Big & low drums

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Elegant drum

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What experience do others here have with large drums? I am looking for one drum larger than 18" to extend my kit lower.

I think the default answer is a 20" Tama gong drum. But there are other options.
www.thomannmusic.com

Tama 20" Starclass. Maple Gong Bass

Gong Bass Drum Size: 20", Starclassic Maple series, Maple shell, Quick-Lock tom brackets, 22" Drumhead on a 20" shell due to a special clamping design, Deep and powerful sound, Model MAG20R-PBK
www.thomannmusic.com www.thomannmusic.com

Could get a 24" double headed drum.
www.thomannmusic.com

DrumCraft Concert Fl Tom 24"x20" W/M DB

Concert Floor Tom Size: 24" x 20", Shell material: Walnut/maple - 2/3/2 plies with thicknesses 1.6/2.4/1.6 = 5.6 mm, 45° Bearing edge, Matte lacquer finish, Chrome shell hardware, Wooden hoops, Three legs, Colour: Walnut
www.thomannmusic.com www.thomannmusic.com

I have also found varied 24" to 28" one headed toms cut from marching bass drums.

I tried the cheap DW 20" drum, did not cut it for me.
 
Didn't Ludwig or Slingerland and maybe Rogers make 20" floor toms?
 
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I've done floor tom to bass drum conversions to good affect.

Why wouldn't it be possible to convert a bass drum to a floor tom? Just switch out the hoops and t-rods to metal rims and tension rods. Or even just put some floor tom legs onto a bass drum?
 
TPC said:
I've done floor tom to bass drum conversions to good affect.

Why wouldn't it be possible to convert a bass drum to a floor tom? Just switch out the hoops and t-rods to metal rims and tension rods. Or even just put some floor tom legs onto a bass drum?
Click to expand...
Many have done it. Black Swamp makes attachable/removable legs for this. Jimmy Chamberlin did this on one of his recent kits
 
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For me, the Tama gong bass is the preferred sound. When I heard it clearly in Rush's "Red Sector A" as a kid I was hooked. It's distinctive, thunderous, and I love it. I also hear a very similar drum in Holding Absence's "NoMoreRoses". Killer sound.

But I have seen other players use a converted bass drum, and if that's what you like then go for it.
 
If you keep an eye on your local marketplace/craigslist its not that uncommon to find a fiberglass timpani going cheap
 
Tommy D said:
What size is your current bass drum?
Click to expand...
Good question. Short version: 22diax14

Kit is: Star maple 8(7),10(7),12(8),13(9),15(13),18(14),22(14). However I am going to try something tonight were I remove the top two, and add back three tama metalworks 4" deep snare thingies. In the future, I could see ordering a 24(14) kick for the left foot or using one of four other kicks I have on the left. My largest is 24(18) masterworks pearl. The larger drum would go where the cowbell/china is. My terminator snare showed up at the store, now I am putting together the cash for it.
 

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TPC said:
I've done floor tom to bass drum conversions to good affect.

Why wouldn't it be possible to convert a bass drum to a floor tom? Just switch out the hoops and t-rods to metal rims and tension rods. Or even just put some floor tom legs onto a bass drum?
Click to expand...
I have tried it once. Tried the pearl legs, they sucked the life out of the drum.

Considering trying some string around lugs and suspend a kick from two different regular gong stands I have around.

If you can suggest some hardware to convert it easy, I'm all ears. I would have to take a day to go through all the kicks and heads I have and find what works single headed. Would also need to cut some reso heads to avoid hardware rattle with minimum work. If I then picked one, took it to my guy and had him convert, would end up costing $500, better off just getting a real tama gong drum for 1K.

Steach had a thread working on the same task a while back.
 
1988fxlr said:
If you keep an eye on your local marketplace/craigslist its not that uncommon to find a fiberglass timpani going cheap
Click to expand...
There are three of them in a local drum shop. Been down that road, played that in 7th & 8th grade. Pass on Timpani.
 
jpalom01 said:
For me, the Tama gong bass is the preferred sound. When I heard it clearly in Rush's "Red Sector A" as a kid I was hooked. It's distinctive, thunderous, and I love it. I also hear a very similar drum in Holding Absence's "NoMoreRoses". Killer sound.

But I have seen other players use a converted bass drum, and if that's what you like then go for it.
Click to expand...
As a big Peart fan, and before that, Cobham, I think that makes the decision of a real Tama gong drum the right choice. Would still like to hear others stories of very large drums!
 
BTW, although it's not shown in the catalog, Starclassic is not the only way to get a Tama gong. They will make a Star Maple to match your kit finish on request from a dealer....
 
jpalom01 said:
For me, the Tama gong bass is the preferred sound. When I heard it clearly in Rush's "Red Sector A" as a kid I was hooked. It's distinctive, thunderous, and I love it. I also hear a very similar drum in Holding Absence's "NoMoreRoses". Killer sound.

But I have seen other players use a converted bass drum, and if that's what you like then go for it.
Click to expand...
I've looked at prices for the Tama gong drum hardware to convert a bass drum and promptly decided I didn't need one. Would rather make a single headed bass drum with a 2 ply head and call it a day.
 
jpalom01 said:
BTW, although it's not shown in the catalog, Starclassic is not the only way to get a Tama gong. They will make a Star Maple to match your kit finish on request from a dealer....
Click to expand...
for 1800$ and 9 months, vs now and black for 1K$
 
The Tama (and other 22” head, 20” shell) gong is a killer drum.


IMG_1372.jpeg


I don’t think of it as a bass drum (I really don’t like it if someone does that), but more as a percussion instrument with its own sound and approach:


A killer (the best imho) recorded sound of a gong is this:

Especially if you use a sub when playing it.
 
imperialstar said:
I've looked at prices for the Tama gong drum hardware to convert a bass drum and promptly decided I didn't need one. Would rather make a single headed bass drum with a 2 ply head and call it a day.
Click to expand...
I got an offer of the lugs/nuts (6592 & GN5) for 105 bucks when I initially needed a second set.

I don’t know what the claws will cost.


The ring is expensive at 200 bucks, but you technically don’t need it I have found out.

The complete list:
1​
6602​
22" Metal hoop
2​
6595​
Hook
3​
MS686SHP​
Tension bolt (M6 x 86mm, 2pc/pack)
4​
SRW620P​
Hold Tight Washers (20pc/pack)
5​
PW620​
Plactic washers (20pc/pack)
6​
GN5​
Round nut
7​
6592​
Lug
7-1​
MS514BK​
Mounting sems screw (M5 x 14mm)
7-2​
MS516MS​
Mounting sems screw (M5 x 16mm)
8​
Bracket
 
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imperialstar said:
Didn't Ludwig or Slingerland and maybe Rogers make 20" floor toms?
Click to expand...
1985 I played in a metal band with a thick 6 ply maple Ludwig kit with an 18” floor. Ordered a 20” Tama imperial star floor. At the time ludwig didn’t offer a 20” floor. It was a great drum for the music. Sheer power for the double floor work.
2 years later I found a later 70’s slingerland thick 5 ply maple 16x20 floor tom shell in a local drum shop. I converted the shell to a bass drum. Used it in a pop band until I quit playing out. It was money all day every day.
 
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