Let's see your Gretsch kits (saved the best for last!)

[pearlygates]

^^^ for $400 bux! Even if you hate the ZBTs. THAT my friend is a dealio!

[victoriousmusic]

WOW,
these are some awesome kits guys! Gretch has such great variety too..awesome.
I've only had my set for 2 days now and don't yet have my cymbals. I'll go ahead and post a few pics of the drums until I get the rest. I'm getting rid of the edrums on my avatar.
My 1st kit I had for 25 years was 70's Slingerland in chrome with zil A cymbals, new beat hat. I sold it a few years ago due to my disability. This is my 1st brand new kit..
I will post more pics when I get the rest, my Saluda's and toys! I had to resize my pics so I hope they look okay on here..sorry if not.
Melinda

[pearlygates]

Originally Posted by Kothlow

I had to tame the floor tom down a little with a cut down e-ring though.

Just caught this...What do you mean.."cut down e-ring"?

[pearlygates]

Originally Posted by victoriousmusic

WOW,
these are some awesome kits guys! Gretch has such great variety too..awesome.
I've only had my set for 2 days now and don't yet have my cymbals. I'll go ahead and post a few pics of the drums until I get the rest. I'm getting rid of the edrums on my avatar.
My 1st kit I had for 25 years was 70's Slingerland in chrome with zil A cymbals, new beat hat. I sold it a few years ago due to my disability. This is my 1st brand new kit..
I will post more pics when I get the rest, my Saluda's and toys! I had to resize my pics so I hope they look okay on here..sorry if not.
Melinda

Hellow Melinda!

You and I have the same kit! I just picked one of these up last night.
Great drums btw. Gretsch really knows how to build a great kit. From beginner to pro, they are all good. I am thinking about some head swaps. I like the G1 coateds on the toms, but the snare head and kick will no doubt be swapped soon. I am using my kit for rehearsal and gigging duties and think this kit will be seeing alot of use! I am also considering re-wrapping the shells as I am not real wild about the design, but Gretsch was blowing this finish out..so what I paid for them, I guess I can't complain too much.

I will post some pix as soon as I have everything tweek'd and set up proper.

Peace.

[Kothlow]

Just caught this...What do you mean.."cut down e-ring"?

Can't wait to see some pictures of your kit Yamahamer.
About the cut down e-ring, I bought an Evans E-ring for my 16" floor tom, but I found the ring dampened it waaay too much, so I cut it to abot 1/2" thick. Probably would have been easier to buy moongels, but oh well. I already had the e-ring.

[GRUNTERSDAD]

Did you try detuning the reso head?

[pearlygates]

Originally Posted by Kothlow

Can't wait to see some pictures of your kit Yamahamer.
About the cut down e-ring, I bought an Evans E-ring for my 16" floor tom, but I found the ring dampened it waaay too much, so I cut it to abot 1/2" thick. Probably would have been easier to buy moongels, but oh well. I already had the e-ring.

I should have some pix up this weekend.
I have been messing around with tuning and find that these drums need no dampening.
Very full and resonant. The 5 lug 12 inch rack tom takes a little fussing, but once it's there..it's THERE!
Just a great sounding set of drums! Gonna go for the Aquarian SK1 on the kick I already have an Aquarian force ll white reso head that has a 5" port..I think an SK1 would be great on this bass drum with the force ll res.
I may also try out response 2 batters and look at different resonants (toms)

Oh yeah, I slapped on a Aquarian Hienergy snare batter and the drum came to life.
I still am messing with a snare reso swap and wireset.

So far, I am lovin' 'em.

[Kothlow]

Did you try detuning the reso head?

By this do you mean tuning it higher?

[TurboThom]

I got some great compliments on the kit at a show last night. Several people commented that my kit sounded better than the other band's drummer's Pearl Masters MCX...and his kit sounded amazing. Normally I'd say it's all in the tuning...but that "Great Gretsch Sound" certainly makes it a little easier.

[pearlygates]

^^^Nice kit TT! What is it exactly...Catalina Maple/birch?

[pearlygates]

Sorry about the wonky pix, but I thought I should post these here.

[bakerboy]

Some gig pics of my Gretsch Renown (autumn burst) kit, set-up in a 4-pc configuration. Cymbals are all Zildjian: 13" K hats, 16" K Custom dark crash, 17" A Custom crash, 20" A Custom ping ride. Snare is a Ludwig Acrolite Black Galaxy

I was backing an artist named Brant Christopher (www.myspace.com/brantchristopher) down at a show in Vero Beach, FL

On to the pics....

[TurboThom]

Originally Posted by Yamahammer

^^^Nice kit TT! What is it exactly...Catalina Maple/birch?

Catalina Birch. Same one as on page 4. Depth X diameter:
7x8, 8x10, 9x12 rack toms
14x14 floor tom
18x22 bass drum
4x13 PDP snare

Here's a couple more pics....if I'm posting too many and flooding the thread with pictures, let me know and I'll change them to links instead.



And of course, the driver's seat. I'll be moving the rack toms closer when I play it later today.

[pearlygates]

Originally Posted by TurboThom

Catalina Birch. Same one as on page 4. Depth X diameter:
7x8, 8x10, 9x12 rack toms
14x14 floor tom
18x22 bass drum
4x13 PDP snare

Here's a couple more pics....if I'm posting too many and flooding the thread with pictures, let me know and I'll change them to links instead.]

And of course, the driver's seat. I'll be moving the rack toms closer when I play it later today.

Ahh, okay..I didn't put the 2 together. Catalina Birches are indeed great and for what you paid?? AWESOME! Cool set up btw!

[Kothlow]

Nice kit Yamahammer, I like your cymbal setup. How do you find the snare with the kit?

[pearlygates]

Originally Posted by Kothlow

Nice kit Yamahammer, I like your cymbal setup. How do you find the snare with the kit?

Thanks for the compliment.

I have to work on the tuning on the entire set. The stock resonant heads are poo!
I also need to replace the Attack thin skin 3 batter I got to try out on the kick..total waste of money! I have a feeling the Gretsch logo'd stock kick batter is better than this ATTACK head!
I can tell this kit has good potential..Just the heads on it now are not ideal.

This brings me to the snare. As of right now. I don't like it. It seems to have a very shallow tuning range..and favors a looser head tension..which I am not fond of. I tried putting a set of Puresound snare wires on the dooky snare side reso and it didn't respond any better. In fact it buzzed uncontrollably! Poorly cut snare bed or Krappy reso..prolly both!
I'm gonna mess with it a bit more and see if I can get a somewhat acceptable sound out of it..If not..MOTHBALLS or eBay.

The kit needs more tweeking than I expected..so far, I'm less than impressed.

[Kothlow]

Dont give up, It took me a while to get a good sound. You have to be patient, and try different tunings. I even got a good pop out of the snare somehow, and its bone stock.
Basically sat down with it, and took about an hour of messing around with it. I'm using it now over my yamaha maple snare.

Keep at it.. Evans Genera clear reso's do wonders for this kit. This may help. An Emad makes the bass thunder all the good ways as well.

[pearlygates]

Yeah, I'll give the it a chance yet.. I was expecting alot more. it is a Gretsch after all!

[wolfie]

Just bought my first Gretsch kit. A Catalina club jazz in white pearl.
All though a bugdet priced kit, I am very inpressed.
The Toms and bass sound amaizing, not so inpressed with the snare. Might have to get my Yam birch custom snare out. With out looking at it to closely it sounds like they haven't cut the snare beds properly but thats Taiwan for you.
I have a couple of gigs over the week end and then in the studio for two weeks so I'll get some photo's on here soon.

[Latin Groover]

Just bought my first Gretsch kit. A Catalina club jazz in white pearl.
All though a bugdet priced kit, I am very inpressed.
The Toms and bass sound amaizing, not so inpressed with the snare. Might have to get my Yam birch custom snare out. With out looking at it to closely it sounds like they haven't cut the snare beds properly but thats Taiwan for you.
I have a couple of gigs over the week end and then in the studio for two weeks so I'll get some photo's on here soon.

The snares on the club jazz kit seem to be their weakest point. It's also the bottom head and wires to blame, i've never seen a thinner head!..I should really get some pics of mine up..

[pearlygates]

Originally Posted by wolfie

Just bought my first Gretsch kit. A Catalina club jazz in white pearl.
All though a bugdet priced kit, I am very inpressed.
The Toms and bass sound amaizing, not so inpressed with the snare. Might have to get my Yam birch custom snare out. With out looking at it to closely it sounds like they haven't cut the snare beds properly but thats Taiwan for you.
I have a couple of gigs over the week end and then in the studio for two weeks so I'll get some photo's on here soon.

Cool! First off welcome to DW!
First Gretsch is prolly not gonna be your last! The Club jazz is a great gigging kit!
I have even done some recording with one!
The snare drum favors a higher tuning. Great rim shots, but it rings alittle. I like the snares from the Cat Jazz kits!
I have a Club mod kit that I am messing with the snare and general tuning on as well. Could be the snare bed?!?
I am thinking its more of a tweeking the drum issue!
Welcome to the Gretsch family..and let's see those pix! and a review would be cool as well!

[pearlygates]

Originally Posted by Latin Groover

The snares on the club jazz kit seem to be their weakest point. It's also the bottom head and wires to blame, i've never seen a thinner head!..I should really get some pics of mine up..

Same with the Mod 6.5x14 snare.
Yes! pix NOW! lol

[drumac]

My Gretsch kits. Hope you like.
New Classic-22x18, 12x9, 16x16, Gretsch 14x16.5 10 Ply Maple Snare.
Renown Maple-22x20, 12x9, 14x14, 16x16, Renown Maple Snare 14x6.5.
20" or 22" K Ride
14" K/Z Hi-hats or 14" Quick Beats
18" K Custom Dark Crash
19" K Dark Thin Crash
20" K Crash-Ride

[drumac]

Originally Posted by mcbike

70's gretsch fully restored. covering removed, mounting holes patched up, lacquered with silver sparkle, and upgraded hardware with gibraltar style heavy duty spurs, and new gretsch floor tom legs and mounts. t-claws switched out to rods


bass drum showing some of the finish and the stop sign badges


here is the new floor tom mounts much better than the 70's gear


the new spurs with replacement hoops also done in the silver lacquer.


i'll post some more pictures later on once I get everything set up.

Great job. I really like this kit!

[pearlygates]

Originally Posted by drumac

My Gretsch kits. Hope you like.
New Classic-22x18, 12x9, 16x16, Gretsch 14x16.5 10 Ply Maple Snare.
Renown Maple-22x20, 12x9, 14x14, 16x16, Renown Maple Snare 14x6.5.
20" or 22" K Ride
14" K/Z Hi-hats or 14" Quick Beats
18" K Custom Dark Crash
19" K Dark Thin Crash
20" K Crash-Ride

Great kits drumac!
The NCs are very classy! I am also a huge fan of the Renown Mods as well!
The slate sparkle lacquer on those beauties is lookin killer under the stage lights!

[zephead19]

Wow there are some really great sets on this thread. I love looking at all the cool setups that people come up with. I envy all of you with those great looking Gretsch sets. I am going to be joining the family soon with my Cat Maple!

[TurboThom]

Originally Posted by Yamahammer

I have to work on the tuning on the entire set.

(snip)

The kit needs more tweeking than I expected..so far, I'm less than impressed.

It'll get there, just be patient and have fun experimenting.

The bearing edges on mine needed a bit of wax to get the head gliding, maybe try that if you haven't already.

[wolfie]

I've had a chance to have a good look at the Catalina jazz snare drum.
I was right, there has not been a snare bed cut in the bottom bearing edge.
That is criminal. everyone knows that a good snare is all in the bearing edge's and the snare bed.

Has anyone else noticed this and have you fixed the problem. I am interested in know what size's the snare beds on some of the top end Gretsch snares are so I can cut it my self.

[rritter]

If you had done your research you would have found most companies don’t cut a snare bed in their low to moderately priced drums. I even have a high end Gretsch and Sonor maple with no bed and these drums sound great with proper tuning. The snare bed while not a bad thing is not a necessary thing to have on a good sounding drum anymore. I played a Catalina jazz snare in a Guitar Center and it sounded much better than the DW snare setting right beside it. Was the DW poorly tuned? Most likely but the little cat sounded awesome non the less.

[wolfie]

Originally Posted by rritter

If you had done your research you would have found most companies don’t cut a snare bed in their low to moderately priced drums. I even have a high end Gretsch and Sonor maple with no bed and these drums sound great with proper tuning. The snare bed while not a bad thing is not a necessary thing to have on a good sounding drum anymore. I played a Catalina jazz snare in a Guitar Center and it sounded much better than the DW snare setting right beside it. Was the DW poorly tuned? Most likely but the little cat sounded awesome non the less.

Thats very interresting.
do you have any recomendations for tuning? I would like to get this thing sounding good

[zephead19]

Originally Posted by bakerboy

Some gig pics of my Gretsch Renown (autumn burst) kit, set-up in a 4-pc configuration. Cymbals are all Zildjian: 13" K hats, 16" K Custom dark crash, 17" A Custom crash, 20" A Custom ping ride. Snare is a Ludwig Acrolite Black Galaxy

I was backing an artist named Brant Christopher (www.myspace.com/brantchristopher) down at a show in Vero Beach, FL

On to the pics....

Sweet Kit! That finish is beautiful. Im sure that it sounds tremendous. How do you like the sound of the 17" A Custom Crash? does it cut?

[pyrodrummer8]

all nice sets. i just bought a cat club jazz a little while ago and after the heads were broken in it didn't sound half bad but i'm still going to replace them with fiberskyns. anyway it's a pretty good all around kit. easily adjustable. the parts i like the best are the 2 toms. you can make those guys sing. I'll post some pics later

[pearlygates]

Originally Posted by TurboThom

It'll get there, just be patient and have fun experimenting.

The bearing edges on mine needed a bit of wax to get the head gliding, maybe try that if you haven't already.

I actually went one better and smoothed out the bearing edges with 220 gt paper as well as the shell interiors and applied 2 coats of Minwax rub on polyurathane to both the interiors and the edges. I also went with Aquarian Studio x batters on the toms and a Hienergy snare batter. Big difference! I chucked the Attack thin skin 3 bass head I was running and slapped on the stock head. It actually sounds better now that the edges and interiors are sealed and smoothed out. The kick is really a powerhouse at a medium tension!
The little bit of work involved here was a big improvement IMHO. I am still in the process of replacing the stock resos on toms and snare to something Aquarian and the kick drum batter to an Aquarian SK1. Great sounding kit!!!

Now to dump that tribal tatoo ugliness!
I'm thinking of going with a silver sparkle wrap!?!?

[TurboThom]

Silver sparkle would look sharp.

I'm thinking about going ahead and sanding and sealing my kit like you'd done....but I have some studio time coming up at the end of the month. I might just do the bearing edges for now.

[joshisaces]

Originally Posted by drumac

My Gretsch kits. Hope you like.
New Classic-22x18, 12x9, 16x16, Gretsch 14x16.5 10 Ply Maple Snare.
Renown Maple-22x20, 12x9, 14x14, 16x16, Renown Maple Snare 14x6.5.
20" or 22" K Ride
14" K/Z Hi-hats or 14" Quick Beats
18" K Custom Dark Crash
19" K Dark Thin Crash
20" K Crash-Ride

haha I love what you did with the floor tom head!

[freebirdgdw]

Originally Posted by Yamahammer

^^ Gretsch now has a 5 pc Club mod in a 1up 2 down configuration in silver/black sparkle fade finish. Looks pretty sweet!

I like this. I like the custom look to it (sjc, ocdp). I be tempted to swap the lugs and rims around though and have the black hardware at the darker end of the fade and the silver hardware at the silver end of the fade.

[pearlygates]

Originally Posted by freebirdgdw

I like this. I like the custom look to it (sjc, ocdp). I be tempted to swap the lugs and rims around though and have the black hardware at the darker end of the fade and the silver hardware at the silver end of the fade.

That was my thought too!

[freebirdgdw]

Is the black and silver fade kit exclusive to musicians friend because I can't find it on the Gretsch website or the 2009 catalogue.

[pearlygates]

Gretsch is alittle on the slow side when updating their product releases.
Check the site again and look for the new for '09 link.
I am pretty sure that the black/silver fade 5pc Cat Club Mod is available worldwide.

[freebirdgdw]

still can't see it. I'll just keep checking every now and then.