Gretsch Catalina Club w/ Upgrades info needed!

[joshuacreamer97]

I am a drummer who currently is playing a maple kit in 22", 12", 13", 14" and 14" sizes. This kit sounds good with jazz, but I want to get a jazz kit. The Gretsch Cat Club is very afforable, so how would that sound with Fiberskyn 3 heads? Also the kit will probaly be getting some heavy gigging, so how will the tom mount and floor legs stand up? I will be using pro hardware for everything else.


or would u reccomend the sonor jungle kit

[harryconway]

The sizes you have already contain 12" rack and 14" floor. Might want to consider just getting a smaller kick. For what it is, in the below $1K range, the Catalina is a very good kit. Mind you, "that great Gretsch Sound" is a corporate slogan now, built on the reputation of a drum set like this http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-60s-GRETSCH-Round-Badge-DRUMS-3pc-SPARKLE-NR_W0QQitemZ280200666028QQihZ018QQcategoryZ64439QQ ssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem which is one of the ultimate jazz kits. A vintage 18, 12, 14 Gretsch kit. Already at $4.5K. The Catalina is quite a popular Guitar Center special. Good drums, but totally disposable just because of the number of kits being sold right now. Here's another round badge http://cgi.ebay.com/GRETSCH-ROUND-BADGE-DRUM-SET-SILVER-12-16-20_W0QQitemZ320218639193QQihZ011QQcategoryZ64439QQ ssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem a "players" kit for sure. 20, 12, 16. $799, but who knows what it will sell for. Thing is, it's a round badge and it will always hold it's value. The Sonor Jungle kit is a great little. Well, except for the "funky" snare. Certainly will hold it's value better than the Catalina.

[44Ronin]

The sizes you have already contain 12" rack and 14" floor. Might want to consider just getting a smaller kick. For what it is, in the below $1K range, the Catalina is a very good kit. Mind you, "that great Gretsch Sound" is a corporate slogan now, built on the reputation of a drum set like this http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-60s-GRETSCH-Round-Badge-DRUMS-3pc-SPARKLE-NR_W0QQitemZ280200666028QQihZ018QQcategoryZ64439QQ ssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem which is one of the ultimate jazz kits. A vintage 18, 12, 14 Gretsch kit. Already at $4.5K. The Catalina is quite a popular Guitar Center special. .

The higher end gretsch certainly have a unique vibe. Nothing on the market sounds like them.

[Shedboyxx]

I have an old '80's Gretsch maple kit and play on a Gretsch Catalina Jazz at my church.

I agree with 44Ronin in that the higher end Gretsch's do have a vibe. When I bought mine, there was no division of lines. Just Gretsch. It sounds like that too.

However, my set is a traditional 12-13-16-22 size kit and just doesn't work well for the jazz bebop gigs that come up every so often for me. I have no problem recommending the Catalina Jazz as a jazz kit. It has all the great warmer vintage tones you could want. Just not quite as cool as the USA Customs. :)

My feeling is that if you are a dyed in the wool jazzer , save the pennies up and get the best. However if you are just doing the occasional jazz gig, you'd have a hard time beating the value of this little kit. I would recommend using a different snare although the one that comes with it is very serviceable.

The Fiberskyns would work fine on that kit - if you like that sound. The only thought I had was that the kit is pretty warm already. I think coated single plies are best as they have a bit more high end to give in m,y experience. Aquarian Satin TC's are what I use but Remo Ambassadors or Evans G1's are fine as well.

FWIW: I'm a fan of the kit and would probably own one now if I had the room to store it(I don't). It's just too cool a set for the price.

Jim