is there a 20" kick that sounds like a 22"?

[lovemysonors]

i'm looking to downsize my kit, but try to keep as much boom as possible. currently, i've got a 22x16 Sonor beechwood kick (16x16 floor, 13 rack).

is there any kit out there that could give me as much warmth and punch as my 22x16 but in a smaller configuration??

if so, what?!

[Ethan01]

Sup dude, I just got a kit 2 weeks ago with a 20" bass, it is the PDP 805 series. It comes with 12x8 tom, 14x14, 16x14 floors and a 13x7 snare. The bass sounds very punchy and direct, very tight sounding. I have a pillow in it right now. The kit is all birch, the toms sound great with the right tuning and default heads, though I'll change the heads after a while. The snare is the weakest link, so if you have a spare it'll be worthwhile. Otherwise, the kit sounds perfect and looks great too (i got the all white). The bass is heaven though, be sure when you try it to stand in front of the bass and hear it, cause it sounds a bit quiet from behind but in front it is very punchy and tight.

[MusiQmaN]

Try the Oak Customs or the new PHX from Yamaha

Both 20x17

Great kicks with lots of power.

[DamoSyzygy]

What does a 22" sound like?


The Sonor beechwood will be a tough drum to replicate, but I would suggest putting very little to no dampening in whichever 20" kick you choose. Open the volume right up to lower the pitch - That will be your best bet.

[mfp1016]

I think heads will make the biggest difference for you here. Try out Evans' mesh front head with a muffled front head and slightly open tuning. That should be pretty punchy...

[bermuda]

In general, thinner shells will yield warmer/bigger sounds for their size, so some 20" kicks will sound close to the 22", some will not.

But it also depends on the context in which the kick is heard, and how you hear it. Are you talking about a mic'd kick? How much damping? Do you want the 20" to sound like the 22", or feel like it? Or both? Are you concerned with the sound in front of the kit, or from behind it where you sit?

In a mic'd situation, you'll find plenty of punch and low end in a 20" drum.

Acoustically, you may have trouble getting the same vibe from a 20", but it will depend on the construction of the 20" compared to the 22" you're using.

Damping will affect the sound, and the response to your foot, and the pedal action somewhat. I think you'll prefer the feel of the smaller drum, it should be 'faster' to your foot.

Heads make a difference as well, but that's really a personal preference.

I like the Yamaha oak series, but for their power, not their warmth. I doubt that a 20" will give you the kind of oomph you're getting from the larger beechwood kick if you were to sit behind both.

But again, if this is strictly for a mic'd situation, it won't be too difficult to get a sound that's close.

Bermuda

[bojangleman]

i would just stick with the 22"....

Alex

[Andrew_H]

I would just stick with the 22 if thats the sound you want... but if you want to get the lower pitch with more boom, id suggest getting a warmer wood such as bubinga or mahogany.

[lovemysonors]

I would just stick with the 22 if thats the sound you want... but if you want to get the lower pitch with more boom, id suggest getting a warmer wood such as bubinga or mahogany.
ok, what would the major differences be between bubinga, mahogany, oak and maple?

thanks.

[zambizzi]

I play a Ludwig Classic Maple 20x14 and I'm not joking when I say this; it holds its own with any 22" I've played. I have a Powerstroke 3 (clear) on the batter and a coated ambassador on the reso side. I use a "Wicked Pissa" (popular on eBay) bass drum pillow. It's got warmth, punch, and power...and it looks tiny.

That being said, I still prefer the feel of a 22" head...so I'll be sticking w/ that in the future.

[bermuda]

i would just stick with the 22"....

Alex

I was going to recommend that as well. If you're set on down-sizing a little, you could find a thin-shelled 14x22" that will give you every bit of punch and oomph you're getting from the 16x22".

You may well ask, "why then did16x22 become a standard size if the 14x22 sounded so good in the first place?"

Part of the reason is that when shell construction changed radically in the late 70s and early '80s, drums lost the warmth and body that the old 3-ply sizes possessed, and 'power' toms and kicks were born to bring back some of the low-end that was lost.

An old Slingerland or Ludwig or Camco kick from the '60s sounds every bit as good, often better, than its 'power' counterpart of today. The 14x22" Ludwig Legacy (new 3-ply construction) always sound better than the other deeper kicks that are nearby in the store.

Bermuda

[Skitch]

It is a matter of physics. I run sound on an 18" kick every week and there's no way to make it have the low frequencies of a 22" kick. You can't add what isn't there to begin with. That being said, I suppose that you could go to an 18x20" and it might have the low end of a 16x22". By why be limited to one size of kick drum?


Mike

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

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

[Skitch]

I was going to recommend that as well. If you're set on down-sizing a little, you could find a thin-shelled 14x22" that will give you every bit of punch and oomph you're getting from the 16x22".

You may well ask, "why then did16x22 become a standard size if the 14x22 sounded so good in the first place?"

Part of the reason is that when shell construction changed radically in the late 70s and early '80s, drums lost the warmth and body that the old 3-ply sizes possessed, and 'power' toms and kicks were born to bring back some of the low-end that was lost.

An old Slingerland or Ludwig or Camco kick from the '60s sounds every bit as good, often better, than its 'power' counterpart of today. The 14x22" Ludwig Legacy (new 3-ply construction) always sound better than the other deeper kicks that are nearby in the store.

Bermuda


I love a good history lesson!


Mike

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

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

[DamoSyzygy]

I run sound on an 18" kick every week and there's no way to make it have the low frequencies of a 22" kick.
Keep in mind though that many drummers dont fully utilize the low-end in their 22" kicks, because they cram it full of pads and pillows.

When this happens, its indeed possible to get the 20 to emulate the 22