When it comes to purchasing a new drum set, whether you are a beginner, or a seasoned drummer, you will want to purchase the best option for you. With so many brands and options available, it is not often an easy choice to make.
There are a handful of popular companies that produce some very high quality drums, such as Gretsch. This is important when choosing a set, because you will want the drums to last and be of a good quality.
In this article, we will be focusing on the company Gretsch in particular. We will be reviewing their Catalina Maple Drum Set, to find out whether it is worth the hype that surrounds it.
We will be taking a look at it in close detail to give you an overview of all of its pros and cons, to help you decide whether it should be purchased.
Gretsch Company Background
Before we delve into our review of the Gretsch Catalina Maple Drum Set, it is worth taking a look at the company's background. This is important when choosing to purchase an instrument. As they are an investment, you will want to ensure that they are a reliable company.
Gretsch is a musical instrument company that was founded by a man called Friedrich Gretsch in 1883. He set up a musical store in Brooklyn, New York and to begin with, his main focus was on selling drums and tambourines.
After his death in 1895, his son Fred Gretsch Sr. took over the business, and made the decision to move the manufacturing facility. This was certainly a great business move on his behalf, and it propelled the company into new successes.
From 1916 onward, Gretsch quickly grew in popularity and became one of the more prominent instrument creators in the music industry. As the years have progressed, Gretsch have branched out from creating drums and tambourines, and now create other instruments, such as banjos, basses, guitars, and ukuleles
In 2002, Gretsch and Fender agreed on a business deal which further propelled the popularity of Gretsch’s instruments. Gretsch is a popular and trustworthy company. They are known for the fantastic sound and quality of their drums. This is why they are the number one choice for beginners, and seasoned drummers alike.
Cost
When looking at the price of the Gretsch Catalina Maple Drum Set, it is clear to see that it is not the cheapest drum set available to purchase. However, when you take into consideration the popularity of Gretsch as a brand and the quality of this drum set, the price is reasonable.
If you are looking to purchase a drum set that is going to last and is unlikely to be faulty or to break, it is worth splurging the cash and choosing a slightly more expensive option.
When it comes to well known drum set brands, they are more expensive in general, but the quality is far better in comparison to many cheaper options available.
Contents Of The Drum Set
Before purchasing this drum set, you should be aware of everything that is included. This is important, especially if you are a beginner as you will want to ensure that it contains everything you will need.
Here is everything that is included with this drum set:
- 6” x 14” Snare Drum
- 12” x 8” Tom
- 16” x 16” Tom
- 22” x 18” Bass Drum
- 7-Ply maple shells
- Remo Drum head
- Catalina Maple badge
- 30 degree bearing edge
- 2.3 mm triple-flanged hoops
- Bass drum mount plate
- Bass drum claw with gasket
- Tom holder and cymbal holder
As you can see, this drum set includes all the drums you will need. However, it is important to remember that this is just the drum set only.
You will need to purchase the cymbals and other accessories such as the stool and drumsticks separately. This is a shell pack, rather than the entire set.
Size and Specifications
This is a full size drum set that is suitable for older teenagers and adults. The snare drums, toms, and bass drum are all a good and fairly standard size. The overall product dimensions are 46 x 46 x 50 inches.
When looking at the design itself, it is very sleek and appealing. The maple design resembles an original style and color for a drum set. This will likely appeal to a more mature drummer, though it is suitable for everyone.
What is great about this drum set is that it does come in other colors if you are not as keen on the maple effect. The other three colors are aqua sparkle, deep The cherry burst, and satin deep cherry burst. All of which are appealing designs.
The round Catalina Maple badge is aesthetically pleasing, and adds to the overall look of the drum set. This badge is black and gold and is on all the drums featured in this set.
Hardware and Quality
When choosing a drum set, you will want to ensure that the hardware is good and the quality can be relied upon. Aside from the overall sound of a drum set, these two are some of the most important things to consider. After all, you do not want to purchase a drum set that does not have good hardware and is not built to last.
The mounting hardware features for this drum set is great. It features a “gas cap” bass drum mount, which is secure, and an ultra low profile GTS mounting system.
What is great about the tom holders is that they have a hole ready for you to insert the cymbal tube. While it does not come with the cymbal tube or cymbal, all the connections will be easy to connect given this.
The L-arms have a ball and socket bracket. This allows you to move it easily and will give you more freedom when setting up the drum set. In addition to this, the brackets are made using sturdy materials, which is needed to ensure that your drum set does not move when in use.
When it comes to the T-wing, all the connections and screws that you need to put this together come with the drum set. It is fairly easy to put together, and it is good quality. They are secure when in place, which is important.
The drum set comes with durable rubber isolators that attach to the drum claws. This ensures that the drum set and all the parts stay secure to the ground and will not slip when you are playing. As the rubber is durable it should be slow to wear down. In addition to this, it will prevent your flooring from being damaged as the metal on the drum set is covered.
When looking at the shells, these are 7-ply maple. Given this, they are particularly strong and durable. Overall, this drum set is very well made and is built to last. You should have no issues when it comes to the quality of the materials used, which is to be expected when purchasing a Gretsch drum set.
The only downside to this drum set when it comes to hardware is that it is not a complete set, and you will need to purchase the cymbals and other hardware separately at an additional cost. In addition to this, there is not a turn-key solution which is helpful for new drummers.
Sound and Performance
As with any instrument, the sound the drum set provides is paramount. While you will want its structure to be made well, without a good sound, the drum set is not worth purchasing.
If you are familiar with Gretsch drum sets, then you will know that their sound quality is fantastic. When it comes to the Gretsch Catalina maple, it is no exception to this. This drum set still provides that well known, and all important Gretsch sound.
When tested we found that the sound of this drum set was great. The sound was full, clear and crisp. It almost has a warm and rich sound. This is emphasized with the 30 Degree bearing edge, which allows for great drum play.
There are not many other drum set creators that compete with the overall sound of the Gretsch kits. There is a reason why they are favored by many professional drummers.
The sound of this drum set is one of its biggest selling points. When looking at other opinions, many people agree that this is a fantastic drum set on the whole.
Pros:
- Gretsch Branding - While in some cases, purchasing an item for the brand is not always a good idea, it is for Gretsch drum kits. The Catalina Maple lives up the Gretsch quality and is a fantastic option to choose
- Sound Quality - The sound quality of this drum kit is superb. It is impressive, warm and provides a full sound overall
- Quality of the materials - The overall quality of the materials is fantastic. The drum set is durable and will withstand much use and movement.
- Adjustability - As the hardware can be adjusted this is useful for those that want their drum set to be positioned perfectly for them.
Cons:
- No turn-key solution - This can be an issue for new drummers. In addition to this, this is not a full set with the cymbals and other components included
Summary
To conclude, we think that the Gretsch Catalina Maple drum kit is a fantastic option overall. While it may not be the cheapest drum kit available, it is worth splurging on or saving up for. The overall quality of the drum set is fantastic, and you know that it is built to last.
You should experience no issues with the quality of this set, and all the components are durable and stable. When it comes to sound, this drum set is fantastic. The sound is full and reflects the well known quality of Gretsch drum sets.
While it is not a full drum set, and you will need to purchase the cymbals separately, it is a great option. It is easy to set up and a fantastic drum set to play for both seasoned and new drummers alike.
Last update on 2023-03-29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
