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Bruno
Advanced Contributer
United Kingdom
1116 Posts |
 Posted - 10/08/2012 : 11:40:47
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Hi all,
Had my workhorse gigging kit nicked in the Nottingham area, but fully insured and to cut a long story short I'm on the lookout for a new kit. I just need a shell pack, as my hardware and cymbals weren't taken.
I mostly play functions, ranging from audience size 50-400, mic'd up usually but not always. I'm looking for something compact but with a great sound! My old kit was a handmade Russian-doll-esque kit, so space is obviously a priority for me, especially as I'm a student! So bass drum, rack and floor are all I need, snare isn't needed but if it comes with I'm not complaining.
I've had a quick scout around and am liking the look of the Gretsch Catalina Club 18" Jazz - being Gretsch I'm presuming it'll have a nice sound to it. Mic'd up, will the bass drum have enough of an 'oomph' to it, giving that chest-hitting feel? (I know it's an 18" so will be limited to a degree...)
Or is there anything else I should be looking at? Ideally I don't want to go much over £500 (including cases if possible!). I don't mind second hand kits at all, especially if there are better kits knocking around!
Many thanks in advance. |
Jalapeno, cymbals, percussion. Oh, and a cowbell. |
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Dave S
Advanced Contributer
United Kingdom
5359 Posts |
Posted - 10/08/2012 : 11:47:55
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| I use a Gretsch New Classic with an 18x14" which does better than you might expect unmiced. For what you describe, I think I'd try and look for a 20x14" - that will save you a lot of space and give you a nice, deep and easy to control sound. |
davesmyth.co.uk | soundcloud | facebook | twitter |
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lee haydn
Advanced Contributer
United Kingdom
2035 Posts |
Posted - 10/08/2012 : 12:01:07
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| The Catalina's are surprisingly good for the money, i had the jazzer + snare and the snare could hold it's own too, i also bought a double tom holder and bought a 10" tom to add on, made a terrific 5 piece kit, you'd want new batter heads (apart from the bass drum) because the white coating soon comes adrift but yeah, you wouldn't be sorry, looked terrific on stage in Red Sparkle, i was sorry to see it go but i just wanted the one kit now,, |
Ludwig Maple Classic (Green Sparkle) + L400
Sabian HH and Paiste Stanbul vintage
Pro' Racket |
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logic_user99
Advanced Contributer
United Kingdom
10131 Posts |
Posted - 10/08/2012 : 12:09:20
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| Where was it taken from? A venue? |
Drums | Cymbals | Sticks
"Starting my professional life from scratch..." |
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moosetication
Advanced Contributer
United Kingdom
12066 Posts |
Posted - 10/08/2012 : 12:13:46
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quote:
Originally posted by Bruno
...am liking the look of the Gretsch Catalina Club 18" Jazz - being Gretsch I'm presuming it'll have a nice sound to it. Mic'd up, will the bass drum have enough of an 'oomph' to it, giving that chest-hitting feel? (I know it's an 18" so will be limited to a degree...)
Just buy one. It'll do all that and more, and weighs next to nothing. Have used one with a function band and with a blues/rock power trio. Bloody amazing kit for the money. |
"It's just a rest, no need to complicate it with monkeys." - sunshinehead
SITMS #31/582 (B'ham) #31/798 (M'cr) | The Blue Road | Jive Honey |
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lee haydn
Advanced Contributer
United Kingdom
2035 Posts |
Posted - 10/08/2012 : 12:16:42
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quote:
Originally posted by moosetication
quote:
Originally posted by Bruno
...am liking the look of the Gretsch Catalina Club 18" Jazz - being Gretsch I'm presuming it'll have a nice sound to it. Mic'd up, will the bass drum have enough of an 'oomph' to it, giving that chest-hitting feel? (I know it's an 18" so will be limited to a degree...)
Just buy one. It'll do all that and more, and weighs next to nothing. Have used one with a function band and with a blues/rock power trio. Bloody amazing kit for the money.
Now i really am missing mine just reading that,, sold it for £390 with a snare case and 16x16 floor tom case and bass drum case, just forgot to mention i bought a 16x16 to add on too,, |
Ludwig Maple Classic (Green Sparkle) + L400
Sabian HH and Paiste Stanbul vintage
Pro' Racket |
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Bruno
Advanced Contributer
United Kingdom
1116 Posts |
Posted - 10/08/2012 : 12:21:40
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Logic - I moved into my new student house with essentially all my belongings, the cleaners went in to clean and tidy the house, and in doing so chucked all of my stuff out. My hardware, snare and cymbals were at my bassist's house, but I lost the 'shell pack' of my kit. Either the cleaners took it from outside my new house or people walking past.
General thought is the Catalina is a good bet? I've just found a Renown, same sizes but slightly over my price range, would it be better to try and stretch up to that? |
Jalapeno, cymbals, percussion. Oh, and a cowbell. |
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moosetication
Advanced Contributer
United Kingdom
12066 Posts |
Posted - 10/08/2012 : 12:25:39
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quote:
I've just found a Renown, same sizes but slightly over my price range, would it be better to try and stretch up to that?
No. |
"It's just a rest, no need to complicate it with monkeys." - sunshinehead
SITMS #31/582 (B'ham) #31/798 (M'cr) | The Blue Road | Jive Honey |
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Bruno
Advanced Contributer
United Kingdom
1116 Posts |
Posted - 10/08/2012 : 12:26:26
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quote:
Originally posted by moosetication
quote:
I've just found a Renown, same sizes but slightly over my price range, would it be better to try and stretch up to that?
No.
Haha how comes? Not worth the extra cash? |
Jalapeno, cymbals, percussion. Oh, and a cowbell. |
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highwooddrums
Excellent Contributer
203 Posts |
Posted - 10/08/2012 : 12:43:11
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| the Catalina are the best value for money/quality for money kits on the market right now IMO, they sound good too.... no other mass produce kit i have worked on or seen comes close... they sound better than some kits that are twice the price. |
www.highwooddrums.co.uk |
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Bruno
Advanced Contributer
United Kingdom
1116 Posts |
Posted - 10/08/2012 : 12:47:39
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| Sweet, looks like that'll be best then. And the 18" won't lack even in the louder numbers (mic'd up usually 90% of the time)? |
Jalapeno, cymbals, percussion. Oh, and a cowbell. |
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jamoca
Advanced Contributer
United Kingdom
12486 Posts |
Posted - 10/08/2012 : 12:55:31
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The Catalina Jazz is unbelievable. I managed to get a 10" add on tom for it too, and now my Delite rarely gets out of the house.
The bass drum is incredible too. The only complaint I've had on the bass drum is that it's too punchy and cannon like (seriously!). Tuning soon sorted that out, but long story short, it outpowers its look, substantially.
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Edible Goody Consumption Officer and Parallel Parking Specialist of the forum's Sonor Delite appreciation society
Personal roistering assistant to Mr Bob Dobalina and (nearly) undisputed Curry King |
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Tex
Advanced Contributer
United Kingdom
1585 Posts |
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scottser
Very Active Contributer
Ireland
95 Posts |
Posted - 10/08/2012 : 14:48:00
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| I bought a catalina club in rock sizes - 24, 13, 16, 18, 14 snare. They're lovely drums - the mahogony shells aren't terribly loud but they've tonnes of creamy low-end tone. The snare is pretty rubbish though, I'd to replace the heads AND snare throw to get it to respond well enough. You'll find the tension bolts aren't the best and neither are the RIMS-style tom mounts. For the money you won't go wrong and if you can do a deal without the snare, even better. |
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Drum_of_Beer
Advanced Contributer
United Kingdom
465 Posts |
Posted - 10/08/2012 : 17:33:44
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"Logic - I moved into my new student house with essentially all my belongings, the cleaners went in to clean and tidy the house, and in doing so chucked all of my stuff out. My hardware, snare and cymbals were at my bassist's house, but I lost the 'shell pack' of my kit. Either the cleaners took it from outside my new house or people walking past"
.................and the insurance is paying out? Good Ins company.
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Really? What both feet? |
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OriginalAnimal
Advanced Contributer
United Kingdom
19305 Posts |
Posted - 10/08/2012 : 17:43:01
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quote:
Originally posted by Drum_of_Beer
"Logic - I moved into my new student house with essentially all my belongings, the cleaners went in to clean and tidy the house, and in doing so chucked all of my stuff out. My hardware, snare and cymbals were at my bassist's house, but I lost the 'shell pack' of my kit. Either the cleaners took it from outside my new house or people walking past"
.................and the insurance is paying out? Good Ins company.
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It is the cleaning company that should be paying, surely? and checking the legality of their workers papers!!!
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I have no time to practice, I'm gigging. Leicester Drum Sniffers Anonymous. #17 of the 582 & 17 0f the 798 World Record Holders.
Jobeky, 2Box Drumit 5, Premier, Highwood/DM drums Paul Brook Snare, Matt Nolan cymbals, Silverstone Drum (seats) Thrones. Los Cabos drumsticks
Re Cycling drums is the future. |
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Bruno
Advanced Contributer
United Kingdom
1116 Posts |
Posted - 10/08/2012 : 17:49:04
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| The cleaning company have said they're going to reimburse me for everything. So essentially their insurance will be paying. I can still gig with the smaller rig I'm left with but as soon as I've been reimbursed a new kit will be in order! |
Jalapeno, cymbals, percussion. Oh, and a cowbell. |
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lee haydn
Advanced Contributer
United Kingdom
2035 Posts |
Posted - 10/08/2012 : 19:11:43
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quote:
Originally posted by scottser
I bought a catalina club in rock sizes - 24, 13, 16, 18, 14 snare. They're lovely drums - the mahogony shells aren't terribly loud but they've tonnes of creamy low-end tone. The snare is pretty rubbish though, I'd to replace the heads AND snare throw to get it to respond well enough. You'll find the tension bolts aren't the best and neither are the RIMS-style tom mounts. For the money you won't go wrong and if you can do a deal without the snare, even better.
Trust me, you haven't tuned it right,, |
Ludwig Maple Classic (Green Sparkle) + L400
Sabian HH and Paiste Stanbul vintage
Pro' Racket |
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PJRose
Advanced Contributer
United Kingdom
1698 Posts |
Posted - 11/08/2012 : 02:20:02
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Bruno, I used to use a Catalina Jazz for just the sort of gigs you describe and I still would if this amazing Yamaha kit hadn't come my way.
They are every bit as good as people have said and you'd have to spend much more to find something that sounds significantly better. I never used the snare live, only in rehearsals and one night I must have hit it's tuning G-spot as, to this day, it's the only snare that cracked so loud the banjoists had to leave the room because their ears couldn't take it!  |
Yamaha Maple Custom 30th Anniversary http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v423/pjrose/Silver%20Yamaha/DSCF2165_zps94684026.jpg
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Bruno
Advanced Contributer
United Kingdom
1116 Posts |
Posted - 20/08/2012 : 08:19:04
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Hopefully will be trying a Catalina out in the next couple of days!
Now I've just had a tax rebate which I'm planning on using part of to swell my funds for a new kit, so am looking up to £800/900 now. Is the Catalina still the best buy, or is it worth looking at other kits (Mapex Saturn/Highwood Custom Lite etc.)? Obviously still looking for something that will be used mostly as a workhorse for functions + weddings.
Many thanks again. |
Jalapeno, cymbals, percussion. Oh, and a cowbell. |
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OriginalAnimal
Advanced Contributer
United Kingdom
19305 Posts |
Posted - 20/08/2012 : 09:13:22
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quote:
Originally posted by Bruno
Hopefully will be trying a Catalina out in the next couple of days!
Now I've just had a tax rebate which I'm planning on using part of to swell my funds for a new kit, so am looking up to £800/900 now. Is the Catalina still the best buy, or is it worth looking at other kits (Mapex Saturn/Highwood Custom Lite etc.)? Obviously still looking for something that will be used mostly as a workhorse for functions + weddings.
Many thanks again.
Have a word with Prog Re HW! |
I have no time to practice, I'm gigging. Leicester Drum Sniffers Anonymous. #17 of the 582 & 17 0f the 798 World Record Holders.
Jobeky, 2Box Drumit 5, Premier, Highwood/DM drums Paul Brook Snare, Matt Nolan cymbals, Silverstone Drum (seats) Thrones. Los Cabos drumsticks
Re Cycling drums is the future. |
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jamoca
Advanced Contributer
United Kingdom
12486 Posts |
Posted - 20/08/2012 : 14:44:45
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Get the Catalina Jazz, get the add on 10" tom and keep the change, or add on a snare and a couple of new pies. 
They are really, really good. |
Edible Goody Consumption Officer and Parallel Parking Specialist of the forum's Sonor Delite appreciation society
Personal roistering assistant to Mr Bob Dobalina and (nearly) undisputed Curry King |
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