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Hi all, I am looking to buy a compact drumset to use in smaller venues, where my Yamaha Recording Custom takes up too much space. We play indie guitar/pop/rock covers, so I need a set which does not sound too jazzy. It has to rock. I'm looking at the Gretsch Catalina with an 18" kick, or the similar-sized Sonor AQ2 Bop kit. Any views on which will suit me best? I've tried the Gretsch but it's proving hard to find a shop which carries Sonor stock so I have not played the Bop.
I'm in love with my new PDP Classic Concept maple. And it comes in bop size.
But... you'll never beat the quality of the Sonor AQ2... I honestly put Sonor as one of THEE TOP drum companies.
Not sure if you bought a kit yet but the AQ2 is the way to go.
Funny that it got mentioned. :shifty:Quote:
Originally Posted by dirtysticks
The Catalina Club is less expensive, has a 14x5 snare and a 14x14FT.
The Sonor AQ2 has a 14x6 snare and a 14x13FT.
Both have 14x18 bass drums and 12x8 toms.
If choosing between the two, I’d think the Catalina club would be fine.
The PDP concept maple as mentioned would be great also but it’s only the shell pack. No snare included.
Of course there are other makes and models to consider.
I have an older model Groove Percussion kit with an 18” bass drum that rocks, hundreds of dollars less expensive.
I have a Ludwig Breakbeats kit - 14 inch snare, 10 and 13 inch toms, 16 inch kick - that I use for such occasions. It is great for smaller gig locations, rehearsals, etc.
I’m seriously considering a new PDP Concept Maple Bop kit (18,12,14). Should be a good replacement/upgrade for my SPL bop kit. The one I want is out of stock, but supposed to be available in 2 weeks.
I like the shallow 14” deep BD and the 12”/14” toms as opposed to my SPL kit with its 10”/13” toms. Having once owned a Concept Maple kit, I know the quality and sound is top-notch. It’s just hard to drop $600 on something I may not be able to use until who knows when. If we were still able to play gigs, it would be a no-brainer, LOL.
I bought a Sonor Martini 8"/13"/14"/5x12" 4pc Champagne Sparkle kit in December (Xmas present from my wife picked out by me) and just sold it. The snare sounded great, rack tom rather dead, floor tom very good, but 14" kick was awful. I tried everything and recently gave up and sold it due to the weak kick. The kit looked really cool, though ...
If you’re still wanting to stay with a small kick, you might try a kit with a 16” kick. Like the Safari or Breakbeats. I have a home-made Kit with a converted 16”FT for a kick. Not much “rumble”, but definitely has an abundance of “punch”
I might be a little in favor of Sakae, because I own one, a Sakae Pac-D compact kit. 16x16 bd, 10x7 tom, 13x11 bd and 12x5 sd. The drums are absolutely incredible. They are rock solid, and the cradle for the bass drum is full adjustable in height, width, etc. The drums once tuned right, do not sound like a compact kit at all. I liked them enough to make them my primary kit for on the road. I did replace the snare with a Trick 12" aluminum as I did not like the snare. Unfortunately they are not in production anymore. If you want any addtional info, just let me know. BTW, there is one available on reverb right now.
Quote:
Originally Posted by pearldrummer
i bought a sonor martini kit (14"x 12 " bassdrum ,8"x8" mounted tom ,13"x10" floor tom & 12"x5" snare..in 2017 (9 ply poplar ) in champagene sparkle,,,however in 2018...sonor changed wood to maple so can no longer get "add on drums " in poplar ...dang it...i added a 12"x 6" 1982 gretsch poplar snare & recently a 14"x5" rogers 1965 luxor 3 ply (maple/birch?maple snare (both in champagne sparkle ) however tis a studio kit (resides with musical pardner of last 4 years "cowboy wrecks " )...i dont haul it for gigs as a "utility phrogge " ...tho...for that puprpose ,,,i may use anything from hardshell "protector tom case", variety of suitcases ,or even a meinl bassbox (bassdrum) 13"x3" mapex picollo steel snare ,16" rototom ...& even remo fyberskyn tamborine as snare ,,,including a variety of pizzabox snare drums ....all cymbals are now paiste & ive gotten to collect 14 different snare drums ...so pre covid ( last public gig was end of march 2020)
Quote:
Originally Posted by pearldrummer
i bought a sonor martini kit (14"x 12 " bassdrum ,8"x8" mounted tom ,13"x10" floor tom & 12"x5" snare..in 2017 (9 ply poplar ) in champagene sparkle,,,however in 2018...sonor changed wood to maple so can no longer get "add on drums " in poplar ...dang it...i added a 12"x 6" 1982 gretsch poplar snare & recently a 14"x5" rogers 1965 luxor 3 ply (maple/birch?maple snare (both in champagne sparkle ) however tis a studio kit (resides with musical pardner of last 4 years "cowboy wrecks " )...i dont haul it for gigs as a "utility phrogge " ...tho...for that puprpose ,,,i may use anything from hardshell "protector tom case", variety of suitcases ,or even a meinl bassbox (bassdrum) 13"x3" mapex picollo steel snare ,16" rototom ...& even remo fyberskyn tamborine as snare ,,,including a variety of pizzabox snare drums ....all cymbals are now paiste & ive gotten to collect 14 different snare drums ...so pre covid ( last public gig was end of march 2020)...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pearldrummer
I BOUGHT A SONOR MARTINI KIT (14"X 12 " BASSDRUM ,8"X8" MOUNTED TOM ,13"X10" FLOOR TOM & 12"X5" SNARE..IN 2017 (9 PLY POPLAR ) IN CHAMPAGENE SPARKLE,,,HOWEVER IN 2018...SONOR CHANGED WOOD TO MAPLE SO CAN NO LONGER GET "ADD ON DRUMS " IN POPLAR ...DANG IT...I ADDED A 12"X 6" 1982 GRETSCH POPLAR SNARE & RECENTLY A 14"X5" ROGERS 1965 LUXOR 3 PLY (MAPLE/BIRCH?MAPLE SNARE (BOTH IN CHAMPAGNE SPARKLE ) HOWEVER TIS A STUDIO KIT (RESIDES WITH MUSICAL PARDNER OF LAST 4 YEARS "COWBOY WRECKS " )...I DONT HAUL IT FOR GIGS AS A "UTILITY PHROGGE " ...THO...FOR THAT PUPRPOSE ,,,I MAY USE ANYTHING FROM HARDSHELL "PROTECTOR TOM CASE", VARIETY OF SUITCASES ,OR EVEN A MEINL BASSBOX (BASSDRUM) 13"X3" MAPEX PICOLLO STEEL SNARE ,16" ROTOTOM ...& EVEN REMO FYBERSKYN TAMBORINE AS SNARE ,,,INCLUDING A VARIETY OF PIZZABOX SNARE DRUMS ....ALL CYMBALS ARE NOW PAISTE & IVE GOTTEN TO COLLECT 14 DIFFERENT SNARE DRUMS ...SO PRE COVID ( LAST PUBLIC GIG WAS END OF MARCH 2020)...https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?f...type=3&theater