Standard versus Fusion

[rritter]

This is likely for the older forum members. If you grew up playing a Standard size kit 12,13,16 how was the transition to a Fusion size kit, 10,12,14. I have a new Gretsch Renown kit ordered (back ordered) in fusion sizes 8,10,12, & 14. My current kit, a Gretsch Birch is 10,12,13, & 16. I don’t know that the smaller drums are the issue but I don’t know how well I will like the 14 floor tom. How did this transition work for you guys?

[aydee]

Shenedoah is so beautiful, and so are the Renowns.

I fit your description. I found fusion sizes to have similar dynamic responses to the standard configurations, but the sound for me is more controllable, and pehaps even warmer. ( I play Yammie maple absolutes )

I'd never played a 14 floor tom before ( 13 mounted Tama Istar), and it is one beautiful sounding drum..which I absolutely love now and could happily do without my 16 if I had to.I find the 8 tom a little odd to play, considering it feel like youre hitting bongo drums, but it sounds great.

I think you've ordered a perfect kit, which I'm sure you'll love.

[mjatkins]

I have a Yamaha recording custom kit that I bought new in the late 80's. It came as 10, 12,13, 16. I found it fine until I started using inear monitors, through the headphones I just find the 16 doesn't cut through very well. Also, I find the drums quite large as far as getting around them is concerned. I have since found matching 8 and 14 toms to make my kit 8, 10, 12, 14, and am much happier with both the sound, and the ergonomic factor.

[GRUNTERSDAD]

I just went from the Taye 12, 13, 16 to the Renown, 8, 10, 12, 14 and I have no problems. The 14 is tuned low enough for me and I love the sound of the 8 inch. Of course I comparing different brands also, so who knows. I guess if I was playing stadiums a lot I would want the larger, but since I play mainly in the Gruntersdad arena, the smaller are great. You won't be disappointed. When are yours due ?

[Norske]

I have two kits in the standard rock sizes, which I am very accustomed to, and recently purchased a Yamaha Tour Custom kit with smaller rack toms but a 16" floor tom. One thing I've always insisted on having is a 16" floor tom, but I'll tell you that a 14" can be tuned pretty low.

I really like the smaller sizes, and they have a great sound! I don't consider it an issue at all to adapt, but then again on my other kits I have 3 mounted toms, including an 8x10 on each, and I find myself going to that small tom a lot when I play with the full setup. I also use mini timbales, and if you can hit those accurately........

[PreppieNerd]

Also it's more versatile in setup - at least psychologically, because they're all 2'' apart. I have 8,10,12,14, and have set it up in many different ways, with 3 up (8,10,12) 1 down, 2 up (10, 12) 1 down (14) with the 8 to the left of my hats, and 2 up 2 down with the 8 and 10 as rack and the 12 and 14 as 'floor' toms.

[rritter]

I just went from the Taye 12, 13, 16 to the Renown, 8, 10, 12, 14 and I have no problems. The 14 is tuned low enough for me and I love the sound of the 8 inch. Of course I comparing different brands also, so who knows. I guess if I was playing stadiums a lot I would want the larger, but since I play mainly in the Gruntersdad arena, the smaller are great. You won't be disappointed. When are yours due ?

Thanks to all for your answers. It sounds like all of you have found this transition very easy. As for the delivery I just received an E. Mail from MF telling me that they are a month out minimum. My order was on the 7th so we are looking at a total of about two months. I can always order a 16x16 if needed, also a 13 if necessary. The thing is my Gretsch Catalina Birch kit has hit the road with me almost every weekend for the past three years and I love that kit. Can the Renown’s be that much better?

[Deltadrummer]

This is likely for the older forum members. If you grew up playing a Standard size kit 12,13,16 how was the transition to a Fusion size kit, 10,12,14. I have a new Gretsch Renown kit ordered (back ordered) in fusion sizes 8,10,12, & 14. My current kit, a Gretsch Birch is 10,12,13, & 16. I don’t know that the smaller drums are the issue but I don’t know how well I will like the 14 floor tom. How did this transition work for you guys?

Sounds pretty nice. I actually like the sound of the 10" and 14" toms. The 10" is the smallest you can go without losing depth/body to the tone, and the 14" is the largest you can go before you change the sound quality of the tom. It has a nice ring to it.

Larger frums never appealed to me. I never liked the sound of my 18" tom that I used to have. I was trying to tune one of those yesterday, a ddrum acrylic: the diode, They're hard to tune. If you tune it down low it sounds like a tympani. If you tune it too high, it sounds like a trash can lid. Over the years i learned to like my 16."

[rritter]

Well I just received an E. Mail informing me the Renown’s ship tomorrow. It will be fun putting together this kit, getting it tuned and ready to play. Once the drums are here I will be ordering new cases. As for my Catalina Birch kit it will stay on the road until the cases arrive and then to the practice room. The 81 Slingerland kit will be cleaned and put away in their cases for now. As for my concerns about the 14 inch tom I can always order a 16 if needed. I should see these drums Thursday or Friday. It might be Sunday before I can even open them up for inspection. We play Friday, Sat. & Monday this weekend. I hope the weather is good for the New Years Eve job (no snow), that’s big dollars and will cover the cost of the cases. Hope to have pictures soon.

[vedox1024]

Hey man, congrats on the kit. That's exciting.

It was a little weird for me to go from standard kit to fusion sizes because i wanted to play them the same way, but the 10" is definitely not a 12" and the 12" is not like a 13". This is pretty obvious, but it all depends on how you play, and I for one had to make an adjustment in my playing style. I still use a 16" past my 14" as well. Sure you could play without it... but why wouldn't you want to?

[MaT]

I have a standard kit but... everytime I play on a fusion size kit I just love it!

I love the sound! The response you get from every stroke it's amazing!

My next kit will be definitely a fusion size.

Enjoy yours man!!!

I rather add a 16" floor tom next to the 14" because I like the low sound it gives, that's the only complain.

[Trip McNealy]

My own kit at home and the band's kit are standard sized, and I hate them. Something about that 13x11 tom is just too big to be mounted above the kick and too small to be a side tom.. although i have done it on my kit just to have more drums available for now.

My next set will be more fusion-oriented.
10x8, 12x9, 14x12. 16x14. and either a gong 20x16 or floor tom 18x16 to my left.

[rendezvous_drummer]

I started out with 12,13 and 16 diameter sized toms for about a year and a bit. I bought a kit with 10,12,16 diameter sized toms a little under a year ago and the transition was the best thing that could have ever happened to me. The 13" tom is difficult to tune, the fusion sizes are a lot easier. Next kit i'm buying has 12x14x18 toms.

[drumtechdad]

I started--back in the horse-and-buggy days--on the standard rock kit as "fusion" kits hadn't been invented yet. ;-)

Now I'm fusion (8-10-12-14-16) and I'd never go back. For me, tuning is the issue, it's much easier to get even intervals between all the toms. Trying to get a decent interval between the 12 and 13 usually means choking the 12 or putting the 13 lower than it should really go.

Those who mentioned the versitality have it right, too.

[punkdrummer1]

i'd say fusion set-up's are good, mind you, Im not a huge fan of over shallow mounted floor toms (i can live with 16x13, but not 14x11). I find the 1 up 1 down set-up real comfortable (12 up, 16 down).

[tomtom]

Through the years I´ve played just about every configuration that ´s out there, from 6" toms to 18", from 18" bass drums to 26", multiple toms to one up - one down. For me a 14" floor tom is too small, somehow it never "get´s" there. The set-up I use 99% of the time is 10,13,16,22.

And a well made 13" tom is very easy to tune, just as easy as the rest.