Gretsch Drums Discussion

[Kotay]

I have a chance to get a 1960's Gretsch chrome over brass snare. Missing original batter hoop for $200 (round badge). Is that a good deal?

[rest]

I have a plan to try Remo CS black dot heads on my New Classics. Hey guys, any experiences with them on Gretsch drums ?

[mlaugh]

Originally Posted by rest

I have a plan to try Remo CS black dot heads on my New Classics. Hey guys, any experiences with them on Gretsch drums ?

No Remo's on my Gretsch. Pretty much Gretsch has always used Evans heads on their drums. Thats what I use and I am not saying that the Remos won't sound good. I have only used Evans on my Gretschs. Good luck I am sure they will be fine.

mlaugh

[kay-gee]

Originally Posted by mlaugh

No Remo's on my Gretsch. Pretty much Gretsch has always used Evans heads on their drums. Thats what I use and I am not saying that the Remos won't sound good. I have only used Evans on my Gretschs. Good luck I am sure they will be fine.

mlaugh

Not quite true. Gretsch's stock heads are made by Remo.

They used Remo exclusively from the time all companies switched from calf until recently using Evans.

all the best...

[mlaugh]

Originally Posted by kay-gee

Not quite true. Gretsch's stock heads are made by Remo.

They used Remo exclusively from the time all companies switched from calf until recently using Evans.

all the best...

I stand corrected............I guess I was told wrong by my Drum retailer. I looked at several drums on the floor when I purchased mine and was told "All drums feature Evans Drumheads and painted UV Gloss finishes."

[pastor_bob]

Originally Posted by Kotay

I have a chance to get a 1960's Gretsch chrome over brass snare. Missing original batter hoop for $200 (round badge). Is that a good deal?

Kotay, when you are dealing with vintage drums, you really need to know your stuff. If it's in good shape, and if it has it's original parts, I would say it is a decent deal. I wouldn't necessarily call it a great deal, because you will have to find an original hoop for it, and that will add to the cost. Whether this is a good deal for you all depends on how much you love this vintage drum.

[CycleDude]

Originally Posted by kickinit

(In Kramer's voice) Oh... It happened!

But these pics DO NOT do the finish justice!



Tried to get a close up of the grain, but the flash mucks with the color

That's gorgeous!

[mlaugh]

The new Gretsch Catalina Maple series is now showing up on some of the retail websites! I am not sure but I believe the price is around $899.00. I like them ......................anybody gonna get one?

[CycleDude]

Originally Posted by mlaugh

Pretty much Gretsch has always used Evans heads on their drums...

mlaugh

Originally Posted by kay-gee

Not quite true. Gretsch's stock heads are made by Remo. They used Remo exclusively from the time all companies switched from calf until recently using Evans.

all the best...

Originally Posted by mlaugh

I stand corrected............I guess I was told wrong by my Drum retailer. I looked at several drums on the floor when I purchased mine and was told "All drums feature Evans Drumheads and painted UV Gloss finishes."

To clarify this point for you guys, The Catalina series (maple, birch, club, etc.) drums come standard with Remo UT heads, which is basically a Taiwanese spec ambassador. However, the Renown series comes with Evans G series heads.

[kickinit]

So after doing some research about bearing edges, I decided I wanted to have my Catalina Maples inspected. I found a highly reputable, local drum builder who has been building drums for around 20 yrs. I took my snare and toms to his shop where we inspected the edges. I was somewhat surprised that just about every bearing edge was not level. I was able to see this for myself and wasn’t just “informed” as you would be taking your car to a mechanic. A couple of edges were really close and didn't need much work but the floor toms and the snare batter needed the most work.

With the initial understanding that the shells are maple, it was anticipated that I would have to leave my shells there because the effort of leveling and reshaping the edges would require some time (maple = hard wood = elbow grease). But as he started the process, he was surprised how soft the wood was for being maple. He was actually able to finish the job in the couple hours I was there.

The edges were leveled, reshaped, and now look and feel MUCH better than when I went in there. He also put a nice sealer around the edges as well.

I haven’t quite finished tuning and setting my kit back up, so I can’t say yet if this made any difference. But being somewhat of a newbie drummer, I want piece of mind that if I am having any difficulties with my sounds, tuning, etc, that it’s because of me and not the drum.

Would knowing this information prior have prevented me from buying this kit? Probably not. I believe any line that is made for mass production for max profit would be susceptible to these things.

Another slice of advice he gave that I will try. He suggested placing the GTS suspension mounts on the bottom/res rings. They put less tension on the rods. I already did this on one of the toms and can see that the tom is resting on the mount at the lug and not pulling on the rods.

[AlexGoodwin]

Originally Posted by CycleDude

To clarify this point for you guys, The Catalina series (maple, birch, club, etc.) drums come standard with Remo UT heads, which is basically a Taiwanese spec ambassador. However, the Renown series comes with Evans G series heads.

The Catalina club mods, mini mods and rock sets come with Evans G1s however all other catalinas come with the Remo UT as CycleDude said

[CycleDude]

Originally Posted by CycleDude

To clarify this point for you guys, The Catalina series (maple, birch, club, etc.) drums come standard with Remo UT heads, which is basically a Taiwanese spec ambassador. However, the Renown series comes with Evans G series heads.

Originally Posted by AlexGoodwin

The Catalina club mods, mini mods and rock sets come with Evans G1s however all other catalinas come with the Remo UT as CycleDude said

LOL, No wonder there's so much confusion... every line up is different!

[Mike Armstrong]

Originally Posted by mlaugh

The new Gretsch Catalina Maple series is now showing up on some of the retail websites! I am not sure but I believe the price is around $899.00. I like them ......................anybody gonna get one?

I absolutely love the looks of the New Cat Maple Amber. So much so that I'm thinking of returning my less than 30 day old 4pc Renown Groove kit for a 6pc New Cat. I really don't like the looks of Ruby Sparkle Fade and I wish now that I had a 22" Bass and 16' Floor Tom.

Am I crazy? The 'New' Cats come with 30 degree bearing edges and some other changes. Their not Renowns but are they that much 'less' in quality and sound?

[nio]

Originally Posted by Mike Armstrong

I absolutely love the looks of the New Cat Maple Amber. So much so that I'm thinking of returning my less than 30 day old 4pc Renown Groove kit for a 6pc New Cat. I really don't like the looks of Ruby Sparkle Fade and I wish now that I had a 22" Bass and 16' Floor Tom.

Am I crazy? The 'New' Cats come with 30 degree bearing edges and some other changes. Their not Renowns but are they that much 'less' in quality and sound?

I understand what you're saying...I past up the a Renown set because I couldn't afford the configuration I wanted...so, I got the Cats and am happy about it. But, I still have my eye on the Renowns....I hope to own a set in the future...

[Roo]

Originally Posted by kickinit

...He suggested placing the GTS suspension mounts on the bottom/res rings. They put less tension on the rods. I already did this on one of the toms and can see that the tom is resting on the mount at the lug and not pulling on the rods.

Seems that this would put uneven forces through the shell instead of evenly around the top hoop. I wonder if the shell resonance would decay quicker. When I use a snare stand for my 13" tom, I notice decreased resonance especially if there's any clamp pressure on the bottom hoop.

[pastor_bob]

Originally Posted by AlexGoodwin

The Catalina club mods, mini mods and rock sets come with Evans G1s however all other catalinas come with the Remo UT as CycleDude said

Here's where the confusion is coming from guys: youare absolutely right until this year. The 2010 Catalina Maple kit is supposed to be getting 30 degree bearing edges, and starting this year the Catalina series kits are coming with "Gretsch made by Evans" heads.

[AlexGoodwin]

Originally Posted by pastor_bob

Here's where the confusion is coming from guys: youare absolutely right until this year. The 2010 Catalina Maple kit is supposed to be getting 30 degree bearing edges, and starting this year the Catalina series kits are coming with "Gretsch made by Evans" heads.

Ohhh berjeez!

This gets more confusing eery day! :P Thanks for clearing up PB! :P

[mlaugh]

Well I can always count on PB to set me straight. I am sure what ever heads is put on the Gretsches will sound great. Dont ya think?
thanks everyone!!!
Mike

[mlaugh]

Originally Posted by kickinit

So after doing some research about bearing edges, I decided I wanted to have my Catalina Maples inspected. I found a highly reputable, local drum builder who has been building drums for around 20 yrs. I took my snare and toms to his shop where we inspected the edges. I was somewhat surprised that just about every bearing edge was not level. I was able to see this for myself and wasn’t just “informed” as you would be taking your car to a mechanic. A couple of edges were really close and didn't need much work but the floor toms and the snare batter needed the most work.

With the initial understanding that the shells are maple, it was anticipated that I would have to leave my shells there because the effort of leveling and reshaping the edges would require some time (maple = hard wood = elbow grease). But as he started the process, he was surprised how soft the wood was for being maple. He was actually able to finish the job in the couple hours I was there.

The edges were leveled, reshaped, and now look and feel MUCH better than when I went in there. He also put a nice sealer around the edges as well.

I haven’t quite finished tuning and setting my kit back up, so I can’t say yet if this made any difference. But being somewhat of a newbie drummer, I want piece of mind that if I am having any difficulties with my sounds, tuning, etc, that it’s because of me and not the drum.

Would knowing this information prior have prevented me from buying this kit? Probably not. I believe any line that is made for mass production for max profit would be susceptible to these things.

Another slice of advice he gave that I will try. He suggested placing the GTS suspension mounts on the bottom/res rings. They put less tension on the rods. I already did this on one of the toms and can see that the tom is resting on the mount at the lug and not pulling on the rods.

Very interesting. Sounds like a real nice shop to have at your access. Its makes me kinda wonder if If someone took a nice set of DW drums in there if the same problem might be found.

[mlaugh]

Also kickinit take some pics of the mounts on the bottom for us. I wanna see that.

[kickinit]

Originally Posted by mlaugh

Also kickinit take some pics of the mounts on the bottom for us. I wanna see that.

I will do that... not quite finished setting everything back up yet... I am also in the process of re-arranging my kit as well I have had very little time to spend with the kit this week Hopefully will have some pics this evening.

(Not sure yet how to add multiple quotes of different sources)

To the DW comment:
That would be interesting to see. I would hope that DW would would pay this close attention to detail. If anybody wants to send me a DW set to run the experiment, I would be happy to

To the bottom hoop comment by Roo:
Actually, the suspension ring(?) is holding the tom at the lug, not the rim, just as if you would pick up the tom with your fingers holding on to the bottom lugs. There is no pressure on the bottom ring or rods.

[pastor_bob]

kickinit, at the bottom of each post you will see 4 buttons - "edit," "quote," a button in color, and "quick." In order to multiquote, click on that colored button and it will turn red. That marks the post. On the final post that you want to quote click on the "quote" button and it will quote all of the posts that you have selected.

[AlexGoodwin]

Originally Posted by pastor_bob

kickinit, at the bottom of each post you will see 4 buttons - "edit," "quote," a button in color, and "quick." In order to multiquote, click on that colored button and it will turn red. That marks the post. On the final post that you want to quote click on the "quote" button and it will quote all of the posts that you have selected.

You learn somthing new everyday! Cheers PB!

Not sure how I didn't know that already! :P

[CycleDude]

Originally Posted by pastor_bob

kickinit, at the bottom of each post you will see 4 buttons - "edit," "quote," a button in color, and "quick." In order to multiquote, click on that colored button and it will turn red. That marks the post. On the final post that you want to quote click on the "quote" button and it will quote all of the posts that you have selected.

Originally Posted by AlexGoodwin

You learn somthing new everyday! Cheers PB!

Not sure how I didn't know that already! :P

That's why PB is the "The Master Pastor"

[kickinit]

Originally Posted by mlaugh

Also kickinit take some pics of the mounts on the bottom for us. I wanna see that.

Pics below... man my phone takes crap pics!

This may be more trouble than it's worth, but I carried it through. I have been playing my toms lower and level. With the suspension on the bottom I was getting a pivot/moving action and the tom was leaning...



So what I did was cut some lawnmower gas hose (unused of course) to create a spacer on one of the lugs to keep the tom from pivoting. There is very little pressure if any... there is play in the spacer... it just prevents the pivot.



Some more