Gretsch Catalina Club Jazz

I put this kit together from separate drums (not a shell pack) in silver sparkle wrap, so the sizes are not what you'd find in a shell pack.

I began with an Elite series 16x18d kick (single center-lugged drum) and replaced the hoops with black metal kick-drum rims and black logo front head. I then purchased 10 and 13 inch toms (one new old stock (good price), and one on ebay).

I choose the 13" diameter drum over the 12" because I didn't want to deal with tuning a 5 lug 12 inch tom. I know it can be done, but don't let anyone tell you it's not somewhat tedious to get the drum to pitch and keep it there with five lugs. The 13 inch has six lugs. Finally, I had to order a 16x16 floor because for whatever reason, Catalina Gretsch floor toms aren't easy to find in 16 inch. I could have gone with a 14 inch, but I wanted more spread sonically. I ended up spending a little less than the standard set would have cost new, but with an additional tom in place of a snare.

The Catalina Jazz are Philippine Mahogany, AKA luan. I'm not sure what the filler plies are, nor am I sure what the ply beneath the wrap is, but the inner ply looks like any decent Luan. Not much to brag about, but for the money you can't beat shells made from luan IF they're glued up right and free from voids and with decent bearing edges. These look fairly well done - no voids - though there were two rough spots on the bearing edges on the 13 and floor toms. One looked like a gouge from impact, the other was a slight dip that sanded out easily.

Evans coated on top, stock evans clear on the bottom. Kick drum had a new Aquarian something or other head with the built-in double dampening.

Hardware is decent enough, though I'm not a heavy hitter. Good value, IMO.

The spread that 10, 13 and 16 inch toms allows is very diverse when the toms are tuned to what most players would consider each drum's natively optimum pitch. The 10 and 13 are mounted on the kick drum (had to purchase a double tom mount).

That said, the sound is very warm (flatter edges) but not very loud (luan shells). These are great for recording or with sound reinforcement, and would also make a fine practice or second kit.

The 18" diameter, 16" kick drum is surprisingly good. I've played 20 inch kick drums, and expected this to sound like a floor tom in comparison to a good 22 inch, but it more than holds its own - very punchy and great with a mic. Overtones are easily controllable because luan isn't the most resonant wood and the flat edges even out the sound and eliminate a good deal of ringing inherent to more resonant drums (hardwood).

The tuning ranges for the drums is on par for any material shell, with the exception of the 10" - the range here seems more limited than other 10 inch toms I've played, but the tone is very good (warm).

If you want a warm, round sound that's easily controllable (not loud or ringy) these are a great value. I'm giving the drums 8 here to reflect value for the money.

These are a second - practice kit, so they'll likely stay mostly at home or in practice rooms. So far, so good. the drums hold tune and the tone is consistent. I've used better lugs, rods, etc, but look at what you pay for top tier drum kits - it's outrageous. $1000 today doesn't come close to what $1000 bought you 15 years ago in shells.

Can't comment on HW other than the tom mounts, bass spurs, and floor tom legs. No problems so far. They seem made well enough to me.

Grestch replied to every email I sent them and with sensible and considerate answers to questions and concerns.

I played for 20 years, attended MIT (PIT), and then retired for awhile before taking drums back up after a break to attend the real world (hated it there). My other kit is a Yamaha custom kit from the late 80s that's been babied even when played out. But the drums are heavy, loud and will probably go up for sale with the road cases they've been stored in.

If I were to do this again, I'd not hesitate to purchase the Catalina kit, but I do like the sizes I chose (custom, in a way). The color? eh ... I'd go with a natural finish for this kit, but the kick drum and toms were bargains, and I wanted the sound these drums deliver. Warm, round and vintage all the way for quite a bit less than anything else I could find.

The Catalina Club Jazz all-Mahogany shells have 30-degree bearing edges, fully adjustable tom holders with GTS suspension systems. The bass drums includes maple bass hoops and pre-muffled heads. The shell pack includes a wood shell snare drum with side throw-off in the matching finish, in my case white marine nitron finish.
Sizes of the drums:
5 x 14 Snare Drum;
8 x 12 Tom Tom;
14 x 14 Floor Tom;
14 x 18 Bass Drum.
On toms and snare Evans G1 coated heads. Bass with gretsch logo.
The shell pack is available in other colors as shown on the gretsch website like walnut glaze, satin natural an rustic pearl.
Although this drumset is (compared with other gretsch stuff) budget-priced, it looks very, very nice.
Some people say the snare drum with only 8 lugs is equipped too poor. I've had no problems with that.

The tone is very near to the much more expensive gretsch drumsets (i.e. the renown maple): Very warm, dynamic, rich mids. Ideal for vintage sounds - I'm playing fifties blues, rock'n'roll, swing and it's perfect for that kind of music. Even the small sized bass drum does a good job - it sounds dry, cool (without additional damping inside). The set's not very loud. The tuning was very easy - in fact no (really NO) overtones which is surprising at that price. I expected that I have to change the drumheads - but the evans heads sound very good.

Nice small kit for club gigs and jamming in your living room. Very good looking white marine pearl wrap. Durability: At this time no opinion.

No opinion ...

The drumset is made in taiwan - not in china. Inspite of this the "look and feel" is expensive. I'm not a professional musician but I'm playing music in some bands now for 25 years (guitar and singing). This is my second drumset (my first one uses my little son) and I love it. Very good deal.