New Drums...again! Gretsch New Classics and Bosphorus

[fourstringdrums]

*edit* I have some new mp3's of this kit http://drummerworld.com/forums/showthread.php?p=351682#post351682

I know that a lot of you are groaning and rolling your eyes. Gruntersdad called in my last gear thread when he said it would be a month before I got another set and he was right, literally, give or take a week *lol*

So here it is, a Gretsch New Classic (first one on the forum I think?) in Ivory Marine Pearl. The set has the same sizes as my Catalina Club Jazz. The reason why I bought them was because, well, my wife let me get away with it. I've wanted a maple/gum jazz set with diecast hoops for a while, and I thought the only way to get that would be through the DW Jazz series. But I found that the New Classics have those attributes, for half the price. You add in the tube lugs, the virgin bass, and a floor tom that has memory locks on the legs and you the rest of the qualities that I've wanted in a drumset for years now.

The drums are of the quality that you expect from Gretsch. The hardware is top notch, and the bearing edges are flawless, ALTHOUGH, the 8x12 tom that original came with the set had a small dip in the bearing edge. It didn't affect tuning, it was just a flaw that I'm not going to except on a kit of this price. Gretsch mailed me a replacement, no questions asked, and allowed me to keep the flawed drum until it arrived. The pics below are of the new tom. It, like the rest of the kit, is flawless. I should mention that the finish, although similar to the Gretsch Catalina Jazz has more of a vintage "yellow" tinge to it in comparison.

Here are the specs: *updated 9-5-07*

14x18 Bass
8x12 Tom
14x14 Floor Tom
6.5x14 Hammered Black Chrome Steel Snare (replaced my 5x14 Supra)

I also replaced/added a few Bosphorus:

10" Antique Splash (new)
15" Masters Hi-hat
19" Antique Thin Ride
21" Turk Med-Thin Ride (new, replaced my 21" New Orleans)
18" Antique Med-Thin Crash
20" Stanton Moore Trash Crash (new)

Hardware again is:

DW 6500 Flat Base Hi-hat
Gibraltar 8606 Flat Base Snare x2
Gibraltar 8610 Cymbal Stand x4
Gibraltar SC-BGC Grabber Cymbal Arm
DW 5000 Delta 3 Nylon Strap Bass Pedal

Heads:

Evans G1 Coated/Clear on 12" tom
Evans PC Reverse Dot/G1 Clear on 14" floor tom
Evans PC Reverse Dot/Hazy 300 on snare
Evans EQ4/Stock Gretsch Muffled on bass

Misc Items:

LP Black Beauty Cowbell on Gibraltar Bass Mounted Holder
Trueline Billy Ward Signature Sticks

Here is a link to some new mp3's of the kit:

http://drummerworld.com/forums/showthread.php?p=351682#post351682

http://www.handidrummed.com/tony1.jpg
http://www.handidrummed.com/tony2.jpg

[somedrummer]

Oh, what a beautiful set and setup. I know I just told you this in person, but wow. That is so cool. I want one just like it.

[Tuxido]

Ahh everything about your kit is perfect, i dont see how you could upgrade it !

[Cymbalrider]

It's about time somebody puts a nice looking kit up here. I wonder what it would be like if you put the two kits together.....just a thought.

[Ironcobra]

wow, new drums again? thats like 5 kits since i joined here in march. but this one is very beautiful, but i think i've seen in somewhere?

[fourstringdrums]

wow, new drums again? thats like 5 kits since i joined here in march. but this one is very beautiful, but i think i've seen in somewhere?

March of this year? It's only the second since March, third since the beginning of the year.

It looks a lot like my Catalina but the finish is slightly different as are the lugs.

Cymbalrider - I'm selling the Catalina but if I put them together the sound wouldn't be balanced. The drums are more resonant than the Catalina.

[the skin man]

March of this year? It's only the second since March, third since the beginning of the year.

How many do you have total?


Here is an mp3.

How did you record that?

[fourstringdrums]

How many do you have total?




How did you record that?

Right now I have 2, the New Classics and the Catalina, although I'm putting the Catalina and my Ludwig Supra up for sale soon.

I just recorded it with the video function on my digital camera. I'm going to try my the video camera I borrowed from my parents.

[Class A Drummer]

Those cymbals look soooo nice. Im also lovin the set. Every Gretsch i see makes me want one more and more.

[fourstringdrums]

What do you guys think of the drum tone on the mp3? I keep tweaking my floor tom. I keep getting a pitch bend when I record even though the bottom head was only about half a tone higher than the top. I tweaked again and tried to get them as close as possible, but I didn't record again to see if it changed anything. I'm also considering putting a G2 on the floor tom batter to focus the sound a bit more and cut down on a few overtones.

[GW Drums]

BEAUTIFUL !!!

Very classy and should only sound better with age. You have great taste my friend. This one is a keeper for sure.

[Porker69]

What can I say? every part of it is perfect, you'd make Stanton Moore proud, haha.
You might want to try an Evans Power center reverse dot on the floor. My toms are the same size and of similar tuning, and I found it perfect for a 14x14 tom.

[joeybeats]

Absolutely gorgeous kit. Also enjoyed your playing. Congratulations and ... enjoy! Joey

[fourstringdrums]

What can I say? every part of it is perfect, you'd make Stanton Moore proud, haha.
You might want to try an Evans Power center reverse dot on the floor. My toms are the same size and of similar tuning, and I found it perfect for a 14x14 tom.

Hmm, I hadn't thought of that. How would compare it to using a G1 or G2 on the floor?

[Porker69]

It's kind of a mix between a G1 and G2. Basically not as focused like a G2 and not as open as a G1, also a very warm head with a nice resonance. They make the old exports in the Berklee practice rooms sound great.

[fourstringdrums]

It's kind of a mix between a G1 and G2. Basically not as focused like a G2 and not as open as a G1, also a very warm head with a nice resonance. They make the old exports in the Berklee practice rooms sound great.

I'm just not sure. I like how the floor sounds now, but I think it might be a tad too open. I must tweak it like 5 times a day, not because it sounds bad but because I'm OCD when it comes to it *lol*

[Porker69]

I have the same thing with the Attack heads I have on my kit the 12 sounds perfect but the 14 and 16 sound good too, but I put on 1/2 of a moon gel and they turn so buttery and warm.

[fourstringdrums]

I have the same thing with the Attack heads I have on my kit the 12 sounds perfect but the 14 and 16 sound good too, but I put on 1/2 of a moon gel and they turn so buttery and warm.

Well my thing now is playing with the bottom head. I had it about a half tone higher than the top and it gave a bit of a pitch bend. I don't really care for that, so I've been trying to get the head as close as possible. I know that with a drum that size it's probably impossible to avoid pitch bend 100%.

[aydee]

Gorgeous kit, Rob, just as I expected! Beautiful classic finish! I love the natural trim on the bass drum hoops. They sound great on the MP3 . The classiness of the kit comes through in the sound. The tuning, to me, sounded a little low for your sizes. Maybe its my speakers.

To correct your pitch bend problems, try tuning head and reso to equal tones and then 'play' with 'quarter turns' on the lugs, first with the reso and then with the batter .

this should result is 'total happiness'!

[fourstringdrums]

Gorgeous kit, Rob, just as I expected! Beautiful classic finish! I love the natural trim on the bass drum hoops. They sound great on the MP3 . The classiness of the kit comes through in the sound. The tuning, to me, sounded a little low for your sizes. Maybe its my speakers.

To correct your pitch bend problems, try tuning head and reso to equal tones and then 'play' with 'quarter turns' on the lugs, first with the reso and then with the batter .

this should result is 'total happiness'!

I wound up tuning the 12" up a little higher afterwards. I want the drums to be tuned to be able to fit into most styles of music. I don't really play jazz all that much so I didn't want them to be tuned in that range that you'd expect.

So I would tune both heads to the same pitch, or as close and I can get it, and then what do you mean by play with quarter turns? I've tried many combinations and I still get a pitch bend. This is going to happen as long as one head is higher or lower right?

[aydee]

I've tried many combinations and I still get a pitch bend. This is going to happen as long as one head is higher or lower right?[/QUOTE]

Yes. Two heads equally tuned to a nice resonance, will probably give you a great sound, but perhaps with more overtones than you want. Playing lightly with the tuning ( quarter turns with the drum key), will subdue the overtone to the extent you want. If you keep going you will increase the pitch bend... thats kinda been my experience, and I'm pretty anal about tuning : )

[the skin man]

I just recorded it with the video function on my digital camera.

That's kind of surprising. The sound quality seems better than I would expect for that.

[fourstringdrums]

That's kind of surprising. The sound quality seems better than I would expect for that.

Yeah it's not bad, I just wish I had better clarity on the cymbals. You can't really hear the stick definition on my ride that well.

[drozzy]

Keep me posted about that Supraphonic. I would be interested, even in an overseas sale.

The one with tube lugs?

Cheers mate!

[Wegadrummer]

Great drums, great cymbals, great sound.. What more is there to expect! Congrats yet again fourstrings..

[fijjibo]

BLIMEY!!!!!

Thats set is even more beautiful than the last one, and I thought that was perfect.


I feel sorry for your wife though - does she let you play them in the house?
lol

[Drummer Karl]

Now as everything came in you finally make the thread. And no, I`m definitly NOT rolling my eyes...I`m really really really happy for you Rob.
The sizes are dreamy, the finish has a nice vintage look. I guess that the mp3 recording isn`t doing any justice but from what I hear the kit sounds truly amazing.

Man Rob, you`re one lucky guy. ;-)
Have fun with it!!

Karl

[byebyepanda]

Now is this your dream set? Haha.

[fourstringdrums]

Now is this your dream set? Haha.

YES, finally :)

.................

[Garvin]

fourstring, I think you and I have the same sickness. I've gone through 9 kits in the last 2 years... I'm only allowed to keep three at a time or my wife makes me sleep in the garage.

Awesome Gretsch kit! I dig that snare too.

[fourstringdrums]

fourstring, I think you and I have the same sickness. I've gone through 9 kits in the last 2 years... I'm only allowed to keep three at a time or my wife makes me sleep in the garage.

Awesome Gretsch kit! I dig that snare too.

I can only keep one at a time :) You've had more than me though. In the past 2 years I've only had 6 *lol*

[Maytridy]

Gorgeous kit dude. That is really classy.

[matt986]

Very nice!! The diamond wrap is awesome and I absolutely love your cymbal lineup. Nice to see another drummer learning the wonders of bosphorus!! Congrats on a beautiful kit!!

[radiofriendlyunitshifter]

wow, fantastic kit. i'm on my third kit in three years, but i think i'm going to be sticking with mine for a while.

it looks fantastic! don't sell it! whenever i get a pro kit down the road, i feel like i'll be sticking with gretsch if they're still making such great drums.

you have good taste rob.

[fourstringdrums]

wow, fantastic kit. i'm on my third kit in three years, but i think i'm going to be sticking with mine for a while.

it looks fantastic! don't sell it! whenever i get a pro kit down the road, i feel like i'll be sticking with gretsch if they're still making such great drums.

you have good taste rob.

No way, I'm keeping this. YES I KNOW, I've said that before, but honestly, I can't get any better than this, so if I sell it, I really will never be happy.

[drovja]

I'm..... jealous is the word. I'm jealous. :D

[fourstringdrums]

I got a new toy for recording. Here is a better representation of what the drums sound like.

http://drummerworld.com/forums/showthread.php?p=351682#post351682

[Victor_se]

nice kit you have there.....

nice cymbals too

what are you into?......jazz?

[fourstringdrums]

nice kit you have there.....

nice cymbals too

what are you into?......jazz?

A little bit, but mostly I'm into funk and light rock.

[Lance69]

How much was this kit? Is it a lot better than the catalina club jazz set that you had before?

Im thinkin of getting a gretsch drum set, but I cant decide between the two? The catalina club jazz or the new classic... And I think the new classic is like super expensive too

[fourstringdrums]

How much was this kit? Is it a lot better than the catalina club jazz set that you had before?

Im thinkin of getting a gretsch drum set, but I cant decide between the two? The catalina club jazz or the new classic... And I think the new classic is like super expensive too

The New Classics were $1700 from MassMusic.net, but I got free shipping, and I got a $300 credit that I used to buy the snare.

I still have the Catalinas. I'm going to keep them as a backup kit if I ever play with anyone and have to leave a kit at a rehearsal space, or if I play a place where I don't want to bring the New Classics for whatever reason.

Quality wise, they're both great sets. Obviously the NC's have the better shells, lugs, diecast hoops and I believe the wrap may be a bit more durable. The Catalina has a different tone than the NC's, being that they're Mahogany. I'd say that it has more of a mellow, muted tone, while the NC's have more resonance with slightly more attack.

If you can afford the NC's, I'd get them. You'll have a set of drums for life. If you can't or really dont' want to spend the money, go for the Catalinas. They are very well put together, have great bearing edges, solid hardware just the same, and sound great for a kit in its price range. I'm happy to have them as a backup kit.

[fourstringdrums]

I added a crash to my setup and moved my splash onto a Gibraltar Grabber arm. The crash is an 18" Bosphorus Antique Med-Thin.

http://www.handidrummed.com/tony1.jpg
http://www.handidrummed.com/tony2.jpg
http://%5Dwww.handidrummed.com/tony2.jpg

[KONA]

Hi again.
I just had a read through this thread and enjoyed it. Like I said in my email to earlier; I really like your drums - good choice there. The finish is just beautiful. Yes - I would say it's a "keeper" for sure. At least thats' what I'd do if I had your kit. Your music demos sounded good. I really listened closely to the kit and pictured it being played - I always liked Gretsch drums.

Keep in touch. And I'll let you know the outcome of my bent hoop adventure.

Cheers,

Kona

[ddrumbum]

*edit* I have some new mp3's of this kit http://drummerworld.com/forums/showthread.php?p=351682#post351682

I know that a lot of you are groaning and rolling your eyes. Gruntersdad called in my last gear thread when he said it would be a month before I got another set and he was right, literally, give or take a week *lol*

So here it is, a Gretsch New Classic (first one on the forum I think?) in Ivory Marine Pearl. The set has the same sizes as my Catalina Club Jazz. The reason why I bought them was because, well, my wife let me get away with it. I've wanted a maple/gum jazz set with diecast hoops for a while, and I thought the only way to get that would be through the DW Jazz series. But I found that the New Classics have those attributes, for half the price. You add in the tube lugs, the virgin bass, and a floor tom that has memory locks on the legs and you the rest of the qualities that I've wanted in a drumset for years now.

The drums are of the quality that you expect from Gretsch. The hardware is top notch, and the bearing edges are flawless, ALTHOUGH, the 8x12 tom that original came with the set had a small dip in the bearing edge. It didn't affect tuning, it was just a flaw that I'm not going to except on a kit of this price. Gretsch mailed me a replacement, no questions asked, and allowed me to keep the flawed drum until it arrived. The pics below are of the new tom. It, like the rest of the kit, is flawless. I should mention that the finish, although similar to the Gretsch Catalina Jazz has more of a vintage "yellow" tinge to it in comparison.

Here are the specs: *updated 9-5-07*

14x18 Bass
8x12 Tom
14x14 Floor Tom
6.5x14 Hammered Black Chrome Steel Snare (replaced my 5x14 Supra)

I also replaced/added a few Bosporus:

10" Antique Splash (new)
15" Masters Hi-hat
19" Antique Thin Ride
21" Turk Med-Thin Ride (new, replaced my 21" New Orleans)
18" Antique Med-Thin Crash
20" Stanton Moore Trash Crash (new)

Hardware again is:

DW 6500 Flat Base Hi-hat
Gibraltar 8606 Flat Base Snare x2
Gibraltar 8610 Cymbal Stand x4
Gibraltar SC-BGC Grabber Cymbal Arm
DW 5000 Delta 3 Nylon Strap Bass Pedal

Heads:

Evans G1 Coated/Clear on 12" tom
Evans PC Reverse Dot/G1 Clear on 14" floor tom
Evans PC Reverse Dot/Hazy 300 on snare
Evans EQ4/Stock Gretsch Muffled on bass

Misc Items:

LP Black Beauty Cowbell on Gibraltar Bass Mounted Holder
Trueline Billy Ward Signature Sticks

Here is a link to some new mp3's of the kit:

http://drummerworld.com/forums/showthread.php?p=351682#post351682

http://www.handidrummed.com/tony1.jpg
http://www.handidrummed.com/tony2.jpg

GORGEOUS KIT MAN, I love them and your cymbal set-up, so how do those cymbals sound? I have never heard them before.

[fourstringdrums]

GORGEOUS KIT MAN, I love them and your cymbal set-up, so how do those cymbals sound? I have never heard them before.

I made a quick mp3 of the cymbals. The recorder didn't pick up my voice that well because it was a few feet away and I wasn't talking loud enough, so in editing I had to raise the volume a bit, although it sometimes cut into the cymbal sound, so there are some sudden bursts of volume when I transition from talking to playing. After that it sounds good though.

www.handidrummed.com/bosphorus_test.mp3 (http://www.handidrummed.com/bosphorus_test.mp3)

[bonzolead]

Are the new classics made in USA?the catalina line is made overseas I know just curious if the new classics are american made.beautiful kit nevertheless.

Bonzolead

[fourstringdrums]

Are the new classics made in USA?the catalina line is made overseas I know just curious if the new classics are american made.beautiful kit nevertheless.

Bonzolead

I heard, and maybe someone can correct me, that they are made in the U.S. as far as the shells go but assembled in Taiwain.

[ddrumbum]

I made a quick mp3 of the cymbals. The recorder didn't pick up my voice that well because it was a few feet away and I wasn't talking loud enough, so in editing I had to raise the volume a bit, although it sometimes cut into the cymbal sound, so there are some sudden bursts of volume when I transition from talking to playing. After that it sounds good though.

www.handidrummed.com/bosphorus_test.mp3 (http://www.handidrummed.com/bosphorus_test.mp3)

Not to bad sounding, but I think I prefer my Zildjians, but they sound nice, I did however really like the hats, they sounded very good.

[Raymond Bloom]

maaan...


everything there looks just perfect!! Great choice of cymbals and drums, I'm so getting that Stanton Moore trash/crash, amazing cymbal!


Did I say you have one awsome drum-set? :-)

[ECVail]

Rob - did you pick up that 18" Antique Med-Thin from Jamie at Saluda's eBay store?

[fourstringdrums]

Rob - did you pick up that 18" Antique Med-Thin from Jamie at Saluda's eBay store?

No, just like all my other drugs, er, cymbals, I got it from Tony at www.cymbalsonly.com.