Any Thoughts on the Gretsch Blackhawk?

[scrubs]

I'm considering purchasing an entry level kit for practice and recording (mostly acoustic music). I was pretty set on the Catalina Birch kit from Gretsch, but also looked at the Blackhawk EX (with 10" & 12" rack toms and a 14" floor tom). The hardware all looked decent, but the kit wasn't set up to play in the store. I was wondering if anyone had experience with this kit, or similar kits in the same pricerange (I also looked at Taye, Mapex, and Tama entry level kits) and could give me some advice? Not much mention of this kit from the search feature. Thanks. Here's a pic of the one I looked at:

[rory]

Hey fellow North-Carolinian! I'm just a stone's throw away from you in Greensboro. At which music store were you looking at these drums?

Gretsch Drums are pretty popular, and they do make a great kit. The thing that is different about them is their bearing edge. Not many people do a 30 degree edge. It will give you slightly less attack than a 45 degree, its a more "vintagey" sound. The blackhawk is made of mahogany, which is typically used in either lower end kits (think of the new rodgers drums) but is also used in some higher end kits as a filler or outter ply. The birch catalina sounds really nice, and is the one I'd probably choose.

Personally, I haven't played the Taye drums, but they're really getting some good press lately. The tama stuff is ok, but I'd choose the gretsch in that price range any day (though I'd rarely choose a tama kit in any price range... personally don't care for them). The gretsch catalina kit seems (to me) to have the neatest features (30 degree edges, birch, pretty colors, etc...). I hope that helps at least a little, and let us know which one you choose!

[scrubs]

Originally Posted by rory

Hey fellow North-Carolinian! I'm just a stone's throw away from you in Greensboro. At which music store were you looking at these drums?

I was at Musician's Supply in High Point. It's the nearest Gretsch Dealer to me. According to Gretsch, there are also authorized dealers in Burlington and Salisbury, so I may give them a call and see if they have any that I can bang on. Thanks for your thoughts, rory.

[Brad_C]

I own a gretsch kit and you won't be disappointed many of my students use the blackhawks.

[rory]

Hmm... I thought Duncan Music was a Gretsch dealer too. I believe they're distributed by Kaman, in which case most any music store should be able to get them.
Good Luck!

[scrubs]

Originally Posted by Brad_C

I own a gretsch kit and you won't be disappointed many of my students use the blackhawks.

Thanks for that info.

[scrubs]

Shameless bump for, perhaps, a few more opinions.

[tilinmyowngrave]

Originally Posted by scrubs

Shameless bump for, perhaps, a few more opinions.

I think you will get a better sound of the catalina birch. But if the blackhawk is more in your budget range, then I guess that would work well too.