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Sound:
You cant get a better kit for the money. Its impossible. You cant even get maple chells in any brand for this price.
Feature:
The tom arm mounts give you a lot of flexability which is nice. Also the maple bass drum hoops are a nice touch.
Ease of Use:
You hit them and they make noise.
Quality:
The build of the drum set seems to be very good. I didnt find any defects in the build of scratched shells.
Value:
This is the best part about this drumset. For the money there is no better drum set on the market. Sure you can get a 6 piece for the same price but you wont get suspended toms and you for sure wont get maple shells. I cant stress enough how much of a great drumset this is for the money.
Manufacturer Support:
Ive never had a reason to contact Gretsch nor will i ever need to.
The Wow Factor:
I think the deep amber finish on this drumset is very sexy. I wanted a natural looking finish and at first i was concerned but when they shipped to me i was pleasently suprised.
Overall:
This is the second kit that i have owned and it was leaps and bounds better than the first. I say this is a great set for anyone who has a cruddy entry level set who wants to take there playing to the next level. It would make a great set for someone who wants to get a very well built great sounding kit without breaking the bank.
28 of 28 people
(100%) found this review helpful. Did you?
Sound:
Love the sound of this set -- uber expressive. I bought a set of Evans EC2 heads to replace the stock heads, but put some moon gels on the stock heads and it's just fine for now. Lots of warmth and tone -- they sound just like drums should, not too fat and not too tight or closed in. In short, it seems like you can tune these drums for whatever sound you like due to their tonal capabilities.
Feature:
The tom mounts could be more substantial, but they work and haven't broken after four years of use.
Ease of Use:
I find the snare a bit of a challenge to get to sound the way I want, but I know I'll get there it just may take more work and experimentation with heads and tuning on my part. The 10" tom is magic right out of the box, but the 12" takes more work as do the floor toms.
Quality:
Here's the worst part of this set. The sound is really, really great, so if that's your priority these are definitely worth a strong look. The hardware is adequate. It does the job but most offerings in this range seem stronger, although I've haven't had any problems to date and I've owned it for about four years. The tom mounts in particular just don't seem that strong, so you need to work with them to get them right but they don't seem like they'll break either. Again, adequate is the word I'd use and it's fine given the sound I'm getting out of the drums.
Value:
Given the awesome sound of the drums and the fact that everyone who sees my set for the first time literally just stops in their tracks and pauses (my set is amber) before they call it "beautiful" pretty much says it all.
Manufacturer Support:
No experience with Gretsch -- just go through my retailer.
The Wow Factor:
The look and sound of this set are what endear it to my heart. I see other sets and respect them, but this one speaks to me sonically and visually. There are better built sets out there for the money, which is what many of this set's critics seem to focus on, but the build quality on the Catalina Maples is good enough and the others I tried just don't evoke the emotion these guys do.
Overall:
If I could've, I would've sprung for the Renowns but they're twice the price and the sound and look of the Catalina Maples was just too good to justify the added expense. But the newest versions of the Catalina Maples offer the 30-degree bearings and upgraded hardware so it's an even tougher choice than when I bought mine. Yes the Renowns (and some competitors) are constructed better, but if you're going strictly on sound (given their flexibility of tuning with different heads) the value of the Catalina Maples is strong. I'll upgrade the mounting hardware long before I'll consider replacing these drums - in fact I don't think I'll ever replace them.
2 of 2 people
(100%) found this review helpful. Did you?
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Sound:
I have had a couple sets before this one and the maple blows the poplar sets away. I didnt know if the maple would sound good for rock and metal but it sounds better than any other set i have played on. The bad thing is the stock heads suck but are better than other stock heads i have used in the past. Evans heads bring out the beast hidden with in. If gretsch was to put evans heads on the maple or even remo it would be one of the best drum sets you could buy.
Feature:
The best part of the maple is the tom mounts they are awsome. I wished they were put on at the factory because they are a pain to put on,you have to take the rings off the two rack toms to put them on.
Ease of Use:
If you put evans heads on it like ec2sst it is easy to get any sound you want from this set. The stock heads suck but for first timers they are ok.My maple did not come with a manual so if you don't know how to put heads on a drum you won't know what you are doing. It is the most playable set i have ever played!!!!Gretsch
Quality:
Gretsch maple is made better than any other drum out there. Gretsch is hand made by the same people every day not a plant or machine line and all kinds of differnt people making your drums. The hardware on the shells is made in china but that don't matter because the shells are what makes the sound and they are made in america and always have been. The finish of the deep amber is so fine it looks like a 2000 dollar set. They know how to laquer shells and they like a fine wine only get better with age. I do have a pearl 5 piece but don't play it anymore it sucks compared to the maple.
Value:
I believe this set is a steal at the price plus you get a free floor tom with it and it is maple. I don't think you could get a better drum for the money that is maple and gives you a free floor tom.
Manufacturer Support:
I don't think i will ever need it.
The Wow Factor:
The deep amber is the best color drum i have ever seen and makes it real sexy. I would want this set even if i did not play drums just because the way it looks in deep amber.
Overall:
I dont think i will ever need to look for another set. The maple Gretsch is the drum for me for the rest of my drumming day's.I wanted a tama like Lars Ulrich play's but It was to much money for me and it was not maple so when i saw the catalina maple i had to have it and the price was a steal. Maple sounds so much better than poplar and it is great with rock and metal like it was made for that style. I would buy the same drum if were stolen or lost. I have only one complaint about the set as i have said before that the stock heads suck and if they put evans or remo heads on them they would sell more of them.
11 of 14 people
(78.57%) found this review helpful. Did you?
Sound:
VG sound. 8 out of 10- hey, there are better drums out there, but hard to find a better bargain.
Feature:
Bought this set use, so accessories, cymbal stands, etc. that came with it are not part of the deal from Gretsch, but the extra floor tom was. Like the bigger-than-most kick drum. Snare is nice to have, too.
Ease of Use:
The previous reviewer said it better than I could- you hit, them make noise. What more do you want?
Quality:
Above the crowd quality.
Value:
Almost a 10- except there is no perfection in this world...
Manufacturer Support:
No experience here.
The Wow Factor:
Beautiful set. Red translucent finish on the shells, chrome plating are just pure sex appeal.
Overall:
Set was aquired to be the main rental drums for a professional recording studio. I am thinking anyone who might turn his/her nose up at these would probably have his/her own set they would want to use, anyway. And for the wackers, we have a cheap beater set that they can rent cheap, wail on all day long and then be surprised when we present them for a damage bill.
7 of 10 people
(70%) found this review helpful. Did you?
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