15" toms - Which famous drummers use them?

[mattr]

I thought I read David Robinsons first Tom was a 15”… looks like a 14” in this pic.

Was thinking Jimmy Chamberlin, but apparently that was a 14” as well.

I got 10-piece kit (concert toms, but…) the best sounding on the the kit are the 10”, 13” and 15”, and when I pair it down to a 5 piece, that’s the sizes I pick. The worst on the kit is the 14”… just doesn’t have a home between the 13” and 15”.

 

[311Club]

Terry William's Ludwigs he used for Meat Loaf and Dire Straits are hard to beat: 14, 15, 16 out front over the 22" bass drum!! Power toms, so 1" shorter than square!
How did he manage to play these?? How????
They sounded great though, me thinks

 

[Mr. Burns]

View attachment 568289
Terry William's Ludwigs he used for Meat Loaf and Dire Straits are hard to beat: 14, 15, 16 out front over the 22" bass drum!! Power toms, so 1" shorter than square!
How did he manage to play these?? How????
They sounded great though, me thinks

Those look to be 10-lug toms, too! The '80s were a helluva time.

 

[hsosdrum]

John Bonham AND Carmine Appice both used 15" x 12" toms when Zep toured with Vanilla Fudge early in 1969. In fact, their drumsets were nearly identical:

Audiences must have thought it odd that roadies would strike one drumset after the first band played, only to replace it with what looked to most to be an identical drumset for the second band. (That tour the bands would switch opener/headliner spots from gig to gig.)

 

[Wackerman12345]

Sean Kinney from Alice In Chains use 15 inch floor Tom!

Sean Kinney: Off The Chain - DRUM! Magazine

Find out more about Sean Kinney, his way to blues, who likes the idea of playing a softer volume for other reason after years of bashing.

drummagazine.com

 

[TheElectricCompany]

John Bonham AND Carmine Appice both used 15" x 12" toms when Zep toured with Vanilla Fudge early in 1969. In fact, their drumsets were nearly identical:

View attachment 568396

Audiences must have thought it odd that roadies would strike one drumset after the first band played, only to replace it with what looked to most to be an identical drumset for the second band. (That tour the bands would switch opener/headliner spots from gig to gig.)

Bonham's thermogloss rack was a 14x12. You can see difference if you look at the snare basket under his and Carmine's tom. I'll have to find the photos I've used to make the comparison before.

 

[drumsdrums67]

I think Tommy Lee had a 15” rack in his setup during the earlier Crue days and might be using one currently.
Pretty sure Dave Lombardo had one in his setup during his time with Slayer and he might be using one as a main when touring with the Misfits.
David Silveria had a 15” floor tom in his setup when he was with Korn.

I have a 15” Sonor concert tom I use as along with my 16” floor tom. I find the 14” a little too small and an 18” takes up too much space. Might look to get it converted to a double headed floor tom.

 

[Redfern]

Me…10,13,15…boom for days or tuned up for bop…works every time…

 

[Ludwig1975]

Who are famous drummers who use/used 15" toms? I know Neil Peart had a 12x15. I like 15s because they're low but not flappy-sounding.

View attachment 567855

Roger Taylor from queen used them as toms. I do my self. Great sounding drum!

 

[Ludwig1975]

I have a 15” and 18” floor tom combo on my Ludwig CM kit . I use the 15” a lot and really like it , have not used the 18” much though . View attachment 568025

Mate love the luddie 18” FT got the 18” black cortex a long with a 20” & only recently and incredibly rare 22”

 

[damnedcat777]

Who are famous drummers who use/used 15" toms? I know Neil Peart had a 12x15. I like 15s because they're low but not flappy-sounding.

View attachment 567855

Simon Kirke used a black Ludwig 4 piece (15/18/26). I’m a 15/18/24 guy myself.

 

[johnbe]

Good question, but I don't know. I stopped tracking "famous drummers" years ago. All I know is what I use. Both of my kits have 15 inch rack toms.

 

[drummer1234]

Keith John used a 15” rack tom when he played with The Ventures

 

[gezz]

I have 2 15"s... a Pearl masters 13x15"
Ans my gretsch round Badg e .. rack to floor conversion.. I had a premier orphna 8x12" an s 12x20' Olympic drums..
I smet the premiers an m y gretsch to Tristan a t drumattic ans he plugged all holes I n bass dru.m.. trued all edges.. convrtd the gretsch to a floor.. ne w s- hoops on the 12" (5 lugger ) servicd all parts ans re- wrapd in Gold glitter.. I had the littl Olympic bages replaced by big P ..bass dru m got new Gibraltar wood hoop s .. naturl mapl
I LOV e thsi kit.. the 15" makes it.. Great low end and gives th e Olympic birch shells wthi beech rings a n extra thwump!!!
I also hav e a masters premium floor tom Custom made maple 13x15" in Bombay sparkle (gold).. 15" YAY!!

 

[NitroBro2]

Who are famous drummers who use/used 15" toms? I know Neil Peart had a 12x15. I like 15s because they're low but not flappy-sounding.

View attachment 567855

Vinny Paul used 14 x 14 and 15 x 15 rack toms.

Who are famous drummers who use/used 15" toms? I know Neil Peart had a 12x15. I like 15s because they're low but not flappy-sounding.

View attachment 567855

Vinny Paul used 14 x 14 and 15 x 15 rack toms.

 

[TheElectricCompany]

Mate love the luddie 18” FT got the 18” black cortex a long with a 20” & only recently and incredibly rare 22”

Is the 22 a 6-ply shell?

 

[Ludwig1975]

Is the 22 a 6-ply shell?

I think so mate

 

[karlcrafton]

I love my 15" drums.
I have one for each of my 2 kit colors. They are 13x15 floor toms.
Great tone and articulation, and clearly not a "tom".
As mentioned before, it's not ever flappy. I easily get enough tone separation between the 13x15 and my 14x16.
It also work perfectly with a 13x16 floor tom I have for that particular kit.
Nice descending tones, and the decay is even like two 16" depth standard floor toms--just not as long in the sustain.

 

[drummaman1]

Billy Cobham has a 15 next to his ride cymbal. Simon Phillips mounted tom set up is 10-12-13-14-15-16

I like 15, very often I find the 16 going to high or the 14 going too low, past each drums useable tuning range. Funny that my favorite brand of drums no longer makes 15” drums.

 

[pbloxam]

Certainly not famous but back in the 80's I was playing a Slingerland twin 26 set up with single 12X15 and 16X18, 18X20 floor Tom setup in a DC band called Hellion...I was at the time a big fan of Tommy Aldridge! The drums sounded deep and incredibly loud...I still have this kit today!