DRUMMER CAFE

Hello everyone,
Being new to this forum, this is my first question to ask of any of you who have had experience going from a more or less typical 22' bass drum to a 20". Specifically, a 20x16 Yamaha Recording Custom. My question is several (the  birds  is coming, the  birds is coming). I've noticed that my bass drum pedal's beater cannot get to the center of the drumhead due to the bottom of the shaft scraping the head on the backswing. I suppose I could saw it off and adjust it that way, but is this typical? Is a little north of center no big deal? Also, I've noticed a bit of a dropoff in power (which I expected to some degree), has anyone tried or heard a 20x18? Is there a gain in power or punch with the larger depth? How would you characterize either drum as opposed a 22" drum in general? Thanks so much, I've already enjoyed the lively and certainly informative chat on this forum , and hope to contribute some cents in the future.

I luvs my 20, LUVS it!  sorry, had to provide a bit of counterwieght  

Thanks for the feedback. Since all of you had 20's, what about the other part of my question, which concerns the pedal beater.

I'm going to use the 20 in more down volume situations, will probably get a 22" for the larger ones unless I feel that the soundguy is delivering okay wth the 20, and after I've A/B'd the two drums in the studio.
 It seems it's nice to stumble on the Recording Customs as you can now get the component drums at a reasonable cost what with them making only two colors  and having been at it for almost 25 years.

I appreciate the points of view. It will take a while of experimenting before I can evaluate the drums for myself, and see whether I come out strongly one way or the other. The "wish drum" comment was good, however.

This is the most accurate description of a 20" that I have ever heard.  I realize that a 20" drum has some good projection and some good punch.  But it doesn't have the meat of a 22" nor the jazzy focus of an 18".  I am sure that pleanty of you love 20" bass drums, but I have never heard a single 20" that has satisfied my preferences in bass drum sound.

chiefdoug... are you the one with that fairly new Pork Pie? I love the look of that kit.

Hell, I use a 16-inch kick drum that I love. It's got tons of punch, but it's also 20 inches deep. I think low end in kick drums is over-rated. The bass guitar is there for much of the lower frequencies. The most important matter as far as I'm concerned in a kick drum is projection, punch and tone.

When I buy a new kit, I'm going 20 x 20 on my kick.

I'll try to answer your questions directly since 6 months ago I got a new kit with a 20" as aposed to my older kit which had 22" bass.  As for the beater not hitting dead center, it really doesn't effect the sound noticibly. I suppose if you really want it in the center, then you could saw the ends of the beater off, but I wouldn't advise it.. it's not that big of a deal.  As for the power drop off, it is a smaller drum, therefore you're going to notice a less large sound, but by no means a small sound. One thing I really love about my 20" inch is that I don't have to use any padding in the bass drum what-so-ever, and I get a very powerful and open (not too open) boom when I need it, and a very lite and airy hit when I flutter it for jazz. When I had my 22", it was far to big to use no padding. Another benefit to the 20" is the amount of room gained so you can move your toms lower and at much less of an incline, which was a big porblem for me on my 22". Basically, It's all in preference, but I would definitely say that the 20" is more versitile, and there are of course with any changes in your kit different sounds that you're going to get.

theres no bassist in my band  

ive actually been able to get plenty of low end out of my 20, just tuning and heads.  thin luann shell helps encourage low end too.  but mostly I just dig the feel as far as the rest of my kit goes, and the response of teh drum itself.

to the other bit of the question.  my beater hits a tad higher then center, not high enough to count really.  must be a good beater length.  if youre happy with the overall sound of your beater, go ahead and shorten it.  no harm done.


he does, it is

the bastard  

Thanks to all, great swath of info, but even more inspiration. A brief note, I mounted my 20 on the DrumFrame and the thing was really kickin. However, I may look into that 20x20 idea. Am beginning to see the versatility in this setup; being 5"6, the toms being a little lower makes my day.

I'm short and for practicle reasons I got a 20" drum so I could get the toms into my cockpit.
Then, I discovered what a great sound it had and threw all the various muffling devices I had for my previous 22" away.
I use an EQ patch and hard plastic beater and it is suitable for most situations I play in.
For bigger gigs where projection is required I throw a light cushion cover and an AKG D112 in there and it's tight and punchy through the P.A..

If the beater end digs into the head introduce "Mr Hacksaw" or buy shares in Evans.

 

that's the 20x20??  looks very cool.