Kick size - 20 vs 22 vs 24

[Meriphew]

What size kick drum do you prefer for recording and what type of music does it best suit in your opinion? Thx.

I mainly use a 22" as it is the house kit but,
I always wonder why I don't use a 20" every time I do get to work with one.

Only used a 24" twice. Both time I was disappointed.
Could have been the drummers though.

Not much but, a reply.

David

[3db@1K]

I use a 22 n&c and a gretsch ..both are great for heavy rock and pop... I also use a 24 ludwig radio king that is great... it is the best 24 I have used... A lot other 24's are hard to deal with, I have found...It is useful for out and different sounding songs and for your big zep sound...22's fill 99% of everything I record, they can be very versatile ... if you find a good sounding one......

[LTA]

I was a big believer in the 24" kick for a long time. I like the sound of a thick 2-ply batter, but the 24" didn't sound tight/defined enough with thin single ply heads. Works great with non-bassy metal guitar amongst many other things. Compared to the other choices, the 24 seems the easiest to bury in a mix.

On a whim (and to get a kit that fit entirely in my car), I picked up a kit with a 20" kick. Can't believe I didn't get one sooner. With head selection and tuning, these things can put out as much low end as a 24", and are tighter and more controlled at the same time. It also seems to go through the guitars, rather than under them. I feel it works with everything rock. It is also a country favorite. It would probably work with any style, as long as you aren't trying to steal the sound and feel of a different drum size. (it won't do bonham or ringo)


22 inch kicks are not my favorite, but it may have something to do with every entry level kit coming with them, and with entry level drummers comes entry level tuning and entry level sound. The ones I've had the opportunity to tech ended up sounding fine. Cuts better than a 24, but more boomy than a 20.

I would like to suggest that shell depth is just as important, if not more so, than diameter. At least, it matters if you play with 2 heads on. A 14" deep drum is quick, while an 18" deep one needs to be layed into but rewards with a huge tone. If you ever get a chance, compare a well tuned 14x24 (or 14x26) to a 18x20. In general (and definitely imho), that is as extreme as it gets.

Having both a 20" and a 22 or 24" kick available is actually not a bad idea, if you have the money and space.

[Xestenz]

This totally depends on the type of drumset, tuning, heads used, drum depth, playing style, music style, room, player technique, mics used, etc. I have heard an 18" Kick (a Yamaha Maple Custom I think) sound HUGE, and I've heard a 24" kick sound flat, flabby, and downright small. In my opinion, you can make any drum sound acceptable by changing heads, tuning, mic type and placement, etc. To get a really great sound requires great drums tuned perfectly miced perfectly played professionally and captured to the best of your ability.

FWIW, I play and record with both DW Classic and Noble & Cooley CD Maple kits, both with 22" kicks, and an old Gretch set with a 20" bass drum. The easiest way for me to get a tight, punchy and deep sound in my room with my mics is with the Gretch. Something about the smaller diameter just makes it more 'controllable', and sometimes this helps get to the 'core' of the kick sound.

Not sure if this helps at all...

David

[brownmouse]

i like a 22x18 and more importantly i prefer birch.
joshua

[warhead]

22" is the best to have around.

War

[heinz]

Originally posted by Xestenz
In my opinion, you can make any drum sound acceptable by changing heads, tuning, mic type and placement, etc. To get a really great sound requires great drums tuned perfectly miced perfectly played professionally and captured to the best of your ability.

Well there it is, well put.

24" is a beast I consider a large venue live drum, it can be recorded to good effect based on the environment. So if you have a nice room around it the 24 can be monster.

Or not. See quote above... IME there is a sweet spot with a 24 that has the head tension somewhere between loose and sorta tight... the right head for the shell thickness and dimensions... and a 2nd head working in concert and BOOm it's Bonham time. I do think a 20 or 22 is easier/faster to work with in the studio though.

[Bob Olhsson]

Originally posted by Xestenz
The easiest way for me to get a tight, punchy and deep sound in my room with my mics is with the Gretch. Something about the smaller diameter just makes it more 'controllable', and sometimes this helps get to the 'core' of the kick sound.

I've had the same experience. Big bass drums sound like marching bands while small ones sound deep and powerful.

[enharmonic]

I had an Ayotte 22 that was 20 inches deep. It was the kick from hell, and I regret selling that kit to this day.

My last kit was a Tama Starclassic Maple w/ a 22" kick. That was a great kick.

My next kit will either be another Ayotte, or a Brady kit.

[lowswing]

I really like recording small bass drums, you can tune them REALLY low still the head it tight and punchy enough, bis bass drums are loud and hard to tune...

[studjo]

I got a Yamaha 22" and a 20" at the studio. Since I got the 20" I never used the 22" again . All I needed was in the 20" -drummers get sceptical sometimes but when they hear that baby recorded they don't even want to hear the 22"

But I try the 22" at the next session again (it gets its chance every 2 years )

Jo

[Fletcher]

I do mostly "rock'/"alt. counrty" stuff... I've found that I usually like where the bottom can be centered with a 22" kik if you're cutting a hole in the front head... if you're recording the drum without a hole in the front head then a 24" or 26" drum is the best way to get the bottom to center... at least for my work, as always, YMMV.