CHEAP vs EXPENSIVE Jazz Drums | Gretsch Catalina Club vs Natal Cafe' Racer

Comparing my inexpensive Gretsch Catalina Club Jazz kit to my more expensive Natal Cafe' Racer kit. I listed the prices from when I purchased the kits so the Gretsch kit in 2015 was $670.00 for a 4 piece shell pack and the Natal was (and still is) $1100.00 for a 3 piece shell pack.
0:00 Intro
0:52 Similarities
1:35 Differences
4:42 Natal Playing
6:32 Gretsch Playing
8:14 Head to Head
8:45 Conclusion
Other Gear Used:
Snare - Yamaha 14X5.5 Tour Custom
Zildjian 20" A Custom Flat Top Ride w/ 2 Rivets
Zildjian 14" A Thin Crash over Zidljian 14" New Beat Top (hihats)
Gibraltar Hardware
Camera - Zoom Q2n 4K
Video was edited in Filmora.
www.austinhassmusic.com/

[@boomerguy9935]

I've owned my Gretsch Catalina Club Jazz kit for over 10 years and it sounds fantastic. The quality is amazing and although some people disrespect it because it isn't made in the USA like the high end USA Series kits, it is excellent. They are made in Taiwan, in the DW factory under contract with DW, according to Gretsch specs. These aren't the cheapest, but you get far more than your money's worth. The Gretsch Catalina Club Maple kits and the Gretsch Renown kits are also made in the same factory. All are wonderful.

[@austinhass2638]

They’re still my go to drums to gig with! Super light and easy to get a great sound out of. Glad to hear yours are serving you well. Coming up on a 10 year anniversary with mine too. Thanks for watching!

[@fiveanddimekl]

From my personal perspective after listening to your sound track through headphones and speakers, the Gretsch Catalina sounds fuller and with more body than the Natal. This is more likely to do with the bearing edges than anything else. That's also why I would choose the Gretsch at any price.

[@austinhass2638]

I think you are right. There's something in the water over at gretsch. Thanks for watching!

[@ronaldzeoli7528]

Like the comparison video and I do agree with your assessment Of both kits

[@austinhass2638]

Thanks for watching!

[@Coventry_Kiers_1984]

Natal! Great playing too!👌🏻

[@austinhass2638]

Thank you!

[@Poeme340]

sophisticated playing-beautiful 👍

[@austinhass2638]

Thank you!

[@striker_1120]

I love your doubles flows so gudddd

[@margovallen]

I much prefer the Gretsch kit. In tone, looks and overall vibe. Nice playing, btw.

[@austinhass2638]

Thank you!

[@wojtekbukowski7133]

Great video Austin. The tuning is spot on, so much they sound very, very similar. We drummers can hear slight differences in the individual drums between one kit and the other, but for the average listener they probably sound the same. That's a testament to your good tuning! I have a 2012 Catalina Club Jazz kit, also white marine pearl (my favorite color for Jazz drums) and I have a question... I'm thinking of getting Gretsch 302 hoops for it, how much did swapping out the stock hoops effect the Catalinas? More sustain? Thanks in advance, and nice playing by the way.

[@austinhass2638]

Thanks for watching! I found it hard to tell the difference as well listening back again. For me the biggest differences were in the stability of the tuning and the sustain. With the thicker hoops I found drums rarely fell out of tune. And as far as sustain the thicker hoops focused the sound a little more and cut some of the wild overtones I was getting from the thinner hoops. Hope this helps!

[@cvee2614]

Good review Austin. To my ears, the bass on the Natal has a touch more bottom end, otherwise the Gretsch overall has a rich, fuller jazz sound (discounting your tuning). Also Gretsch admittedly has made vast improvements in overall quality of the older '15 Catalina series. I'm also a huge Gretsch fan. Cheers from ROC

[@austinhass2638]

I would agree. Intially I thought the Natal kit sounded better but now I can't really hear a huge difference.

[@danielchernau3503]

Gretsch 6 days a week and twice on Sunday at that tuning. I'm hearing a lower overtone on the Natals that to my ear clashes.

[@regalasongs2256]

tunning spot on, very similar on both.

[@austinhass2638]

Thank you for checking it out!

[@jamesf.ryaniii7918]

OMG!!! Those Natal lugs are hideous and freakishly large!!! How much do they weigh? That's a lot of weight on each shell. I thought the DW Collectors lugs were chunky and heavy, but these Natal lugs take the cake!!! Gretsch wins based on lugs alone.

[@austinhass2638]

The Natal drums are pretty heavy compared to the Gretsch and really compared to anything. I ended up selling the Natal drums for this reason and the fact that there was no real noticeable sound difference. Thanks for taking a listen!

[@mikestraus135]

Natal's sounded really great, The gretsch sounded flat in comparison. thanks for the vid!

[@gregorybaillie2093]

The Gretsch tom is a bit "oingy" for my taste, but that's just tuning. I was a bit skeptical of the Natal but it impressed despite. As best I can tell the only differences that I perceived I would put down to tuning.

[@austinhass2638]

Totally! The do offer fairly similar timbres. Thanks for watching!

[@gourabshow3993]

🤘

[@arturosaenz9120]

To my ears,the natals,more clean tone and projection,at that particular tuning.the gretch,to my ears,not so much,.but for portability,gretch takes it,considering the edge cut on both set,s.that was an interesting a,b, comparison.

[@austinhass2638]

I would agree! I think a head change and some different muffling could fix that on the catalina's. Thanks for watching!

[@johnweyers2685]

The Gretsch sound better. I tune my Gretsch drums lower, but Gretsch tuned higher for jazz cannot be beat. I play a 7 piece Broadkaster, but still own the Catalinas. They are way underated. Don't let price fool you. I've had $3,000 kits that didn't sound any better. It's all in the tuning and player. Buff said. 😁

[@austinhass2638]

Well said! Thanks for watching!

[@daviewavie112]

Maybe one less lug and smaller lugs helps the Gretsch shells resonate more

[@chuckc7375]

Very close sounding drums, but I give a slight edge to the natal drums.

[@austinhass2638]

I agree! It's really pretty hard to tell but the Natal drums do offer the slightest bit more fullness. Thank you for taking a listen!

[@chuckc7375]

@@austinhass2638 You’re welcome

[@samuelp5649]

I skipped most of this to be honest, I wanted a blind test.. I preferred the Gretsch, but as mentioned in other comments.. the muffling on the bass drum really made it hard to tell what tonal qualities and the differences between the drums. both are nice and more a stylistic choice between the two.

[@austinhass2638]

I have since removed the muffling from the bass drums and enjoy the sound much more. Unfortunatly I didn't think to do a blind test at the time but will think about that in the future. Thanks for watching!

[@roomdog40]

Had no idea Natal still existed.

[@WhyTheHorseface]

Wow I did not expect that Gretsch bass drum to sound so different (worse, to my ears). Thanks for your video, great playing!

[@farshimelt]

I don't hear a $400 difference. I'd go with the Catalina. I had Catalina that I bought in around 2010 for $500 including HH, BD pedal and cymbal stand. By the time I sold it, in 2013 it was starting to have some issues with the screws holding the lugs and the bass drum shell beginning to warp. Still for $500 it was worth it. These days I'd probably buy a small Sonor or Tama kit.

[@austinhass2638]

I agree. Catalina's can't be beat for the value. Unfortunatly prices have increase $100-$200 on them since I bought mine. Still an incredible package. Thanks for watching!

[@magicmexican59]

The gretch set has less ring in the Tom's but the bass drum was identical to be honest More content w you talking!

[@austinhass2638]

To my ear the catalina bass drum is a lot more dead which I assume comes from the big hole where the tom would go. Great to hear your thoughts!

[@stephendufort4154]

I can hear a difference, but not much....interesting thanks Stephen

[@austinhass2638]

Yeah it’s a close call for sure. Thanks for checking it out!

[@arturkasza3176]

Concerning the bass drum, you can't expect otherwise if you have two felt strips on both sides. They completely modify the sound of the BD. They apparently deaden the Catalina's BD more than the Natal's. I've got the previous version of the Catalina (square badge), no muffling anywhere, the BD is fantastically deep and open, while still fitting into the jazz sound. With Catalina, if you want to take some of the overtones out, I would go with Pinstripes, Emperors or Powerstrokes at the most. (I gather Austin is happy with what he has, my comment is about the Catalina's dead BD.)

[@austinhass2638]

Since the making of this videos I've taken the felt strips out. What a difference! Thanks for watching!

[@jackmitreuter1070]

Where’d you buy the Grestch kit

[@austinhass2638]

Steve Weiss Music!

[@paulcope834]

Natal sounds better. More sustain although the floor toms are close. Listening on studio speakers.

[@austinhass2638]

Definitely a more present sound. I think both have their place depending on the situation. Thank you for watching!

[@paulcope834]

@@austinhass2638 I've got a Catalina Maple heading my way in a few weeks. Couldn't afford anything else tbh.

[@austinhass2638]

@@paulcope834 Awesome! I hope you enjoy it.

[@stevencarol3938]

K custom left side ride?

[@austinhass2638]

Not quite! 20” Zildjian A Custom Flat Top Ride with 2 rivets.

[@jimferris6560]

Disappointing tuning of both kits. I 've had both and both of them tuned up nicely with a full warm depth of sound.

[@austinhass2638]

I was going for the more "bop" oriented sound a la Max Roach. Glad you to hear you have had a positive experience with both kits. Thanks for watching!

[@darleneknight1]

Buy two sets of gretch for the price of the one.

[@austinhass2638]

Haha, I suppose so! Thanks for watching!

[@ivanbajovic3476]

Natal bass drum sounds better here

[@Ds_Drums]

I like the looks and sound of the Natal kit more than the Gretsch. But looks-wise, I prefer wood drums with no wrap. Except MAYBE the floor Tom's which I could not really tell much of a difference.

[@austinhass2638]

I do enjoy a natural finish on a drum as well. I just get nervous gigging and having it potentially scratch up but I suppose that's just part the whole experience! Thanks for watching!

[@EarthtonesCymbals]

Take the $ out of the conversation and you have a good sounding drum set either way. I mean...you did say that you gig with the Gretsch, right? That is where the rubber meets the road. Live music.

[@austinhass2638]

Totally agree! These days a great drum set doesn't need to cost a small fortune. Thanks for watching!

[@lancerobbins3423]

I thought your Catalina's have more personality

[@austinhass2638]

I agree. They have a more distinct character for sure. Thanks for watching!

[@policeluber6720]

Keep,copying philly joe until u don’t find URSELF

[@austinhass2638]

Okay!