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"RBs" 1964 Slingerlands
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I've played Slingerland drums, exclusively since 1964, and this is a new experience for me. Here's what Gretsch has to say about this kit:
"With a nod towards the classic kits of yesterday, the Catalina Club Series offers a new spin on an old favorite. With its small configurations and classic styled features, the Catalina Club is a perfect back-up kit, an ideal portable kit or a great first step into a traditional smaller configuration set-up. Warm Mahogany shells produce a deep rich tone that takes you back to days long past."
Sizes
Color
White Nitron Pearl
My Personal Evaluation
The Catalina Club "Elite" kit is a well-designed and honest set of drums. The mahogany shells give a great bottom-end (very surprising) and the 18" bass drum is a cannon! The toms tuned up beautifully and maintain their pitch well. The heads have been changed to all Aquarian (www.aquarian.com), with the exception of the front kick head, which was retained for the logo.
The hardware is nice and well-chromed. I had a minor problem with the snare drum wrap, but it was corrected by the Gretsch factory (apparently a slight anomaly in the wrap allowed the original head to pull the wrap away from the shell. Rather than fix it myself, I sent it back to Gretsch). Guitar Center (San Bernardino), from which the set was purchased, handled the complaint very professionally and Gretsch just replaced the defective-wrap snare drum with a new snare.
[An aside: After picking up the Catalina Club "Elite" kit form GC, I talked with George Lawrence of George's Drum Shop (www.georgesdrumshop.com), who told that he could even beat the fantastic price I had gotten from GC. George is a great guy and a fantastic drummer; give him a call or drop him a note via his website for a fantastic deal on Gretsch drums.]
Other than the problem with the wrap on the snare drum, the finish is
absolutely gorgeous, very bright and "deep." It is a very impressive
looking kit and just a nominal stage lighting is suitable for really showing off the
kit. I've always respected the way the WMP finishes appear on stage and this one
does not disappoint at all. Hopefully, the finish won't yellow, like the fantastic
vintage White Marine Pearl of bygone years, but even if it does, I have confidence it will
continue to look very well for many years.
Recommendation
Overall, this is an excellent kit and it really gigs well (1st gig was at San Bernardino's Route 66 Rendezvous in September, 2004); very impressive kit! Our small jazz combo was stopping the traffic and several people were complimentary, not only of the look of the Gretsch Catalina Club "Elite" kit, but also the deep, throaty sound characteristics. The kit had no problem projecting, even though the bass, keyboards and woodwinds (soprano, alto and tenor sax) were nominally amplified. The drums were not miked. Highly recommended.
Available Colors in this Series
For more information, see http://www.gretschdrums.com.
Main Page Parental Advisory Endorsements
"RBs" 1964 Slingerlands
Drumming Links Interesting
Stories Singing Schools Singing Links Ham Radio