Gretsch Drums Catalina Club 4-piece Drum Kit Review by Sweetwater

[@throwdown47]

This guy is a killer drummer

[@GediSpock]

I was just thinking exactly that.

[@selwynkatz519]

..he is..

[@ronmexico2317]

Great drummer, good sales pitch. Cheap beginner kit.

[@AaronLevyDrums]

@@ronmexico2317 You want cheap beginner, go to the Gretsch Energy.

[@ronmexico2317]

@@AaronLevyDrums Who said I wanted cheap beginner?

[@deesnuggets730]

PLAYS BREATH TAKING DRUM SOLO how you doing everybody

[@andrewmurphy5310]

Man runs sub two hour marathon how you doing everybody

[@DoppelgangerShockwave]

Man, I cannot believe the punch of that little 18" bass drum! Gretsch made a masterpiece with the Catalina Club kit! :)

[@oskarfield8696]

Its because it has a powerstroke 3 clear as a batter head

[@sjang816]

this guy is so entertaining and skilled! I love all his reviews

[@shawnbruce6934]

This kit sounds Amazing! I have the one with the 20" kick. Doesn't hurt when You have Nick behind it doing the demo.

[@chazsinger]

Best demo I've seen on this kit period! I sold off my DW and vintage Rogers kit last year after the divorce and started getting calls if I could fill in from time to time. I had kept all my hardware and Zildjian cymbals, so I just needed basic shell kit. I found mine in Copper Sparkle and fell in love! When they pulled the snare down, I knew I was in deep shit brother. Now that I've heard that kick drum with the hole in the head and light treatment inside, I'm so happy! I wish they would sell a set of bags for this as an add on. Are you listening Sweetwater???

[@g10ronaldinho]

One of the best reviews I've seen on KZbin

[@Amp1771]

I'm a fan of the way you play. I can't get that Gene Krupa beat out my head

[@selwynkatz519]

The video intro Nick is playing an uptempo latin based bossa nova...combing a jazzy feel...and yes after a Krupa thing.

[@roybeckerman9253]

Best value kits on the markets. Have a far more expensive sound, than their price suggests. They actually sound better than a lot of more expensive drums....especially these mahogany kits...very vintage sound.

[@roybeckerman9253]

Best value for money drums on the market. Great starting way to buy Gretsch.

[@sierragold]

WOW!!! The opening was insane!

[@DustyCowdog]

Dang, Nick... Kills that little kit. Awesome!

[@matt_pears]

Best budget kit out there!

[@Milkacow77]

Paul Rudd is a hell of a drummer

[@damonson3614]

I don’t see it

[@fecatellus1337]

You mean Joey Tribbiani

[@djevlhelvete]

You mean Jon Lovitz...

[@roybeckerman7843]

This video was 6 years ago. I wonder what improvements have been made since then..?

[@adesulaimankramadibratasem4086]

solid playing Nick, really great sounding drum.

[@roybeckerman9253]

Probably the best value drums on the market today. At the lower end of the Gretsch range, but sound better than a lot of the more expensive kits around.

[@hombreenojado]

I honestly wish I'd seen these before I bought my Tama kit.

[@robertocalderonabogado1427]

Nick Di Virgilio is so talented if you give him a Hello Kitty Drum kit he would play a killer solo!!!

[@gaspasser]

Nick should have his own KZbin channel. He would do very well.

[@Jackson-DeGrappo]

Why are a lot of the drums sets that are played not available anymore? Whenever I click the link a lot of the time it says it's not a available.

[@SteveH4es]

sticks45 i just bought these offline at a drum store in Maine. You have to dig for them.

[@JakeStaffin]

Because this specific finish isn't made anymore. There are a few finishes available for the Catalina Club now.

[@damienalexray6327]

I've been having my eye on these drums for a while now and am curious to how they would hold up in more atmospheric and texture driven styles such as Post Rock and Ambient. I love that 18" kick.

[@ronmexico2317]

Cheap mahogany goes out of round over time without reinforcement rings.

[@IanOSullivan1965]

Great video Nick. Really informative.

[@mitchellhughes5180]

Those look so awesome

[@Drumsticksmcgee]

I got the 2006 model year brand new. Sweet sounding set.

[@jamesnortonofficial1566]

This little kit has punch, I can't believe the kick👍

[@davidmcaninch4714]

Mr. D’Virgilio, I know you probably won’t respond to this, but I think you’re an awesome musician!!!!!!!

[@roybeckerman9253]

These sound much better , than some of the very expensive kits around. Not sure about the quality of the finish and fittings, but the sound is very good. What you can save on the cost of the drums, you can spend on better cymbals

[@OnBendedKneeMusic]

love the chops!

[@jngarr]

It should be noted that even though these are "mahogany", not all mahoganies are created equal. These are made of luan mahogany, also called Philippine mahogany, which is a lower quality compared to other mahoganies used in some drums, some of which are no longer harvested. That said, I still like the sound of my Cat Clubs.

[@adamwilson1691]

damn Nick, you play like a pro

[@dilankarun9172]

Every time I see Nick do a Demo, I want to buy the kit, including this one. I was going to buy another kit he did a demo on , until I realized I already had it ! lol

[@zepgen8]

Nic you are so talented..

[@berniz2282]

The Great Gretsch Sound ! ! For a low price Wasaaaaaaa ! !

[@roybeckerman9253]

If you closed your eyes, how many could tell the difference between these and the expensive kits.

[@blakegowan6623]

Tuned to perfection....you guys use a drum dial or what?

[@roybeckerman9253]

Good sound. How is the quality of the fittings, over a period of time.

[@ronmexico2317]

not good. Cheap is not only referring to price!

[@jacobdeleon9191]

im sure getting that one for b-day

[@tmaddrummer]

If only this finish was still available......

[@nospoon17]

tmaddrummer .... ikr I would totally buy this finish but I’ll be going with the blue satin flame since this finish is no longer available. I’m still very excited to get this kit. It has that warm thump I always wanted for a tone.

[@tmaddrummer]

James Name enjoy each and every beat Drum Brother!

[@johnhoudyshell7551]

Try pricing drums made in mahagony from Ludwig or DW they are a bargain...

[@andrewmeece2064]

Great video man. What type of pedal and cymbals are you using?

[@sharonbrown655]

Do you constantly have to tune the drums? How often do you have to tune them?

[@danistheguy]

I feel like this sounds better than the Catalina maple.. just me?

[@thepastysmasher5320]

Hey, do you think these would work in a heavier rock/metal setting? The toms sound huge! I prefer 4-piece kits because they're less hassle and I'd rather just get in and play than spend an hour getting it in tune first.

[@abethedrummer]

+The Pasty Smasher They would but you would probably want to use a 20 or 22 kick instead

[@dominquedudink1774]

The catalina club studio has a 20" kickdrum, I use it in a punkrock band and it does an amazing job

[@lorddiabolus327]

I just recorded a power metal album with this kit. I used a ddrum maple snare, but the toms and even the little bass drum sound wonderful if tuned correctly. It's a very professional sounding kit for its price

[@chrisemery3478]

Yes this would i play my jazz set in black metal dont listen too closed minded drummers they suck follow what you like bro and do it

[@brhythms_22]

Can I add one more Tom next to 1st Tom?

[@Monsterdrumma]

You can add toms to these kits but this color is done so you would have to get a current Catalina kit color that is available to ad a tom.

[@dominquedudink1774]

How tight and stuff did you tune the snare and toms?

[@sweetwater]

+dominque dudink Hey there, I didn't tune the drums up that high. They were sort of in the middle. There was definitely room to go up or down. Take care, Nick

[@stephenlandry9061]

I’m a Ludwig guy, but the Gretsch club kit is the best sounding small kit !!

[@ronmexico2317]

Stephen, don't be a sucker. Do your homework. These are made in the same factory and cheap materials as Pearl, Yamaha starter sets! Don't be another victim of a good sales pitch. Do you think Nick would take this crap to a recording studio?

[@totigerus]

Yeah all my favorite EDM "bands" have an acoustic drummer playing along with the DJ.

[@TheGamingDandy]

+Tony Martinez A lot of live drummers do EDM. Jojo Mayer, and Kj Sawka just to name a couple.

[@ronmexico2317]

EDM sucks. Even with live drums.

[@jorgelopez9620]

How would you compare this kit to the quest love ludgwig? Witch is the quieter of the two? thanks

[@tylerblake3596]

haven't played both but I would imagine the breakbeats are quieter. they're a bit smaller, and the bags double as mutes. this kit doesn't come with any bags or mutes.

[@tylerblake3596]

forgot to say this, but this kit is significantly higher quality than the breakbeats.

[@Stavros_Meggos]

You can tell he's done his exersices! :p For me: Gretsch -> Yes. This kit-> No :)

[@daveybusman9597]

Is it a jazz/bop kit?

[@MultiSkyman1]

12,14,18 is Bop!

[@founboy78]

the best bass head to use is Evans

[@drumgod0695]

Aquarian’s are better

[@thebayoudiaries8389]

Hi, what does it men when people say drums are "warm"? And what do they mean when they say attack

[@thebayoudiaries8389]

Lol

[@adamwrightdrumming]

From my experience warm would usually mean a nice high tone and attack would mean quite alot of crack and stuff for rock etc

[@waltlitman8371]

I see a lot of people using this set for jazz, would it sound good for rock?

[@TheTechAndScience]

I think sound just depends on if you like the sound or not. It's only 4-piece though so I'm not sure if you only want that many drums for rock, but there's nothing wrong with a 4-piece (I hit a 4-piece too)

[@ronmexico2317]

No, actually this set made of Philippine mohagony is not good for jazz or anything except for a 12 year old learning to play in the garage.

[@sgtketchup]

the bass drum is super juicy and i love it, but the toms dont match it at all. i might give up and just make a frankenstein kit instead of trying to find one brand

[@paulbolin7513]

Best color ever and they ended it.

[@HaloAdmiral]

Am I able to add a 16 inch floor tom?

[@frichickenisha9906]

+Derpmuffins The Great I had the same question

[@barkahnakolan8194]

Harga berpaan ya drum model gini?

[@JPBurr]

Do you prefer this kit to Ludwig Breakbeats?

[@bradencutright-head6629]

This

[@frichickenisha9906]

how did you tune it to be like that?

[@thebayoudiaries8389]

This it the breakbeats?

[@snareaddict]

Tom heads? Ambys?

[@WaghRules]

How do you mic those drums? I never see any mics!

[@sweetwater]

Hi +Wagh_Rules ! We use a RODE NT4 stereo mic above the drum kit and a ROYER R-121 ribbon mic down low in front of the kick drum. The reason being is this, I'm trying to make the drums sound as natural as possible and those 2 great mics do the job. Like the listener would hear them if they were in the room. We've experimented with all kind of mics to get the best possible natural sound and the RODE and ROYER are a great combination for that. I hope that helps :)

[@jpfdiv]

D'Virgillio Cool name

[@roybeckerman9253]

It’s the drummer that makes drums sound good. Not vice versa.

[@AxelPared]

Does the set come with the cymbals

[@IncurZeAwperator]

+Axel Pared no

[@IncurZeAwperator]

+Axel Pared any kit that comes with cymbals is most likely not going to be good and neither will the cymbals

[@AxelPared]

ok

[@thebayoudiaries8389]

Would you recommend this for country?

[@ronmexico2317]

old Rogers kit for county.

[@born2grooveu]

instead of using the lift, can't you just get a shorter beater?

[@RoeShamBoe]

if you like, you can lower the beater within the pedal (the beater height/length is adjustable)... the problem is that to get the beater to hit the center of an 18" kick it would end up like 1" long which would mess up the physics cuz the stroke would be so short

[@roybeckerman9253]

The Good Book says. “ The drummer maketh the drums...not vice versa “

[@christianfroude4504]

Shell pack??

[@sweetwater]

Hi +Christian Froude. Yes, this kit includes the drums and tom mount only. Cymbals and stands not included. Thanks for watching!

[@josemendezfr]

Bold of you to assume Rock drummers know how to tune.

[@UkuleleNiBERTO23]

can you share the tuning details? top and bottom lug frequencies, fundamental frequencies, batter and resonance head used. for snare, toms and bass drum. thanks

[@harrynichols324]

What Bass drum head is he using at the end, with the hole in it?

[@sweetwater]

Hey there Crunch, That was a Remo Powerstroke 3 Ebony resonant head. Take care, Nick

[@rkl08551]

Gretsch by DW ...

[@nl.mattiegames4972]

What do you mean?

[@roybeckerman9253]

Nick makes these inexpensive Catalinas , sound like Gretsch’s much more expensive kits.

[@shawnbruce6934]

The Vivek Ramaswami of the Drums..LOL.

[@ronzelinski471]

great playing casey kasem..... I like this kit but the snare in real life sucks

[@kofthebaskervilles]

Nick could play a garbage can and sound great. He's almost as good at selling as he is at playing.

[@viktor7m]

This is asian mahogany, not african mahogany. I blame Gretsch also for disillusion, they could admit the real origin od wood, like Pearl did in Export series. Only drum made from african mahogany in Gretsch line (to ym knowledge) is Black Swamp snare drum.

[@waynejones3428]

Great set,looks like egg nog! 👍💨 😵

[@russellesimonetta9071]

Uhh,I,d rather hear then tuned up more for vintage rock sounds! Trying to make the set sound like modern rock drums! They have bebop heritage.yuck!

[@stevenfederico2594]

Gretsch / trash

[@ronmexico2317]

Might as well be a crappy Pearl export. Too bad Gretsch has put its name on it.