I run two of these kits in 20/12/14: 1. has 2.3mm hoops and 2. has the 302's like you tried. Both of them have stayed in tune for months on end which is incredible. I'm like you, the 302's are just a little too much focus for my taste but the 2.3s are the sweet spot. I still wouldn't revert back to the 1.6mm hoops as I still liked the sound better. I've enjoyed these drums so much I've sold off everything else. If I needed a road warrior kit to go in hard cases I might pick something with flagship construction but soundwise these Catalina's are just awesome.
Hey, totally agree Joe. I have gone back to the hoops that came with the kit and it sounds just great. There is something about the 302s though… Maybe the aesthetic I’m not sure. Or maybe it’s just they make the Drums feel more heavyweight? It was quite strange putting the Catalina hoops on the Brooklyn kit. As it made the Brooklyn kit feel really light. The weight is definitely in the hardware.
I had a Brooklyn kit in 13, 16, 24 that I put yamaha vintage wood hoops on, and it was like a completely different kit. The wood hoops are considerably lighter that the gretsch 302 hoops and its amazing what a difference it made.
I noticed the same thing about wood hoops. Excluding bop tuning, I can get my toms only so high before they start to get weird. For example, Benny Greb and Dave Weckl both tune their 10" tom to F#, but I can't seem to go any higher than D before the sound gets thin and too overtone-y.
fair play man, interesting to hear your feedback on it. My own little Catalina jazz arrived today!! Just finished checking it over and its a great little kit for the money. Reso side of floor tom bearing edge needs a little sand to get it flat all round but other than than cant wait to get it out to the next gig! Great bang for the buck.
@@GlennWilsonDrumsthanks for the response! I agree that birch and maple drums are basically indistinguishable. But the type of mahogany used on these kits definitely gives a softer, slightly more boxy tone. It’s hard to find an affordable kit with a 14” deep kick that isn’t mahogany though!
@@llRoBoBinHoll right 👍 What about the maple Catalina? I think that has 14” deep bass drums?!? I’ll have to check. Very hard for me to tell the difference between woods, but the mahogany is definitely dark in tone in my experience 🤷♂️
I like this thanks for sharing . I always wondered how hardware can change sound. I got a maple, a mahoghany, and a birch kit you are correct they each have their own sound and energy.
Cool experiment! The CC's are truly amazing. Owned a 24/12/16 and 18/12/14. Amazing. The 18 kick is SO lightweight and plenty boomy for nearly everything I play and cranks up nicely for jazz. Still have it...not going anywhere LOL. Paired it with 15" FT and 14" snare (USA custom) and it blends perfectly. BTW, which PST is that on the right?
A very interesting idea. Thanks for posting.
Glad you liked it!
need a sound sample of this!
Such an interesting note on the tuning of one kit over the other. Great little experiment here, Glenn!
Thanks Tim! 🙏
I run two of these kits in 20/12/14: 1. has 2.3mm hoops and 2. has the 302's like you tried. Both of them have stayed in tune for months on end which is incredible. I'm like you, the 302's are just a little too much focus for my taste but the 2.3s are the sweet spot. I still wouldn't revert back to the 1.6mm hoops as I still liked the sound better. I've enjoyed these drums so much I've sold off everything else. If I needed a road warrior kit to go in hard cases I might pick something with flagship construction but soundwise these Catalina's are just awesome.
Hey, totally agree Joe. I have gone back to the hoops that came with the kit and it sounds just great. There is something about the 302s though… Maybe the aesthetic I’m not sure. Or maybe it’s just they make the Drums feel more heavyweight? It was quite strange putting the Catalina hoops on the Brooklyn kit. As it made the Brooklyn kit feel really light. The weight is definitely in the hardware.
I had a Brooklyn kit in 13, 16, 24 that I put yamaha vintage wood hoops on, and it was like a completely different kit. The wood hoops are considerably lighter that the gretsch 302 hoops and its amazing what a difference it made.
Right, totally get that. I've never tried wood hoops. I must do that one day...👍
I noticed the same thing about wood hoops. Excluding bop tuning, I can get my toms only so high before they start to get weird. For example, Benny Greb and Dave Weckl both tune their 10" tom to F#, but I can't seem to go any higher than D before the sound gets thin and too overtone-y.
Oh that’s a bugger. Is your reso head tuned higher than the batter?
fair play man, interesting to hear your feedback on it. My own little Catalina jazz arrived today!! Just finished checking it over and its a great little kit for the money. Reso side of floor tom bearing edge needs a little sand to get it flat all round but other than than cant wait to get it out to the next gig! Great bang for the buck.
Sweet! Stay in touch I wanna hear how you go 👍
Does the Catalina with the 302 hoops get you pretty close to the Brooklyn sound?
I would say no. It’s definitely a different sound. Both great though 👍
@@GlennWilsonDrumsthanks for the response! I agree that birch and maple drums are basically indistinguishable. But the type of mahogany used on these kits definitely gives a softer, slightly more boxy tone. It’s hard to find an affordable kit with a 14” deep kick that isn’t mahogany though!
@@llRoBoBinHoll right 👍 What about the maple Catalina? I think that has 14” deep bass drums?!? I’ll have to check. Very hard for me to tell the difference between woods, but the mahogany is definitely dark in tone in my experience 🤷♂️
I like this thanks for sharing . I always wondered how hardware can change sound. I got a maple, a mahoghany, and a birch kit you are correct they each have their own sound and energy.
Cool experiment! The CC's are truly amazing. Owned a 24/12/16 and 18/12/14. Amazing. The 18 kick is SO lightweight and plenty boomy for nearly everything I play and cranks up nicely for jazz. Still have it...not going anywhere LOL. Paired it with 15" FT and 14" snare (USA custom) and it blends perfectly. BTW, which PST is that on the right?
Yeah man, totally agree. PSTX is a 18” Swish Thin Crash 👍