here are a couple of things to consider:
Are you sure you want a virgin bass drum? I personally don't like a stand mounted tom. the stand is either always fighting for floor space with the hi hat legs or the the tom is too far away.
That is just not the case.
I have a virgin bass drum, and have the toms on cymbal stands, and everything is exactly where I want it with no problems with real estate.
Or ..... you hang the right tom off a right cymbal stand. Just like the left tom is hung off the left cymbal stand. While you may choose to hang both your toms off a tom stand, you're certainly not forced to.Matter of personal choice, of course. I agree with Jasta. When I play two-up I'm forced to use a tom stand and I hate the ergonomics.
Understand. But in my case, I'm forced to use a dbl tom stand if I choose to go two-up. I've been playing the ride cymbal over the right side of the bass drum (what used to be the "normal" position) for over fifty years, and it feels perfect there. The only way for me to play two-up and retain this ride cymbal configuration, requires that the toms must be suspended on the left side of the bass drum - no space on the right.Or ..... you hang the right tom off a right cymbal stand. Just like the left tom is hung off the left cymbal stand. While you may choose to hang both your toms off a tom stand, you're certainly not forced to.
... ergonomics and real estate are irrelevant
Exactly. And, you know, I really like having two toms up. But by the time I've moved the hihat far enough to the left to allow it to function without hitting the tom, I feel like I'm sitting in the gynecologist's chair!Well you're like me on ride cymbal placement. I like mine really low over the right side of the bass drum. Pretty much makes 1 up, two down my default set up.
The fact Pearl is still making Exports attest to their demand and utility-I've never tried the Mars but they look like decent kits.