Gretsch renown maple rock set

[TRCS]

Also interested in this kit for the studio... What's it like?!

[jsox2409]

I have a Gretsch Renown kit and I love it. Super versatile. I have a 22 kick 10,12,14,16 toms and later on I added a 24 kick, 13" tom, and a 18 floor Tom. Currently playing 24,12,16,18 love the huge sound. I don't think you'll go wrong. Should fit your style of music great.

When I play sessions if it's a big enough project I'll set up 2 kits 22,10,12,14 and 24,13,16,18
If i only need one kit I'll bring both kick drums 10,12,13,16,18 toms. If you have a good drummer,and they're tuned good they sound great on tape.

Keep in mind toms 13" and smaller only have 5 lugs therefore equal tuning of the heads can be tricky

[zealy]

these drums are mass produced in taiwan or somewhere

not for me

[Aeolian]

Z. Actually they're not. American maple shells (as opposed to the Catalinas which are Chinese maple) sourced from Keller. Same as many custom drum builders. The edges are cut and they are finished in the Gretsch factory. Then the shells are sent to Taiwan where the hardware is made (same as the Gretsch USA and all the others) and all the metal is bolted on there. Seems crazy to ship the shells back and forth but somehow it must be worth it. Main difference between these and the classic USA drums is that the Renowns are all maple. While the others have a ply of gum wood. Which contrary to how it sounds is actually harder than maple. Those shells are also sourced from Keller since they stopped getting shells from Jasper in the '80s. What you're getting with the Renown is a modern thin maple Keller shell with traditional Gretsch edges. And the lugs were screwed on somewhere else. As someone once said, can you tell the difference between a Fender guitar assembled by Mexicans in Corona CA or by Mexicans 2 hours south of there?

[zealy]

I stand corrected on the renowns.

I bought some new Ludwig USA drums recently and I think these drums are great; they have a lot of attitude unlike some other high-end drums which seem to sound a little too 'engineered'

The hardware is also made in the East....china or somewhere...

I think you USA guys should support this company!

[ZombieMorg]

I managed to pick up some Renown Maples in 13/16/24 with a 14 snare and Protection Racket cases for dirt cheap in the UK.

I love the way they sound! When I got them they had coated ambassadors on and they sounded nice, but after switching to clear emperors they sound perfect for rock in both live and studio situations. Warm and 'phat' sounding, a nice balance of attack and sustain.

The die cast hoops are a real benefit too - They stay in tune throughout gigs where as standard flanged hoops have failed completely after a few songs. No muffling needed either!

Only thing I miss is having a second floor tom, but at £375 (2/3 of what the kit cost me) I really can't bring myself to spend that kind of money.

[Flexapr]

For $1525 delivered to me in San Francisco, I'm glad I bought a new, 5-pc., Gretsch Renown Maple Groove (8/10/12/14/20"kick) kit plus a 5x14" G4160 COB snare drum in Oct. 2012, when I did. I utterly love its look, feel, & sound, & feel good knowing I paid 1/3rd of what Gretsch USA Customs would've cost me. I can't imagine wanting different sizes & the satin (matte) black color's sleek & sexy. I'm not a fan of the 2013 Renown's new tom mounting features or satin white color option. (Gretsch seems to change the mass-produced color offerings every 2 years.) In case anyone asks, www.vintagelogos.com made my gold shield crest logo & Gretsch logo stickers.

[never2old]

Originally Posted by zealy

these drums are mass produced in taiwan or somewhere

not for me

I'm not the one who brought back a year old thread to life, but since it's here now I wanted to reply to this comment.

I'm certainly not a drum expert, but I do pay attention to news and trends. The days of overseas manufacturing equaling lower quality is over. Many top of the line drums are made there now. Some of their facilities and skilled workers are just as good, if not better, than anything or anyone in America.

Sure, there is a lot of cheap stuff that comes out of China, which unfortunately is what most people base their opinions on, but there's also many high quality products coming from there.

I'm American, born and raised, and proud of it. I love to buy American products when possible. However, just because a product is built in America doesn't automatically make it high quality. America produces plenty of low quality junk too.

There was time I remember, and it really wasn't that long ago, when people said "Made In Japan" meant cheap, low quality junk. Today I see those same people surrounded by Japanese made (designed/engineered) products in their homes and offices.

Also, regarding being mass produced? Most mainstream drum brands are "mass produced". $5K DW Collectors series are mass produced and sent to every GuitarCenter in the country. The $5K Pearl Reference series is mass produced. The Tama Starclassic line is mass produced. That's 3 of the highest rated drum lines in the world, all mass produced.

Mass produced doesn't mean bad or low quality, automatically. It all depends on WHO is doing the mass producing.

[Flexapr]

Originally Posted by never2old

The days of overseas manufacturing equaling lower quality are over. Mass produced doesn't mean bad or low quality, automatically. It all depends on WHO is doing the mass producing.

Right, & all because we capitalist Americans gave away, shared, &/or had stolen, our manufacturing technology & secrets in the name of saving $$ by not having to pay higher American workers' labor costs, thereby reducing the quality of life of many an American, too.

Also, keep in mind that rebellious & breakaway since 1949 Republic of China, Taiwan, where most of our semiconductors (i.e., motherboards, CPUs, etc.) are made, has been @ the forefront of technology for a few decades now. The Gretsch Renown facility's drums are Made in Taiwan, not in the mainland or rural China.

Oh well. I'll stop complaining, as I love my Renowns & can't imagine them being of any better quality. Each drum's sticker looked just like this one: