Ludwig Classic Maple - Bass drum depth?

Shibby · #1 08-09-2012, 04:13 AM

Im going to be buying a used Ludwig CM kit for my gigging kit. I find 22" bass drums to be too small, and 26" bass drums to be too large. I find my perfect medium at a 24" bass. my question, is what do you suggest for a depth on a 24" bass? 14", 16", or 18"? Leave your suggestions.

Bo Eder · #2 08-09-2012, 04:18 AM

I like 16 myself. 18 is just a tad too long. 14 will work too, but when I saw Buddy Rich live in 1978 when he came out with a Ludwig 16x24 bass drum, it just looked way cool at the time. And bandstands can accommodate 16's easier than 18's sometimes.

IDDrummer · #3 08-09-2012, 04:47 AM

My current Ludwig Classic Maple is 16X24, and sounds just about perfect to me. I have owned several 14X24's in the past, and they sound great, too. For the way I play and tune, 18's are a little too deep and give up some pedal feel.

millerscapes · #4 08-09-2012, 04:57 AM

I agree with Bo, 24x16s just have something special about them. A bit more oomph than 14s but, like Bo said, 18s can be a bit much. I personally love 24x14s, very classic but the 16 might be a bit more versitale.

Good luck!

Bo Eder · #5 08-09-2012, 05:09 AM

Another issue that I'll mention here, is that people tend to think they're saving space when they get a smaller-diameter bass drum. It's actually the depth of the drum that saves the space. I know a person who has one of those newfangled 20" deep bass drums with a 20" head, and she takes up more space on the bandstand than the person with a 14x26 bass drum. The front-to-back size is what kills you in a small venue. So if you want to save space, go 14".

But I still vote for the 16x24. That is a magic size for bass drums. (This coming from the guy who plays 16x22's)

Shibby · #6 08-09-2012, 06:44 AM

24x16 it is. I really never liked how 14" thick bass drums look. Must just be me. On a different note, can anyone tell me what kind of price to expect on a 4-piece Classic Maple kit? I'm looking at 13x9, 16x16, 24x16, and 14x5. I know I said used, but I'd like to know the price of one new. I can easily find used ones on eBay, but I can't find the prices of new ones.

IDDrummer · #7 08-09-2012, 06:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shibby

24x16 it is. I really never liked how 14" thick bass drums look. Must just be me. On a different note, can anyone tell me what kind of price to expect on a 4-piece Classic Maple kit? I'm looking at 13x9, 16x16, 24x16, and 14x5. I know I said used, but I'd like to know the price of one new. I can easily find used ones on eBay, but I can't find the prices of new ones.

Check www.justdrumsonline.com

Shane has decent prices and is a good guy to deal with.

Shibby · #8 08-09-2012, 06:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IDDrummer

Check www.justdrumsonline.com

Shane has decent prices and is a good guy to deal with.

So more or less, a little over 2 grand.

ENRICO · #9 08-09-2012, 02:30 PM

I have a 24x19" (yes, 19", it's custom made) and I love how it sound but to make it sound to its full potencial you have to hit it médium to hard and that might be a problem for some.

KirbyM · #10 08-09-2012, 10:12 PM

16" is a good depth for bass drums. 18's are a little too deep if you want good rebound from the beater. Also, a lot of stages are not made for drummers. From the looks of most stages I have been on, they are designed for the drummer to stand while playing an incredibly small kit.

zambizzi · #11 08-09-2012, 10:33 PM

I also play a 24x16" Classic Maple and love it. It took a good year to even begin to get as comfy as a 22", but I'm finally there. I've played a couple 24x14" kicks but don't like the sound as much from behind the kit...though shallow drums seem to record much better than they sound while playing them.

I have a 24x18" on layaway because I feel like I could use even more boom. I'm playing fairly loud "stoner rock" style music and all I'm left with is attack, once the amps are fired up. My current kick as nice presence but I want more depth in the sound. Hopefully I'm not setting myself up for another round of re-training my foot.

Personally, I feel like there are more tuning options on a deeper kick, as well. The 14" deep Classic Maple kick that I owned had a sweet spot that both heads wanted to be tuned to. Deeper kicks seem to allow for more pitch bend if you want to tune one head higher than the other.

samdrum · #12 08-10-2012, 04:59 PM

I had a classic maple with a 24x14 and I thought it sounded great. Pretty much can't go wrong with a 24x16 either, probably a little more boom (low end) depending on tuning. Stay away from the 18" inch depth. Way too big and unnecessary.

For your other question, I bought my classic maples pretty much to your exact specs (minus snare) 24x14, 13x9, 16x16 from a local music store and those three drums in those sizes with a Glass Glitter wrap came in right around $1640. That was in 2011. Good luck. You'll love the sound of those Ludwigs. Classic Rock drums at their finest.

RickP · #13 08-10-2012, 06:39 PM

My vote would go with a 14" depth bass drum. They sound great, nice for getting in and out of the car and onto small stages. I am no fan of beer can shaped bass drums.

RogerLudwig · #14 08-10-2012, 11:15 PM

Use the Ludwig configuration guide, fill out the features you want and it automatically calculates the list price. You can figure on paying around 62-65% of list at a good dealer.

http://www.ludwig-drums.com/drumkits/classicmaple.php

Shibby · #15 08-11-2012, 01:40 AM

I think I'm actually going to swing for an 24x14. I like the look. A company I've been emailing said they'd sell me the exact setup I want in Black Galaxy Sparkle (apparently an exclusive finish) for $1875, but that was with a 24x16. It'll probably be in the same ballpark. Decent price? Memphisdrumshop is selling similar kits with no snare for the same price.

audiotech · #16 08-11-2012, 07:30 AM

Like I always say sometimes, it pays to shop around.

Dennis

KirbyM · #17 08-11-2012, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RickP

My vote would go with a 14" depth bass drum. They sound great, nice for getting in and out of the car and onto small stages. I am no fan of beer can shaped bass drums.

I'm glad to see someone else thinking about getting a bass drum in/out of a car. Before I ordered a 16" deep bass drum, the store let me take a 16" deep bass they had in stock to my car, instead of trying to measure with a tape. It worked. The 16" deep drum went into the back seat - an 18" would be questionable.

Ohhhhhh, I wish I still had a van.

Bo Eder · #18 08-11-2012, 05:18 PM

You know, you're not too far away from a 14x26.....

bermuda · #19 08-11-2012, 07:57 PM

I've got 14 and 16x24, both good. 18" is just too deep for a standard diameter kick. I know the companies sell them because the 'kids' buy them... or vice versa. But most of the pros I know don't use them.

Bermuda