Size Conundrum - 14" & 16" floors or 16" & 18" floors?

[Seb77]

I guess I only "hear" two or three toms, with one floor tom. 13/16 or 10/12/14 are my favorites at the moment. I tried setting up the 14 and 16 side by side, as some of my favorite players do, but it somehow doesn't improve things for me - I couldn't decide which one to hit! If the 14" is the floor tom, I play it like that, if I have a 16", great, but then I hear a 13" to go with it.
I even added an 18" floor tom to one set, got it used for a good price, but only ever used it as a bass drum!

Ha, after a while of dabbling with the 13-16 I added the 12, and now even the 14. Started out as a teaching kit for video lesson, just because most kids have two rack toms, but I found I liked the various pitches. 12-13-14-16-22 it is for now. (Curious if anyone can spot one drum that is from a different company )
https://soundcloud.com/seb234%2F4-toms-slammin-blankets-cabinets-open

 

[JazzDrumGuy]

Keep that killer bowling ball kit.....and I just saved you $3K!

 

[CAMDRUMS]

You’re mostly going to hit that first floor tom. Do you want that to be a 14 or a 16? Then chose from there.

 

[RIDDIM]

I've used huge kits a lot over the years and while I like having lots of sound sources, bringing a large kit has costs.

Some thoughts:

- Will you be mic'd? Lower frequencies don't carry as well unmic'd. If you're not mic'd, then you'll want to pitch the 18 and other drums up to be heard out front (otherwise the lows will get lost in mids and lows put out by other instruments). If you're going to pitch them up, why not buy smaller drums to begin with? For matter, think about going 10,12,14, and 16. They'll all be easily tonally distinguished from each other and take up less space. If you are mic'd, the 18 will take up more space in the car, on the cart and on stage. Not a problem on big stages, but in some smaller venues, it might be.

- Are you moving your own gear? None of us age in reverse.

- Will your current cart and ride fit the sizes you're thinking about?

 

[kromerser]

How about two 16"s
A 14x16" and a 16x16"?

 

[Seb77]

If you're not mic'd, then you'll want to pitch the 18 and other drums up to be heard out front (otherwise the lows will get lost in mids and lows put out by other instruments). If you're going to pitch them up, why not buy smaller drums to begin with? For matter, think about going 10,12,14, and 16. They'll all be easily tonally distinguished from each other and take up less space.

I don't quite follow that logic. For umic'ed situations I would indeed use larger drums tuned up, as that higher tension is what makes drums project. Smaller drums tuned on the looser side might end up at the same pitches, but project less. A 10-12-14-16 to me is a classic combination for mic'ed contexts, in the Gadd tradition.

 

[RIDDIM]

I don't quite follow that logic. For umic'ed situations I would indeed use larger drums tuned up, as that higher tension is what makes drums project. Smaller drums tuned on the looser side might end up at the same pitches, but project less. A 10-12-14-16 to me is a classic combination for mic'ed contexts, in the Gadd tradition.

- Higher pitches are less likely to be eaten up by lower freq's in the mix. If you're going for higher freq's, why use a larger drum than you need?

 

[Seb77]

- Higher pitches are less likely to be eaten up by lower freq's in the mix. If you're going for higher freq's, why use a larger drum than you need?

More volume unmic'ed, the Bonham concept. Small drums tuned lower have a longer decay, but less projection. There was a thread on this recently.

 

[RogersLudwig]

Sorry, but I'm not familiar. Who makes the Conun Drum?

 

[Rufus T Firefly]

hear me out 14/16/18 lol I love them all 18s produce a sound you can’t get from other floor toms but 14s do as well so all three is my vote lol

Agreed, get all three and swap them in and out. Yeah, that's the ticket!

 

[Spoonman]

Agreed, get all three and swap them in and out. Yeah, that's the ticket!

Well, I went for the 16x16 and 16x18! Ordered a Ludwig Legacy Maple in Bronze Mist. 8/10/12/13/16/18/22 and 6.5 snare.

Took about 5 months but it arrived on Friday, and I just picked it up from West Coast Drums in Bellevue,WA. Can say enough about how great Chris and team are there.
Here are a few pics of the kit.

 

[Vintage Old School]

Seeing your kit I think you made a great call going 16/18, especially teamed with the 13" rack. Those sizes just work well together.

 

[CC Cirillo]

Congratulations, Spoonman!

I bet those have a rich, textured sound.

That Bronze Mist is really something. Classy and sexy. The B/O badges jump out in a good way.

May you and your new Harem of Eight have many satisfying musical journeys.

Please promise me you will post pictures of that set often, and with different light, on stage or off, or even just on the back porch in the dapple of morning, the afternoon sun, or the slanting rays of twilight.

Even my wife approves of drum porn.

 

[Spoonman]

Seeing your kit I think you made a great call going 16/18, especially teamed with the 13" rack. Those sizes just work well together.

Thanks Old School…they really sound fantastic!

 

[Spoonman]

Congratulations, Spoonman!

I bet those have a rich, textured sound.

That Bronze Mist is really something. Classy and sexy. The B/O badges jump out in a good way.

May you and your new Harem of Eight have many satisfying musical journeys.

Please promise me you will post pictures of that set often, and with different light, on stage or off, or even just on the back porch in the dapple of morning, the afternoon sun, or the slanting rays of twilight.

Even my wife approves of drum porn.

You bet!

 

[bpaluzzi]

Well, I went for the 16x16 and 16x18! Ordered a Ludwig Legacy Maple in Bronze Mist. 8/10/12/13/16/18/22 and 6.5 snare. View attachment 502320 View attachment 502321 View attachment 502322 View attachment 502323 Took about 5 months but it arrived on Friday, and I just picked it up from West Coast Drums in Bellevue,WA. Can say enough about how great Chris and team are there.
Here are a few pics of the kit.

That's the exact same configuration as my Sonor Phonics. Even down to the 8 and 10 being concert toms. The sizes work GREAT for rock.

 

[Heartbeat]

Lovely! I have 13/16/18/22 on three of my four kits and it's a great combo. Thunderous. Enjoy!

 

[stevesmithfan]

16” and 18” is wonderful! I played 14 and 16 for many years. My 14 ft will probably never see the light of day again!

 

[hsosdrum]

They. Are. Gorgeous. That Bronze Mist finish is pure class! And I'll bet the 16/18 floor toms give you the perfect blend of power and projection.

CONGRATULATIONS!