Drumset configuration

[guitarlover]

I notice most set-up 10" & 12" toms above bass drums....seldom see 12" & 13" toms...

Is it cause 13" might seems a little to big to be on top of bass drum...

Cause i just bought a 12, 13 & 16 configuration..13" tom is indeed kinda big & weird on top of bass drums...I think 10, 12, 14 still better choice.....

Any opinion?Thanks..

 

[alvinthedrummer]

12, 13 & 16" toms was really popular in the 80s but due to the changes in music production (stylistic and sound production evolvements) 10, 12 & 14"/16" toms become the norm now. In my opinion the preferred sizes of 10, 12, 14/16 is not really due to aesthetic reasons but rather sound production and setup/tuning flexibility. For me, it is easier to tune with drum sizes that are 2" inches apart....I find 12 + 13 configurations too close for comfort....just my humble opinion....

Cheers!

 

[jeepers]

It's all personal preference, really.

One of the fellow softies, Myner, uses his 13" as a hanging floor tom. It's up to you to decide on how to adjust your kit to your liking.

I'm using a Pearl Export now (Many thanks to alvinthedrummer) in 10" 12" and 14" tom config. It works great for me, current tom setup being the 10" and 14".

In the past I've played around with different setups; 12" 13" 16", 12" 16", 13" 16", 12" 14" 16", 10" 12" 14", 12" 14".

I agree with Alvin that drums sizes 2" apart tend to be easier to tune up. It's easier to have an all-even setup, or an all-odd setup.

0.02; All the best buddy!

 

[weckl-x]

12" 13" 16" will get you the classic 'big' rock sound. If you listen to a lot of 80's rock/metal, that's the sound right there. If you watch some old metallica videos, you'll see Lars Ulrich and his 12", 13", 14", 15" rack toms!

http://www.youtube.com/v/trdwn4asppk&hl=en

Example: Bonham was also fond of huge rack toms, using rack toms from 13"-15".

But with careful tuning and head selection, you could get a pretty versatile set-up too. A friend of mine sometimes converts his 16" into a bass drum, and uses the 12" as rack, and 13" as floor.