A few weeks ago, we had the pleasure of hosting Tomasz Nawrocki at our Beatit.tv studio. Tomek is an excellent drummer, known for his work with Piotr Cugowski. The meeting was not accidental! Our goal was to create some unique educational material, which will soon appear on our platform for learning to play drums.
At the same time, Beatit.tv received an impressive shipment from the manufacturer and distributor of the legendary Gretsch brand. The two large packages included as many as six new snare drums, which we decided to thoroughly test as part of our Tests & Reviews service. We asked Tom to test each of them, and we recorded the whole thing professionally in our studio.
We test a 14×8″ Gretsch Full Range Mahogany/Maple Snare Drum
If you are a drummer, music producer, equipment distributor or simply passionate about drums, you surely know the importance of choosing the right snare drum. This time round, Beatit.tv – the largest Polish platform for drummers, has prepared a professional test of an exceptional instrument: the 14×8″ Gretsch Full Range Mahogany/Maple Snare Drum.
Sound in the hands of a pro
In the test, you have the opportunity to hear how the 14×8″ Gretsch Full Range Mahogany/Maple snare drum sounds in the hands of an experienced drummer. Tomasz Nawrocki presents a wide range of the sonic possibilities of this instrument – from subtle ghost notes to dynamic accents. This allows you to see how versatile this snare drum is and how it will perform in a variety of stage and studio situations.
The 14×8″ Gretsch Full Range Mahogany/Maple model is an instrument designed for drummers who expect not only a deep and full sound, but also great versatility. Combining classic mahogany with bright-sounding and dynamic maple, this snare drum offers a balanced sound with a clear attack and rich midrange – ideal for rock, pop, funk and even lighter genres.
Tomasz tuned this snare quite low, as this is the sound that works best in our studio. The tuning of this snare drum is very smooth, but unfortunately it gets out of tune just as quickly. Perhaps this is the effect of the new head we put on (Remo Ambassador), and the fact that Tom played using rimshots a lot. So it’s worth getting some tension rod locks, which is an effective solution to the problem of the instrument getting out of tune.
Visually, the whole instrument makes a great impression – the chrome hardware, matte satin finish and stylish Gretsch badge do the job.
✅ Technical specs:
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Size: 14 × 8″
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Shell material: 16-ply hybryd maple / mahogany shell
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Bearing edges: 30°
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Hoops: 2.5 mm, Triple Flange
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Snare wires: Tilco, 20-strand manganese steel
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Snare wire tension mechanism: Newly designed Gretsch Full Range Throw-Off plus butt plate
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Hardware: Chrome
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Heads: Remo (factory-mounted, batter / reso)
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Finish: Natural
🎧 Sound:
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Deep, warm low end thanks to the mahogany
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Bright attack and projection thanks to the maple
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Natural compression and focus – great for recording
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8″ depth delivers massive ‘body’ and a heavy backbeat
🎯 Applications:
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Rock
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Pop
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Gospel
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Funk
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Studio
- Live
✅ Podsumowanie
The 14×8″ Gretsch Full Range Mahogany/Maple snare drum is a combination of two types of wood – mahogany and maple. This construction provides a warm, deep sound with a distinctive attack and a pronounced ‘body’. The mahogany plies give the instrument fullness and softness, while the maple element is responsible for clarity and projection. The result is an instrument that will work well both for soft ballads as well as energetic rock.
The 14×8″ Gretsch Full Range Mahogany/Maple snare is for drummers who are looking for a versatile instrument. This snare drum will work well in many musical genres – from pop to rock or jazz. Its depth (8 inches) allows you to get a strong, juicy backbeat while keeping control of the dynamics. It’s also an excellent choice for session and studio musicians who value versatility and high performance.
The throw-off mechanism works very smoothly, although it lacks the new features Gretsch has introduced in other models. The Tilco snare wires, we think, could be swapped for a higher-end equivalent. One also wonders how the instrument will sound with Remo CS-type heads. Despite these minor reservations, at a price of around USD 345 we get a truly versatile instrument that will work well both in the studio and on stage.
The total rating is: 5
(It could have been TOP 5 if it weren’t for the mediocre throw-off and snare wires)
The 14×8″ Gretsch Full Range Mahogany/Maple snare drum test by Tomasz Nawrocki is a must-see for anyone who’s serious about their career in drumming. The quality of sound, solid workmanship and versatility of this model make it an instrument worthy of drummers’ attention both for on-stage applications as well as in the studio.
Don;t miss out on our latest tests – subscribe to the Beatit.tv channel, give us a thumbs-up, and tell us in the comments section what snare drums you’d like to have us test in the future!
**Beatit.tv – we are passionate about the drums! 🥁🔥**
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