Ok, I've owned my Brooklyns from DCP for a year now. I have tried every tuning possible and the result? There is no limit- you can tune these babies anyway you want and they just sing right back at you! Their response cuts right through your body, it's that lively and strong. I sold my 1980's USA power tom kit to afford them and I have no regrets. I have two other kits from other manfacturers that I use live and in rehearsal spaces and I'm always a little disappointed going back to them. Unless I play Carnegie Hall or Madison Square Garden or Steely Dan calls, the Brooklyns are staying in my house so I can play them seven days a week! Thanks DCP!!
Makes me happy with my choice : I own a Brooklyn (14X22, 9x13, 16x16 with a 5.5 steel snare) in a Gold Sparkle finish... they are gorgeous to look at and to listen to... Once again, thanks for this great job... I'll jump to the last video now...
I own USA Custom and Brooklyn sets. Both are great but I prefer using my Brooklyn set on gigs where I’m not miked. They will cut through guitar amps with ease. If I’m miked or in the recording studio, which isn’t that often, I much prefer my USA Custom set.
Was waiting for that. I‘d go for the Brooklyn, without a doubt. A perfect translation of that Gretsch sound into modern music - with an affordable price tag. And how beautiful they look with that natural wooden hoop on the bass drum. 😍
I am 67 years young, and working on buying my last new set. I have not played in 40 years, but was fortunate to have Rogers, Ludwig, and Gretsch sets. I have recently been able to audition some Tama, Gretsch, Ludwig, and DW sets, but your comparison segments are immensely helpful. As of yet, I have not made a final decision, but BroadKaster is definitely in the running.
Thank you DCP for these wonderful spotlights on one of the most iconic drum sounds in music, Gretsch! I picked up my USA Customs a couple years ago. As a first time Gretsch owner, I smile every time I sit behind those drums. My wife and I are planning a trip to the east coast later this year, I'll definitely be paying you all a visit, thanks again!
To my ears, they all sound pretty close to each other. In studio, any of these kits would do. Those Brooklyn's are awesome to my naked ear (room mics). I go for a boomier sound anyway. To each his own. Thanks DCP!
I'm personally a big fan of the definition and attack of the USA Customs bring (especially the kick!) along with the classic, old-school warmth and shorter decay all these shells offer. To my ear it's almost the perfect middle ground between the fat tones of old-school reinforcement-ring Ludwig sets and the modern, tune-to-a-specific-note presence of Yamaha and Sonor sets.
Thank you so much for this accurate, honest and objective comparison. One can perfectly understand how much effort you put into this series of videos and they are so helpful to make the right choice!! Thanks guys.
Too much fun! Thanks again for the videos; it's wonderful that you guys carry practically everything, as that allows you to give us good, subjective content instead of a sales pitch. We all have our favorites of course, but I always feel like I'm getting the honest take of a drummer just sitting behind the kit and giving an impression. And that's pretty much all you can ask for. Well done! Todays winner: USA Custom. I was somewhat shocked that the Brooklyn didn't pull this one out, but it appears that when you get in to the larger bass drums and start laying in, in that gum wood starts to sing!
I recently received a 6.5x14 Broadkaster 20 lug snare from you and couldn't be happier. The 3 ply Maple/Poplar/Maple shell is articulate and FAT! With the 302 hoops, it's a modern take on a vintage sound. Bravo Gretsch and thank you Drum Center of Portsmouth for another seamless transaction.
Impressive, tremendous work, you make the best drumset videos available. I salute you from Marseilles, France. The USA Custom, with your perfect recording and comparison setup sounds best to me. I’m partial because it is my regular setup in jazz (2004 bop kit) and all around (22 drop G set). If it may occur to choose a kit to buy, I would always go to USA Custom, even because it is the gold standard : once you have one that will secure you for the best sound in recording or live situation, you may enjoy a trip in Broadcaster or Brooklyn from time to time. Another big thank you!
For me USA’s, Brooklyn’s then the broadkaster’s. Would I be disappointed with any of them, not even close as they all sound incredible but I am a USA custom’s guy to the core!
I think they all sound great, but Brooklyn won out for me, so I bought one. The guys at Drum Center were super helpful. Sounded different in person, but still a great sounding kit, and as Shane said "full of thwomp".
Man I just don’t know.. USA Custom was awesome, but I like the look and the sound of the Brooklyn kick drum. The floor tom on the Broadcaster I thought sounded cool swampy with a quick decay. Shoot in conclusion I think either series would work great in any situation.if I did a custom build I would take USA Custom rack tom, Brooklyn kick and the Broadcaster FT and add an 18 in there too. Also I would get all 3 snare drums to boot 😎 Again guys another good comparison series, looking forward to the next one big drums 😁
I know one thing for sure... Gretsch make killer drums and that there's only a hard choice to be made hearing these three sets, 😄 can't believe how good the Brooklyn kit sounds for the money! I'm from the UK and love my Premier drum's which I reckon, take some beating and especially when it comes to or came to, the quality from the alleged lower end kit's. As usual the best drum review RU-vid channel, period.
Brooklyn is SO hard to beat. My word, those things sound and LOOK incredible...all of them actually. I just picked up a Brooklyn 5.5x14 snare and at first I wasn’t impressed....until I put a mic on it and listened to it without room bias...holy shit is that thing good. Sensitive and articulate. I’m beginning to believe in ‘that great Gretsch sound’ after all.
Brooklyns have the Slingerland vintage warmth...probably the best sounding drums ever made. Used by Buddy Rich and Gene Krupa...they would have loved these.
The USA Customs sounds amazing. It’s my Dream set from now on, but the Brooklyns also sound great and are more affordable, so It’s more likely I’ll buy those one day. Great comparison video 👍
Kudos DCP! Awesome and Informative Video! They all were Winners in My book! But The Broadcasters were the ones that I preferred.. I loved the tone of the shells and the attack when you get on them! Thanks, Marc🎶👍🥁
What a great comparison. I didn't know what really made these kits drastically different until seeing these videos, I think the USA Custom and Brooklyn have the more punchy side of warm, but the Broadkaster has so much depth to the sound. As for my favorite, it's a toss up between Brooklyn and USA Custom for me!!
USA CUSTOM - All purpose drums with wide tuning range BROADKASTER - Big band and jazz and recording all purpose. BROOKLYN - Modern sound, wide tuning range, for modern rock and recording. That's my take..😁
Just acquired a Brooklyn grey nitron. 24x14, 13 + 16. Cob snare too. Can't wait to play it. Great review. Broadcaster did it 4 me actually, seemed more open
They all sound as good as each other. keep in mind, with the band playing out front, know one would really know the difference. It's what the drummer is playing behind the kit will know and what one prefers! but listening to the Head-to-Head segment, I would have to say The USA Custom, wins hands down, it has a distinct hi-end quality sound about it.
Great video Shane!! They all sounded very good, but I believe the USA Customs have the most range from my experience.Do I hear a Seafoam kit calling me soon eh!!
I think the snares sounded the most distinct from each other. I agree...The Brooklyns sound a lot like my modern Ludwig Classic Maple kit. Ludwig has come a long way in shell design.
Brooklyn’s have a lot of projection and are loud compared to the others. Love em all. I have a Brooklyn kit and a vintage kit which is essentially a USA custom
These videos are great and if I’m going to buy a new kit, I’ll definitely be calling DCP. I would like to hear less cymbals when you’re comparing drums. You could keep cymbals completely out of it, and I believe the listener would be able to make a better informed decision. Thanks for your efforts to provide drummers with great audio / video content.
The USA Custom has THE tone, but man, Broadkaster and Brooklyn are also awesome. The Broadkaster could be the "Charlie Watts Signature kit". His sizes, and his RB's were 3-ply.
For me the Broadkasters have the most Mojo...but the Toms are a bit dry. The Brooklyns sound great but are dry as well all around. The USA Customs are best all around....would go with that.
Awesome review!! Can you make a similar vid with the Catalina club Rock sizes & the Catalina maple (don't think the maples have a 24" kick but that's ok) for us guys that don't have very deep pockets? That would be AWESOME sauce!! Or go all out & throw all the cheaper rock kits together like the Pearl decade, pdp concept classic wood hoop, pork pie hip pig, & who ever else makes a good 24, 13, 16 kit. Just a suggestion. Keep up the good work guys! U Rock!!
Guys, can I just check you don't mean SD: B-D4 R-F4 re the snare tune bot settings? Reso -F3 would be a pitch of 174.6 hz which sounds quite a bit too low for a snare reso setting - F4 would be 350hz which sounds more the norm. Thanks!
Shane, was there a bit of Toto "Hold The Line" in there during the Brooklyn review? For anyone on the fence over Gretsch, if this doesn't take you Home, I don't know what will. Another fantastic DCP Review!
I think the BK has the better rack tom, kick and snare. The floor toms honestly sound the same. I’m using Bose QC25’s with noise cancelling. That’s just what my ears hear!!
to obtain the full impact of the different sets, you may want to try having a 3 sets in the same room at the same time to make a true comparison. I have a Gretsch 22'' bass, 10'', 12'', 13'' mounted. toms, with a 14'' x 14'' and a 16'' x 16'' FT. the Snare is 14'' x 6.5'' wood with all the same walnut finish. please keep me posted.
