drumr0
Silver Member
A friend of mine wanted to buy his 9 year old a new set of drums and he asked me for suggestions. His budget was $1000.
I recommended a set of Gretsch Catalina Maple or Birch shells. I know several of you play them and couldn't remember any negative comments about them and thought in this price range it would probably be the best bang for the buck.
Here's what he got at Guitar Center in Nashville:
Gretsch Catalina Maple 6 pc. cherry laquer finish. 10, 12, 14, 16 toms, 22 bass, 14 snare. PDP hardware pack with single pedal, cymbal stand, hi hat stand, and snare stand. Zildjian ZBT cymbal pack 16, 18" crash, 20" ride and 14" hats (even though I recommended nicer cymbals).
He paid (with tax) $950.00 (a great deal I thought)!
He asked me to help him assemble the drums and hardware, set them up and tune them for his son.
I was impressed with the quality of this kit right out of the box. The shells looked great, the edges looked great. The only flaw I found was on one of the bass drum hoops. It looks like the laquer bubbled up and flaked off. I told him Gretsch would replace it, but he wasn't worried about it, so we just hid it on the floor. I put the stock heads on and started the stretching/tuning process.
I have to say these were very easy drums to tune. I had them singing in no time (even with the stock heads). They sounded wonderful. I was pleasantly surprised. I put the stock heads on the bass drum with no muffling and it sounded killer too with very little tuning effort. Very punchy without being to boomy. The snare tuned up very nicely and quickly too with no muffling.
I was through working on them and got them sounding great, but I couldn't stop playing them. I knew they would sound good, but I was honestly surprised how good they sounded. Now I see why so many people play them.
The cymbals are ok..very bright with very little body, better than I expected.
My friend was very satisfied and appreciative of my efforts and offered to pay me. I declined and asked him to introduce me to his wife's cousin..Nate Morton..the Rockstar INXS house band drummer the next time he is in town. That guy can play!!
He is going to buy new heads in a couple of months and I would like some head recomendations from some of you Catalina owners.
I wish I could tune my DW's up as easy as this kit tuned up!!
I recommended a set of Gretsch Catalina Maple or Birch shells. I know several of you play them and couldn't remember any negative comments about them and thought in this price range it would probably be the best bang for the buck.
Here's what he got at Guitar Center in Nashville:
Gretsch Catalina Maple 6 pc. cherry laquer finish. 10, 12, 14, 16 toms, 22 bass, 14 snare. PDP hardware pack with single pedal, cymbal stand, hi hat stand, and snare stand. Zildjian ZBT cymbal pack 16, 18" crash, 20" ride and 14" hats (even though I recommended nicer cymbals).
He paid (with tax) $950.00 (a great deal I thought)!
He asked me to help him assemble the drums and hardware, set them up and tune them for his son.
I was impressed with the quality of this kit right out of the box. The shells looked great, the edges looked great. The only flaw I found was on one of the bass drum hoops. It looks like the laquer bubbled up and flaked off. I told him Gretsch would replace it, but he wasn't worried about it, so we just hid it on the floor. I put the stock heads on and started the stretching/tuning process.
I have to say these were very easy drums to tune. I had them singing in no time (even with the stock heads). They sounded wonderful. I was pleasantly surprised. I put the stock heads on the bass drum with no muffling and it sounded killer too with very little tuning effort. Very punchy without being to boomy. The snare tuned up very nicely and quickly too with no muffling.
I was through working on them and got them sounding great, but I couldn't stop playing them. I knew they would sound good, but I was honestly surprised how good they sounded. Now I see why so many people play them.
The cymbals are ok..very bright with very little body, better than I expected.
My friend was very satisfied and appreciative of my efforts and offered to pay me. I declined and asked him to introduce me to his wife's cousin..Nate Morton..the Rockstar INXS house band drummer the next time he is in town. That guy can play!!
He is going to buy new heads in a couple of months and I would like some head recomendations from some of you Catalina owners.
I wish I could tune my DW's up as easy as this kit tuned up!!