Gretsch Drums!

[JunkyMunky]

Hey guys. I was wondering whether the Gretsch drums are good or more or less better than Carlos drums? Hahaha. I've been eyeing this Gretsch Blackhawk 4 piece drumset and abit reticent to get one.

So what do you guys think?

Cheers

 

[alvinthedrummer]

MUCH MUCH better than carlos!

 

[drum_hobbyist]

Go for it if within budget... 8)

 

[JunkyMunky]

Well, the shopkeeper told me..He would sell me the drumset which comes with 3 normal paiste cymbals which are the ride, and crashes. And double pedal with the mutes altogether 1.2k which is still negotiable..

Watya think?

 

[Funkifized]

bro, that is a STEAL.

 

[reuben]

wow.. quite worth it.. for home practice.. thats sufficient

 

[BadgerS88]

Is Gretch Really that good? I thought it was just a one off brand? hmm. never tried one though. Im not a drummer but as an engineer i appreciate good drum sound.

 

[Logan]

Ahh...now that someone has brought up the topic, can I sidetrack the thread by asking if anyone here has any experience with (or opinions about) the Catalina Maple?

My younger cousin bro is looking for a drumset, and the Gretsch Calatlina Maple seems to fit his budget - about $1.7k with a free 16' floor tom thrown in.

Could anyone give an insight as to whether this would be a good buy, or is the money better spend else where?

Thanks!

 

[Funkifized]

Grestch may not have received much "love" here in Singapore but it is highly regarded for the "grestch tom sound" which you can find in Vinnie Colaiuta and Tony Williams. Not sure if you can get that same sound from a catalina, but you'll be very well off with one in any way.

 

[JunkyMunky]

So..Should I get one cause some of you seem to have negative opinions towards them? Too bad we can't try out the drums before we buy it.

 

[BebopIggy]

The Gretsch Catalinas are manufactured in taiwan and are meant to meet the demands of players with a budget wallet.

Gretsch has been in the music industry since 1883. That's 124 years of history! They pride themselves as product innovators back in the early 1900s. Vintage drum collectors are always looking out for the Round Badge Gretsch drums made in the late 1950s to 1960s to add to their collection. Even till now, drummers are raving "The Gretch Great Sound"!

I'm glad to say I'm one of them!

Gretsch is one of the great American drum makers together with Ludwig, Rogers, Slingerland Leedy before the invasion of the Asian drum makers like Yamaha, Tama in the 70s.

Currently, their high end drums are named USA Custom and it's made in the US. A 14" x 5" snare drum cost abt S$1,600.

 

[RudimentalDrummer]

BebopIggy you own a Round Badge Gretsch Kit ? - what is the colour, how many pc kit?, Year ?...Oh and by the way - The toms holder - Original or Modified?


Phew.www that's a great kit bro....Can I try it one day?

 

[BebopIggy]

I don't own one yet... hopefully in a few years time...

What I meant was I'm one of those who recognise the value of Gretsch drums and "That Great Gretsch Sound"

 

[JunkyMunky]

Oh ya...How bout Premier Drums? Are they any good?~ Or are they just about the same as CARLOS.?

 

[killerbee]

Premier Drums are definitely much better than Carlos.

It's an U.K. brand. Keith Moon of The Who used them. His Pictures Of Lily drum kit is famous.

But like wise with many other brands, there's the top range, middle and beginners' range.

The Gretsch Blackhawk belongs to the beginner's range if I am not wrong.

I am not familiar with the pricing really, but I do suggest you make a trip to Ranking and check out how much they retail the sets first hand. Unless the shopkeeper you mentioned is from Ranking. LOL

By the way, what Paiste cymbals are they throwing in?

 

[JunkyMunky]

Im not so sure about the cymbals..Since it comes with the set I believe it would be the normal set of cymbals.

 

[drum_hobbyist]

My suggestion...

Carlos - $500 (will sound reasonable with good tuning)

Change all the stock drumheads with Evans - $200

Cymbals (14/16/20)
Bosphorus Traditional - $700 (Accent Music)
Istanbul Samatya -$650 (Drum Resources)
Turkish cymbal Classic - $700 (The Music Lab)

 

[Logan]

I checked the price of the Gretsch Blackhawk recently. Ranking is selling it for about $900 (actually its slightly lesser...I cant remember the actual price and thus rounded the figure up). This price includes the hardware (hi-hat stand, boom and cymbal stand).

Hmmm....another question from me.... If I say that the Yamaha Stage Custom is over-priced, is it a fair statement? Let me explain: the Stage Customs (made of P. Mahagony) retail for about $1700 (Music Plaza) while the Catalina Maple (made of maple) goes for almost the same, WITH A FREE 16" FLOOR TOM 8O ...I cant figure this out. Arnt drums made of maple suppoused to be more expenive :?:

 

[Freakae2]

The Catalina has a lower grade of maple.

 

[Logan]

Hmm...can I ask if a lower grade maple is still superior (in terms of sound, quality, etc) than a philiphine mahagony?

Thanks...