PorkPieGuy
Platinum Member
Dumb question: Whenever you've been playing a backline kit, has the kick drum ever been too big for your liking?
Has the backline kick drum ever been too big?
- Thread starter PorkPieGuy
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PorkPieGuy
Platinum Member
Never, I've played up to a 28" and that was all kinds of nice. Played some kits with some dreadful tom sizes and angles which were the biggest problem.
You weren't supporting Tommy Lee were you
No, thank goodness. I'm especially thankful that I wasn't supporting him during his Molecules phase.
mikyok
Platinum Member
I remember those things. Not sure what the idea behind them was!
PorkPieGuy
Platinum Member
John Q. Drummer
Active Member
Thankfully no but not for the reason you think. I really struggle with 24” kick drums. Like…really struggle. Feels slow like I’m trying to pedal a bicycle through a deep mud pit. Just sludgy and gross. I’ve owned kits with 24” bass drums but was never happy with how they felt versus how they sounded. As such, those particular kits are the ones I’ve held onto for the least amount of time. (Less than a month for each if memory serves.)
My gigging kits are either 20” or 22”, so those sizes are fine for me. I can make those work in a backline situation with minimal fuss.
26” bass drums are virtually unplayable to me. No Zep replica kit for this fella…and that’s fine. I can’t remember if I’ve ever played anything bigger than a 26”. Probably, but I’m sure I hated it.
My gigging kits are either 20” or 22”, so those sizes are fine for me. I can make those work in a backline situation with minimal fuss.
26” bass drums are virtually unplayable to me. No Zep replica kit for this fella…and that’s fine. I can’t remember if I’ve ever played anything bigger than a 26”. Probably, but I’m sure I hated it.
petrez
Senior Member
Not really on a house kit, but I remember with horror that time there was another band supplying the drums, without any information about the specs beforehand (I was too young and ignorant to ask around then, I guess), he shows up with a non-ported 26" bassdrum. I play fast metal with my band, a lot of fast paced doublebass, that night was a complete disaster. Sorry, but if you use something as extreme as that, don't make anyone else use it unless you have talked with the other drummers in advance and know it's ok with everyone. Rant over 
Level42
Active Member
Yeah, had a 28/13/15 supplied as backline for a country gig. Cool kit, it was a custom builder called Truth drums. The kick height made the tom placement weird and the kick note felt like it lasted a whole bar haha. Just wasn’t what I was used to. Also, the beater was too short to hit in the middle of the drum. I’ve always played an 18 or 20 so it was a bit of an adjustment.
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caddywumpus
Archnemesis of Larryace
I’ve never played on a house kit that I thought was too big or too small. I’ve played on several that were either too muffled or beat up. Usually, I think to myself, “I’m glad I didn’t have to bring my own kit.”
equipmentdork
Junior Member
I was surprised that there was a 24" kick at The Bowery Electric in NYC when I played there a decade ago. It was also a 4-piece instead of the advertised 5, which made me have to rephrase a few fills, but no big deal.
Dan
Dan
TK-421
Senior Member
Those are very odd sizes for blues. Clearly whoever arranged for that kit wasn’t a drummer, or at least not a blues drummer.
I also dislike larger bass drums and for the same reasons. Especially since I play a lot of double kick patterns. I can deal with a 24”, I’ve even owned a couple kits with a 24” a while back, but that’s my max limit.Thankfully no but not for the reason you think. I really struggle with 24” kick drums. Like…really struggle. Feels slow like I’m trying to pedal a bicycle through a deep mud pit. Just sludgy and gross. I’ve owned kits with 24” bass drums but was never happy with how they felt versus how they sounded. As such, those particular kits are the ones I’ve held onto for the least amount of time. (Less than a month for each if memory serves.)
My gigging kits are either 20” or 22”, so those sizes are fine for me. I can make those work in a backline situation with minimal fuss.
26” bass drums are virtually unplayable to me. No Zep replica kit for this fella…and that’s fine. I can’t remember if I’ve ever played anything bigger than a 26”. Probably, but I’m sure I hated it.
Rattlin' Bones
Gold Member
Yeah. 24x18 for small jazz quartet was a bit too large lol.
petrez
Senior Member
Same here, 24" is the max limit for my style of playing, and even that is pushing it... I'd rather play an 18" bassdrum than a 26" if I had to.
Totigerus
Well-known Member
My problems playing other people's kits always stemmed from hardware malfunction.
But this was mostly in rehearsal studios, not big venues' backlines...so that probably doesn't count?
Also, even though I play a 24", I totally agree with others here that 20's and 22's are more manageable to play/record.
But this was mostly in rehearsal studios, not big venues' backlines...so that probably doesn't count?
Also, even though I play a 24", I totally agree with others here that 20's and 22's are more manageable to play/record.
Tamboreter
Silver Member
It's not a dumb question, IMO, because some of us do have our limitations. The Sunday house kit I play has a 22" bass with 12 and 13" deep mounted toms. I have to cock them at weird angles to make them work as well as raise my throne higher than I normally would. It's "doable" but definitely not my preference. But it is my limit. I've never played a 24" bass, but if I did, the tom would have to be on a snare stand. Hope that never happens.
I bet you could play a 28" if presented the challenge.
Rattlin' Bones
Gold Member
Yes this. Two festivals last 2 years one jazz one blues and both the hh stand failed. And on other backlines in clubs the hh stand has also been trouble. Other fails at clubs with backlines have been rack mounted toms where the ball joint is so worn and abused it won't hold anymore so the rack tom sits at a random angle, bottom rim resting on kick drum.
Stroman
Diamond Member
I've never had a problem with the size. Over the years, I've used everything from 18 - 28, so I'm pretty flexible that way.
If anything, I've had more trouble with setups that just don't suit me, and having to hurry so I can't make adjustments. One guy supplied the backline kit, but it was set up left-handed and he didn't want us to change anything.
So I played it left handed. That was a different situation, though. That wasn't a true backline kit supplied by a rental company.
If anything, I've had more trouble with setups that just don't suit me, and having to hurry so I can't make adjustments. One guy supplied the backline kit, but it was set up left-handed and he didn't want us to change anything.
So I played it left handed. That was a different situation, though. That wasn't a true backline kit supplied by a rental company.