Floor Toms, why do we love them so?

[khanedeliac]

I was thinking to myself recently that I prefer a 2 floor tom setup with one rack tom as opposed to 2 rack 1 floor. I dont know how or why I think this, as I have actually never played that setup. However, something tells me that I will like it...perhaps because I know I love my floor tom, and another one could surely only be twice as fun??
Then I started thinking about my rationalizing and realized it wasn't based on anything concrete. Just my thoughts of what my preferences WOULD be.

So I put forth to all of the Drummerworld family, in an attempt to clear up the floor tom issue in my brain as well as those of others; why do you prefer 2 floor toms to 1? Or, if you arent about 2 floor toms, why not?

I am curious to see what reasoning others have, cause im kinda stumped...

Happy Holidays,
Saif

[jangus]

Well the reason I prefer it is because I find two rack toms to be in an awkward position for me, but with one I can position it more comfortably. Plus, Buddy Rich and John Bonham should be reason enough.

[Ozzy Biz]

When you start talking big drums, it becomes impractical to put them on top of the kick. Also, if you want more than two toms but only fly one so the ride can be placed in close, the only place left for them is on the floor.

[cwignall]

aw just do what i do:

3 rack toms and 2 floor toms :D

[DrumProgressive]

I've tried the 1up 2down setup for a week a couple of months ago. I was really dissapointed because it didn't do me good at all. It killed my back and my fills didn't get better of it, what is pretty weird because my fills are okay in a 1up 1 down setup. I guess i really want to be faced forward as much as possible when playing. So basicly having as much toms in front of me as possible with a good "reachability" (is that even a word?) The only bad thing about is that in that way i'll never have 2 nice low sounding drums.

[JoeyWaters]

For me it clears space in front of me so I don't feel like I have to be doing a bunch of tom fills all of the time. I can put the ride where I want it, but I still want three toms, so it was a logical decision at first to be honest. Now it is something I will never give up, it just has a balanced look to me.

[khanedeliac]

I guess i really want to be faced forward as much as possible when playing.

I have thought of this quite a lot in deliberations of whether or not to buy a 2nd floor tom. Facing straight is a lot easier on the free movement of the arms, but then i considered having one either side of me...problem being that i want a secondary snare next to the hi hats, so thats a dilemma in itself!

I think it would take more than a week to get used to, I remember playing with my kit in the 2 up 1 down setup it came in for like a week, and deciding i didnt like it.... I think the BOOM of the 2nd floor tom is worth the learning curve of how to reposition yourself for fills and accents and such.

Still havent seen anyone mention why they really have 2 floor toms, or dont. Using famous people examples is ok, but doesnt really say why YOU have that setup, unless its just for the sake of copying, which is questionable.

More??

[druid]

Well I am a fan of toms of all sizes....I was using what I would call a fusion set up with a pic snare, 20" BD, 10,12 rack toms and 14",15" Floor toms on a tripod. That is my old setup.These tomes were in power sizes

My new set up include three floor toms ( w legs) 14",16",18"....rack toms 8"10" & 12"but I think I like the varience in pitch down low as much as in the higher registers. I alos have two bass drums 20" and 22"...which has a varience in pitch between them but not enough to notice when you play faster figures....the new set has the F.A.S.T. sizes which I think I really like more....

Any way I have never been a fan of the 15" or 16" rack Tom....it just looks like a Floor tom airborne to me...Although I know people like Dave Grohl have used them for Power. It is just not my thing asthetically or sound wise. I think the type of music you are playing lends itself to what you ultimately choose also.

[gdawson44]

If I have to do two floor toms, one goes on the same side as my hi-hat. I don't care much for two floor toms.

[Just Drums]

aw just do what i do:

3 rack toms and 2 floor toms :D

Agreed. The perfect set up. =)

We like big deep FTs. Things that go "boom".

[bonzolead]

Why do we love floor tom so is because you can swat them with more force,you can put a drink on them LOL,and if you lean on them when you're behind the kit to say something to your bandmates and it won't. move on you like a suspended tom would,and I think there is a visual aspect as well.Floor-Toms are just cool.

Bonzolead

[parser]

Because (for me) doing simple rudiments between a 16" and 18" sound like a stampeed (especially in a mic'd live situation). And who doesn't like being run over by lots of large animals?

[k3ng]

Because they're big and they go Boom.

Actually I love my 1 rack 2 floor setup now. It just feels natural to be doing so.

I'd eventually love to have 3 rack and 2 floors... no money now...

[drummerchick435]

I have a 2 rack 1 floor set up that works for me. I'm eventually going to get a 3 rack 2 floor set up so I'll have plenty of options. I've also been curious as to why people have two snares. Isn't one enough?

[groovemaster_flex]

I play two racks, two floors =] So I guess I'm somewhere in the middle?
Iunno, I just find two floors more comfortable to play on.
Two racks on the left, two floors on the right.
=]

[CHOPS36]

I have 3 racks - 8,10,12 and 2 floors on legs (not mounted) a 14 and 16. Having two floor toms for me gives my drums a more resolute sound, meaning that when I roll from toms 8-14, the 14 to me just does not have that resolving note/tone. When doing a tom ride on the 14 floor in an eighth note pattern, I hit the 16 floor on beats two and four to make my snare sound fatter. My snare is tight/high pitched. Plus, when you need that exclamation (!) on a rhythm or a phrase in a particular song, two floors is the only way to go. Bottom line is that it truly depends on your situation. Are you playing in one group? two groups that are different from each other? Each situation may require a different set-up or approach to you drum-kit to compliment the music you are playing. The set up that I have now allows me to be flexible. For a private party scenario, I can easily downsize my rig to accommodate space and not to overkill the private party function. But, playing a live gig at a club where I can stretch out a little, it all comes with me!!

Hope this helps you.

[Southpaw]

I currently play 3 up 2 down (10x8, 12x9 and 14x10 rack... 16x16 and 18x16 floors). I only recently added the two smallest rack toms after joining a cover band that plays everything from top 40 pop to 70's classic rock to 90's post-grunge alt-rock. I found that my 14-16-18 configuration was a bit limiting for such a diverse range of music.

As to why I love the floor toms? I guess it comes down to a personal affinity for the powerful gut-punch of bigger drums. My bass is 24x18 and my snare is 14x8, so I tend toward the big boom in areas other than toms. The bass drum may be the heart and the snare the voice... but the floor toms are, to me, the real soul of the set.

[Goody602]

I play the one rack two floor and for me it's more about the ride cymbal placement than the tom placement. I love having my ride right in front of me and at the height I have it as I use it as a crash and a ride. This is how I've played since the beginning so it feels weird when I'm on a standard five piece, I almost never use that second rack tom.

And I will admit, I am a fan of the look as well. It's classic. Always will be.

[Miggle]

I have two racks, one floor (and another floor which I haven't setup yet).

The two racks does feel somewhat awkward, or rather, the ride cymbal placing feels awkward since it should be where the 2nd rack tom is. I'm saving up so I could move one tom on the cymbal stand at my left side.

Love floor toms, as someone already said... you could place your drink, drumkey, sticks on it. If I could sit on it, i'd use it as my throne.

[harryconway]

I like big drums. A 14 or 15 inch rack. 16 and 18 inch floors. Even when I was playing double kicks, I ran just 1 rack between the 2 kicks. When I ran a battery of smaller toms, I put them left of the hi-hat. I've always kept to the 1 rack, 2 floor design. It's worked for me, for 25+ years. I like my ride cymbal to the right and low, low as it'll go and not hit the kick and/or rack. Maybe because I started on a 4 piece kit and adding another floor is a no brainer. I've played with 2, 3, and 4 toms in front. It's amusing for a while, but I always go back to 1 rack and 2 floors.

[pdp 9091]

I run a 1 rack and 1 floor tome set up usually. (14" rack on snare stand, 16" floor). But these bigger toms cause a slight problem when im only slamming a 22" kick. Thats why I want to get at least a 24 to put under there to up the depth of the sound of my kit.

[Tama Player]

I play 6 mounted toms, 8"x4" 10"x6" 12"x8" 14"x10" 15"x11" 16"x12"
2 Floor Toms 18"x14" 20"x16"
I have two double kicks, 24's, it gives it that good "thump" sound. I LOVE having two floor toms, it gives you more of a dynamic range and gives you 2 options for playing a low sound with your sticks. You can do so many things with two floor toms. Gives you more "options"

Peace
AGR

[maddrummr]

Well for the style of music that i prefer to play, the lower sound works better.
After Christmas i will have 10`` 12`` up on the rack 14`` 16`` on the floor. But im probably just going to move the 12 where the 10 is and hang the 10 off the stand because i like having the lower toms more availiable. Just because i want the low tone. So really most people just like them big and a 16 inch rack tom (above the bass drum) is crazy.
thats just my 2 cents

[rendezvous_drummer]

Cause the sound is orgasmic..

[bobie2000]

the reason i have two floor toms is that i played a kit with the two rack, two floor set up, and then found that when doing fills on my kit, one floor tom wasnt enoguh, so now i have two rack, two floor

i did try the one rack, two floor set up but didnt really like iut, i loved having the ride in nice and close, but it wasnt enugh drums for me, ive also tried having my toms on a stand and having my snare in the centre of them, but it just didnt work for me

im also going to be getting a new 8x10 tom as well soon so ill see how the 3 rack, two floor set up oes for me, ive played that set up before, and loved it

[Mapex589]

2 up 2 down for me!! I love my 16" floor tom....why? BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!! I love the sound!!

[KzSgDrummer]

Also 2 up 2 down (10, 12, 14, 16). But I think the question is a bit misguided.. the pitch of the drum is what matters, not where that 14" drum tuned to an F# is located. Having said that, I like to have my two floor toms tuned as low as they'll go while still having a little bit of resonance, and have the mounted toms tuned at wider intervals to make up for the low spacing.. for instance my toms are tuned to, from 10 to 16: F, Bb, Eb, and a super boomy low B natural or Bb, forget which.

I guess to wrap up this rambling, I like two of my toms to be for "booming" and the higher two for "singing."

[MagnZ]

Yeah me to... 2 up and 2 down. 10,12,14,16.
Love the eksploding sound and when you can feel the hit with your feet..

[matt rodriguez]

i actually just re-did my setup. 1 tom up and 2 down, and im really liking it. easier access? i dunno. easier for grooves? sure. i just think its more comfortable, personally

[Gretschdrummer]

1 up 2 down. i feel that i have more freedom with my fills and also more availibility of the toms with two on the floor. plus having two toms mounted always looked and felt really weird to me. i had to set the ride to high or to much to the right. so i have been playing 1 up 2 down.

Merry Christmas

[Skitch]

aw just do what i do:

3 rack toms and 2 floor toms :D

Or do what I do:

All rack toms.

Mike

http://www.mikemccraw.com
http://www.dominoretroplate.com


http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=drummermikemccraw

[Skitch]

I currently play 3 up 2 down (10x8, 12x9 and 14x10 rack... 16x16 and 18x16 floors). I only recently added the two smallest rack toms after joining a cover band that plays everything from top 40 pop to 70's classic rock to 90's post-grunge alt-rock. I found that my 14-16-18 configuration was a bit limiting for such a diverse range of music.



Yeah, having all of the styles and eras covered is a big deal. I usually use at least two rack toms and don't feel awkward about it one bit! As far as the Buddy Rich/John Bonham thing goes, Vinnie Colaiuta prefers two rack toms, so what does this comparison or how Mr. Famous drummer does it even matter?


Mike

http://www.mikemccraw.com
http://www.dominoretroplate.com


http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=drummermikemccraw

[khanedeliac]

As far as the Buddy Rich/John Bonham thing goes, Vinnie Colaiuta prefers two rack toms, so what does this comparison or how Mr. Famous drummer does it even matter?
Mike


That's what I was getting at in my last post on this thread; a famous drummer's setup can be an inspiration, sure; but I feel it should'nt be the sole reason one chooses to use that setup.
I think I would have to agree with what seems to be the main reason people choose the 1 up 2 down setup : The Ride position...I love being able to crash it, get on top of it if I want to use the bell and also reach it with my left hand quite easily.
The other reason....that "orgasmic" sound Rendezvous_Drummer mentioned....can't argue with that!

Happy Holidays
Saif

[gmrakich]

Floor toms bring the thunder. I kit I own has five floors, a 15, 3-16s, and an 18. That and two kicks will rattle the glasses in any bar. I don't use that kit that much...you can guess why : ^ P but I like to have two floors with me at all times. One makes a great drink table if necessary.

[Skitch]

Floor toms bring the thunder. I kit I own has five floors, a 15, 3-16s, and an 18. That and two kicks will rattle the glasses in any bar. I don't use that kit that much...you can guess why : ^ P but I like to have two floors with me at all times. One makes a great drink table if necessary.

Just wondering if there are any drummers here who use the 18x20" (depth x diameter) floor tom?

Mike

http://www.mikemccraw.com
http://www.dominoretroplate.com


http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=drummermikemccraw

[somedrummer]

I will soon use a 5-up 4-down setup. I just like the versatility it offers me. When I receive my 18" floor tom, I will be able to use Bonham's tom sizes, or I can also use smaller toms for lighter gigs. I guess I just like toms in general. They are what really make your kit "your kit". Everybody has a Snare and Bass, but it's what else you have that makes it your setup. They're just fun.

[Steady Freddy]

During the past year and a half I've tried several configurations. I started with two up and two down. Sometimes two up and one down.

Then I bought an 8 inch and ran three up and one or two down. The liitle 8 incher was really getting lost in the bands mix so I'm back to two up and two down. 10,12,14, and 16.

I have an extra 14 that I might try running where the 8 inch went. Then it would be, 14, 10, 12, 14, and 16.

It's fun playing around with this stuff and it forces you to modify your fills. Not a bad thing.

[jazzkidding]

[QUOTE=Goody602;253507]I play the one rack two floor and for me it's more about the ride cymbal placement than the tom placement.

BINGO!

[basscase]

I have two up and two down, but the wierd part is I have a 16 floor tom and a 10 incher behind it instead of a bigger floor tom on the floor. I love the contrast between the 10 and 16 right next to each other. A larger second floor tom makes me twist too far to reach it and is just not comfortable. The two up are off center to the kick so I can get a ride in up close and I didnt like the 10 incher up too because I have to move my hats back too far to accomidate it, so I put it on the floor next to the 16.

[KarlCrafton]

I like 1 up 2 down.

I have the rear ft out more, so my hand just moves over so my stick lands in the middle of the drum.
It's is not directly in line with the first drum, which I believe is a main cause of people NOT liking 2 floors---the placement is just wrong.
mine isn't out as far as Steve Smith's, but it's where I can comfortably roll down or up, and have my hand land in the center.
Placement is easier with legs than drums on a stand I've found.

I also use a ft on the hat side, which is great for fills, hand to hand, and lower, deeper sounding fills.

My usual set up is 1 up and 3 down.

I have also run 2 floor on both sides and that's really cool, and fun to play.

The sound of hitting two floor toms at the same time is great too.....

[Deathmetalconga]

People love the sound of deep drums, even if they don't want to admit it, and floor toms are usually square sizes. I play a set of square-size drums - imagine a set of scaled-down floor toms.

[Strangelove]

Because they sound like rolling thunder, or at least mine do. I use Emperors/G-Pluses for batter resos and tune them pretty high with equal tuning on both heads and plenty of moon gel. They will shake your rib cage.

[Ainulindale]

nothing better than a bunch of deep toms thundering away, the 16"x16" floor tom is just so good for big, powerful accents, fills and grooves... it's just fun bringing the thunder every once in a while!