Two Bass drums

[tilinmyowngrave]

Is it OK to have 2 bass drums that are different sizes? I found a nice Tama Superstar on musicoround, and I just emailed tos ee how old it is... if its the right age, then it would be great, because all the drums are the sizes and finishes I wanted... but the bass drum is 22x14, and my current superstar bass drum is 22x18. Would it sound really fuct up if I had 2 different sized bass drums?

[Tim Brown]

Originally Posted by tilinmyowngrave

Is it OK to have 2 bass drums that are different sizes? I found a nice Tama Superstar on musicoround, and I just emailed tos ee how old it is... if its the right age, then it would be great, because all the drums are the sizes and finishes I wanted... but the bass drum is 22x14, and my current superstar bass drum is 22x18. Would it sound really fuct up if I had 2 different sized bass drums?

Wait, did you buy this Superstar set brand new?
The reason I'm asking is there are 4 different kinds of Superstars - there are the ones from 20 years ago which were discontinured in the mid 80's, and there are 3 different kinds that have just been released fairly recently.
The reason I'm asking, is Tama didn't regularly make 18"x22" kicks in that line back then. The 18" deep kicks didn't really come into vogue until in the 90's - back then, most guys were still playing 14" kicks, or were just switching over to 16" deep kicks.

That makes me think your kit is a newer kit.


Tim

[Farview]

It is pretty rare to have two kicks that sound the same. Are you measuring just the shell of the one you have? 22x18 would have been an uncommon size for the Superstar.

[tilinmyowngrave]

The teacher sed its 24"... i probably measured it wrong...

[tilinmyowngrave]

Also, I dont think Tama makes this finish for its new superstars anymore. ANd this SUperstar does NOT look new. I'm sure its the early version.

[Farview]

24 X 18 makes more sense. Guys in the 70s used to have different sized kicks. They were not doing a lot of double bass stuff, if you do, it will sound ridicules.

[tilinmyowngrave]

I remeasured its, its a 22x16.

[tilinmyowngrave]

ANd I dont do much double bass work.

[PhilGood]

That sounds about right! I used to sit and salivate over Tama catalogs in the 80's and remember the X-Tras series. I remember Tama switched most bass drums to 16" deep.

[tilinmyowngrave]

um... im awaiting an answer...

[Tim Brown]

Originally Posted by tilinmyowngrave

um... im awaiting an answer...

Well, personally I wouldn't do it, but I've known guys who were in similar situations as yourself who used kicks of 2 different depths. the 16" one will have a little more "boom", while the 14" will be a little more "note-y".

If you muffle them down, there should be a whole lot of difference.

And, if you get it and don't like it - you could always save some money, and have a pair of kick shells made, and pull the hardware from what you have to put on them.
Actually, that would be a good idea anyway, because you have top of the line lugs on that kit. Just have a set of new shells made, and have them drilled for the lugs that you currently have - and you'll have a brand new kit.



Tim

[Tim Brown]

And if you neededto get matching hardware:

http://cgi.ebay.com/TAMA-SUPERSTAR-1...QQcmdZViewItem

Here's a 16"x22" Superstar in CherryWine finish on Ebay for And you can buy it for $230+shipping.

Better than that!

Here's an entire kit for $300!

http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-80s-Tama...QQcmdZViewItem



Tim

[tilinmyowngrave]

But some of the lugs and equipment are missing from the bass drum. And I am terrible with manual working, if I tried to fix it, I would fuck it up even more, especially since I wouldnt know what I'm doing.

ALso, the toms are missing the bottom rims and lugs, which really sucks. And it would look weird to have 2 different colors.

Maybe I'm too impatient... O well, the one guy said he will list a 16" floor tom, which I will definately get, and when a bass drum of the right size and finish comes along, I will be sure to grab it.

Jesus, I wish I lived in Texas. This would have been perfect, but he wont ship, dammit.

http://cgi.ebay.com/TAMA-Superstar-D...QQcmdZViewItem

I looked on the Tama website, and I saw that they used to make a 20x18 floor tom. I'm gonna hunt for that. That and the 22x16 bass drum

[Tim Brown]

Originally Posted by tilinmyowngrave

But some of the lugs and equipment are missing from the bass drum. And I am terrible with manual working, if I tried to fix it, I would fuck it up even more, especially since I wouldnt know what I'm doing.

ALso, the toms are missing the bottom rims and lugs, which really sucks. And it would look weird to have 2 different colors.

Maybe I'm too impatient... O well, the one guy said he will list a 16" floor tom, which I will definately get, and when a bass drum of the right size and finish comes along, I will be sure to grab it.

Jesus, I wish I lived in Texas. This would have been perfect, but he wont ship, dammit.

http://cgi.ebay.com/TAMA-Superstar-D...QQcmdZViewItem

I looked on the Tama website, and I saw that they used to make a 20x18 floor tom. I'm gonna hunt for that. That and the 22x16 bass drum

Forget the 20" x18". The bigger in diameter that you go with the shell, you want it to be on the shallow end. Here's why - as the drum gets bigger in diameter, and lower in pitch - it gets harder to get a defined note out of a "long" shell.
You just get a low end rumble.

The reason I know this, is because one of my friends had a kit with a 20"x20" Floor tom, and it sounded like CRAP. No matter what he did to it- it sounded horrible. It was thunderous, but you couldn't make out any actual pitch like you can with a mounted tom.

I didn't realize that your kit was finished in Maple...for some reason I was thinking it was in a cherry color.


Tim

[Kasey]

Originally Posted by tilinmyowngrave

Is it OK to have 2 bass drums that are different sizes?

think about what you are saying... its music, there are no rules... i dont think anyone is going to come up to you and say, "you have two bass drums that are different sizes, THATS NOT OKAY."

[PhilGood]

Originally Posted by Kasey

think about what you are saying... its music, there are no rules... i dont think anyone is going to come up to you and say, "you have two bass drums that are different sizes, THATS NOT OKAY."

Billy Cobham used 2 different size bass drums for years. He made it work! Kasey makes a REALLY good point! There are NO rules!

[tilinmyowngrave]

Originally Posted by PhilGood

Billy Cobham used 2 different size bass drums for years. He made it work! Kasey makes a REALLY good point! There are NO rules!

You know, fuck yea. I'll get that set. Everyone (meaning my friends and family) will think I'm crazy for having 6 toms, and 2 different sized bass drums, but I think it will be cool. Plus, once I learn the heel toe method of bass drumming, I will be able to use the 2 different sizes to my advantage. ANd if I find that it sounds better to have them the same size... instead of replacing the 14" deep bass drum, I'll use it as a third bass drum for softer stuff. 3 bass drums... that wud be really cool.

[tilinmyowngrave]

BTW, I've recently gotten into jazz, and I always hear how great Cobham is... can anyone give me his band's name, and soem good songs by them?

[my2cents]

lots of people have used different sized bass drums over the years (ginger baker is the first one that comes to mind), and continue to do so (joey waronker, stanton moore, etc).

use whatever you think sounds good.

[tilinmyowngrave]

Well, I play metal, but not the kind where I double bass for the entire song... I prefer mixing sounds and using double bass drums for quick bursts to lead into an accent. SO I think the different sizes would suit me well.

[PhilGood]

Originally Posted by tilinmyowngrave

BTW, I've recently gotten into jazz, and I always hear how great Cobham is... can anyone give me his band's name, and soem good songs by them?

Billy has always been under his own name and band. One of my favorite records of his is 'Shabazz'.

Do a google search or go to Amazon. You'll probably find a number of his records there.

[my2cents]

most people know cobham from mahavishnu orchestra. he plays on "the inner mounting flame", "birds of fire", "between nothingness and eternity" and "the trinity sessions". start with the first two. his first solo album, "spectrum" is excellent, too.

[Kasey]

Originally Posted by tilinmyowngrave

You know, fuck yea. I'll get that set. Everyone (meaning my friends and family) will think I'm crazy for having 6 toms, and 2 different sized bass drums, but I think it will be cool. Plus, once I learn the heel toe method of bass drumming, I will be able to use the 2 different sizes to my advantage. ANd if I find that it sounds better to have them the same size... instead of replacing the 14" deep bass drum, I'll use it as a third bass drum for softer stuff. 3 bass drums... that wud be really cool.

amen brother! hey, if you find any massive bass drums somewhere let me know.

[Anders]

Originally Posted by tilinmyowngrave

Well, I play metal, but not the kind where I double bass for the entire song... I prefer mixing sounds and using double bass drums for quick bursts to lead into an accent. SO I think the different sizes would suit me well.

it also works just fine to use a single pedal for quick bursts. i think that is way cooler. you should totally try it if you havent..

[I M Green]

Originally Posted by Anders

it also works just fine to use a single pedal for quick bursts. i think that is way cooler. you should totally try it if you havent..

Huh? What kind of quick bursts are you talking about?