hey guys! im thinkin about buying one of these but im not 2 sure?

any help?

http://www.drumsmylife.com/buy/gretsch-drums-catalina-maple-fusion-shell-pack-with-free-16-floor-tom/

I have this kit as my 2nd kit.
Here's a thread about the kit.

http://www.drumsmylife.com/posting.php?mode=editpost&p=122765








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"The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step" Lao Tsu
http://www.myspace.com/whateverocks
http://www.myspace.com/frontlinetribute
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Hello.

I just bought this shellset last week. Good choice, sounds very good, but I returned the 16" floortom. The reason why you'll read in the copy of the note I send to Thomann:


Hello.

The problem with this floortom is that there seems to be no sustain whatsoever.
I have tried many different drumheads, incl. Remo Ambassador coated, Pinstripe and Emperor and also Attack 2-ply medium thin and the Terry Bozzio Signature heads, but all with the same result. I also changed the original bottomhead but still no improvement. It’s like the drum is “choking”.
I also tried many different ways of tuning: top and bottom equal, bottomhead slightly higher (usually the best sound for me) and bottomhead slightly lower.
I am a professional player/producer and usually I get the best possible sound out of every shell. I write articles about drums etc. in Holland’s biggest musicmagazine “MusicMaker”.
This is not to “brag”, but to let you know I am experienced and I really tried everything, also with colleque-drummers and they could only agree with me on this subject.
The rest of the shells sound like I expected them to: nice and easy to tune!
I bought this set as a spare one next to my Pearl Masters Custom Gold set. I have played a maple Catalina set on several occasions and felt it was great value for the money..! That’s why I ordered it without listening and that’s also why I’m so amazed that the floortom can’t seem to sound right, where all the other toms do!
I have taken a close look at the drum, but I can’t find any visual reason, though the hoops aren’t 100% round. But (in my opinion), that can’t be the real reason.
Maybe it’s pure coincidence and is it just this specific floortom.

I hope this is of some help.

Regards, Coos

BTW, at Thomann they were more than helpfull and arranged for everything to get the floortom back. I just hope I get a good one back...

Quote:

Also, I highly recommend replacing the tips of the floor tom legs with the Pearl tips so the shell doesn't choke.
Other than that, they're cool. The shell sound real good.

It's the tips on the legs. Pick up the tom and hit it...then set it down. There's nothing wring with the drum. Buy these...it will solve the problem.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Pearl-R403-Floor-Tom-Rubber-Tip-3Pack?sku=447972










_________________
"The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step" Lao Tsu
http://www.myspace.com/whateverocks
http://www.myspace.com/frontlinetribute
http://www.myspace.com/firthoffifth2

also, I would add to avoid tightening the wing nut that holds the legs in.
Only tighten them enough to hold the tom up, which is minimal.

I guarantee you'll see a difference.
Good Luck.








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"The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step" Lao Tsu
http://www.myspace.com/whateverocks
http://www.myspace.com/frontlinetribute
http://www.myspace.com/firthoffifth2

Hello Drumur.

Thanks for your replies. I will defenitely try your tips on this matter...!!
Still, I don't understand why all the other (floor)toms, including my own 14", do sound right and this particular 16" doesn't.
Anyway, I'll probably get a new one, and hopefully that will sound right.
Apart from that, I really feel that the Gretsch Catalina Maple is amazing value for the money!!

Regards, C.








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Pearl MMX Masters Custom Gold 10/12/14/16/20/14x6.5 sn - Sabian AA and HH cymbals - Gretsch Catalina Maple 10/12/14ft/16ft/22 - Pearl Sensitone 14x5.5 brass snare

Possibly because it weighs more. There could also be a problem with the one or both of the bearing edges.








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Dr. Rodney McKay wrote:

Well, I only know one thing and that is that flying darkness that eats energy can only be very, very bad.

http://www.MySpace.com/PageFive

Hello.

Your remark about the bearing-edges really makes sense, though I did check them on this floortom and they seemed ok.
However, in a topic in a Dutch drumforum I've just read some stories about the (earlier) Catalina-series, including the Birch, that there were serious problems
with those bearing-edges. And yes, the weight of the 16" could make a difference. But then, I've heard a few that sounded good. The reason I bought this shellset is that I wanted a affordable maple kit with 10/12" racktoms and 2 floortoms, so I can use them in all kind of configurations: 10/14, 12/16, 10/12/14/ or 10/12/14/16. I usually play a Pearl MMX 10/12/14/16/20 in a drumrack and that's sometimes a bit to big to bring to a small gig.
When the new floortom arrives, I'll let you know how it is.

Kind regards, C.

P.S. I appreciate all your help a lot.








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Pearl MMX Masters Custom Gold 10/12/14/16/20/14x6.5 sn - Sabian AA and HH cymbals - Gretsch Catalina Maple 10/12/14ft/16ft/22 - Pearl Sensitone 14x5.5 brass snare

I assume that the weight of the 16" is more of an issue than with the 14".
All I know is that I had the same experience and the first thing I did was lift it up and hit it. Ah ha !!!! BOOM
They should have used better tips. For the rest of the gig, I stuck foam rubber under the legs and immediately order the Pearl tips when i got home. I never had that problem again. It sustains forever with a pinstripe.

Gretsch's bearing edges are fine.








_________________
"The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step" Lao Tsu
http://www.myspace.com/whateverocks
http://www.myspace.com/frontlinetribute
http://www.myspace.com/firthoffifth2

I use those Pearl floor tom feet on all of my Vintage Drums, and they work every time! I cant recommend them enough. Best thing Pearl has designed.








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You can own the greatest drum ever made, but it won't change how well you can play it!

Hello everyone.

Well, it's obvious I'm gonna get me the Pearl drumfeet a.s.a.p. On both 14 and 16 floor. I got several responds in a Dutch drumforum where these were also mentioned. The funny thing is that I haven't used a floortom in more than ten years. It's all mounted toms with ISS in a drumrack.
And Steaky, yes, it's a great invention, but believe me, Pearl has designed a lot of other beautiful things !!!!
Again, thanks a lot to everyone for all your input and I'm glad I discovered this drumforum.

Kind regards from the Netherlands.

C.








_________________
Pearl MMX Masters Custom Gold 10/12/14/16/20/14x6.5 sn - Sabian AA and HH cymbals - Gretsch Catalina Maple 10/12/14ft/16ft/22 - Pearl Sensitone 14x5.5 brass snare

OK, I just had to let you know: I just took three small pieces of flightcase-foam and put that under the feet of the 14".
I couldn't believe my ears, endless sustain.........! I can't wait to get my 16" floor back.
Again, thanks..!!
I play for more than 35 years and really never had this kind of problem, but this is probably the best advice I've had in my entire career. That and the conversation I had with Simon Phillips in 1983 in at the Frankfurter Messe, when he told me how he tuned his drums and showed me how he controlled his snaredrum: with a ring from an old drumhead...!
That was something very new at the time.


Cheers, C.








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Pearl MMX Masters Custom Gold 10/12/14/16/20/14x6.5 sn - Sabian AA and HH cymbals - Gretsch Catalina Maple 10/12/14ft/16ft/22 - Pearl Sensitone 14x5.5 brass snare

Quote:

Well, it's obvious I'm gonna get me the Pearl drumfeet a.s.a.p. On both 14 and 16 floor.

Yeah, That's what I did.
I'm glad i could help.








_________________
"The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step" Lao Tsu
http://www.myspace.com/whateverocks
http://www.myspace.com/frontlinetribute
http://www.myspace.com/firthoffifth2

Ok, and now for the really importan question: Its-all-gravy, did you get enough information on the Gretsch Catalina? After all, you started this topic.
Or maybe you already bought a set.....
Well, whatever, I've learned a thing or two..!!!

Till the next topic !!!

Regards, C.








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Pearl MMX Masters Custom Gold 10/12/14/16/20/14x6.5 sn - Sabian AA and HH cymbals - Gretsch Catalina Maple 10/12/14ft/16ft/22 - Pearl Sensitone 14x5.5 brass snare

Hey TheDrumKid.

Yea i got a good amount about the kit, mainly about the 16" Floor tom!
but its either the Gretsch or a mapex m birch...?

cheers guys,
Eric








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