Jazz kit advice

[Doc_d]

I've really been getting the itch to start playing some jazz. I'd like to start watching eBay / Craigslist and find a nice kit.

I'm guessing that I'll be looking for a 3 piece kit with a 12 inch rack tom and probably a 14" floor tom. But there are so many bass drum sizes. What would be considered the most traditional size Jazz bass drum size?

I'm hoping to find a good deal on a higher quality kit. So far I'm considering DW Jazz or Yamaha Absolute. What other manufacturers/lines should I be cosidering?

[TamadudeNJ]

Commonly an 18" kick is suitable. DW and Yamaha are great brands, and I know I'm biased but look at Tama. lol Also consider the Ludwig Epic.

Hope this helps!

[Russ]

When I think of Jazz, I think of a few distinct makers although most of them have jazz sized kits available. Slingerland, Rogers, Ludwig, and Gretsch. What i'd be looking for regardless of what company you choose would be a 18x14(although I have heard of 16" diameter being used sometimes as well) kick, 10x7/10x8 or 12x8 rack tom, 14x14 floor tom. Snare i'd go with a 5.5x14 or 6.5x14. I would outfit the kit with something like g1's or ambassadors, for an open and lively vibe.

[TamadudeNJ]

+1

[jazzkat]

The typical Manhattan style is 12x8, 14x14, 18x14 typically in birch.
I recently picked up a DW Jazz series 12x8, 14x14, 20x16. The 20" kick seems more versatile as it can be tuned lower and the Jazz series is built to simulate the old Gretsch round badge drums.
I think if you went 12, 14 20 in birch you could get a decent kit without breaking the bank

[TamadudeNJ]

I think if you went 12, 14 20 in birch you could get a decent kit without breaking the bank

Or 12, 14, 18 ..... there's a Silverstar jazz kit on eBay right now for $335 smackaroos. #320977009670

[Yoda]

If you like the DW stuff check out their Pdp American vintage drums. The shells are the same as the classics shell, but with Pdp hardware. They are limited edition so get em while you can.

[Kazaamski]

You dont really need smaller drums to play jazz. Unless you have like a z custom mega bell ride, you can make whatever equipment you have work. I learned to feather on a 24" kick, and swing on zxt's. And I made it work :D

[Doc_d]

You dont really need smaller drums to play jazz. Unless you have like a z custom mega bell ride, you can make whatever equipment you have work. I learned to feather on a 24" kick, and swing on zxt's. And I made it work :D

Sure I realize that, and I've actually started playing Jazz on my 7 piece Mapex kit. My saturns are pretty punchy especially how I usually have them tuned. I just really like the idea of having a second kit so I can experiment with all things Jazz (higher tunings, coated or fibersyn heads, smaller drum sizes, etc). I also like the idea of restricting myself to a minimalistic drum setup without having to tear down a bunch of my main kit.

Thanks for the advice from everyone so far. I was planning to watch for a good deal on a used higher end kit but I've been seeing a ton of really good deals on Gretsch Catalina club kits. It's really tempting to just run out and pick one up when I'm seeing used shell pack in the $300 range.

How would a Gretsch Catalina club kit compare to DW or Yamaha Absolute kit as far as shells are concerned? I'll probably decide on hardware seperately so I'm not concerned with that comparison.

[john gerrard]

Doc, I just recently bought a Gretsch Renown Rock kit 24,13,16 but also wanted something for smaller gigs. I picked up a Cat Jazz kit and have been blown away with it. The sound quality from the little Cat Jazz kit is awesome. There has been a ton of threads about the woods used in them but the bottom line is how they sound. To me they have that vintage Gretsch sound. More so than the birch or maple kits made by the other companies. The mahogany laun (or whatever) with the Gretsch bearing edges just does a great job of getting that vintage sound.

The Cat Jazz kit sounds so good and is so versital that I'm seriously considering selling my Renown Rock kit. I like them that much. You owe it to yourself to try a set. Good luck. John

[NPYYZ]

The Sonor Bop kits are fairly affordable, I recently added the 18" kick and 12x8 tom from one of them to my existing Sonor kit. I've got the 18" kick next to a 22x20 and when I do double kick patterns you can hardly tell the difference. The 18x16 kick can be tuned very low if needed and sounds great.

[=^-..-^=]

doc, i just recently bought a gretsch renown rock kit 24,13,16 but also wanted something for smaller gigs. I picked up a cat jazz kit and have been blown away with it. The sound quality from the little cat jazz kit is awesome. There has been a ton of threads about the woods used in them but the bottom line is how they sound. To me they have that vintage gretsch sound. More so than the birch or maple kits made by the other companies. The mahogany laun (or whatever) with the gretsch bearing edges just does a great job of getting that vintage sound.

+1

[Doc_d]

I've been looking at Gretsch kits and I'm really liking both the new Brooklyn kits and the American Custom kits.

I'm going to do a little more research this weekend.

I heard an American Customm kit with a 12 rack Tom 16 inch floor Tom and 18 inch bass drum. It sounded really good and now I'm not sure if I should be looking for a 16 inch floor Tom or a 14 floor Tom.

[john gerrard]

Doc, I think for what you are looking for, and what you are wanting to play the 14inch floor tom would better suit your wants and needs. Not that you couldn't make a 16 inch floor tom work, the 14 just seems to fit in better.

[Kazaamski]

Are you going to get cymbals too? For the price of a Brooklyn kit or USA customs, you could get a Gretsch Cat Jazz kit and some very nice cymbals. You can tune a kit up or down, switch heads, and get creative with muffling, but your ride cymbal is kind of a one trick pony so to speak.

[Doc_d]

Are you going to get cymbals too? For the price of a Brooklyn kit or USA customs, you could get a Gretsch Cat Jazz kit and some very nice cymbals. You can tune a kit up or down, switch heads, and get creative with muffling, but your ride cymbal is kind of a one trick pony so to speak.

I own a set a Zildjian As, Zildjian Ks, Zildjian K Custom Darks, Zildjian A Customs, and Paiste 2002s.

I'm leaning towards a higher end kit because I know I'll keep it for a very long time. I've listened to a lot of videos and the Catalina Jazz kits sound great, but the USA Custom and Brooklyn kits sound amazing to me.

[TamadudeNJ]

I just listened to a few vids of the Brooklyn series and they do sound great! If I ever played another brand besides Tama it would either be Gretsch or Sonor.

[Kazaamski]

I own a set a Zildjian As, Zildjian Ks, Zildjian K Custom Darks, Zildjian A Customs, and Paiste 2002s.

I'm leaning towards a higher end kit because I know I'll keep it for a very long time. I've listened to a lot of videos and the Catalina Jazz kits sound great, but the USA Custom and Brooklyn kits sound amazing to me.

Ahh well yeah if you already got cymbals.. :D

[slinglander]

Ditto on the Sonors.