Hey guys & gals.
Been lurking for a while, but only just joined the forum.
Struggling with information/review overflow, and the paradox of choice...
I am currently living in Bangkok (Thailand) - and it opened my eyes to just how good you have it in the States and in Europe. Prices here are fairly steep, choice is rather limited, and good service is extremely hard to find. (Having gear mailed from the States is not an option, since the import duties/taxes are exorbitant! 2nd hand gear would be okay re import duties/taxes, but no luck so far finding ebay sellers that ship to Thailand.)
I had pretty much decided to purchase the Gretsch Catalina Club Jazz - but it is not available again until January 2011.
The Gretsch Catalina Birch seemed pretty good also, but then I started looking at what else is on offer in most shops.
I found the following - and now am not sure just which way to go...
Gretsch Catalina Birch (already mentioned) - hardware *not* included.
(Price is THB [Thai Baht] 29000, ca. US$ 968)
(The shop offers Gibraltar hardware packages with this kit, the 6000 series is THB 10000 [ca. US$ 333], the 9000 series is THB 17600 [ca. US$ 587] (each set includes hi hat stand, snare stand, bass drum pedal, cymbal stand, cymbal boom stand, the 9000 series an additional cymbal boom stand.).
Ludwig Accent (4 piece) - hardware included.
(Price is THB 32000, ca. US$ 1067)
Ludwig Accent (5 piece) - hardware included.
(Price is THB 34000, ca. US$ 1134)
Ludwig Centennial (4 piece) - hardware *not* included.
(Price is THB 33000, ca. US$ 1101)
Premier Cabria APK or XPK - hardware included.
(Prices from THB 25000 to THB 35000, ca. US$ 834 - US$ 1168)
GMS SL Series City Jazz - hardware *and* cymbals included.
(Price is THB 37800, ca. US$ 1261)
Would love to get some input on your thought processes on how to approach this. (I re-read the Drum Tuning Bible, but am sure you also have some interesting and valuable ideas.)
On a sidenote: I am not 100 % sure if I will be living in this country for longer than end of 2011, so I do not want to spend the extra $$$ for top of the range drums. (In Europe I have a Pearl MLX from the late 1980s, which I am extremely happy with.)
Been lurking for a while, but only just joined the forum.
Struggling with information/review overflow, and the paradox of choice...
I am currently living in Bangkok (Thailand) - and it opened my eyes to just how good you have it in the States and in Europe. Prices here are fairly steep, choice is rather limited, and good service is extremely hard to find. (Having gear mailed from the States is not an option, since the import duties/taxes are exorbitant! 2nd hand gear would be okay re import duties/taxes, but no luck so far finding ebay sellers that ship to Thailand.)
I had pretty much decided to purchase the Gretsch Catalina Club Jazz - but it is not available again until January 2011.
The Gretsch Catalina Birch seemed pretty good also, but then I started looking at what else is on offer in most shops.
I found the following - and now am not sure just which way to go...
Gretsch Catalina Birch (already mentioned) - hardware *not* included.
(Price is THB [Thai Baht] 29000, ca. US$ 968)
(The shop offers Gibraltar hardware packages with this kit, the 6000 series is THB 10000 [ca. US$ 333], the 9000 series is THB 17600 [ca. US$ 587] (each set includes hi hat stand, snare stand, bass drum pedal, cymbal stand, cymbal boom stand, the 9000 series an additional cymbal boom stand.).
Ludwig Accent (4 piece) - hardware included.
(Price is THB 32000, ca. US$ 1067)
Ludwig Accent (5 piece) - hardware included.
(Price is THB 34000, ca. US$ 1134)
Ludwig Centennial (4 piece) - hardware *not* included.
(Price is THB 33000, ca. US$ 1101)
Premier Cabria APK or XPK - hardware included.
(Prices from THB 25000 to THB 35000, ca. US$ 834 - US$ 1168)
GMS SL Series City Jazz - hardware *and* cymbals included.
(Price is THB 37800, ca. US$ 1261)
Would love to get some input on your thought processes on how to approach this. (I re-read the Drum Tuning Bible, but am sure you also have some interesting and valuable ideas.)
On a sidenote: I am not 100 % sure if I will be living in this country for longer than end of 2011, so I do not want to spend the extra $$$ for top of the range drums. (In Europe I have a Pearl MLX from the late 1980s, which I am extremely happy with.)