If you were going to downsize this kit...

[blueasajewel]

Depends on the style of music your playing. The current kit seems to be inspired by NP.

I had a large kit in my yute with 6, 8, 10, 12 concert toms and 13, 14, 16, and 18 with a 24 kick.

I quickly realized that hauling it around was getting to be old real fast. Plus our music direction changed.

I went down to 14, 16, and 18 and kept the 6 and 8 for one single song. I could have also dropped the 18 as much as I used it but I liked the look.

Today, I'd take a cue from the likes of Michael Shrieve and go with a 13, 16, and 22.

It's classic sizing for a reason!

 

[paul]

Don't forget the dual 20" paiste chinas, way up high.

Whatever floats your boat. I like a single china on my right, bell up, and low enough to use as a ride.

I like bigger kits, and don't mind giving up a few minutes one either end of the gig to pack/unpack. It's worth it to have my desired instrument for the course of the gig.

 

[static0verdrive]

I'd do two kits:

22, 12, 15 set up at the house.

22, 13, 16 in the cases ready to go.

I'd also divide up the hardware into two sets - one set for the house and one in the cases.

Love this. I'd probably swap so the smaller version was the portable one.

 

[smittyboy63]

I like bigger kits, and don't mind giving up a few minutes one either end of the gig to pack/unpack. It's worth it to have my desired instrument for the course of the gig.

There you go! I like them too. It's so nice to have an array all around you to be able to go from high tones to low tones. To be able to roll up and down the row. I played on a 3-piece and then a 4-piece kit til I was 15. I know what it's like playing a small kit, and I went to a bigger one for a reason...I liked having more toys to play with, LOL. Sometimes, even though you don't really need the big kit, it's still fun to work it into songs.

 

[Houndog]

I think Guys like us will always prefer at least 3 toms , don’t play a certain size kit for anyone but yourself …

 

[Drumming dog]

Having a smaller kit allows me more time to work with snare(s) which are different sounding in each environment.

 

[Pat A Flafla]

Having a smaller kit allows me more time to work with snare(s) which are different sounding in each environment.

Yes. I've found choosing the right steed from the stable to match a specific venue to be more critical if I'm taking hardly anything else.

 

[FLratrodder]

12, 13, 15, 16, 22

 

[Pat A Flafla]

Sometimes I don't even want to load up one bass drum--much less two.

 

[Houndog]

Sometimes I don't even want to load up one bass drum--much less two.

Oh no kidding , I took the absolute least amount of drums and cymbals to last 2 shows and it was still more than I want to shlep around ..

 

[dhmtbr]

12”,14”,16”, 22”x2
I’d add an 18” FT
Replace both 22” BD
with 20”
Even sizes 12”-20”
No reason other than OCD, lol.
I do like the sound relation with all even size drums…whether they are standard depths or power tom depths.

 

[random_raccoon]

I recently heard the term "shell bank" and love the idea of having options. I would personally keep them all and have a few configurations, like a classic 12, 13, 16, 22 rock kit as one option. I probably would convert the 15 into a floor tom based on all the love for 15s on DFO.

Shell banks rock! I have an old Tama Imperialstar kit that has a 22K, but I love having a wide range of tom and FT sizes from which to choose. Racks: 6x6, 8x8, 8x10, 8x12, 9x13, 10x14. FTs: 14x14, 16x16, 16x18.

I would never bring them all to a gig, but it's nice to have choices.

To the OP, please do NOT drill out that 15" tom for legs...use a RIMS mount or something similar.

 

[Steech]

Shell banks rock! I have an old Tama Imperialstar kit that has a 22K, but I love having a wide range of tom and FT sizes from which to choose. Racks: 6x6, 8x8, 8x10, 8x12, 9x13, 10x14. FTs: 14x14, 16x16, 16x18.

I would never bring them all to a gig, but it's nice to have choices.

To the OP, please do NOT drill out that 15" tom for legs...use a RIMS mount or something similar.

Snare stand for the 15

 

[groovemastergreg]

Whatever floats your boat. I like a single china on my right, bell up, and low enough to use as a ride.

I like bigger kits, and don't mind giving up a few minutes one either end of the gig to pack/unpack. It's worth it to have my desired instrument for the course of the gig.

Get back to the forum and me on that last sentence in 20 years when you’re 65-75 and still gigging. lol I used to like big kits too. After I was “abducted” by a couple of blues men at age 24 and had my kit disassemble to the bare essentials (bass snare HH) I learned less is often more. I’ll note by the end of the first rehearsal I had those basics plus a ride, two crashes, and a set of Toms, one up one down.

Although I occasionally play 2 Toms up and more cymbals, and maybe even two floortoms. Not that often since my early 60s.

 

[kzac]

From this (my current kit size), to only 2 rack toms between the bass drums, which toms would you pull into the new setup? And explain why...
Tom sizes — 8 x 12 — 9 x 13 — 10 x 14 — 12 x 15 (ignore the smaller concert toms - I think I'm going to be leaving them out for time being)
My floor tom is 16 x 16 ...and I was thinking of maybe turning the 12 x 15 into a second floor tom.

View attachment 741141

I would consider downsizing this Ludwig Octaplus kit, if your playing with a band with a nice PA, into a Roland kit, keeping your current cymbals. This provides you extra inputs into the Roland module, which you can tune to different drums. Further, its lighter and far easier to setup, and you can have several different drum kits tuned and named to exactly what you desire them to be.
Been playing for decades, my first real kit was a Ludwig ProBeat (1972-73), so I recall what lugging that kit around required.
With the Roland setup, you can take whatever pads you desire with you, allowing for small venues as well as larger ones.
...
I jumped in and made the change about 3 years ago, selling all of my acoustic drums. No Regrets.
Only focus is to get a good Roland module, at least a TD17 but better if you get the TD27 or TD50 with the improved multiple position snare sensors.
..
If that is too much of a change for you then I would suggest the following acoustic setup
Pic one of these bass drums and add a multiple bass pedal to the kit
Your obviously using low end grunt, so ........
1- For your big setups use a single bass (double bass pedal), your 10, 12, and 13 mounted toms. and either or both of your current floor tom and your 15 as a floor tom.(this approach allows you to cover your tonal bases with only three mounted toms, while getting the grunt out of the floor toms, and power from a double bass pedal. This is a lighter setup that your current setup, but covers your bases. You can mix match the mounted toms if you desire more tonal flavor than grunt. Out would be the 8,14, and additional Bass drum, as well as an additional bass hardware. Aka you can get your kit in your car.
The other consideration is to see if you can consolidate cymbal stands through the use of stands with multiple mounts or cymbal stackers, this allows for the same cymbals to be used with less weight to tote around.
..
2- For smaller venues, use a single bass and your 10 and 12 in mounted toms and either of your floor toms. This allows you to have a smaller kit but also to cover some grunt and have tone. If it's a rock and roll gig, change the mounted toms to 12 and 13. You can also kick out the 10in tom and just relay upon a 12 in mounted and floor tom, making for a very small kit with grunt and tone.
..
3- For Jazz Fusion venues, take the bass, large Floor tom, and either 10in or 12in tom, this should cover the tone you need, if you take the 10 then use the 15 or 14 as your floor tom. if the 12 take one of the larger toms as floor tom.
..
Cymbals and snare are not really an option for an acoustic setup, unless you have a piccolo snare.

 

[dje31]

My avatar is in that setup.
This unholy mess is that basic setup plus two more tiny toms squeezed in for playing Rush tunes more accurately. The 6 changed nothing about the setup. The 8 pushed the 16 out a bit more than I like it. I eventually squeezed the 6 into that nook between the snare, 10, and 16.
View attachment 741229View attachment 741231

Almost a variation on Bill Bruford's previous kit, without the remote hat, but more forward.

 

[Old Drummer]

I know you said to ignore the concert toms, but I won't. I say keep one of them, either the 8x12 or 9x13 rack tom (whichever you like best), and the 16X16 floor. My reasoning is that I want the widest spread possible between toms and figure that more than 3 toms is redundant.

 

[smittyboy63]

I would consider downsizing this Ludwig Octaplus kit, if your playing with a band with a nice PA, into a Roland kit, keeping your current cymbals.

Had one and absolutely HATED it...actually, I still have it (in storage).

I like my sound coming from the drum, not a speaker cabinet.
But I appreciate your comments on the acoustic stuff...good stuff!
Thanks!

 

[Drumskillz]

I currently play 1 up/2 down.

13x10 - 14x11 - 15x12

I switch between a 20 inch kick and a 22 inch kick depending on the gig/mood.

A very comfortable set up I must say.

Totally dig this sound. Might have to try that tom right next to the hats.

 

[michaelocalypse]

With what you have... 12/14 racks, 16 floor.
Would you consider modifying the concert toms to add heads on the bottom? In that case I'd say 10/12 rack, move the 14 to a hanging tom and then 16 floor if you want a 6 piece. Or do 10/12 rack and the 16 floor for a 5 piece.

I occasionally split my larger set into smaller ones since I have an extra bass drum (8, 10, 12, 13 racks, 14, 16, 18 floor) so I do 10/14, 12/16 and 8/13/18. If I want a bigger kit again then 10/12/14/16/22/22 and leave the 8/13/18/22 as a second set. It's kind of odd having 3 floor toms, and the 13 rack, so those feel like my best options. I had another 10 that came with the double bass expansion, but sold it. I got the 8 and 13 as orphans when they popped up online, just because they matched, and never intended to use them.