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Thread: Remo Fiberskyns and a 2nd look at the Gretsch Catalina Club Jazz

  1. #1

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    Default Remo Fiberskyns and a 2nd look at the Gretsch Catalina Club Jazz

    After watching Steve Smith's Drum Legacy DVD 20 or so times, I had to try a Fiberskyn head on my snare. It's a 14x5 Gretsch Catalina Club (Mahogany) that came with the set. Not the best snare I own, but very good nonetheless. After playing with it for a half an hour, I couldn't get a sound I liked. Tuned low, it had a thud sound and not enough snare response. I tuned it incrementally higher until that went away, and it immediately sounded choked off. Mildly disapointing, but I believe Steve Smith played an Ocheltree metal snare that probably cost $1K+, so I wasn't expecting any miracles. I still want to try the head on my Weckl and Acrolite snares when I get some time.

    I had heard some good reviews about Fiberskyns on the toms, so I put the head on my 14x14 floor tom. It previously had a G1 coated. I am not exaggerating when I say it has twice the body that it did before. The thud is still present, but alongside a nice pure tone. I immediately ordered a 12" and got the same results. It almost feels like I am playing on top of the head and not into the drum like some other heads I have used. Off a drum, when you tap these heads, they resonate by themselves like Remo's mondo heads, so I believe they are adding something to the sound that other heads don't.

    More than half my band's catalog is pre-1980, so this sound goes very well with what we play. I do love the Weckl jazz fusion processed studio sound that I get from 2 ply Evans heads, but not in this setting. I am also using studio rings on the toms.

    <rant on>
    One popular view right now is that leaving the toms open enhances projection and tone and that any overtones aren't heard from a distance, which is true. I don't see how that holds up when mics are 3" away from the top head and the overtones get picked up and amplified. Don't trust that a sound guy in a bar or club will fix this for you. I use the rings and if I need more projection, we turn the drums up. If a gig is small enough that I need to play without mics, I don't need the extra projection. I'm in a jam band that is all about having fun, and if I think my drums sound like crap, it's hard to have fun.
    </rant off>

    So anyway...
    If you are looking for a big retro sound with little hassle, try some Fiberskyn batters. Plus, they look all retro-cool.




    If you are looking for a sweet 4 piece small kit, look at the Gretsch Catalina Club Jazz.

    The snare currently sounds pretty good tuned medium-low with a G1 coated batter and no-label 3-4 mil resonant head. The bass (18x14) is the gem of the kit. I played the same size Yamaha Recording Custom bass drum as my only one for 7 or 8 years and tried 10 or so head combos. I eventually settled on an EQ1 batter and Firberskyn reso with no hole and nothing in the drum. With a mic 2 or 3 inches from the front head it sounded great. When you go to a concert and the bass drum feels like it's hitting you in the chest, it's a good sound. If it feels like it's hitting you in the stomach or lower, not so good. The Gretsch is definitely a chest-thumper. It came shipped with an EQ1 style Gretsch label batter, but the extra ring is about 2 1/2" wide. The front head is the same, but coated. I left it as-is, medium low tension around, no holes or muffling and it behaves nicely with or without sound support.



    Cool look as well with a Fiberskyn front. This is the old RC kit.



    Last weekend after a gig I had my singer beat around on the kit while I walked around and listened. I liked what I heard all around, it's well worth $650ish.

    That's it for now.

  2. #2

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    Default Re: Remo Fiberskyns and a 2nd look at the Gretsch Catalina Club Jazz

    I love both. great review.
    1971 Ludwig 3-ply Maple 7-piece shell set in Oyster Black Pearl w Supraphonic Snare
    1968 Mica-Sonic Deluxe 9-ply Luan Mahogony 4 piece jazz set in Aqua Satin Flame
    2004 Gretsch Catalina Club Jazz 7-ply Phillipene Mahogony 4 piece in Nitron Marine Pearl
    Lot's of old Zildjian A's, some K's, a few Sabiens, and a few Paiste

  3. #3

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    Default Re: Remo Fiberskyns and a 2nd look at the Gretsch Catalina Club Jazz

    Nice review
    Ludwig Accent CS Custom- Black with Chrome Hardware
    22 x 18 Bass Drum with Evans EMAD batter and EMAD reso
    6 x 14 Snare with Evans Genera HD Dry batter over Hazy 300
    12 x 9 Tom Remo Pinstripe over Remo Clear Ambassador
    13 x 10 Tom Remo Pinstripe over Remo Clear Ambassador
    16 x 16 Floor Tom Pinstripe over Remo Clear Ambassador
    16 x 18 ^



  4. #4

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    Default Re: Remo Fiberskyns and a 2nd look at the Gretsch Catalina Club Jazz

    Those fiberskins are cool, for sure. I have a fiberskin batter on my Vista and it's a cool head. I love how they look against the green sparkle.

    You, my friend, have great taste in drums.
    Kevin
    DW Performance series - Gun Metal Metallic Lacquer
    24/12/16 6.5x14
    Sabian AA/AAX hi-hats & crashes
    Sabian HHX Evolution ride

    Drummers can be very tempomental.....

  5. #5

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    Default Re: Remo Fiberskyns and a 2nd look at the Gretsch Catalina Club Jazz

    My next head change will be to put a Fibyre skin on the front of my bass drum...
    should look real good on the vintage Ludwigs. More than 20 years ago, I used the Fiber skin on my snare drum (Supraphonic). I didn't mind the sound but I didn't like the fact that the head "flaked" because of the all the brush work I was doing at the time. I noticed the same thing on the Steve Smith Legacy DVD that you did and was just a surprised.
    There's a lot to be said for Time Honored tradition and value.

    http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/j...vaz/TheSet.jpg

  6. #6

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    Default Re: Remo Fiberskyns and a 2nd look at the Gretsch Catalina Club Jazz

    fiberskyn's make any set look real expensive

  7. #7

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    Default Re: Remo Fiberskyns and a 2nd look at the Gretsch Catalina Club Jazz

    Beautiful kit and great review!!
    DW - PEARL - PDP - ZILDJIAN - EVANS - VIC FIRTH


    Click for Gear Pics!

    DW Collector's Series - Blue Glass - 10, 12, 14, 16, 23
    Pearl Session Custom - Green Burst - 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 22
    PDP CX Maple - Red Glass - 12, 14, 16, 24


    Quote Originally Posted by LudwigLifer View Post
    If we had centerfolds for drums,that kit would be in one of them!

  8. #8

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    Default Re: Remo Fiberskyns and a 2nd look at the Gretsch Catalina Club Jazz

    Thanks all. I am definitely going to keep the Cats out and my Yamahas in the bags until I absolutely have to switch. I went on a medium sized gig this last weekend. The bar could hold around 300 people, maybe 160 were in attendance (Ohio State basketball on TV didn't help). I had them miced up with a SM57 on the snare, rack, and floor tom and a Shure Beta 52 on the bass drum. This was sent through a system of around 1200 watts to 2 12x2 plus horn cabinets. No crossover, no bass cab. This is one advantage of an 18" bass - it sounds great even without a bass cab. My keyboard players comment was "wow, those sound amazing and better than your other set" (Beech Customs). I agree. I'm really happy they sound so good but dissapointed that my pro-level set sounds so bad. Another gentelman in attandance who will be producing a DVD for us soon also agreed with this evaluation. I did use my Dave Weckl maple snare instead of the matching Cat snare.

    I am completely sold on Fiberskyns for the toms and hope to God they make my Beech Customs sound this good.

  9. #9

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    Default Re: Remo Fiberskyns and a 2nd look at the Gretsch Catalina Club Jazz

    New guy here - I also have a Catalina Jazz kit, just got it last week. Copper sparkle, but it really looks more like champagne. Love this kit! I'm thinking of getting Fiberskyns for the toms now that I read your review. Excellent pics btw, and that green is gorgeous. Congrats on a sweet kit

    -Doug

  10. #10

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    Default Re: Remo Fiberskyns and a 2nd look at the Gretsch Catalina Club Jazz

    Welcome to Drum Chat dougb256!

    I saw a used Gretsch Catalina Jazz kit in White Marine Pearl for $400 this week, and it took all my willpower not to run right over and buy it!
    Quoting gonefishin: Just have some bacon with ya when you go pick her up..........youre an instant chick magnet.





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  11. #11

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    Default Re: Remo Fiberskyns and a 2nd look at the Gretsch Catalina Club Jazz

    nice review shaneroney, i was wondering about those particular heads. They look great too!
    ~Pearl, Zildjian, Hammerax, Remo, Vic Firth, LP, Pulse~

    Zildjian League

  12. #12

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    Default Re: Remo Fiberskyns and a 2nd look at the Gretsch Catalina Club Jazz

    It's unbelievable how bad I want that kit.

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