Help me find a kick drum?

[johnnybregar]

I am looking for a sweet all around kick drum that will hold it's own for Rock, Folk-Rock, Jazz, Bluegrass. I'm not looking for something for hard rock, punk, hip-hop, etc. I want a warm acoustic sound with a nice round tone -- and I really love woody sounding kicks.

Any advise on brand/size? I had to part with my (actually my drummer's) Yamaha Maple Customs so I need to replace the kick and two toms (toms are less important to me right now). I liked the tone of the Yamaha, but it was a 20" x 16" drum and not really that big sounding.

I'd love some opinions from those who have recorded enough kick drums to know what they like. Sorry if this has been posted b4 - I did a search and couldn't really find much.

Thanks,

jb

[Akoppenheffer]

I like my Tama Starclassic Maple 18x22... Nice and deep, yet still versatile. I'd go for something deep and maple.

[vernier]

New ones don't cut it ..they have that modern scooped empty sound. You want a 60's or 70s' Slingerland, Ludwig, or Gretsch ...there's no comparison.

[johnnybregar]

Like this one?

Vintage Slingerland Bass Drum - (eBay item 140166895962 end time Oct-16-07 16:19:52 PDT)

[against88]

this looks like it might be a 5 ply shell with no reinforcement rings. ludwig did this as well back in the 70s. i've only heard one kit like this (ludwig) and wasn't very impressed. i'd suggest waiting for a 3ply shell with rings. i think 14x22 is a great size and totally versitile. (60s/70s kick drums are almost always 14" deep) get two full single ply skins and it will be boomy, put a pillow in it with no front head and it will go thud/smack.

shipping might be a pain from Ebay, might want to search craigs list first... though i guess orphan drums on ebay are pretty common.

best of look


-w

[vernier]

Like this one?

Yep ..exactly that. Unwrapped ones also, they're good.

[SamSites]

DW, Tama or old or very expensive Gretsch, Ludwig.

Wood: Maple
With Rerings

Enough muffling (DW pillow, Evans, ...)

Sizes: 20x14, 20x16, 22x14, 22x16.

In addition to the 20x14 and 20x16 a 24x8 or 28x8 woofer.

Sam

[studio freak]

I have the DW collectors 20" maple, amazing drum, very punchy, round and sweet.
in the studio my clients always prefer these one over theirs.
i´ve been playing this drum kit for 10 years and never heard a better kick drum.
Goes well with most genres of music despite the small size.
i´m getting great results even with a coated ambassador !!!

i´m getting a dw 26"x14" soon, but that´s because i need a specific sound to match my band style.

[SamSites]

Sounds lovely studio freak!!

Sam

[johnnybregar]

So do you find that with a 20" drum you get enough low end to work with? Or should I be safe and get a 22" so I have the low end and can high pass it if I need to...

jb

[johnnybregar]

DW, Tama or old or very expensive Gretsch, Ludwig

Which Tama model would you recommend? Starclassic? Superstar Custom?

[chetatkinsdiet]

I've got a ton of vintage drums. If you're just looking for an amazing kick for the studio, check out Tama Superstars. The originals from the 80s, not the new stuff that's sharing the model name.
I've got a great 16x24 that I'm selling. It's the last of my cherry wine colored drums. I really hate to see it go as it's a good one, I just wasn't playing it enough to keep it around.
Solid birch shell, great low tone....love them. I'd let it go for cheap. $250 if you're interested. Shipping is a bit for larger drums like this, but nothing crazy. Let me know if you'd like to see pics or look into actual shipping costs.

Other than that....3 ply ludwigs, Rogers or Gretsch RB drums are all great kicks.

later,

m

[elroy jetson]

I have a mapex orion 22x18 and it's definitely one of the better kick's i've heard. It's a maple shell with no reinforcement rings. My friend has a Mapex saturn kit and it also sounds amazing. That kit is maple with walnut inner plies for extra low end punch. I would definitely check out what mapex has to offer. They are amazing especially for the price. Even the M Birch and Pro M kits sound better than most kits well above their price range.

[DanDan]

Mapex Orion 22 inch. I have been looking into this for some time. I am an engineer, sometimes drummer. Sorry to disagree with the above but the Saturn is not good to my ear.

Best Regards, DD

[SamSites]

Originally Posted by johnnybregar

Which Tama model would you recommend? Starclassic? Superstar Custom?

The classic: Tama Starclassic Maple.

No bubinga, that sounds too hard! (to my ears)

[maxxkagato]

check out either Truth or Risen, both make fantastic drums

[johnnybregar]

This is turning into a dang fine thread. Thanks to all for the tips.

jb

[SRS]

DW is a good place to start. If you get an older one, they will be made with Keller shells. Newer DW shells are made by them in house. Maple is always a good wood and birch is fairly versatile as well. With proper tuning, dampening, head selection (reso head on or off), beater type, etc, you can actually make many kicks sound very doable for a number of things. If getting an older drum, watch out for 2 specific things especially... 1) The bearing edges, smooth and true and 2) Make sure the drum is "in round"... best checked by fine measuring across the shell at various points.

[vernier]

I am looking for a sweet all around kick drum that will hold it's own for Rock, Folk-Rock, Jazz, Bluegrass.

Tama is ok for hard rock but not for folk, jazz, or bluegrass.

Get the Slingerland ..you'll be glad you did.

[numrologst]

+1 for sonor delite. It is the favorite bass drum in my arsenal

[johnnybregar]

I finally ended up with a Mapex Pro M kit. It sounds great, but the kick drum (with a new Remo Ambassador coated head) is a bit too live for me. I have ordered a Powerstroke 3 head and I'm hoping that will help. However, I'm now a little concerned that a 22x18" drum might be too deep to get the round, woody tone that I'm after. Say it's not true....

Any suggestions for tuning/damping that work for you?

jb

[Sofa King]

Originally Posted by johnnybregar

I am looking for a sweet all around kick drum that will hold it's own for Rock, Folk-Rock, Jazz, Bluegrass. I'm not looking for something for hard rock, punk, hip-hop, etc. I want a warm acoustic sound with a nice round tone -- and I really love woody sounding kicks.

Any advise on brand/size? I had to part with my (actually my drummer's) Yamaha Maple Customs so I need to replace the kick and two toms (toms are less important to me right now). I liked the tone of the Yamaha, but it was a 20" x 16" drum and not really that big sounding.

I'd love some opinions from those who have recorded enough kick drums to know what they like. Sorry if this has been posted b4 - I did a search and couldn't really find much.

Thanks,

jb

Try and find an old Yamaha maple custom, NOT maple custom absolute.
very different animals, thicker shell, different plys.

Ive got five or six sets here from the 30's all the way up to the modern stuff,
and the Yamaha is the best for roundness and definition.

Ive used it on just about every style of record imaginable.


all the best,
Sean

[jchadstopherhuez]

my kicks:

14x22 gretsch 70's mahogany finish jasper maple shell
14x22 ludwig 60's
18x22 gretsch 80's
14x26 ludwig 70's
14x24 gretsch 80's
20x22 dw 90's
14x22 slingerland 60's
14x20 rogers 60's
14x26 slingerland radio king 40's
20x24 custom keller maple shell
16x18 ayotte
10x28 ludwig 50's
15x26 custom jasper maple shell


all of these are GREAT drums....if i could only have one....

my 14x22 70's gretsch with a jasper shell pretty much can get me in the ballpark of ANY sound i want.

i paid 50 bucks for it. speant $100 on new heads and tension rods. best drum i have.

rock it

jchristopherhughes

[jchadstopherhuez]

here ya go...

http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-70s-Gret...QQcmdZViewItem

you won't be sorry.

best,

jchristopherhughes

[vernier]

Any suggestions for tuning/damping that work for you?

Don't need to damp my 70's Slingerland.

[johnnybregar]

http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-70s-Gret...QQcmdZViewItem

I'll keep a close eye on it - thanks for the tip...

[Sqye]

.

i don't think you'll have to look very far...

in addition to the millions of kicks drums for sale new and used,

there are millions and millions of kick drums on many, many recordings...

and quite a few being played in performances and rehearsals everywhere, as well.

so if you go listen to every single kick drum ever,

you should be able to find at least one or two you like.

i hope this is helpful....


oh, also - the kick drum is the bigger one under all the other drums and cymbals - usually...

typically played with a foot pedal attached to a beater....

Bass drum - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


i don't know if they'll be around much longer -

some say they already died out years ago, along with all the musicians...




.

[jchadstopherhuez]

Originally Posted by Sqye

.

i don't know if they'll be around much longer -

some say they already died out years ago, along with all the musicians...




.

right !

i feel like i am somewhat responsible for this. for years i have been doing everything i can to rid the world of china and splash cymbals (well, i will still let manu katche, stewart copeland, and richie hayward around the splashes). as it is with most drummers...they have not been able to accurately translate my "get rid of that !@#!!@# CHINA cymbal" and have instead begun systematically removing bass drums from their kits.

in fact, most drummers now realize the AMAZING and POWERFUL potential for a beat-detective/BFD/sound replacer drum track to completely replace their performances....making even the most inaccurate, non musical drummer SOUND (at least on record) like EVERY OTHER DRUMMER OUT THERE IN POPULAR MUSIC. these days drummers barely need sticks to "perform" on their records...just a mouse.



(to the original poster...please ignore the above sarcastic diatribe....just buy a gretsch and find drummers who actually CARE about being MUSICIANS....oh, and have fun with it !!)

best,

jchristopherhughes

[johnnybregar]

Originally Posted by Sqye

.

i don't think you'll have to look very far...

in addition to the millions of kicks drums for sale new and used,

there are millions and millions of kick drums on many, many recordings...
and quite a few being played in performances and rehearsals everywhere, as well. so if you go listen to every single kick drum ever,
you should be able to find at least one or two you like.
i hope this is helpful....
.

OH yes, VERY helpful! For the following reasons:

1. Because it's really easy to go into any music store and play one of those millions of kick drums and know instantly that it will sound awesome on tape.
2. Because it's really easy to tell what kind of kick drum is being used on any of those many, many recordings you refer to.
3. Because it's super easy to go to any rehearsal and ask if you can play the drummers kit.
4. Because live shows are so good for finding out what a kick drum will sound like on tape.
5. Because on ebay, everyone tells the truth about how great their gear sounds.
6. And because it's soooo easy to go out and listen to kick drums any time you want and get great practical recording tips wherever you go.
7. Shall I go on

Sorry for the tongue-in-cheek response, I just couldn't help myself...

[Flying_Dutchman]

I would use a standard kick drum and use Drumagog, so there are many options.
You got no tunig problems, its really fast.
Base Drum replacement is inaudible in the most music generes, i think.

If you want a great real base drum, well, i´m not a real expert, but i really like a pearl masters 22x20 bd a friend of mine got.