Small bass kits (smaller than 20")

[tbmills]

Lately, I have badly been wanting a yamaha manu katche hipgig.
sizes:
16 x 16 kick
10 x 7 tom
13 x 13 floor
12 x 5 snare

Who has a small kit like this?

Does anyone have one as their main set?

Do you like em? Hate em?

Id really like to see some home pictures of these small kits, something more than the catalogue pics.
I want to know more about these sets before I buy...

Thanks alot guys!
-Taylor

[boomboomda]

I have a Sonor jungle set. 16" bass drum 10" and 13" tom.
Wonderful set, I just used it recently for an audition, and it sets up in no time.
The guys I played with that day loved the sound.
The picture is older, it has new heads now.
I bought it for $200.00 on the local craigslist.
Had to do some small mods on it, but like I said it is incredible.
I also have mesh heads for the kit in case I need a practice
set one day.

[Mr. Pasquini]

Tama Stagestar
14x18 kick
10x8
12x9
14x12 toms
14x6 Mckenzie Steambent Birch Snare
load o cymbals

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd202/MrPasquini/PICT1183.jpg
http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd202/MrPasquini/PICT1181.jpg
http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd202/MrPasquini/PICT1174.jpg
http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd202/MrPasquini/PICT1180.jpg
http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd202/MrPasquini/PICT1172.jpg

[caddywumpus]

My two-and-a-half year old son plays a First Act kit as his main kit.

16x10 kick
10x6 tom
13x10 floor tom
12x4 snare

He hasn't expressed any interest in getting a new kit, so I guess he likes it!

[Mendozart]

Tama Stagestar
14x18 kick
10x8
12x9
14x12 toms
14x6 Mckenzie Steambent Birch Snare
load o cymbals



Hey Pasquini,
That is a sweet kit you got there! Looks really comfy. Plus I'm sure that McKenzie snare sounds great.

[jay norem]

Well I play an 18" bass drum and I love it, but it's not very versatile. It has a lovely singing, resonant little punch to it, and I tune it quite high, but no self-respecting rock drummer would care for it at all. It's a small-combo jazz bass drum.

[caddywumpus]

Well I play an 18" bass drum and I love it, but it's not very versatile. It has a lovely singing, resonant little punch to it, and I tune it quite high, but no self-respecting rock drummer would care for it at all. It's a small-combo jazz bass drum.

au contraire! I have an 18" kick as well, and it works very nicely for rock gigs. Tuned low and miked up (or not), it has a powerful punch to it. Kind of a compressed studio kick sound to it. Tuned high with coated ambassadors (non-ported resonant), it has a high singing jazz voice. A great versatile drum for a "self-respecting rock/jazz/latin/funk/you name it" drummer.

[Steamer]

Kit #1 with 18" bass drum and kit #2 with 16" bass drum. No risers folks :}

Acoustic jazz heaven!

[jay norem]

au contraire! I have an 18" kick as well, and it works very nicely for rock gigs. Tuned low and miked up (or not), it has a powerful punch to it. Kind of a compressed studio kick sound to it. Tuned high with coated ambassadors (non-ported resonant), it has a high singing jazz voice. A great versatile drum for a "self-respecting rock/jazz/latin/funk/you name it" drummer.

Interesting. I stand corrected.

[Mr. Pasquini]

Well I play an 18" bass drum and I love it, but it's not very versatile. It has a lovely singing, resonant little punch to it, and I tune it quite high, but no self-respecting rock drummer would care for it at all. It's a small-combo jazz bass drum.

Seems a little rude... I play heavy metal...

[jay norem]

Seems a little rude... I play heavy metal...

No rudeness intended. My apologies. I honestly didn't know that metal drummers would want to play a bass drum that small. Again I stand corrected.
And I very much admire and respect the technique that you metal guys bring to your music.

[somedrummer]

Here's my little ol' custom build job I just finished a few months ago. It's a Keller shell kit modeled somewhat after the Hipgig, but built to my specs with hardware that I find superior to Yamaha's. Sizes are 16x16, 10x6, 13x7, and 12x5 snare (which also turned out really well). I use it as a jazz kit obviously, but the bass could easily cut it in a more funk and possibly rock context, given proper heads and tuning.

[tbmills]

hey somedrummer, if you dont mind my asking, how much did all of the cost?

[eddiehimself]

No rudeness intended. My apologies. I honestly didn't know that metal drummers would want to play a bass drum that small. Again I stand corrected.
And I very much admire and respect the technique that you metal guys bring to your music.

Tom Noonan out of 36 crazyfists plays a really tiny kit. I saw them setting it up when i went to see them and the kick looks like it must be an 18 or something. He's a really big guy too so he does look slightly weird playing such a small kit i must say ;)

[crlujan]

I've been playing a 16" bass drum as my main bass drum for almost a year now. I put it together myself using a Gretsch Catalina Birch floor tom. It's only 13" deep and it sounds fantastic!

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k266/kalujan/100_0532.jpg

I've been thinking about having Ludwig put together a 16" bass drum for me to match my bigger kit. Even though the Ludwig in only an 18", it doesn't sound as good as the 16".

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k266/kalujan/100_0275.jpg

[DaveB]

My Manu kit taken a few years ago. Still use it now.

[Mr. Pasquini]

No rudeness intended. My apologies. I honestly didn't know that metal drummers would want to play a bass drum that small. Again I stand corrected.
And I very much admire and respect the technique that you metal guys bring to your music.

You're good. Raymond Herrera plays 2 20" bass drums because they don't have much slap back and they give a good sound, I am also a big fan of 20s but for the moment I'm fine with my 18.

[tbmills]

Im trying to find a cheap 16x16 or 18x16 8-lug floor tom on ebay. Im gonna get the tom, a pearl jungle gig, and a pearl bt3 tom mount and put it on the bottom of the drum.

The hardware will cost around $40. I would love to get an old ludwig 18x16 tom for around $60 before shipping...

Anyone looking to get rid of an old floor tom?

[Deathmetalconga]

Some really cool small kits here.

All my drums are small sizes (8, 10, 12, 14 toms, 18 bass) but they are all square sizes, so they have the internal volume of larger drums. The snare is 13 by 4. Also, it seems like most kits with small sized drums are also smaller in terms of pieces, i.e., usually four pieces. I think this kit is unusual because it's a six piece, but with small sizes.

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l53/Agogobell/SKF08.jpg

[eddiehimself]

Im trying to find a cheap 16x16 or 18x16 8-lug floor tom on ebay. Im gonna get the tom, a pearl jungle gig, and a pearl bt3 tom mount and put it on the bottom of the drum.

The hardware will cost around $40. I would love to get an old ludwig 18x16 tom for around $60 before shipping...

Anyone looking to get rid of an old floor tom?

you know 18" kicks aren't too hard to come by and it'll save you the hassle of converting a floor tom into a bass drum.

[tbmills]

you know 18" kicks aren't too hard to come by and it'll save you the hassle of converting a floor tom into a bass drum.

where? I cant find a cheap one anywhere...
I was thinking about starting at the shell but i totalled it to cost around $460 so that out.
If i do the floor tom thing it should cost around $150

[somedrummer]

hey somedrummer, if you dont mind my asking, how much did all of the cost?

That set was around $2000, not including cymbals, snare stand, bass pedal, or throne. Everything else though was in that amount (all the hardware, shells, wrap (2 sheets at $300 a sheet), heads, etc. So, if youre looking for something more "quick and dirty" you could probably do something similar for $1000 or less. I just went for all the really high quality parts and all.

[jayp]

Ohhhhhh sexyyyyyyy

18X14 BD
12X8 Tom
14X14 Tom

2007 Ludwig Classic Maple in blue sparkle the tone of these make me want to cry it sounds so good lol, these are my babiessssss

[metal overlord]

You're good. Raymond Herrera plays 2 20" bass drums because they don't have much slap back and they give a good sound, I am also a big fan of 20s but for the moment I'm fine with my 18.

Dave McClain play two 20 kicks also. And those sound great.

[sandman1231]

a drummer from one of my previous bands as a guitarist used an 18" bass drum forget the sizes of the rest but they were smaller and we played rock music. he does pplay a lot of jazz i think tho.

[tbmills]

That set was around $2000, not including cymbals, snare stand, bass pedal, or throne. Everything else though was in that amount (all the hardware, shells, wrap (2 sheets at $300 a sheet), heads, etc. So, if youre looking for something more "quick and dirty" you could probably do something similar for $1000 or less. I just went for all the really high quality parts and all.

yeah i could but i would be wasting 1000 dollars. if i went custom id go all the way. there no sense in doin anything else...

and im not looking for a set that can be used in rock. i have that covered. im looking for something quieter for funk or jazz, or jazz/funk... like galactic, soulive, lettuce, mmw, hendrix, etc. Im doing a side band with my brother on guitar, bass, and keys. were gonna do mostly instrumental stuff... pretty much like a jazz band but with a solid beat. to me, most jazz has the bass as the main timekeeper, but id like to do something a little tighter. i heard a local band play giant steps at about 2/3 speed with what sounded like a solid 4-4 beat, and electric bass. It made me weak in the knees. i was thinking, i wanna do that!

[somedrummer]

yeah i could but i would be wasting 1000 dollars. if i went custom id go all the way. there no sense in doin anything else...

and im not looking for a set that can be used in rock. i have that covered. im looking for something quieter for funk or jazz, or jazz/funk... like galactic, soulive, lettuce, mmw, hendrix, etc. Im doing a side band with my brother on guitar, bass, and keys. were gonna do mostly instrumental stuff... pretty much like a jazz band but with a solid beat. to me, most jazz has the bass as the main timekeeper, but id like to do something a little tighter. i heard a local band play giant steps at about 2/3 speed with what sounded like a solid 4-4 beat, and electric bass. It made me weak in the knees. i was thinking, i wanna do that!

Yeah, that's what I figured, which is whyI went all the way. I also forgot that the $2000 included a set of cases (probably around $200, if I remember right). I have everything and it's cost written in an Excel spreadsheet and I can email it to you if you'd like it. This sounds like it could be what you're looking for for that type of music.

[jay norem]

Didn't 18" bass drums become popular with small-combo jazz drummers in the 50s because they were easier to fit into the back seats of New York City taxis?

[caddywumpus]

Didn't 18" bass drums become popular with small-combo jazz drummers in the 50s because they were easier to fit into the back seats of New York City taxis?

That's the rumor...

...but nobody knows if that's really true...

[tbmills]

Yeah, that's what I figured, which is whyI went all the way. I also forgot that the $2000 included a set of cases (probably around $200, if I remember right). I have everything and it's cost written in an Excel spreadsheet and I can email it to you if you'd like it. This sounds like it could be what you're looking for for that type of music.

yeah definitely!
mills.taylor.b@gmail.com

and jay, interesting fact...

[Garvin]

Drummers World Nesting Kit (http://www.drummersworld.com/dsp/product.php?id=ffb0296bb9c40f75601fa5dcd50fdc28&prodid=168&catid=85&catname=Drumsets&prodname=DRUMMERS%20WORLD%20NESTING%20KIT&flag=0)

Check this out... This is what I play.

[tbmills]

Drummers World Nesting Kit (http://www.drummersworld.com/dsp/product.php?id=ffb0296bb9c40f75601fa5dcd50fdc28&prodid=168&catid=85&catname=Drumsets&prodname=DRUMMERS%20WORLD%20NESTING%20KIT&flag=0)

Check this out... This is what I play.

That's badass! I want it..
I wish I could see how the all come apart and go back together.

Have you seen these (http://whitneydrums.com/products/NestingPenguin.php)?

[caddywumpus]

Have you seen these (http://whitneydrums.com/products/NestingPenguin.php)?

Wow! I've never seen nesting drums with the removable heads like that. I wonder how they sound...

[Garvin]

That's badass! I want it..
I wish I could see how the all come apart and go back together.

Have you seen these (http://whitneydrums.com/products/NestingPenguin.php)?

Yeah, I've looked at those, but I didn't trust the shell construction. I couldn't see how it worked either... Here are some pics of the nesting kit in action. It works exactly like the yamaha hipgig, only the hardware that latches the shells together is a lot better than the hipgig stuff (I've owned all of those kits as well). These drums are built for the workin' man, and they sound awesome. I've recorded in the studio with them as well.

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c229/Garvin80/IMG_1394.jpg
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c229/Garvin80/IMG_1395.jpg
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c229/Garvin80/IMG_1393.jpg

[Deathmetalconga]

Garvin, that is a really cool set. I would love to give that a try.

I think it would be neat to have a dwarf monster kit. None of the drums or cymbals would be bigger than 18 inches. You could have 18 and 16 bass drums, a 13 and auxiliary 10 inch snare, toms of 6, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14, and 15 inches - an 11-piece set!

[tbmills]

I have decided to get the manu yamaha kit, as soon as i get the rest of the money...

I want to see that monster set! do it like mike portnoy...
with 2 18" basses and 1 16"
siamese mini-monster

[Deathmetalconga]

I have decided to get the manu yamaha kit, as soon as i get the rest of the money...

I want to see that monster set! do it like mike portnoy...
with 2 18" basses and 1 16"
siamese mini-monster

Yamaha makes great drums and I'm sure you will be happy.

I would like to see the closest thing to a dwarf monster kit on this forum (no drum over 18 inches, at least 8 pieces). Aside from mine, I can't think of one set here with an 18 bass drum that has more than four pieces, however. Is my kit the closet to a dwarf monster kit - it's only six pieces?

[JRH7]

Designer 18" kick. I use it for playing rock and it is easy to transport for gigs. It is a bit on the heavy side.

J.

[tbmills]

I have decided to get the manu yamaha kit, as soon as i get the rest of the money...

i think im gonna get a three-hole tom holder (http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Yamaha-Tom-Holder?sku=445297) and fly my ride and crash off of it with boom arms... kinda like the rick marotta kit (http://www.yamaha.com/drums/drumproductdetail.html?CNTID=544511&CTID=5040578). that way ill have as few separate pieces as possible.

its gonna be friggin sweet.

[baz]

...here is my small bass drum set up.

http://inlinethumb07.webshots.com/42246/2613156790032450736S600x600Q85.jpg (http://entertainment.webshots.com/photo/2613156790032450736fxfcLu)

DW 18x16,15x13, 13x9, 14x6 edge snare. This kit sounds much bigger than the sizes would suggest, kind of ajazz kit on steroids. I am not sure which cymbals are in this photo. They are either Zildjian A 20" med ride, 14" new beat hats, 16" K dark crash, and 16" A med/thin crash, or Sabian 20" stage ride, 14" stage hats, 16' stage crash, and 18' legacy crash.

Barry

[jayp]

I have decided to get the manu yamaha kit, as soon as i get the rest of the money...

I want to see that monster set! do it like mike portnoy...
with 2 18" basses and 1 16"
siamese mini-monster

I almost purchased a Gretsch Catalina before I got my Ludwig's.

But...

I went to GC and played a manu set and I was blown away at its sound, amazing little kit I tell you! I will probably end up picking one up in a year or so as a jazz gig/street break beat kit or something. The 12 inch snare sounded superb too! Truely amazed. And for a price of 599 you cant beat it.

[tbmills]

I went to GC and played a manu set and I was blown away at its sound, amazing little kit I tell you! I will probably end up picking one up in a year or so as a jazz gig/street break beat kit or something. The 12 inch snare sounded superb too! Truely amazed. And for a price of 599 you cant beat it.

yeah and MF has them for 799 with ALL hardware... throne, kick pedal, snare stand, tom mount, hihat stand, and 2 straight stands... not bad. my guitar player works at GC. he says that they come to their stores in the full package with all hardware, but they "explode" them to give you (the customer) more options. ill get him to get me an employee discount on em... maybe 600... maybe less...

[tsmitty87]

http://i451.photobucket.com/albums/qq235/smittyfliesplanes/16970_612640032783_48204089_3540435.jpg
http://i451.photobucket.com/albums/qq235/smittyfliesplanes/16970_612640032783_48204089_3540435.jpg
http://i451.photobucket.com/albums/qq235/smittyfliesplanes/16970_612640397053_48204089_3540-3.jpg

Here is my little kit I made out of some old drums. 16x16 bass, 10x5 tom, 12x11 and 13x12 floor toms, 14x5.5 steel snare. Sounds cool...I'm about to give them a makeover and paint them black with lime/neon green hoops/lugs. Should be cool

[sacco]

And here is mine: Tamburo Original, maple stave set, 1991. The bass drum is 16" x 18" with riser, and is fantastic.

More info: http://www.drummerworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=55052

[bobdadruma]

I use a Tama stagestar with a 14x18 bass. I use an Aquarian SK II batter and a black logo head from a Tama Starclassic.
I have a 3 1/2 inch porthole. I tune the heads to 76 on the drum dial.
If I want kind of a "boom" Jazz sound I don't stuff the drum. If I want a Rock "thump" sound I place a small flat folded hand towel across the bottom of the drum so that it just touches the bottom of the heads. I can insert and remove the towel through the porthole.
The most important thing that I have found to get the best sound is the beater has to hit the head on center. I use a riser for this. The riser also keeps the drum off of the floor giving more sound.
I really like this kit and I use it for all of my gigs in clubs both large and small. I fully mic the kit in large clubs. I almost always mic the bass drum even if I only turn the mic volume up slightly.

[mind_drummer]

And here is mine: Tamburo Original, maple stave set, 1991. The bass drum is 16" x 18" with riser, and is fantastic.

More info: http://www.drummerworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=55052

Beautiful ! I love it. Absolutely sexy kit ;-)



Now here's mine using the Gibraltar / Dunnett R-Class Club Conversion kit.

16x16 bass drum
10x8 rack tom
13x10 floor tom

[Pass.of.E.r.a.]

wow I've never been interested in a kit with a bass drum under 22" until reading through this thread. I wonder if the Sonor Force 2007 Birch series come in 18" bass drum sizes...

I'd love to see more pics!!

-Jonathan

[bobdadruma]

wow I've never been interested in a kit with a bass drum under 22" until reading through this thread. I wonder if the Sonor Force 2007 Birch series come in 18" bass drum sizes...

I'd love to see more pics!!

-JonathanI believe that 20" is the smallest bass that that kit comes in. Small kits are a blast! Easy to transport, fun to play!
http://www.activemusician.com/item--HS.F2007-STUDIO-1-SPBR?ref=fg&ovchn=SCU&ovtac=CMP&ovcpn=&ovcrn=Sonor+Force+2007+Studio+1+5-piece+Drum+Shell+Pack+-+Birch

[Pass.of.E.r.a.]

oooh, actually I just checked the Sonor site and they do come in 18"!!! (and not to mention they don't come in the bizarre 17.5" depths, woot!)

well now I just gotta find some spare $$$ in which to purchase one with.... hmmm....

-Jonathan

[bobdadruma]

oooh, actually I just checked the Sonor site and they do come in 18"!!! (and not to mention they don't come in the bizarre 17.5" depths, woot!)

well now I just gotta find some spare $$$ in which to purchase one with.... hmmm....

-JonathanThats great! The 2007s are real nice kits. I almost bought a 2007 with a 20" kick right before I found my used Tama Stagestar locally for a good price. I always wondered about the 17.5 depth bass drum. It is an unusual dimension. I can't see it being a big deal as in a problem or anything like that though.

[pearlygates]

my CC birch.

Has a 14x18" kick, 12x8 rack and 14x14" floor. Sounds punchy and loud!
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff68/X7drums/Custom%20Classic%20Pro%20Birch/Customclassicprobirchamici011.jpg