Gotta say, I'm nothing but impressed by Gretsch's new G3 line of hardware! I was torn between this pack and waiting for the G5 line to be made available, but honestly, the G3 is incredibly solid for an "entry-level" hardware pack, so much so that I wouldn't even dare calling it entry-level.
The craftsmanship all around is superb. Everything opens/closes and tightens/loosens quite smoothly, and I love that the cymbal tilt is completely adjustable, something you usually (sadly) only find at the pro-level.
The asthetics are also spot on. All the wing nuts/screws are shaped in the classic Gretsch style, the cymbal felts are a classy white (although a little on the harder side for my taste), and the memory clamps look slick and work great (they're synthetic, which makes them much easier to work with, unlike the metal memory clamps that on occasion don't want to let go.) The kick pedal has a great feel to it, quite snappy and very smooth. And the hi-hat as well is top notch and handles a pair of 16" hats without much fuss, something that a lot of hi-hat stands can't manage.
As far as durability goes, I can't complain. I'm using my hardware pack on the road at least one weekend every month and in my rehearsal room a few times a week. It's holding up extremely well, and I don't see that changing. The one thing I'm a bit unsure about is the knob for tightening the snare basket, it's made out of plastic, which could be a problem down the road. We'll see I guess.
All-in-all, like I said to start, I'm impressed! Gretsch knocked it out of the ballpark with this hardware pack, and if a single-drive kick pedal and the non-continuously adjustable snare tilt aren't deal breakers for you, then this is a great way to save a few quid over the pricier (and harder to find) G5 pack.
