Thank you wifee!

[tizzdizz]

I have been playing on the same old Pearl Exports for about 7 years now, and they're starting to show their age. I have wanted to upgrade for a long time, but couldn't really afford it. Well, my wife decided she was tired of watching me oggle drum sets online all day and wish I had new ones, so she told me she wanted to get me a new kit for Christmas. I searched high and low, all over the web, and even researched what certain kits sounded like on youtube and in whatever audio/video I could find of them. I tried certain ones out in stores, and couldn't find anything I really wanted for the $800 level I was going for. She surprised me one day by saying that I had a $2000 limit, so I changed what I was looking at, and fell in love with this kit the other day. Found it at Guitar Center, and it's different enough that I don't see it everywhere. It sings like mad, and looks beautiful too. Here's what I picked up for $1975:

Gretsch Renown 5 piece in Cherryburst

18 x 22 came with EMAD batter head
7 x 8
8 x 10
9 x 12
14 x 14 All toms came with G2 clears

3 single tom arms
3 clamps

10" Zildjian A splash
17" K hybrid crash
14" Sabian Tosco light hats (great sound!)


So, I'm looking to sell a ' 98 pearl export kit cheap. It has been refinished by me, and looks pretty good. 22x16", 12x10", 13x11", 16x16", and I have an extra 10x8" Remo Mastertouch tom that is pretty close to the same color as the rest of the kit. I have the steel snare that came with the kit, but it hasn't been used in a while, and I haven't been able to find the rims for it.

I also have a few cymbals that I won't be keeping. (13" Sabian Paragon Hi hats, 10" Sabian AAX splash, broken 22" Sabian AA china, no-name CB-style 16" crash). I'd be willing to get rid of all of it for a song, or individual stuff if you want anything in particular. Send me a PM and let's make a deal!


Anyway, onto the pictures.

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b58/tizzdizz/Gretsch%20Renown/DSC07604.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b58/tizzdizz/Gretsch%20Renown/DSC07613.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b58/tizzdizz/Gretsch%20Renown/DSC07618.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b58/tizzdizz/Gretsch%20Renown/DSC07620.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b58/tizzdizz/Gretsch%20Renown/DSC07619.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b58/tizzdizz/Gretsch%20Renown/DSC07625.jpg

Old Kit for sale:
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b58/tizzdizz/Refinish%20Drums/DSC02732.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b58/tizzdizz/new%20cymbals/DSC06844.jpg

[drum.lad]

your wife is very kind are you allowed play them before christmas i wouldnt be able to help myself.never heard of thoe hats before how they sound

[tizzdizz]

Thanks man.

I had never heard of them either, but I went around the cymbal room testing out hihats and these were just the right weight and sound for me. They're light, which makes them responsive to my soft hitting. My old Paragons were nice but too heavy for my taste. These were about half the cost of the paragons, at $160 for the pair. I don't know much about the brand, other than it's an offshoot of Sabian that uses different techniques to manufacture their cymbals. I liked these better than most of the $250/350 pairs of hihats in the room.

[GRUNTERSDAD]

Man that is cool. I have that exact set color and all. You will be in heaven, believe me. You now have two winners, the wife and the Gretsch Renown. And of course I love the Cherry Burst. I like how you put the 12 inch tom down on the side. I have mine with three over the bass and the 14 on the floor. Very nice.

[aydee]

Now, only if we had a www.drummerswivesworld.com, I could get your wife to put in a good word about maple snares to my wife, and that would make 2 happy campers instead of just 1.

[NIMBY]

awesome setup youve got going there, and that kit is straight-out sweet!
much of a difference going from the exports to that beast?

[Drumsword]

Excellent set man, kudos to the wife as well, Mine bought me a set of Gretsch catalina maples this year for Christmas.

Congrats, Pete, aka drumsword.

[stasz]

Man I keep seeing guys buying these beautiful Gretsch drums popping up everywhere... I might just go crazy if I don't get my hands on one.

Well your new kit is awesome! Have fun playing those babies.

[Lynchie]

TizzDizz
Can you send one more picture of your set in a different format? I can't seem to open them and I'm dying to check 'em out!

ALSO...let us know how they sound and if your decision meets your expectations!

[GRUNTERSDAD]

Lynchie, here is a sound file of mine, same exact kit, if you are interested,

http://www.drummerworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=33823

Open the link, click on the MP3 file.

[rmandelbaum]

Awesome kit!

Here is a thought, if you can afford it, do not sell the other kit. You may find a need to leave a kit at a rehearsal studio or to drag to gigs. It would be a shame to beat up that beautiful new kit.

[Lynchie]

Gruntersdad,
Checked your sound clip as soon as I saw it on the forum! Nice!!! Anytime I see something regarding the Gretsch Renowns I'm drawn to it because I considering that set for myself! Thanks though for spotting my request and delivering the direction (In case I would have missed it).

[Deathmetalconga]

Wow! Your wife got you a drumset - and it's a nice one.

You must be really, really nice to her from now on - you must be already to get treated like this!

[jayp]

I AM ENVIOUS OF YOUR WOMAN!

Thats all...

BTW nice kit.

[SLEEPY BRiGHT EYEZ]

Nice! Gotta love the wife. I was doing the same thing at the beginning of this year- oogling kits online until my wife finally told me off to get one. hahah Have fun!

[PdoubleE]

you my man.. Are a lucky man!! I basically just lost my gal to my new kit.(It was long awaited.. she wanted me to choose in less words.. Her or the music) I played on an export select for about 7 years also.. and I actually just upgraded my kit... That renown is a big upgrade from that export eh?

[beefythedrummer]

That's a great gift lol. That kit looks sweet, as well as all your cymbals. Since I got a new job I've been looking for new kits, and I think I'm going to go Gretsch as well.

Props on the new set. But the real question is if she's expecting anything in return jk

[punkdrummer1]

very nice kit man. Thank that wife of yours, how thoughtful of her. I think she just wanted to get you to pay more attention to her, not the drum porn on ebay ;)

ah ha ha, congrats man. I love the kit :D

[Big_Philly]

I love that kit, and your wife! Too bad she's already married... ;)

[tizzdizz]

Yeah, well I got her tickets to Disneyland, and I wrote a song for her, plus some other gifts. It might not be the same money-wise, but I try to reciprocate in my own way. Thanks for all the kind words guys. She's read the thread, and is tickled pink!

[svkelleher10]

DUDE!

You got that sick Axis pedal that's like a million dollars.

How is that thing? I dont know of anyone who has those but Roddy.

[tizzdizz]

The axis is fast and smooth. It takes some getting used to. I'm also not a metal player, so I might have jumped the gun on buying it. Either way though, I like it now that I've had it for a while. My foot chops are not all that strong, so I need to work on them, but it's a great pedal with lots of adjustments possible. It wasn't all that expensive, and I didn't think they were all that uncommon. Thanks man :)

[Trip McNealy]

that's a beautiful finish on the new set!!!

I too tried that Axis pedal in GC... it IS very smooth and I believe it's Direct Drive (not chain). I was tempted to buy it but couldn't justify it right now :)