Soliciting opinions on a depth sizing issue on a new kit!

[nmosko]

Looking at a Tama Starclassic walnut/birch kit.

Pack 1 pack has a 22x16 and a 16x14 floor.

Pack 2 has a 22x14 and a 16x16 floor.

I’d prefer to have a 22x16 and a 16x16, but ordering individual drums is WAY more expensive, so I’ve got to compromise somewhere.

So I don’t know if I should go with the 14” depth on the floor or on the kick. What can y’all tell me about 14” depth kicks and floor toms?

 

[shuffle]

I grew up playing 14" depth basses but love 16x22s and 14x16 are less muddy sounding to me. Go 16x22 and 14x16,imo.

 

[trynberg]

My Yamaha Live Oak is 16x15 and it doesn't seem much different tuning or soundwise from my 16x16 Vistalite or Stainless Steel in terms of being muddy/hard to control (certainly there are other tonal differences). My 22x18 bass drum has an extreme low end resonance that none of my x14 bass drums have, but that's not audible to an audience and the 22x18 feels a little "slower" to play than any of the x14 drums.

Most likely there aren't significant differences in sound with either of those options and how I used the kit would make my decision -- if gigging, I would get the x14 bass drum config, if this is a stay-at-home kit, go for the x16 bass drum.

 

[Tony_H]

I have two floor toms (14 and 16) on my Starclassic Performer B/B kit. They both have a depth of 14 inches and that 16 floor tom is an absolute thunder caller the way I have it tuned.

 

[JimmyM]

You should be able to get a good sound out of anything as long as it works and is in reasonable shape. But I do slightly favor the 16 depth on a 22.

 

[Steech]

Go with the kick drum that you prefer.

 

[rsmittee]

Too me, the bass drum depth is more important and noticeable. I got "stuck" with a 16 x 16 FT when I bought my 24, 13, 16 Renowns. I already had a 16 x 14 FT, and honestly there's almost no distinguishing between the two floor toms. That said, I also love a 22 x 16 BD. YMMV.

 

[nmosko]

Pretty unanimous to go with the 16” kick! That’s what my gut is saying too. Just afraid a 14” kick is too shallow.

 

[TMDRUMS]

Try all sizes if you can prior to ordering (kind of difficult these days)! Personally, I prefer traditional sizes, however, great drummers like Simon Phillips, Billy Cobham, Nicko Mcbrain ect....who prefer oversized drums make them sing wonderfully!

 

[bpaluzzi]

I prefer 14" deep bass drums, or even 12" if possible. I currently have 16x13, 18x8, 18x12, 18x14 (x2), 20x12, 20x14, 20x16, 22x12, 22x14, and 24x14. Don't feel like I'm losing any power / volume from the shallower drums, and they all respond quicker. They can do resonant and open, or fat and punchy. The longer kick drums all feel sluggish, and like the resonant head sound gets lost. 16" deep isn't too bad, but I absolutely loathe 18" and deeper drums.

 

[TMDRUMS]

I prefer 14" deep bass drums, or even 12" if possible. I currently have 16x13, 18x8, 18x12, 18x14 (x2), 20x12, 20x14, 20x16, 22x12, 22x14, and 24x14. Don't feel like I'm losing any power / volume from the shallower drums, and they all respond quicker. They can do resonant and open, or fat and punchy. The longer kick drums all feel sluggish, and like the resonant head sound gets lost. 16" deep isn't too bad, but I absolutely loathe 18" and deeper drums.

Wow! You sure have an arsenal of bass drums in your inventory. Quite impressive!

 

[BBeyer]

14x16” floor toms are great. I have one standing alongside of a 16x18 on my MMX pearl kit. I wouldn’t be scared off by it

 

[audiochurch]

22 x 14!!!!! It sounds as good as 16” depth and fits easier in the car for gigs.

 

[bpaluzzi]

Wow! You sure have an arsenal of bass drums in your inventory. Quite impressive!

Haha yeah, it's a very particular kind of addiction:
This is missing one of the 18x14", and the 24x14 has been redone in red sparkle, but the rest are here:
First row: 20x12, 22x14
Second row: 18x12, 18x8, 22x12
Third row: 16x13, 20x14, 24x14
Fourth row: 18x14, 20x16

 

[DanRH]

I'm in the 14" depth group as well. FT, eh, either will work. Personally, I wouldn't overthink it...but that's me.

 

[patrickwitherow]

I’m all for the 14x22. I have a 14x22, 12x22 and had an 18x22. The 18x22 never got played after getting the 14and 12, so I sold it for a 14x24. The 14x22, 14x24 and especially the 12x22 have lots of quick punch and boom. They are vintage ‘60s and ‘40s while the 18x22 I sold was a 2001 dw Collectors.

 

[Steech]

Try all sizes if you can prior to ordering (kind of difficult these days)! Personally, I prefer traditional sizes, however, great drummers like Simon Phillips, Billy Cobham, Nicko Mcbrain ect....who prefer oversized drums make them sing wonderfully!

Simon Phillips has said a few times (in a few of his kit walk-through videos) that he would prefer the sound and articulation of 14” deep kicks on all of his Tama kits but they would be impractical given his huge rack tom setup.

 

[Steech]

I’m all for the 14x22. I have a 14x22, 12x22 and had an 18x22. The 18x22 never got played after getting the 14and 12, so I sold it for a 14x24. The 14x22, 14x24 and especially the 12x22 have lots of quick punch and boom. They are vintage ‘60s and ‘40s while the 18x22 I sold was a 2001 dw Collectors.

Yup same here.

 

[Steech]

I'm in the 14" depth group as well. FT, eh, either will work. Personally, I wouldn't overthink it...but that's me.

Same here. 14x22 kick and 16x16 FT.

 

[Steech]

Haha yeah, it's a very particular kind of addiction:
This is missing one of the 18x14", and the 24x14 has been redone in red sparkle, but the rest are here:
First row: 20x12, 22x14
Second row: 18x12, 18x8, 22x12
Third row: 16x13, 20x14, 24x14
Fourth row: 18x14, 20x16


View attachment 595884

Wow!

Are the 12” deep ones super quick and articulate compared to the 14”s?