[pdxchris]

After 15 years I'm going back to the drums and putting the guitars away. I need some help on a new or used kit for a rock fusion style of playing. My budget is about 1000 for a shell pack, but it would be nice to get some extras out of that much. Right now I'm looking at the Yamaha (tour custom), and Gretsch Catalina. I really want some high quality hardware, any advice from you all?

[Tainojim]

Check out Ebay and Craigslist.

[skinslapper]

I think both those companies have the goods with hardware. What tom sizes are you after?

[pdxchris]

Probably 10/12/14/18, the Bass could be bigger, I was just looking at the Sonor 3007 4 piece config, a bit pricey though I like the hardware.

	Sonor Drums Shop for Sonor Drums at Musician's Friend

[Tainojim]

For "POP", I'd say go for the 20" Bass and muffle it well. Less muffle for Fusion

The Gretch Club would be more for your style. With that 30degree bearing edge, you'd have more versatility when tuning between Pop and Fusion.

Go to the drum shops and try them if you can.

Check out the specs:
Gretsch Drums Drums

[Church Drummer]

Well I own a Gretsch Catalina Birch Kit, and Play on a Yamaha Tour Custom Birch kit at Church, both are fusion sizes, but the Yamaha has a 20" bass and the Gretsch a 22". Both have sturdy hardware, decent tone but the Gretschs are slightly brighter sounding with more attack than the Yamaha (and I tune them similarly, I think this is probably due primarily to the difference in degrees of the Bearing edges). Both are decent sets especially for the money, and you can't go wrong with either one, my personal preference out of the two though is for the Sound of the Yamahas I bought for the Church (even though I personally own the Gretsch).

	Yamaha Drums Shop for Yamaha Drums at Musician's Friend

	Attack Drumheads Shop for Attack drum heads at Musician's Friend

	Gretsch Drums Shop for Gretsch Drums at Musician's Friend

[pdxchris]

Thanks all, I ended up getting everything used a while back. Gretsch renowns, 10", 14" and a 22" kick, little squealer snare (it's ok), paiste signatures: medium hats, 12" fast crash, 16" fast crash, sabian aax 16" crash, and a bass pedal by DW (don't like the pedal). I also picked up a pang for 50 bucks, and an old sabian ride that sounds great. The whole thing was about 1,200.00 buying everything used from a few different people. I got some practice space now as well in PDX, so I'm pretty happy The snare will be replaced next with a wood shell and deeper drum. The hardware the kit came with is PDP, not the greatest, but it works well, aside from the hat stand, which will last until I can get a new one, I'm having blast with this kit, playing every day, it sounds awesome to me. The pic is low quality, before I had lamp in the room. Sorry if the photo is sideways, it look fine when I open it.

	DW Drums Shop for DW Drums at Musician's Friend

	Gretsch Drums Shop for Gretsch Drums at Musician's Friend

	Paiste Cymbals Shop for Paiste Cymbals at Musician's Friend

	Sabian Cymbals Shop for Sabian Cymbals at Musician's Friend

[rachard1583]

So which sets should you consider? While our professional rock drummers didn't agree on brands or set ups, they did all agree that it's best to forego any set that is marketed as a "beginner set.