Got it early today, didn't spend too much time putting it together or tuning at all, I plan on new heads anyway, at least reso's and probably a EMAD and cut a port hole for miking and to let it breathe...never liked the beater bouncing off feel. I just threw on my old reliable Camco pedal, I still love that pedal, maybe because it was the first real pedal I ever bought many a years ago. I even brought out my old Pearl high hat stand off of my boys drumset that has some old school 14" Zildjian A's on it, I might actually use these on my gig next week, they are a bit quiter than my Z's I normally use with my bigger Tama Rockstar kit.
First Impressions...beautiful! I dont regret getting the color as of now. Truth be told, my oldest son loves Red, and he will want this kit one day so that helped make my decision. Again, I didn't spend but about 5 min just rough tuning this, but one thing I know i'm gonna love is the snare. It sounds pretty awesome right now, I cant wait until I get the heads I want on it. The floor tom will tune up nicely, the 12", I have my doubts about getting it sounding right, but I will hold of on commenting on that until I get some good reso's on there and maybe change out the batters too. Its like anything new you buy, it takes quite a bit of tweaking but that' the nature of the beast. I had to downsize this pics, Ill get more, and take some from the gig next Saturday the 13'th.
I have to say, I was leaning toward the Tama Silverstar, but I looked at a 5 piece Silverstar kit at my local dealer a few days back. I was impressed by the shells, the wrap, but the hoops look like dog crap. Grinding marks on the snare hoops, very noticeable. It seems like the hoops are getting crappier all the time on some kits. Then I get my Gretsch kit today. hoops and all the hardware, amaizing, dam near perfect. For the 200 extra this kit was, it was worth it. I'm more a fan of birch drums which is what the Silverstar is, but when I took into consideration the snare was lacking in the Silverstar a bit sound wise, I would have wanted a Starclassic snare of a SLP Bubinga snare upgrade, then maybe some better hoops, that would have made the Silverstar purchase up to a grand or just under with some good heads to go with that one too. I paid 799.00 for the Gretsch and I only have to upgrade heads...no brainer! I would have loved the Silverstar just as much I bet, besides the cosmedic's of the chrome hoops...and I already have a big Tama kit and lots of Tama stands and hardware so inter changing stuff would have been a breeze...always pro's and con's!
Lastly, I ordered a Dixson bass drum lift. I got the first version, its a bit taller and more designed for 16 and 18 inch kick drums. I did put on the Gibralter riser, seems to work fine, although I didn't put on my DW 5002 double on it either yet. I'm not sure ill even use on this set, the Camco just seems so at home on this. Of course Ill say that now, then miss using it for quick quad fills on crashes here and there in certain songs or using in songs I need the double pedals for just to play it right. Anyway, As of right now, ZERO regrets getting this kit! I hope Ill be saying this next Sunday at 1:30 AM when were done playing! Oh yeah, one last thing, there is no way in hell this is going anywhere without bags. Im heading to Guitar Center tomorrow or Monday and getting 4 Gator bags or something. It wont get treated like my Rockstar and not care about battle wounds traveling to and from gigs...this Gretsch deserves better. Again, I'll get better pics up soon!