I know I responded to this thread years ago, and my attitude hasn't really changed on it. I'm still not a fan of the tiny bass drum. But when I look at a 18x14, and then a 20x14, and put them in the backseat of my car, the difference in space the 20" takes up over the 18" is negligible. So in a practical sense, Max Roach wasn't saving all that much space when he said he used the 18" because they had to get all their gear and luggage in the station wagon when they were on the road. He could have gotten away with the 20" if he wanted to, and then the 18" bass drum would never have taken off with people. Jimmy Cobb even wouldn't go smaller than a 20" bass drum, because you need the extra body the 20" gives (it actually sounds like a bass drum) - and he played soft behind Sarah Vaughn! So it's still the old "it's the drummer" that defines the sound up on stage, and not the correct-looking stuff. I think Louie just always used 24" bass drums for everything.I've got two kits with 18" kicks. My RMV's are 18, 12, 14. My Yamaha's (9000's) are 18, 12, 16. The RMV bass drum lives on a riser, and has WAY more punch than the Yamaha. So I think, for starters .... if you're asking your 18 to sub. for a 20 or 22, in a given role, you need to get it up off the floor. Otherwise, you're setting yourself up for disappointment.
Beautiful Craviottos. Bet they sound fantastic.I used to think !8' bass drums were useless but this one will change all that! .....from !8' to 26" it will stand toe to toe .
A 16" or 18" bass drum must be tuned higher to get decent acoustic output and accordingly can interfere with the notes of the bass, unless played lightly by the player.
I'll paraphrase a quote I read on here that said, "an 18" kick drum isn't a kick, it's a FOOT TOM!"
Useless forum trivia for $200 Alex....what is Odd's signature line.
Well I switched to a Sonor Safari kit 5 years ago. It has an 18in kick and it has plenary of volume. I did change the batter head to a Remo Pin Stripe and that made a big difference volume wise. The only concern with the smaller diameter I had was the bounce back of the beater which made it hard to do a feathered stroke for Jazz. I believed the cause was no air hole in the shell so I cut a 2in port into the reso head and cured the problem. I should point out that the Safari kick although on 18in in diameter is typical of Sonor.. it’s as heavy as my old 20in Yamaha and the woods they use certainly give it a big sound. The Yamaha was Luan Magogany whereas the Sonor uses select hardwoods.. looks like Asian Birch ? In fact in a small venue I had to muffle the batter head. One Jazz group I play with really cranks out the volume and unmuffled and without miking I’m easily heard. I’m not and expert but I’m guessing the shell thickness, wood used and overall weight of the drum plays a factor. Just sayin ...My newest band has a great rehearsal space. It's a detached 3 car garage, with fully stocked commercial beverage coolers, pool table, great PA, monitors, lights, backline, and all kinds of expensive really cool decorations. (Like light bulbs made to look like guitar tubes, and all kinds of other cool stuff musicians go for) It's your ultimate man cave for sure set in a rolling countryside farmland setting. It's just beautiful. The guy has a boatload of dough, he's president of a software company, and I really like him and the band. His wife always has some great food waiting for us when we rehearse, so it's a very pleasant time. All this has nothing to do with the thread though lol.
Anyway, the guy has a Gretsch Catalina Club Elite set there. The 12" rack tom is OK, the 14" floor tom is nice, the snare sounds bad and I'm sorry but I don't know why anyone would like an 18" bass drum. It just has no balls, no volume, and I have to play it twice as hard as I normally do, which kind disrupts me, because I have to put so much more into the pedal. I can't relax when I have to compensate like that. It's very unsatisfying for me, my kick drum is the center of my drumming universe. When it's not cutting it it really affects my drumming mood. There is a big difference between an 18 and a 20. A 20 in my mind is about as small as you can go and still have a real kick drum sound, JMO. I do like a 20" kick drum, it has real bass tones. That 2 inches makes a big difference. I may get a cheap set to leave there, I can't do an 18" bass drum anymore. And the 16's? Fuggetaboutit. I guess this is kind of negative, sorry.
Oops I’m talking about the Sonor Player Kit with 18in kick. The Safari has a 16in.. I own one of those as well and changing batter head and porting reso improved its volume as well. I do mike it if I use it for Rock.Well I switched to a Sonor Safari kit 5 years ago. It has an 18in kick and it has plenary of volume. I did change the batter head to a Remo Pin Stripe and that made a big difference volume wise. The only concern with the smaller diameter I had was the bounce back of the beater which made it hard to do a feathered stroke for Jazz. I believed the cause was no air hole in the shell so I cut a 2in port into the reso head and cured the problem. I should point out that the Safari kick although on 18in in diameter is typical of Sonor.. it’s as heavy as my old 20in Yamaha and the woods they use certainly give it a big sound. The Yamaha was Luan Magogany whereas the Sonor uses select hardwoods.. looks like Asian Birch ? In fact in a small venue I had to muffle the batter head. One Jazz group I play with really cranks out the volume and unmuffled and without miking I’m easily heard. I’m not and expert but I’m guessing the shell thickness, wood used and overall weight of the drum plays a factor. Just sayin ...