10”x8” vs 12”x8” vs 13”x9” Tom

[Steech]

I agonized over whether to add a 10 or 12 to my kit (13/16/24). I went with a 10 on the hunch that it would give me more separation, and I’m pretty happy with it. I used to have play a 10/12 set up, but I like 13s the best.

I’ve thought about doing 10/13/16 for the spread, how do you like it?

 

[Jml]

12x8 for me

 

[WLVN]

My first kit was 9x13 and 10x14 up top so I got real used to that. My second kit was 8x12 and 9x13 and after getting used to that it worked great and sounded fine. When 10s were initially popularized in the '70s like the single-headed concert toms in the Octa-plus, it was usually along with a 6" and an 8". Since then, the double-headed 10 couldn't ever replace the 12 or the 13 for me, not deep pitched enough.

When I hear drummers with 10s play old rock songs like Led Zep and Deep Purple, it just sounds so wrong to my ears... too high pitched! It stands out like a sore thumb.

 

[JDA]

10/14 is octaves an octave
I never tried 10/16

10/14 is an octave (and dumb afaIc)
12 is the sub-tonic that makes musical

 

[Jazzhead]

When I hear drummers with 10s play old rock songs like Led Zep and Deep Purple, it just sounds so wrong to my ears... too high pitched! It stands out like a sore thumb.

+1

 

[Rivot]

10x8 for me I do have 12x9 also great sound for rock songs but for my ears I prefer the 10x8.

 

[stevil]

I’ve thought about doing 10/13/16 for the spread, how do you like it?

I’m happy with it. Took more time than I expected to find the right tuning for the 10, but I’m digging it now. I’d probably be as happy with a 12.

 

[DanRH]

12 or 13 are my preference, but I usually go with a 10/12 when using a two up config….

 

[Drum Mer]

10x7 and 12x7 when used with a 22”.

12x8 when it is used with a 24”.

 

[Tubwompus]

I don’t personally hate 10’s. That said, having it in the “primary” position, i.e. directly in front of the snare is something I DO hate. Lol Live, my preference is 9x13 up top, then 16, 18. Same for bigger-sounding material in the studio. But for more pop-ish stuff, my go-to is 8x12, then 14 & 16 FT’s. But many’s been the time when for various reasons, there’d be a 10 put up to the left of the primary rack tom. Some producers and engineers really like ‘em.
Which reminds me about 1 more reason that I’m not completely nuts about 10’s is that the pitch of one of the heads on a 10 is, more often than not, pretty similar to the pitch of one of the heads of the snare. Sympathetic vibration with the snare makes me nuts in the studio.

 

[Seb77]

Which reminds me about 1 more reason that I’m not completely nuts about 10’s is that the pitch of one of the heads on a 10 is, more often than not, pretty similar to the pitch of one of the heads of the snare. Sympathetic vibration with the snare makes me nuts in the studio.

I think sympathetic buzz come from the fundamental tone, the air and the heads vibrating together as a whole. That tone is often similar to the snare tone with a 10".

 

[1988fxlr]

If I can only have one its gonna be 13” or 14”

 

[repete]

Both of my 5 piece kits are 10x8 and 12x8 but I use a 4 piece pretty much all of the time with the 12 - I did have a kit with a 13x8 as it was a better fit over the 24

 

[Lazmo]

10 / 16 for me.

 

[AtlantaDrumGuy]

I’d use a 10” if I could add it to my 12, 13 combo up top. But then it gets to be a lot of drums. I may eventually do one day just for kicks, on my Camco. I’ll add a 10” Yamaha tom or something.

 

[BennyK]

!2 x 8 is my favourite and I've used just about every make out there . I currently have Pearl FG and a Fullerton Rogers .

Best 13 for me was Gretsch Renown x 1

Best 10 was Yamaha Oak Custom x 1

Old Premier 3-ply 14x8 is superb too ... best of both worlds with just a quarter turn of the key .

 

[NobleCooleyNut]

I far prefer a 12 x 8 tom to a 10” or 13” regardless of the depth . I have owned more 12 x 8” rack toms than any other size .

 

[mtarrani]

IMO, 8x12 to handle everything. However, I love the FEEL of 10 and 13 for particular things.

^^^^^^
What he said. Most of my rack toms are 8x12 because most of my drums are either 20/12/14 or 18/12/14 configurations. I have a few 16/10/13 or 14 kits that are equipped with 8x10 and a 24/13/16 kit that uses 9x13. The 8 and 9 inch depths are standard for those diameters. I will never go deeper, but have no problems with shallower toms.

 

[Trilock_Gurtu]

My 13x6 WaFarer tom. I love it. It does everything my 13x9's can do (and more), without sitting so high over the bass drum, and it's about a third the weight. I think its my perfect tom size.

 

[HalldorL]

IMO, a 10” dbl headed tom always sits at a strange spot in the mix. Small, wimpy…. A 12” is great but a 13” does it all.