16x16 vs 16x14 Floor Tom For Current Kit Setup

[delta]

Hello all, I'm putting together a dream kit (at least for me) from the Yamaha Absolute Maple Series (except the snare). I've picked out the sizes for the rest of my kit:

For cymbals I already have:
---------------
14in Zildjian A Custom Master Sound Hi-hats
18in Zildjian A Thin Crash
20in Zildjian K Custom Dark Ride
15in Zildjian A Custom Fast Crash
10in Sabian Evolution Splash

Drums
---------------
22x16 - bass drum
12x9 - rack tom
13x10 - rack tom (still debating if I want this one now)
14x5 - Brass Supraphonic or 14x6.5 Black Beauty Snare (*drool*)
? - Floor Tom???


Some of my favorite drummers use either 24x14 bass + 16x16 floor or 22x14 bass + 16x14 floor. It probably doesn't matter too much, I'm being nitpicky. The floor tom is the last piece I'm having trouble deciding on and just seeing what other's opinions are... I would like the kit to be pretty versatile, but I guess geared towards mostly for rock-type is all I can say. I don't think I could make the kit fly in a jazz setting. Thanks!

[harryconway]

I prefer 16x16 floor toms myself. Just me being "old school" maybe. 14x14, 16x16, 18x16.

[KLittle123]

I think it's your preference, check out other people's kits with size drums. I always had the "bigger is better" attitude and I have a 16" and 18" floor tom but when i played my friends kit which is a fusion kit with a 14" floor tom I fell in love. I thought it was amazing. So i'm going to shrink down here soon when I get the money.

[Moldy]

Just a heads up, square sizes (14x14, etc) will usually give you a boing sound unless you tune them into a sweet spot (don't ask me how, I've never accomplished it). Havng a 16" diameter with a shallower depth (like 14") gives you the same pitch with a slight loss in duration but avoiding the boing sound.

[audiotech]

Just a heads up, square sizes (14x14, etc) will usually give you a boing sound unless you tune them into a sweet spot (don't ask me how, I've never accomplished it). Havng a 16" diameter with a shallower depth (like 14") gives you the same pitch with a slight loss in duration but avoiding the boing sound.

Any tom will give you a pitch bend if they're not properly tuned. Top and bottom heads should be very close to the same pitch with each head being in tune with itself. I have both the 16" x 16" floor toms on my Yamaha Maple Custom Absolute, Gretsch Renown and Pearl kits and 16" x 14" floor tom on my Tama Starclassic Bubinga kit and none of them give me any problems with pitch bend or incorrect tuning. Tuning is such an integral part of playing the drums. I had to learn to tune before my dad let me sit behind his kit. Practice make perfect.

Dennis

[ENRICO]

I have a 16x16 floor tom and the rest of my toms are reular depth. the 16x16 doesn't sound bad but it sounds very different from the other toms , I've always thougth that is because of its depth
if I would be able to choose I would choose a floor tom that blends well with my other toms .
if you have square rack toms , buy square floor toms . but if you don't , get the 16x14.

[audiotech]

I have a 16x16 floor tom and the rest of my toms are reular depth. the 16x16 doesn't sound bad but it sounds very different from the other toms , I've always thougth that is because of its depth
if I would be able to choose I would choose a floor tom that blends well with my other toms .
if you have square rack toms , buy square floor toms . but if you don't , get the 16x14.

Most companies don't even make a 12" x 12" and a lot don't make 10" x 10" rack tom, but mostly all make a 16" x 16" or 14" x 14" floor tom. None of my rack toms are square, except my 8" x 8" on my Yamaha kit. You won't find an out of place sound from any of my drums on any kit.You can hit any two toms on any one kit and they sound in harmony with one another. It's all in the tuning.

Dennis

[zambizzi]

Those two little inches can make a huge difference. I've had both and now much prefer the square depths on floor toms. I love a 16x16" and won't buy another 16x14". Not only will you get more rumble and a "deeper" sound out of the 16x16", it just feels better under the sticks, IMO.

I like my drums to sustain and those two extra inches make a big difference. If you want a faster, shorter note, go with the more shallow depth.

Also, most companies who offer their own suspension system will offer shorter floor toms without legs. If you prefer to mount your toms from a stand vs. using legs, you might also consider the shorter toms.

[MusiQmaN]

m using a 16x14 floortom with Yess mont AND Purecussion Floortom RIM kit (rim and legs kit) so I the tom is standing now and floats (and still can go back to the hanging position, not that I even think about going back)

Since it is ''floating'' on legs it has so much more sustain and low-end. And the feel is perfect to.

http://94.100.113.174/455550001-455600000/455575301-455575400/455575382_6_1k6A.jpeg

They are hard to find these days (Gauger makes them now, but only as a system without legs) so if you can find one, take it ;)

[zambizzi]

m using a 16x14 floortom with Yess mont AND Purecussion Floortom RIM kit (rim and legs kit) so I the tom is standing now and floats (and still can go back to the hanging position, not that I even think about going back)

Since it is ''floating'' on legs it has so much more sustain and low-end. And the feel is perfect to.

http://94.100.113.174/455550001-455600000/455575301-455575400/455575382_6_1k6A.jpeg

They are hard to find these days (Gauger makes them now, but only as a system without legs) so if you can find one, take it ;)

Call me crazy but...I don't feel that having floor tom legs mounted directly to the shell affects sustain or pitch in any way.

I tune up w/o the legs on and then put them on, and put the drum in place. It sounds exactly the same to the naked ear.

[MusiQmaN]

It doesn't affect the pitch that mutch, but it affects the sustain in a big way. At least at my floor.

[KarlCrafton]

Having both 14x16 and 16x16, I like the 14 depth better on my Ludwig shells (Classic Maples, and the 80's-90's Super Classics)--which has a different bearing edge than Yamaha does.

I don't think you'd "go wrong" with either, but I like the bit cleaner note from 14" depth, and it works better through a PA for me.
I also like the little quicker reaction doing multiple strokes. I'll get the same fat, beefy sound, but it get's to the "fat" a little quicker.

If it's possible, try out both sizes in the line you want because every brand shell & edge is different.
It might not make that much difference on Yamaha drums--or it might make a huge difference and one will sound more like a big tom and one a floor tom.

If you are doing mainly mic'd gigs, and some or most are in bigger venues, then I might lean toward the shorter depth because the tone is going to be cleaner, and it's going to sound plenty "big" though the PA anyway.

Good luck, and have fun putting together your kit!

[xl1]

i just cut my sonor 507 16x16 to become 16x14, and what i can heard after i cut is at 14" you can control the sound more.

and i hang the toms to the toms holder so it can gets more resonant, i'll post picture later.

[ENRICO]

I have a 16x16 and I like it , but I think the 16x14 sound better and have a better tuning range.

by the wahy , don't get the 13" tom , if you want another tom , I'd get 14" or 10" tom