizes...

[stickers]

I wanted the gretsch catalina birch a few months ago. But its discontinued and couldn't find a good deal on ebay or craigslist.

i wanted the 16x20 kick and just the 8x10 and 14x14 floor, the other drums I probably would have sold. Oh well. I ended buying a 3pc custom ludwig classic birch kit ($807) in those dimensions. I'm still waiting for them though.

I do like those catalina birch and wish I could have found a set at a reasonable price.

[Keeno]

Craigslist rocks! I got my 6 piece Catalina Maples (Cherry) almost new..with brand new Evans heads, full Gibraltar hardware pack( 2 cymbal stands,hi hat,bass pedal), New Iron Cobra single pedal (w/ case), full set of thick canvas gig bags (some still in the box). A full set of foam silencer pads and a new pair of Paiste hats (cheap pst5's). All this for $600! Tried to talk seller out of the new Iron Cobra 2 leg Hi hat, but no go! Oh well!

[Cymbalrider]

My Catalina Rock made me a Gretsch fan too...