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

Here are my new babies. I got them 2 weeks ago. I left original GTS mounts to the seller and installed Atlas mounts on toms. It looks a lot much cleaner but I have to say the mounts do not work for me. They chocked a drums significantly so I ordered new low profiled GTS. I hope they will arrive soon. I have New Classics but these Customs sing even better!!!
I would like to get a matching 14" or 15" floor tom if anybody has one for sale...
 

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Here they are! My USA Customs in Burnt Orange Lacquer, 5.5x8, 6x10, 7x12, 14x20 kick, 16x16 floor and 5x14 matching snare(Not pictured). Shown with my 5x14 SS Noble & Cooley snare..
 

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Outstanding TampaGretsch!

Here's mine set up in jazz mode: USA Custom Drums (Earthtone heads) with (left to right) 20" Spizzichino (2042 gm), 20" Spizzichino (2482 gm), 24" Matt Bettis (3236 gm), 22" Spizzichino Swish (2338 gm) and 15" Zildjian hats (1970s). (With Drumskull congas, dundun, and bugarabu at the top of the frame.)
 

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Here they are! My USA Customs in Burnt Orange Lacquer, 5.5x8, 6x10, 7x12, 14x20 kick, 16x16 floor and 5x14 matching snare(Not pictured). Shown with my 5x14 SS Noble & Cooley snare..

Just a question if you don't mind. All of the toms and the bass seem to be cut down in size but you still have a 16 x 16 floor tom? I was thinking maybe 16 x 14?

I also note that the lugs are staggered on the toms. The 8 has a left hand stagger on the reso, the ten has a right hand stagger on the reso and the 12 is not staggered at all. Why not all the same. I realize the 12 didn't need to be staggered but it would have looked better I think. Love the kit though. Just being anal.
 
To be honest Gruntersdad, I bought this as it was on Ebay some time ago when it was all but impossible to order a Gretsch kit due to the company's pitfall position at the time. But but low and behold, it was the exact color, diameters that I wanted overall given I am a big fan of 20" bass drums and 'fast' shortstack type of toms; I bought it right up!. The only thing is, I wouldn't mind to have a 12x14 hanging or floor tom added to it. The staggering of lugs doesn't bother me because for those fast sizes it's not possible any other way. And to do the 12" that way would be more 'novelty' than I'd like. As for the particular sizes, they were a factory dimension available at the time when I researched it.. Check out this page from this 1981 Gretsch catalog here,page 14. http://www.gretschdrums.com/ebooks/catalog_1/index.html#/16/



Cheers,
Rick
www.rickondrums.com
.
Just a question if you don't mind. All of the toms and the bass seem to be cut down in size but you still have a 16 x 16 floor tom? I was thinking maybe 16 x 14?

I also note that the lugs are staggered on the toms. The 8 has a left hand stagger on the reso, the ten has a right hand stagger on the reso and the 12 is not staggered at all. Why not all the same. I realize the 12 didn't need to be staggered but it would have looked better I think. Love the kit though. Just being anal.
 
I see your schedule and you play a lot in my back yard. I'll try to make a show soon.
 
I'm a Yamaha guy at heart, but have stepped into the Brooklyn realm. My kit is merely OK to what I've seen in this thread. These pics are a bit dated. I'll have to take new ones. I ended up with new cymbals and a snare addiction.

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A Gretsch 40's orphaned shells project. The finish is close to the Gretsch Burnt Orange. I was going to put a clear Gloss Lacquer over them but could not do it - I liked the Satin look too much.
1949 24" bass drum
1940's 9x13 tom
1947 16" floor tomo
1948 6.5x14 Super Structure snare

The drums in real life are not as dark/dull as the appear in the fourth photo & not as bright as they are in the last photo. I need to take some photos outside in daylight.

It took a while to locate all the shells - the snare, bass drum and floor tom came with almost all original parts including the original badges. All parts that I ended up buying are era correct. I tucked calfhide onto the original wood flesh-hoops that came with the shells.

These drums have huge tone and are tons of fun to play. I use a 50's WFL Speedking pedal and late 50's to early 60's WFL hihat (model 1121 - NOT PICTURED HERE). I was using my Pearl 2000 Series hihat when I took these photos.
 

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Catalina Club Rock kit -- 2014 model :
14x24
8x12,
16x16
Satin Walnut Glaze
 

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Yes Gutenberg, awesome. Beauty's. Gretsch has really raised the bar high above all other major competitors. And that kit is well under $1,000 I imagine.
 
New Renown’s in Satin Walnut Burst. This is a limited finish kit offered for $1,142.00 delivered. Quite a deal for sure. The kit features an 8, 10, and 12 rack toms with a 14x16 floor and 22x18 bass. I also own a Cat Maple 7 piece kit. Both kits sound great and the Cats hold their own quite well with the Renown’s sound wise but the Renown’s have the upgraded features that make this kit a real steal. One item this kit offers the new model Renown’s do not have is the GTS tom system. The new kits have a bracket attached to the lugs that just looks flawed to me. The hanging tom system is one of the best there is and I can’t figure why Gretsch moved away from this design. Having the Cat’s and the Renown’s is a win win for me.

Now the Pics

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My first Gretsch kit. Catalina Maples...8,10,12,16,22. First install Evans G1..used about a month but couldn't get a good sound. Just switched to Evans G2..put the G1's on the bottom. Best move ever..very happy. Original Gretsch snare was okay...also have an old Pearl 14/6 chrome, and my fav is a Pork Pie 12/4. Cymbals are a mix of Sabian and Zildjian. Paragon 22' ride, two Zildjian fast crashes..15 and 17. Two Zildjian splashes, 8 and 10. Sabian 14' fast hats. Aquarius super kick II on the bass. I went from a Ludwig Accent to a Roland TD10 to the Catalina's..very happy overall.
 

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Just sold these in January.
2004 USA Customs in Walnut Gloss. 9x12, 14x16 and 16x22
 

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Gretsch Renown Maple 2013 model in Silver Oyster Pearl.
10 x 7, 12 x 8, 16 x 14 toms, 22 x 18 bass drum and 14 x 6,5 snare with additional 13 x 9 tom. Gives me several setup options, like 10-12-16, 12-13-16 or 10-13-16.
Great sounding and looking kit and the latest GTS is very slick and functional.
 

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My babies - kind of a sloppy picture - none of the badges are facing out, a reflection of my sloppiness :) I also have an 8" tom that came with the kit - barely seen in the background behind my last floor tom. I mounted the 10" tom and moved the 16" floor tom into "playing position" but truth be told the 10" tom is normally not racked and the 16" floor tom is used for a writing stand - thus the funny angle. At this point in my journey for toms I only use the 12" racked tom and the 14" floor tom. I love the kit a lot.

If you are wondering that is a movie screen behind the kit. I pulled it down thinking it might help with acoustics - it did not. But now I can't get it to retract back up so I just leave it down :)


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