So I've had a sonor force 2001 kit for a while -- and it's done me alright...but I've been considering a high end kit for a while, most likely a gretsch brodkaster or USA maple, however most of (the 4pc set ups) them have 14x18 or 16x18. As someone who hasn't played on too many sets, and is certainly only very used to 22in bass drums, what's your feel on this, how relevant is the depth. Is the 20in a more reasonable compromise (i've seen a few but they're much harder to find -- and have been more expensive) I'm not going for like the thunderous led zep blast here, just something with some good punch that I can play quick (funky?). Also I'm like 6'2" and 190 - my legs are fairly long (Why is it that like 70%of all drummers seem to be overweight?) would I be cowering over a smaller set...if so any thoughts for jazzier sets that I wouldn't?

I think diameter is far more significant than depth. A little extra depth can add some nice low end, but can also increase your footprint on stage, and may make the drum harder to fit into cases. But 16x18 is a very mainstream size - it should be fine.



First of all, if you've never played an 18, don't buy one - yet. Get out and play one - they sound and feel a LOT different. But they do NOT produce the "typical" pop/rock bass drum sound, if that's what you're looking for. Many jazz drummers use 18's - listen to Bill Stewart's bass drum on Peter Bernstein's "Earth Tones" to get a good idea of the typical 18 sound.

And I'm of the unpopular opinion that a 20 is NOT a good compromise. It will never sound like either a 22 or an 18, and is - to my ears - ultimately just not a satisfying sound. I've had numerous 20's, and I always wished they were either larger or smaller. My ultimate kit is to have a nice snare and set of toms, and TWO bass drums to choose from; one that is 22" or larger, and one that is 18" or smaller. But that's just me.


Not a problem. If you use a decent modern tom holder, you can get your tom(s) up to the same height you're used to on regular kits, and your snare and floor tom will likely be at your usual height. It looks a little different to see that little bass drum, but there's nothing awkward about it.

I'm 6'6''. Click the link below to see me behind my Yamaha kit with an 18" BD. Looks OK to me  . (FYI...I also have a 22"BD which I use for louder/more rock oriented stuff).

BigBill

I say it based on decades of playing all those sizes. No science to it at all; it's purely experiential insight. I've owned four or five 20's, and have played many more. I've tuned them low, and I've tuned them high, and I just don't dig the sound, period. But I'll admit there are plenty of drummers who disagree.

I just wanted to poke holes in that "compromise" mindset. More than once I've bought 20" bass drums with just that thought in mind: it will be big enough to get the rock sound I want, but small enough to get the jazz sound I want. And it's been a failure every time.

If you like how a 20 sounds, buy one. But if you like how big rock-oriented bass drums sound, and also dig how little bebop bass drums sound, don't buy a 20 as a medium-sized drum that you hope will give you both sounds, because - in my experience - it will give you neither sound.

Yeah, drumming is about passion and often more about going with your heart than by crunching numbers.
Your science may be completely correct, but I too have found 20" bass drums an unsatisfying compromise.
18" for jazz.
22" for rock .....or jazz if you are semi genius like DeJohnette or TW.
24" or 26" for RAWK.

I have to agree with Keith here.

I have also come to the conclusion that 20-inch Kick drums just don't meet my flexibility needs. Now, I haven't played a square sized 20-inch drum (20x20), but all the other depths seem to just be tough to tune and get a great sound from.

Now ... I have a 20-inch Kick on my vintage GRETSCH kit, and I like it, but I don't love it. It works for what it is, a BeBop kit, but it just doesn't carry the punch and sound when I try to tune it for Rock, Blues, etc.

I think Keith's analogy ... comparing the 20-inch Kick to the 13-inch Tom ... is a good one!

I believe there IS some scientific basis for all of this. There's just something about this specific diameter drum, the 20-inch and the 13-inch, that don't seem to tune easily. They lack versatility and just don't seem to sit well in the overall mix. I too have played a lot of 20-inch Kick drums, and 13-inch Toms ... and I'm not a fan of either. I tried to make myself believe that a 20-inch Kick was a good "go between" size; bigger than an 18-inch, smaller than a 22-inch. It makes sense mathematically, but makes absolutely no sense to my ears. FYI ... I do like my 13-inch Tom in my microkit set-up ... where I'm using a 16x16 Kick, 10-inch and 13-inch mounted Toms.

I would recommend to everyone that if you plan to purchase a 20-inch Kick drum ... do it because of what your ears tell you, and not because it makes sense when crunching the numbers. Yes, a 20-inch drum is cheaper than a 22-inch drum ... but that's about the only thing positive I have to say about it.

The 22-inch FIBES Kick drum kills! And so does the FIBES 18-inch Kick drum!

Yeah I've been hearing a lot about FIBES as a good alterntive to Gretsch here's the thing -- I was finding Kaster bop sets for like 1500-1700 lightly used -- I really can't afford a lot more than that (2k - 2.2 If I'm feeling goofy) but like I hoped fibes would be cheaper as they have less name recognition (to the uninformed anyway) -- but not really -- and they have that cool ability not to be found anywhere online -- or anywhere....but if you guys know of a depo where I can scoop them up semi-affordably I'm all ears.

hmmm....  I'm surprised you think so.    


ok, ya got me there...    It IS a matter of personal taste.  

My counterpoint was simply focusing on dispelling myths on certain sizes creating "won't tune" or "sounds bad" results.  My scientific background and experience says that's nonsense.  

But, hay, different strokes for different folks...  

I see a lot of really outstanding older kits on Ebay in that price category, Slingerland, Leedy, Camco......even newer Fibes.
If budget was a consideration, I'd buy a nice vintage shell pack on Ebay and pick up modern hardware separately.

OK, I'm getting confused now as to what your ideal size combination would be. 18 or 22"? 12 & 14" or 13 & 16"?
So far I've come up with this Fibes kit, although it's in the standard rock sizes and sports the dreaded 13" tom (which I don't honestly have a problem with   ):
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=64439&item=3762848594&rd=1