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What size bass drum do you prefer?

#43
The brilliant singer / songwriter Sam Phillips' drummer has a bass drum that's like a vintage marching band piece. It booms and booms the sustain is unbelievable. It's like 30" or more. Listen to some of the songs at her site Invalid Link Removed and at the NPR location Invalid Link Removed.

It dominates the sound both live and on the record, but particularly live. Just amazing deep DEEP tone. I'm shocked that the cheap mic I use with my Sony MiniDisc picked it up. Oops.... Did I write that?
 
#45
JimmyM said:
I miss the days of the 24" bass drum. Nobody uses them anymore, and they're massive. But quite frankly, I couldn't give a crap what the drummer uses.
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I HEAR YA ON THE 24...OUR DRUMMER HAS 3 DIFFERENT SETS AND HAS A YAMAHA 4 PIECE KIT WITH A 24X16 AND THAT DRUM SOUNDS MASSIVE THRU THE PA AND SOUNDS AWESOME ON STAGE...HE ALSO HAS A DW KIT WITH A 22 X18 KICK AND IT SOUNDS GOOD ALSO HE HAD A GRETCH WITHA A26 AND THAT BLEW ****..LOL....I LIKE 24'S.....GOTTA HAVE A LARGE KICK SOUND!!!!!
 
#51
Dr. Feelgood said:
It is a personal choice... Drummers will like different sizes, materials etc. Even the choice of sticks can have a huge impact on overall sound.

So yeah, I suppose for the sizes, it could be likened to string gauge.:bassist:
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That was my point. I was trying to point out that if a drummer told us we needed to use lighter/heavier strings, most of us would tell him to stuff it. I'm wondering why we, as bassists, are worried about drum sizes. Shouldn't we worry about drummers?
 
#52
Pacman said:
That was my point. I was trying to point out that if a drummer told us we needed to use lighter/heavier strings, most of us would tell him to stuff it. I'm wondering why we, as bassists, are worried about drum sizes. Shouldn't we worry about drummers?
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Nothing says that a drummer can't have preferences in strings or gauges. It's just that not many of them are bright enough to figure that out. :D

But seriously, if a drummer had a preference of tone that I get from certain strings I'd have no problem with it. If a drummer said he liked the sound of my flatwounds over my roundwounds, I'd appreciate the fact that he's listening and cares about the overall sound of the band. But, I still pick the bass I'm gonna play.

And I'm sure most of us would prefer a drummer with excellent feel and meter over one with a great kit. Nobody is talking about what someone should play. Just what we prefer. Nothing wrong with preferences.......
 
#53
I agree with Jive. I've initiated serious discussions about which guitar and amp that guitarists in my bands should use, amp selections for bassists, and in the case of a drummer I played with, which kit to record with. Not to be a jerk, but because the overall sound of the band means a lot to me. A lot of the time a musician will get too close to his gear preferences in the same way he gets too close to his need to be a musical extrovert. If I'm expected to not overplay, I want a say in it if the drummer is taking a Bonham kick out to a situation where it's not really appropriate.

But I know more about drum kits than some of the drummers I play with, so I'm entitled to an opinion. :)
 
#54
I just jammed with a guy who had one of those Yamaha Hipgig Kanu Mache kits with a 16" kick drum, and it sounded sweet! He told me much of the sound had to do with the Aquarian Superkick he threw on the beater side. I loved the tone, so tight and quick.
 

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