Gretsch Catalina Birch

[stickers]

Why oh why when I decide I want a new kit. It seems the one I want is discontinued.

I really like the sound of gretch catalina birch. The 20 kick is damn punchy but its hard to find.

One is on ebay but includes hardware I dont need, over priced and located faraway in western canada. GRRR!

anyways, i'm looking for a birch kit with these dimensions:
8x10
14x14
16x20

Price range: $500-800

Any suggestions?

[boomboomda]

Yes that's right they discontinued it, does anybody know why?
Were the sales too low on the birch kits?
I bought mine January 2006 but I have a 22" bass drum.
Just keep looking on ebay they pop up ones in awhile there.
Here is a picture of mine.

[Dystisis]

Nice, one thing though, that 8" tom, aint it mounted a bit high? I got a similar setup on my Maple kit, and having a problem getting that tom in the right position, angle-wise... if anyone got any advise please let me know.

[boomboomda]

Nice, one thing though, that 8" tom, aint it mounted a bit high? I got a similar setup on my Maple kit, and having a problem getting that tom in the right position, angle-wise... if anyone got any advise please let me know.

No not all, I can reach the 8 tom very easily, it may look like it from that view, but when you sit behind the kit it is not bad at all.
I have the same kit in my avatar, there you can see a driver seat view.

[GRUNTERSDAD]

Look to me like it just needs to be lowered. Here is mine.

[stickers]

who offers the best price for custom ordered birch drums?

ludwig, pearl, yamaha...??

remember I just want:

8x10 tom
14x14 floor tom
16x20 kick

can I pull it off for $800?

[razorx]

I went over to massmusic.net and clicked on the ludwig classic birch. I then selected all the sizes you wanted under individual drums. The total came to 939. ill see if i can find anything cheaper.

[razorx]

pdp has a birch kit but not in the sizes you would like. I wouldnt get it after all of the horror stories ive read on here aboud pdp.

[razorx]

yamaha is way out of your price range and so is the tama starclassic performer.

[razorx]

So i just looked at every drum manuafacturor availible on massmusic.net and you could get a mapex m birch for about 905. id just expand you budget just a little.

[stickers]

nice..939 seems like a decent price for new Luddies. Although the natural finishes are a little more. damz.

but still its 3 times less than DWs.

[razorx]

Yea i know. The yamaha bass drum was like 1000.

[stickers]

For a new Kit the luddies seem to be the best deal for quality vs price. But ill keep my eye on ebay for a little longer (a month or 2) and try to grab a catalina birch with a 20 inch kick. If not ill get the ludwigs.

[razorx]

For a new Kit the luddies seem to be the best deal for quality vs price. But ill keep my eye on ebay for a little longer (a month or 2) and try to grab a catalina birch with a 20 inch kick. If not ill get the ludwigs.

keep in mind that they are special order and take eight to twelve weeks for delivery. I think that if you order from massmusic they will give you the best price out there.

[metal overlord]

keep in mind that they are special order and take eight to twelve weeks for delivery. I think that if you order from massmusic they will give you the best price out there.


Remember, they might sell lowest market price, but that doesn't mean their shipping is cheap either. They might have a really expencive shipping to make up for selling the product for the lowest market price.

[fourstringdrums]

Remember, they might sell lowest market price, but that doesn't mean their shipping is cheap either. They might have a really expencive shipping to make up for selling the product for the lowest market price.

Mass Music has free shipping on their kits, not so sure about when you buy individual drums. But I've ordered a lot from them and their shipping rates have been fine. Nothing out of the ordinary.

[stickers]

So good news..

I went to a local music store that is an authorized ludwig dealer and got pricing.

Ludwig classic birch

16x20 (virgin)
8x10
14x14

with a wrap $807
with a laquer $924

and that's out the door no taxes (nh) and no shipping costs. woot

I might do it. The only downside I see with the classic series is that all the shells are 7 ply and I would like to see the kick be 9 ply. oh well.

[stickers]

Now the dilemma... what finish to get!!!

http://www.ludwig-drums.com/archive/content/products/maple/finishes.php

I was thinking champagne or blue sparkle for a wrap

or if I wanted to spend a little more a Cherry or Mahogany stain. (Although I wish they had Walnut which to my eyes looks in between cherry and mahogany)

[stickers]

The order is in baby!

3pc Ludwig Classic Birch in Blue Sparkle

16x20 Bass Drum (virgin)
8x10 Rack Tom
14x14 Floor Tom

Bottom line $807

Now it's an 8-12 week wait. And I was told it could be an even shorter wait.

[KarlCrafton]

Nice!
I got a Ludwig Classic Maple Red Sparkle kit this year, and the wrap was done really nicely.

Blue sparkle is a pretty cool finish, and you don't see it much anymore--at least I don't.
Have fun with it!