Which drum set?

[moonfire298]

Hey, I'm trying to decide on what I should upgrade to for an intermediate level kit. Which drum set do you guys think would be better?

Gretsch Catalina Maple or a PDP MX or CX
Thanks!

[fourstringdrums]

Hey, I'm trying to decide on what I should upgrade to for an intermediate level kit. Which drum set do you guys think would be better?

Gretsch Catalina Maple or a PDP MX or CX
Thanks!

Gretsch Catalina Maple all the way. The Gretsch is much better in terms of quality IMO.

[GRUNTERSDAD]

I think a Taye Pro-X set would be better all around and save you some money, but I am biased.

[pasta]

Agree with the Taye rec!

[Class A Drummer]

Gretsch definitley. They are so nice. Im probably going to buy a catalina or renown as my next set... Which may be a loooong time from now.

[Norske]

Given those choices, definitely Gretsch. If you compared them side by side, even lifting them for weight, close inspection of the shells and rims, etc., the Gretsch is higher quality IMHO.

And I am not prejudiced because I own a Gretsch kit -- I don't. I have just done an awful lot of comparison shopping in the last year or so.

[aydee]

this would be my consideration set- Gretsch Calatina, Gretsch Renowns, Taye, Sonor 3007

[The Ploughman]

Buy a used high end set for about the same money. You will have to shop, be patient, wait for the sizes you want, dont lock yourself into it having to be one certain color, and grab it up.

[aydee]

Buy a used high end set for about the same money. You will have to shop, be patient, wait for the sizes you want, dont lock yourself into it having to be one certain color, and grab it up.

If you consider a used set, be sure to check for damage to the bearing edges. Its something people forget, or neglect to do.

[Jusstickinaround]

Hey, I'm trying to decide on what I should upgrade to for an intermediate level kit. Which drum set do you guys think would be better?

Gretsch Catalina Maple or a PDP MX or CX


Thanks!

When I was searching for a new kit I tried the Gretsch Catalina maple. The stock heads are crap, you would need to replace them, the tom arms wouldn't rotate enough for me to get the position I wanted, the snare and kick both had eight lugs.

The Pacific kit came with good heads, the tom arm rotates more freely, both snare and kick have ten lugs. I'd go with the Pacific maple kit any day over the Gretsch, the Pacific kit sounds almost identical to a DW, now ofcourse for the price the drums aren't as precise as a DW, but it's the sound that matters. I'm so glad I bought a Pacific over the Gretsch or any other mid-priced kit. These are pro quality kits, everything works great, they sound great, and they are well made..

[moonfire298]

Thanks for the suggestions, but as for the Taye, I'd rather stick to Gretsch, Pacific, or Pearl. I could possibly have enough money to be able to get Gretsch Renowns but the thing is, I'm upgrading from a Pearl Forum (my first kit) and I didn't really want such a high-end kit yet. In my mind, I'm not good enough for it yet and I don't even have a band to play with.

It seems though that if I get the Gretsch Catalina Maple, there aren't any add ons available and I eventually wanted to have an 8" tom. Plus, the color choices aren't really that great.

So, it looks like I may be looking at a PDP more closely. The problem is that none of the stores around me stock PDPs so I can't try one there. They did say that they could order anything I wanted though. So, anyway, I was wondering if you guys could tell me more about any quality issues with the drums and hardware from pdp, or if I should just look at pdps with different hardware. Thanks a lot!

[fourstringdrums]

If you can save up for the Renowns, I would get them. You may not feel like you're good enough from them yet, but you'll change your mind as you improve and have a kit that you can have for the rest of your life.

Catalina Maples do have addons..what sizes were you looking for?

PDP quality issues have basically revolved around bad bearing edges and gaps in the shell seams. Though I believe that as of late they've improved their quality control. The hardware isn't that bad. I'd only upgrade the pedals.

[moonfire298]

I was looking for an 8" tom to add on and I thought you could only get the free 16x16.
If I get the Renowns now, I'd have no money for cymbals too but do you think it would really be worth it to go ahead and spend all my money on the Renowns now and just build up my cymbals later. The price I was offered for the Renowns was $1,699 with hardware and a double bass pedal. Does that seem like a good deal?

[fourstringdrums]

I was looking for an 8" tom to add on and I thought you could only get the free 16x16.
If I get the Renowns now, I'd have no money for cymbals too but do you think it would really be worth it to go ahead and spend all my money on the Renowns now and just build up my cymbals later. The price I was offered for the Renowns was $1,699 with hardware and a double bass pedal. Does that seem like a good deal?

You can order a separate 8" tom for the Catalina, they're just not offering it for free with the kit.

What condition are your cymbals in now? If they're in no dire need of upgrading, I would just do it later. You can also look for a used Renown. They are on Ebay all the time.

How big is the Renown for $1700? That seems about right for a 5 piece with hardware which is a good price. Is it Gibraltar hardware?

[moonfire298]

My cymbals are all beginner and a mix of brands so I wanted to upgrade eventually.

The Renowns are 10, 12, and 14 toms with an 18x22 bass and a matching 14x5 snare. The hardware is Gibralter 5600 I think, with a double bass pedal. Are you sure about ordering other toms? I looked on the Gretsch website and didn't see any availble for the catalina maples.

[aydee]

My cymbals are all beginner and a mix of brands so I wanted to upgrade eventually.

The Renowns are 10, 12, and 14 toms with an 18x22 bass and a matching 14x5 snare. The hardware is Gibralter 5600 I think, with a double bass pedal. Are you sure about ordering other toms? I looked on the Gretsch website and didn't see any availble for the catalina maples.

I see you zoning in on the Renowns....good instincts, my friend. A Good idea to work on getting good cymbals, good drums, even if you cant have them all instantly or at the same time.

That kit can blow a lots of other kits, literally twice its price, out of the water.

[moonfire298]

Does anyone know anything about the Gretsch Catalina Ash and how they sound compared to the Catalina Maples?

[Jusstickinaround]

Thanks for the suggestions, but as for the Taye, I'd rather stick to Gretsch, Pacific, or Pearl. I could possibly have enough money to be able to get Gretsch Renowns but the thing is, I'm upgrading from a Pearl Forum (my first kit) and I didn't really want such a high-end kit yet. In my mind, I'm not good enough for it yet and I don't even have a band to play with.

It seems though that if I get the Gretsch Catalina Maple, there aren't any add ons available and I eventually wanted to have an 8" tom. Plus, the color choices aren't really that great.

So, it looks like I may be looking at a PDP more closely. The problem is that none of the stores around me stock PDPs so I can't try one there. They did say that they could order anything I wanted though. So, anyway, I was wondering if you guys could tell me more about any quality issues with the drums and hardware from pdp, or if I should just look at pdps with different hardware. Thanks a lot!

OK, look I've had a kit from almost every big drum company over the past ten years from Yamaha to Premier to Pearl to Fibes to Sonor to Gretsch and vintage kits from Ludwig and Rogers. I know a little of what I'm talking about, the PDP kit is without a doubt one of the best sounding kits I've owned. I checked all the bearing edges and found no faults, the toms tune up easily and the hardware especially on the toms is just like DW's. They have a lot of finishes to choose from, either wrapped or laquered. The best part is the price, it's amazing to me that a kit that looks and sounds this good is under $1,000.

I'm telling you the PDP is by far the best kit for the money, don't worry about the quality control issues, inspect it before you buy it, that goes for any kit. Good luck on your quest.
Here's a couple phtos of the snare.
http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/2410/0907072338editedas3.jpg
http://img480.imageshack.us/img480/8635/0907072344editedla8.jpg

[Butch Axsmith]

After many years Exp. SONOR would be
the drum set for me.... ////
Butch Axsmith

[moonfire298]

Thanks for all the help guys but I think I have enough money to go with the Gretsch Renown Maple kit now. I'm going to go try it out soon and see if I like it. If not, I'll try to find a store where I can check out the PDPs near here too.

[Jusstickinaround]

Thanks for all the help guys but I think I have enough money to go with the Gretsch Renown Maple kit now. I'm going to go try it out soon and see if I like it. If not, I'll try to find a store where I can check out the PDPs near here too.

One other thing to consider, the Gretsch Renowm Maple kit is made in China, and the PDP in Mexico. I honestly believe the PDP kit sounds as good if not better than the Gretsch kit and for a better price. I saw a maple kit at GC in a sunburst type finish with a 10,12,14,16.14,22 that they would sell for $999. I bought my kit that is wrapped for $675, it's the same maple shells they use on the DW's only without the reinforcement hoops.