Legs or Hanging?

[Budiesel]

I think I decided on what sizes of floor toms I'm going to get. (depth x diameter) 12 x 14 and 14 x 16. If I am going to get a rack, should i throw these on there, or should i get the legs for them? Just want to know what you guys think.

[harryconway]

I prefer my floor toms with legs. That way they function and depend on no other part of the kit to do what they do.

[Big_Philly]

I 2nd that. It's ok to hang smal(ler) toms on a rack or on a tom stand connected to your bassdrum, but the larger the tom gets, the more violent it's vibrations will be. And in that case, if the tom is not properly isolated from its suspension (e.g. the bassdrum or a cymbal stand), striking it will set more than just the tom in motion.

[gmrakich]

I have kits that have both and there are pros and cos for both. I have noticed that when I am playing a kit with 5 or more toms I like the placement options I have with flying vs. grounded. If I am going the Ringo/Bonham route, it has to be grounded.

[emmerson]

legs, the word floor tom says it all.

[MadJazz]

All this talk about toms wobbling is nonsense. It's either proclaimed by people who never had suspended toms OR how suspended them on a weak tom stand or clamp OR who beat like mad. Never had any problems with toms moving.

[Ironcobra]

i say try it out on the rack, you might be able to get a better position and same a bit of floor space, and if it dosn't work out, you still have the floor option

[Pukeboy]

legs look nicer! :-)

[d.c.drummer]

I find it fine either way. Legs means it can stand alone whic is good. No legs means it cant stand alone which can get annoying, but you can place them anywhere. Even above your head. If you feel that you'll never have to do that, get the floor toms. If you know for sure they will allways be on the floor, its the obvious decision.

[sticksnstonesrus]

Rack suspended. If you have a wobbling problem than your playing too hard for the mount. I've got mine mounted on a PDP rack, with memory lock, with an omni-ball style stem. Stays tight, doesn't wobble, and sounds great.

Andy

[drumbandit]

surely you could get floor toms on the floor, then if you don't like it then you can get a clamp and attach the tom through the hole where the leg goes through. best of both.
tom

[Deathmetalconga]

I like my floor tom suspended. It makes for a cleaner appearance and I have the acoustical advantages of suspension mounting. The same stand that holds my floor tom also holds a rack tom and four cymbals, so suspension economizes floor space and hardware (if you do it with that goal in mind, at least).

With suspension, you can also get steeper angles on the floor tom. I have my floor tom angled steeper than what legs would allow, thus allowing the angle of my floor tom to match the angles of my rack toms, making a seamless transition. (see how I do this at http://www.drummerworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18719). I should add my 14-inch "suspended floor tom" drum is made of solid-shell, half-inch-thick ironwood and weighs as much as a plywood 18-incher. Wobbling is not a problem at all. Of course, I use DW9000 series hardware.

To me, toms are toms and if you use suspension mounting, there is no need to distinguish between them as floor vs. rack.

[Jusstickinaround]

I like my floor tom suspended. It makes for a cleaner appearance and I have the acoustical advantages of suspension mounting. The same stand that holds my floor tom also holds a rack tom and four cymbals, so suspension economizes floor space and hardware (if you do it with that goal in mind, at least).

With suspension, you can also get steeper angles on the floor tom. I have my floor tom angled steeper than what legs would allow, thus allowing the angle of my floor tom to match the angles of my rack toms, making a seamless transition. (see how I do this at http://www.drummerworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18719). I should add my 14-inch "suspended floor tom" drum is made of solid-shell, half-inch-thick ironwood and weighs as much as a plywood 18-incher. Wobbling is not a problem at all. Of course, I use DW9000 series hardware.

To me, toms are toms and if you use suspension mounting, there is no need to distinguish between them as floor vs. rack.
Nice kit, but the ways those toms are angled looks more like just more hanging toms and not floor toms. It looks very uncomfortable to me. Legs on the floor tom let you adjust that tom individually without having to mess with cymbals or what ever else might be on that stand the floor tom is mounted to.

[Ozzy Biz]

Nice kit, but the ways those toms are angled looks more like just more hanging toms and not floor toms. It looks very uncomfortable to me. Legs on the floor tom let you adjust that tom individually without having to mess with cymbals or what ever else might be on that stand the floor tom is mounted to.

Gotta remember though, DMC plays open so that changes things a bit as far as the layout of his setup goes

[Deathmetalconga]

Nice kit, but the ways those toms are angled looks more like just more hanging toms and not floor toms. It looks very uncomfortable to me. Legs on the floor tom let you adjust that tom individually without having to mess with cymbals or what ever else might be on that stand the floor tom is mounted to.

Yes, as Ozzy Biz points out, I play open, so this kit layout would seem unusual to most people, especially the hihat being so close to the snare.

You are right, the largest tom looks more like a hanging tom - and that's the whole point. It has the same angle as the top three toms, continuing their continuity and descent. Nothing could be more comfortable, I assure you! If I had a fifth drum I would mount it in the same way.

True, legs make a drum easier to adjust independently. On the other hand, once I figured out the ideal location for me, I haven't changed the positions of anything since then. Ease of adjustment is an unneeded option in this configuration, but height and angle are very much needed. DW has ingenious memory clamps so the drum goes on the tom mount at the exact correct angle.

[Mendozart]

This has definitely been debated before and I really think it's just a personal preference. I played my 83' Tama Superstars for 23 years, with floor toms, and when I upgraded to DW everything was suspended. I didn't like it, but it's probably because I was use to floor toms. I ordered the leg kit and now I'm a happy camper (drummer).
http://www.drummerworld.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=10355&d=1170048266

[Jusstickinaround]

Yes, as Ozzy Biz points out, I play open, so this kit layout would seem unusual to most people, especially the hihat being so close to the snare.

You are right, the largest tom looks more like a hanging tom - and that's the whole point. It has the same angle as the top three toms, continuing their continuity and descent. Nothing could be more comfortable, I assure you! If I had a fifth drum I would mount it in the same way.

True, legs make a drum easier to adjust independently. On the other hand, once I figured out the ideal location for me, I haven't changed the positions of anything since then. Ease of adjustment is an unneeded option in this configuration, but height and angle are very much needed. DW has ingenious memory clamps so the drum goes on the tom mount at the exact correct angle.
I was refering more to how far the last tom is, it's looks like you would have a difficult time hitting it with your left hand, but whatever works for you. Is that an 18" kick? If so,what kind of riser are you using? Nice kit..

[KLittle123]

legs, the word floor tom says it all.


So true, I'd go with legs so that if you play heavy it doesn't bounce around.

[Skitch]

How about legs and hanging. Knid of like a belt and suspenders; that way if one fails, you have a back-up!


Mike

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

http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=drummermikemccraw
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=78564594

[Deathmetalconga]

I was refering more to how far the last tom is, it's looks like you would have a difficult time hitting it with your left hand, but whatever works for you. Is that an 18" kick? If so,what kind of riser are you using? Nice kit..

That's the thing about drum sets: More than any other instrument, they are customizable to the body. With other instruments, there is little you can do to change it to suit you. The piano is the least flexible, while most string instruments are made in left-hand setups. But other than that, it's pretty rigid.

But there are trade offs. You are observant is noticing it would be harder for me to hit the floor tom with the left hand. I'm used to it now, but a different configuration could make it easier. But that would make something else harder - it's all just the trade-offs you're willing to make.

Thanks for noticing the riser. Yes, that's an 18-inch kick, but because of the ironwood, it sounds like 22 inches. Spirit solid shells have the sound of large drums and and the weight of large drums, but tend to be smaller. I made the bass drum cradle myself because I couldn't find anything I liked. See it at http://www.drummerworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=23501 and it's the second set of photos on the first page.

[Jusstickinaround]

This is the riser that came with my drums.

[Jusstickinaround]

New beater I picked up a few days ago.

[pcmckay]

I prefer the toms with legs. I never have played a kit with suspended floor toms that didn't wobble up and down. And those kits were a DW, Pearl and a Yamaha all with pretty heavy hardware. But then again I can play really hard. That is what I like about floor toms with legs, they are very solid when you hit them, and don't jump up and down.

[catlover]

With 14x12 and 16x14, go with rack toms !
With legs, most of sustain and low end is lost.
Try this : ask someone to hold your tom without the legs touching the floor, and hit.
Then, put the legs back on the floor, you will notice how much it cuts the sound !
Large suspended toms don't wobble much more than small ones.

[MadJazz]

With 14x12 and 16x14, go with rack toms !
With legs, most of sustain and low end is lost.
Try this : ask someone to hold your tom without the legs touching the floor, and hit.
Then, put the legs back on the floor, you will notice how much it cuts the sound !
Large suspended toms don't wobble much more than small ones.

Very true. Unless you go with square sizes, I'd suspend them.

[Deathmetalconga]

With 14x12 and 16x14, go with rack toms !
With legs, most of sustain and low end is lost.
Try this : ask someone to hold your tom without the legs touching the floor, and hit.
Then, put the legs back on the floor, you will notice how much it cuts the sound !
Large suspended toms don't wobble much more than small ones.

I agree. I have a very heavy suspended floor tom and it doesn't wobble much - but then I use a DW9000 series stand and Gauger mounts. The benefits of suspension are worth it.

[cjl71178]

If you are trying to get a more open sound and low end out of your floor toms, I'd go with floor tom suspension mounts. When I was buying my Ludwig maple kit, I debated on either going with rack suspension or just leg mounts. I came across the floor tom suspension mounts and I'm glad I chose that route. The floor tom mounts are more expensive than the rack tom type, but I think they are worth it. I bought mine from Pacific percussion, but now they don't offer them anymore. However, you can find them on www.gaugerpercussion.com/dynamount.html.

[macmarkus]

made by gauger? with luddie-legs and -mounts?

[Class A Drummer]

I say legs definitley. Much easier to move around to find your perfect spot.

[cjl71178]

sorry, i had to revise my post...i hit the "enter" button too quick...

[Jusstickinaround]

With 14x12 and 16x14, go with rack toms !
With legs, most of sustain and low end is lost.
Try this : ask someone to hold your tom without the legs touching the floor, and hit.
Then, put the legs back on the floor, you will notice how much it cuts the sound !
Large suspended toms don't wobble much more than small ones.

I just tried that, and guess what? The floor tom sounded better WITH the legs, let me repeat, WITH the legs. It's like the age old arguement about rims or no rims, only this really isn't the same because the drum is bigger and will sustain longer no matter how you mount it. I'll keep my legs, thank you, suspended floor toms look cheesy anyway.

[macmarkus]

@ cjl71178 (difficult to remember, your nick) ;-)

thanks for your "edit" ... i think i'll go with gauger, too.
looks very good.


@ jusstickinaround

cheesy? say it to mr john good ... ;-)
a 14"x11" on legs will look more cheesy, i believe. :-P

[Deathmetalconga]

I just tried that, and guess what? The floor tom sounded better WITH the legs, let me repeat, WITH the legs. It's like the age old arguement about rims or no rims, only this really isn't the same because the drum is bigger and will sustain longer no matter how you mount it. I'll keep my legs, thank you, suspended floor toms look cheesy anyway.

Cheesy means " inferior or cheap; chintzy." Given that suspending the drum is more expensive and spares the shell from penetrations, I'd say legs have the greater potential to be cheesy. But anything can be cheesy if done wrong.

macmarkus, I have Gauger mounts on my kit because I wanted the best. The aluminum rims are tempered, making them sonically inert and unable to transmit sound. They are expensive, but you will not be disappointed. At first I was going to go with the Gauger Dyna-Mount, pictured above, but I just like the idea of less stuff touching the ground and the "floating" appearance of suspended toms. I also like economizing hardware and the same stand that holds my floor tom also holds a rack tom, a crash, two splashes and a China.

I do think it is odd, however, when people suspend all their toms, then bolt a 30-pound mass of drums and hardware directly to the top of their bass drum.

[Jusstickinaround]

Cheesy means " inferior or cheap; chintzy." Given that suspending the drum is more expensive and spares the shell from penetrations, I'd say legs have the greater potential to be cheesy. But anything can be cheesy if done wrong.

macmarkus, I have Gauger mounts on my kit because I wanted the best. The aluminum rims are tempered, making them sonically inert and unable to transmit sound. They are expensive, but you will not be disappointed. At first I was going to go with the Gauger Dyna-Mount, pictured above, but I just like the idea of less stuff touching the ground and the "floating" appearance of suspended toms. I also like economizing hardware and the same stand that holds my floor tom also holds a rack tom, a crash, two splashes and a China.

I do think it is odd, however, when people suspend all their toms, then bolt a 30-pound mass of drums and hardware directly to the top of their bass drum.
Why would suspended floor toms be more expensive than floor toms with legs? For one thing if you're leaving off legs it seems to me the tom would be less expensive. Regardless, to me suspended floor toms do look less expensive (cheesy), as well as just kinda goofy just hanging there on a cymbal stand or whatever you suspend it on.

[Deathmetalconga]

Why would suspended floor toms be more expensive than floor toms with legs? For one thing if you're leaving off legs it seems to me the tom would be less expensive. Regardless, to me suspended floor toms do look less expensive (cheesy), as well as just kinda goofy just hanging there on a cymbal stand or whatever you suspend it on.

It's not the tom itself that's more or less expensive - it's the mounting method. If you go with a top-quality sytem like Gauger, you'll pay for it. Unless you're getting the Dynamount, floor systems are pretty inexpensive - three metal rods and three rod holders. If you want to bore another six holes in your drums for tom legs, well go ahead but my drums will remain with the fewest number of holes possible. My floor tom cost as much as some drum sets so I don't want to see it get any more holes than it must.

One of the things I like the most about suspension is the clean look to it. Fewer legs = less floor clutter and a neater, cleaner, more professional appearance.

[Jusstickinaround]

It's not the tom itself that's more or less expensive - it's the mounting method. If you go with a top-quality sytem like Gauger, you'll pay for it. Unless you're getting the Dynamount, floor systems are pretty inexpensive - three metal rods and three rod holders. If you want to bore another six holes in your drums for tom legs, well go ahead but my drums will remain with the fewest number of holes possible. My floor tom cost as much as some drum sets so I don't want to see it get any more holes than it must.

One of the things I like the most about suspension is the clean look to it. Fewer legs = less floor clutter and a neater, cleaner, more professional appearance.

I looked at your kit again, and with those huge stands your using to hold all your toms and cymbals it hardly looks uncluttered. I have flat based cymbal stands because I don't mount my toms on stands and you hardly notice them, plus they are much lighter and don't take up much room. I think the floor tom legs look cool and make for easier postioning.

[hauk]

If you are trying to get a more open sound and low end out of your floor toms, I'd go with floor tom suspension mounts. When I was buying my Ludwig maple kit, I debated on either going with rack suspension or just leg mounts. I came across the floor tom suspension mounts and I'm glad I chose that route. The floor tom mounts are more expensive than the rack tom type, but I think they are worth it. I bought mine from Pacific percussion, but now they don't offer them anymore. However, you can find them on www.gaugerpercussion.com/dynamount.html.

true - if you like suspension and legs, this is the best of both worlds

personally, i'd go with regular legs (not suspension legs)

[macmarkus]

thanks for your post* ... but here in germany aren't many shops where i can get the gauger stuff.
maybe i order directly in the states. but our customs is like a vampyre. ;-)



* and now i know the right meaning of "cheesy". ;-)

[Deathmetalconga]

I looked at your kit again, and with those huge stands your using to hold all your toms and cymbals it hardly looks uncluttered. I have flat based cymbal stands because I don't mount my toms on stands and you hardly notice them, plus they are much lighter and don't take up much room. I think the floor tom legs look cool and make for easier postioning.

Wow, you have less than half the stuff I do, but twice the stands. Amazing.

In fact, I have as much stuff mounted on one stand - two toms and four cymbals - as you have mounted on your whole set. But I have carefully planned it so that my three stands hold my four toms, eight cymbals and two percussion bells. I don't know of any other set on this board that economizes stands as well as mine, but please prove me wrong and show me one. Granted, these are DW9000s, but I'd rather have a few heavy stands than the clutter of a bunch of tom legs and dinky stands (Of course, that's not counting the foot-controlled talking drum which I modified by adding floor tom holders and fabricating my own legs and the Hang drum, but I don't always take these two items out with me.)

So, back to the original question of the post: My recommendation is to go with suspension and avoid drilling holes in your precious drums whenever you can (well, precious to some people). But obviously I'm biased. I like suspension so much, I even ordered my bass drum without spurs and made my own stands that only touch the hoops. On occasion, however, I have modified a drum for floor standing and made my own hardware for it, so I see it from both angles.

[Skitch]

I prefer the toms with legs. I never have played a kit with suspended floor toms that didn't wobble up and down. And those kits were a DW, Pearl and a Yamaha all with pretty heavy hardware. But then again I can play really hard. That is what I like about floor toms with legs, they are very solid when you hit them, and don't jump up and down.

I have never had this problem and I don't own a floor tom!

Mike

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

http://www.youtube.com/drummermikemccraw
http://www.myspace.com/drummermikemccraw

[Mikecore]

I prefer legs for one simple reason:

Some bar owners wouldn't know how to build a drum riser that actually works if their lives depended on it, and tom legs help me keep the overall "footprint" of the kit as small as possible for when such occasion arise.

[they_call_me_diesel]

I like legs for a couple of reasons: 1. You get more versatility out of your set. You can move the floor tom individually... if it was mounted on a stand, the cymbal would move too... unless you took like 5 extra minutes getting the cymbal back to where it was. 2. It helps me position my ride cymbal better. 3. Quicker set-up time at a show.

[Jay.B.]

I don't know of any other set on this board that economizes stands as well as mine, but please prove me wrong and show me one.

Can't exactly show you yet as I have no specific pics to prove, but I have 3 mounted toms (10,12 & 16) and 5 cymbals all mounted on 2 stands.

I used to use 4 stands for the same job, but needed to cut down on space, weight and set-up time, works a treat for me :-)

Will try and get a photo on Wednesday night to show...

So yeah I'd say go with hanging.

[Jusstickinaround]

Wow, you have less than half the stuff I do, but twice the stands. Amazing.

In fact, I have as much stuff mounted on one stand - two toms and four cymbals - as you have mounted on your whole set. But I have carefully planned it so that my three stands hold my four toms, eight cymbals and two percussion bells. I don't know of any other set on this board that economizes stands as well as mine, but please prove me wrong and show me one. Granted, these are DW9000s, but I'd rather have a few heavy stands than the clutter of a bunch of tom legs and dinky stands (Of course, that's not counting the foot-controlled talking drum which I modified by adding floor tom holders and fabricating my own legs and the Hang drum, but I don't always take these two items out with me.)

So, back to the original question of the post: My recommendation is to go with suspension and avoid drilling holes in your precious drums whenever you can (well, precious to some people). But obviously I'm biased. I like suspension so much, I even ordered my bass drum without spurs and made my own stands that only touch the hoops. On occasion, however, I have modified a drum for floor standing and made my own hardware for it, so I see it from both angles.

I counted three huge stands on your kit, I have three flat based stands for three cymbals. I have a hi-hat stand and a snare stand. They are light but sturdy, and I'll bet these little babies sound just as good in a club as your ironhorse, sorry, wood drums. Another thing if you're so worried about drilling a few holes why not get one of those kits from England with no lugs and absolutely no personality. Geez louise, it's wood, a few holes isn't gonna alter the sound enough to make a bit of difference, especially when you're gigging.

[Deathmetalconga]

I counted three huge stands on your kit, I have three flat based stands for three cymbals. I have a hi-hat stand and a snare stand. They are light but sturdy, and I'll bet these little babies sound just as good in a club as your ironhorse, sorry, wood drums. Another thing if you're so worried about drilling a few holes why not get one of those kits from England with no lugs and absolutely no personality. Geez louise, it's wood, a few holes isn't gonna alter the sound enough to make a bit of difference, especially when you're gigging.

Well, technically, it's not wood, it's a composite called plywood, although it's usually exquistely well made of top-quality materials. But for 99 percent of mass market drums, a fairly large portion of the shell by weight is glue, depending on the number of plies. Nobody likes to talk about glue - manufacturers never, ever mention it - because glue dampens sound and reduces density, but that is not necessarily a bad thing. In any case, I know after playing a solid shell set I could never go back to plywood.

Anyway, you have a vintage-style set. For that kind of set, suspended toms would look odd, as would hanging a bunch of stuff off gigantic weapons-grade stands like I do. Part of the vintage look is in the hardware. What you have complements your set well, especially the flat base stands. What I have complements my set well because legs wouldn't give me the height or angle I'm accustomed to and I have no need to adjust anything. For the kind of set I have and what I do with it, suspension works best (for the kind of set I have and what I do with it).

[Deathmetalconga]

Can't exactly show you yet as I have no specific pics to prove, but I have 3 mounted toms (10,12 & 16) and 5 cymbals all mounted on 2 stands.

I used to use 4 stands for the same job, but needed to cut down on space, weight and set-up time, works a treat for me :-)

Will try and get a photo on Wednesday night to show...

So yeah I'd say go with hanging.

Sounds like a good setup. I'd like to check out how you've economized and consolidated stands. I see silly stuff like a double-braced weighted boom stand to hold a six-inch splash cymbal, then they complain about all the gear they have to carry. With some planning and creativity, you can really put your hardware to work and use less of it.

I even chopped the legs off my hihat stand and now I clamp it to my ride cymbal stand (I play open, ride and hats on the left).

[Drumowner]

I like legs because they make good weapons in crappy bars...that being said.
I now have a court order to only use hanging toms.





I promise this was funny when I was writting it......maybe.

[Budiesel]

Thanks for everybodies replies. I think I decided to go with legs, but keep the comments coming! : )

[Jay.B.]

Sounds like a good setup. I'd like to check out how you've economized and consolidated stands. I see silly stuff like a double-braced weighted boom stand to hold a six-inch splash cymbal, then they complain about all the gear they have to carry. With some planning and creativity, you can really put your hardware to work and use less of it.

I even chopped the legs off my hihat stand and now I clamp it to my ride cymbal stand (I play open, ride and hats on the left).

Here you go dude, said I'd get a couple of pics...

One stand has the 16"tom, 18" china and 20" ride mounted on it, the 17" crash is off the bass drum, and the other stand holds 10" & 12" toms, 16" crash and 12" mini china, and I'm more than happy with the stability of the setup, considering getting a splash, and mounting the cymbal arm off the hi-hat stand.

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h271/jayb_72/Stand1.jpg

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h271/jayb_72/Stand2.jpg

[Deathmetalconga]

Here you go dude, said I'd get a couple of pics...

One stand has the 16"tom, 18" china and 20" ride mounted on it, the 17" crash is off the bass drum, and the other stand holds 10" & 12" toms, 16" crash and 12" mini china, and I'm more than happy with the stability of the setup, considering getting a splash, and mounting the cymbal arm off the hi-hat stand.


Very economical! You have even more stuff than me and fewer stands.

I'd like to see a contest for the most stuff on the fewest stands. So far you're winning!