Gretsch CT1-J404-SWG Catalina Club Shellset Satin Walnut Glaze

Sound:

I like it very much. Sounds warm and balanced. Easy to tune and the shells are a little quieter than the other kits I own. I have Remo Ambassador Coated mounted and they work very well. So I am very satisfied sound-wise.

Processing:

The shells have a nice, clean smooth matte finish. The kettle burr is basically cleanly ground but a little rougher than I'm used to from other kits. Since everything is easy to tune and sounds good, I assume the burr is fine.
Unfortunately, there is residue from the glue/glue of the wood layers inside the shell. On the kick, of the spare parts that came with it, I had to replace a threaded sleeve and a tensioning screw because it was hard to turn and had a defective thread. The tensioning claws look a bit cheap, but are rubber backed, which I think is good. Also, it's worth pointing out that the kick's tension hoop has a small hoop protector pre-mounted for the foot machine. Compared to my TAMA Superstar Classic Kits, however, it does not come close in terms of workmanship. TAMA has a much higher standard even in the mid-range sets.

The snare is really as in many reviews and test already mentioned the weak point. The snare bed seems cheaply processed and the snare sounds a bit scratchy and stiff, so I sold it right away. This snare they could save and on the Gretsch website, by the way, is also offered a configuration without snare, but apparently only in the US.

The shell sizes, the sound and the mahogany wood were the biggest incentives for me to get this set.

In summary, though, I really like this drum set. The sound of the toms and kick definitely convinces and also makes a good figure in recording. Visually, the lacquered mahogany wood also makes a high-quality impression. That this kit is so popular and has a large fan base around it is absolutely understandable.

Playing is worthwhile.