zambizzi
Platinum Member
I own two kits...Ludwig Classic Maple...identical finishes and badges. The "small" kit is a 22x18", 16x16", 12x10" setup...the "big" kit is 24x16", 16x16", 13x9". I love 'em both and they both sound incredible.
My inner-conflict is choosing which bass drum to stick with. I've been at it for 5 years now and used a 22x18" from day one, since it's the standard size these days. I'm most comfortable on a 22x18" and feel I have the best balance and control on it. I started on the 24" (for serious, daily practice) less than a year ago.
My band mates prefer the 24x16" (band is LOUD), though it's taken quite a while for me to get comfortable enough with it, to play shows on a regular basis. BUT...I'm still not nearly as comfortable with it and regularly have passing thoughts of ditching it in favor of the 22x18".
I won't lie, I've stuck with the 24" mostly out of looks and the fact that it makes me pretty unique on the local music scene, since most guys are rocking a 22" filled with every scrap of garbage they could find around the house. Pretty lame, superficial reasons...I know.
I'm sitting here listening to recordings of both kits and the 22x18" sounds bigger, punchier, and has way more cut. Weird! The 24" has its merits and sounds great, but it's got far more boom than punch, which all but disappears behind a wall of amplified guitars. During shows, my biggest challenge is HEARING the 24" well enough - even through the monitor. If the 22" isn't audible enough, at least I can FEEL it under my foot and know I'm hitting the notes, whereas the 24" is much softer, making it more difficult to feel and hear the subtleties of what I'm doing.
It's not a tuning issue. I've had these drums for 2 years and I know how to tune them, muffle, etc. I love how I've got them tuned and muffled (if any is used at all.) I've tried many combinations and feel I'm getting the best out of both drums, at this point. Further muffling the 24" to try and make it more punchy, just ruins the sound, IMO.
Who else has moved to a bigger bass drum and not been satisfied w/ the result? Would a 26x14" give me more punch and better playability (more solid under-foot) than a 24x16"? I've tried a 24x14" and did not like the sound as much as my slightly deeper kick...so I wouldn't go out and buy one. My thinking is that I can get that big bass drum sound out of a 26x14", but with more punch and a better feel.
I still like the look of bigger drums, too. I'm a fairly big guy and I sit pretty high...so even a 22" looks like a little toy-ish, underneath me.
Thoughts?
My inner-conflict is choosing which bass drum to stick with. I've been at it for 5 years now and used a 22x18" from day one, since it's the standard size these days. I'm most comfortable on a 22x18" and feel I have the best balance and control on it. I started on the 24" (for serious, daily practice) less than a year ago.
My band mates prefer the 24x16" (band is LOUD), though it's taken quite a while for me to get comfortable enough with it, to play shows on a regular basis. BUT...I'm still not nearly as comfortable with it and regularly have passing thoughts of ditching it in favor of the 22x18".
I won't lie, I've stuck with the 24" mostly out of looks and the fact that it makes me pretty unique on the local music scene, since most guys are rocking a 22" filled with every scrap of garbage they could find around the house. Pretty lame, superficial reasons...I know.
I'm sitting here listening to recordings of both kits and the 22x18" sounds bigger, punchier, and has way more cut. Weird! The 24" has its merits and sounds great, but it's got far more boom than punch, which all but disappears behind a wall of amplified guitars. During shows, my biggest challenge is HEARING the 24" well enough - even through the monitor. If the 22" isn't audible enough, at least I can FEEL it under my foot and know I'm hitting the notes, whereas the 24" is much softer, making it more difficult to feel and hear the subtleties of what I'm doing.
It's not a tuning issue. I've had these drums for 2 years and I know how to tune them, muffle, etc. I love how I've got them tuned and muffled (if any is used at all.) I've tried many combinations and feel I'm getting the best out of both drums, at this point. Further muffling the 24" to try and make it more punchy, just ruins the sound, IMO.
Who else has moved to a bigger bass drum and not been satisfied w/ the result? Would a 26x14" give me more punch and better playability (more solid under-foot) than a 24x16"? I've tried a 24x14" and did not like the sound as much as my slightly deeper kick...so I wouldn't go out and buy one. My thinking is that I can get that big bass drum sound out of a 26x14", but with more punch and a better feel.
I still like the look of bigger drums, too. I'm a fairly big guy and I sit pretty high...so even a 22" looks like a little toy-ish, underneath me.
Thoughts?