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MAIN LOBBY => Gear / Equipment / Instruments => Topic started by: zippy on October 28, 2004, 12:25 PM
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Title: gretsch catalina birch vs. pdp Post by: zippy on October 28, 2004, 12:25 PM Experiences????
Title: gretsch catalina birch vs. pdp Post by: 563 on October 28, 2004, 01:24 PM Not a fan of either's birch, prefer the Tama and Premier as far as birch goes.
But Catalina vs PDP in general, I prefer the Gretsch. Hardware, sound, etc are all preferable to me. Title: gretsch catalina birch vs. pdp Post by: Bullshark on October 28, 2004, 02:09 PM another vote for the Gretsch - Actually, these drums sound very good for the price. I was impress - with the exception of the snare - but that can be replaced on down the road. Nice hardware too. A good buy.
Title: gretsch catalina birch vs. pdp Post by: boomka on October 28, 2004, 09:46 PM At the moment the store I work at happens to have a Catalina Birch kit and a PDP kit set up right next to each other on our sales floor. I like both kits. I found the PDP wanted to be tuned a little lower than the Gretsch out of the box, but that could just be my ears...
The Gretsch kit is getting great reviews from all the guys in the shop, and customers of various stripes; mostly for its sound. The toms have a nice focussed fundamental tone at lower volumes but don't lose much when you give 'em the onions, either. I suspect they would speak just fine against the usual dearth of mid-range guitar flack.. ;) The PDP kit hasn't been set up as long, so we'll see what happens - my opinion could change any minute now. :D But, maybe it's just me (and one other guy I work with) but the PDPs just seem to have less moxy than the Gretsch. His comment was that they sound like "cheap DWs" - which, of course, the are - but the emphasis was on the "cheap". At this point, I would take the Gretsch. The drums aound warm, round, and have great tonal definition at low to high volume. I found the PDPs to need a little more "coaxing" to get them to produce a full tone - they simply need to be hit a little harder. Even the Gretsch snare (which some around here find lacking) is okay by me. Again, tuned medium to medium-high, the snare (5X14) has a nice crispness at low volumes that would be great for jazz, certain recording requirements, or other subdued situations. I don't know that it would have the bark necessary for higher volume pop/rock, but I haven't experimented with heads/tuning on it. It's just a sense I get due to the overall dryness of the sound - quite focussed and short so that it might sound thin when miked up and competing with Mesa Boogies and Marshalls.... My only real complaint with the Gretsch drums is the damned badges. I just think they look terrible. I would have preferred them to have simply gone with the standard Gretsch badges rather than labelling them "Catalina Birch". Also, the Gibralter hardware packs that are optional with the kits are alright, though I don't really dig the pedals. Personally, I'd pick other hardware options and build around the shells. Title: Re:gretsch catalina birch vs. pdp Post by: dannydrumperc on October 29, 2004, 06:01 AM Now that we are talking about birch drums, hat about Ludwig's Classic Birch? The retail prize is almost twice of the other 2. Are them worth it?
??? Title: gretsch catalina birch vs. pdp Post by: reniegreg on November 01, 2004, 04:22 PM I just picked up the Gretsch sey at GC this weekend. $630 for the 6 piece in walnut. have not tuned yet but they are gorgeous
Title: gretsch catalina birch vs. pdp Post by: 563 on November 01, 2004, 05:13 PM I just picked up the Gretsch sey at GC this weekend. $630 for the 6 piece in walnut. have not tuned yet but they are gorgeous Gretsch in Walnut ... classic look. Title: Re:gretsch catalina birch vs. pdp Post by: benjamin on November 04, 2004, 11:50 PM personly, my experience with both sets.....i prefer the pdp. I guess im the first but i think the gretsch catilina birch sounds like @$%#, the shells suck, the drum suck the only gretsch i prefer you get is the gretsch catalina club 4-piece kit.
Title: Re:gretsch catalina birch vs. pdp Post by: Joe on November 05, 2004, 11:55 AM I guess im the first but i think the gretsch catilina birch sounds like crap, the shells suck, the drum suck Would you please be so kind to define such a general term as "suck" (assuming that it is used negatively in this case) with some reasons for this rather revolutionary opinion? Also, might I ask for some comparisons between this gear-of-Gretsch's and your preferred equipment, so as to better outline the breadth of your feelings? Title: Re:gretsch catalina birch vs. pdp Post by: stevensoms on November 05, 2004, 01:42 PM Gretsch make great drums on each respective level. I have the Catalina Club 4pc as a second kit and it sounds great. Although, I was always under the assumption that the Catalina Birch sounded better.
So benjamin...I'm still waiting for your definition of "suck". Title: Re:gretsch catalina birch vs. pdp Post by: oxford on November 15, 2004, 03:38 PM Just got the Catalina birch 6 piece 8/10/12/14 - 22 - 15x5. and it is freaking awesome!! I put some Aquarian Studio X's on it and tuned it. let it sit the night and final tuned...wow what a sweet voice. The fit and finish is great and the walnut stain is killer. all for $750 and they took a nice trade in on my old Tamas. :)
(http://www.redraiders.org/ourband/images/drums.jpg) Title: gretsch catalina birch vs. pdp Post by: dannydrumperc on November 16, 2004, 01:35 PM I saw them here at $900 ('cause of shipping charges) and thats a good price. I wish I had the money :'(
Title: gretsch catalina birch vs. pdp Post by: keyda on November 17, 2004, 07:59 AM Catalina Birch !!!!!! They're sooooo gooooood !!!!! Gotta love that sound. Really CUTE (if it isn't inappropriate to use that word in this case) !!!!!! ;)
Title: Re:gretsch catalina birch vs. pdp Post by: CBdrummerMB on November 18, 2004, 09:23 PM i would go with the gretsch. well get the white one it look awsome!
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