WeMustDevour
Junior Member
Hi guys. I'm graduating college soon and am looking to move to a more upper-level kit. That being said, my GF and parents will help pay for it so cost isn't much of an issue unless it's over $2-3k.
I used a crappy starter kit for 6 years and been using a mapex armory and Roland kit since then. I play some post-rock/jazz/progressive/hardcore so I'm looking at a smaller kit but one with some character. Here's what I'm thinking at this point:
(WxD)
11x7 tom
15x13 floor tom
13x6 snare
20x18 bass drum
And using my HHX groove ride (21) and hats (14) as well as HHX Xplosion (18)
I currently use the 10" and 16" toms (without the 12) on my mapex because I like the contrast, but in some applications the range in the tones is too large. The 16" can be a little overpowering, especially because the depth is also 16". I also don't really like the tone in the 12", which is why I'm thinking about using an 11" even though it's extremely uncommon. The mapex is birch-maple-birch shells and for the custom I'm thinking about maple or a maple hybrid.
I'm pretty happy with the standard bass drum size (22x18) but 20" has a more attractive sound to me and would probably work better with the smaller toms. I'm a little unsure about the depth because from the bass drums I've heard it's been a very marginal difference. I know a lot of guys do 20x20 to make up for the smaller diameter.
Also, give me some advice on snares! I've never owned a 13" but have really fallen in love with the sound. Should I go deeper than 6"?
So I guess, what do you guys think of a kit like this for the styles I'm looking to play? Do you think custom shops would be willing to make an 11" tom? I know sound is all about personal preference but give me any advice or feedback you're willing to!
Thanks in advance guys
I used a crappy starter kit for 6 years and been using a mapex armory and Roland kit since then. I play some post-rock/jazz/progressive/hardcore so I'm looking at a smaller kit but one with some character. Here's what I'm thinking at this point:
(WxD)
11x7 tom
15x13 floor tom
13x6 snare
20x18 bass drum
And using my HHX groove ride (21) and hats (14) as well as HHX Xplosion (18)
I currently use the 10" and 16" toms (without the 12) on my mapex because I like the contrast, but in some applications the range in the tones is too large. The 16" can be a little overpowering, especially because the depth is also 16". I also don't really like the tone in the 12", which is why I'm thinking about using an 11" even though it's extremely uncommon. The mapex is birch-maple-birch shells and for the custom I'm thinking about maple or a maple hybrid.
I'm pretty happy with the standard bass drum size (22x18) but 20" has a more attractive sound to me and would probably work better with the smaller toms. I'm a little unsure about the depth because from the bass drums I've heard it's been a very marginal difference. I know a lot of guys do 20x20 to make up for the smaller diameter.
Also, give me some advice on snares! I've never owned a 13" but have really fallen in love with the sound. Should I go deeper than 6"?
So I guess, what do you guys think of a kit like this for the styles I'm looking to play? Do you think custom shops would be willing to make an 11" tom? I know sound is all about personal preference but give me any advice or feedback you're willing to!
Thanks in advance guys