Members polarnewfie Posted October 29, 2009 Members Share Posted October 29, 2009 I always go for the bigger drum, as I find them far more versatile. In my experience, its much easier to make a big drum sound smaller with good tuning then to make a small drum sound bigger. I can always tune it up tighter to raise the pitch, but there is only so low a 12 can go. My 12" toms all have dust on them. (actually my two 13" toms also now have dust, as my smallest tom I regularly use is a 15"x12", followed by 15x14, 16x16, 18x16. ) I can get them to sound big as a mack truck , or small as a yugo or Lada. Versatility is the name of the game these days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members 6topher Posted October 29, 2009 Members Share Posted October 29, 2009 depends on the application for me - I use my 13 for one band & the 12 for the other...but if I had to choose one, I love the way my 12 sounds and would probably look for a 14 floor tom to split the diff between the 12 & 16. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members moderndrumm321 Posted October 29, 2009 Members Share Posted October 29, 2009 i think 12" are the way to go.13's hell to tune, and you get a nice consistent high pitched sound with the 12's Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members boomerweps Posted October 29, 2009 Members Share Posted October 29, 2009 With just a 16 floor, a 13 is about perfect. Me, I prefer a 15 floor and a 12 to go with. And a 10 and an 18 to augment those ;>) Boomerweps Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Cross Eyed Mary Posted October 29, 2009 Members Share Posted October 29, 2009 Take 5. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members marko46 Posted October 29, 2009 Members Share Posted October 29, 2009 I have both and haven't found the 13" that hard to tune, or separate from the 12" or the 16" FT. The 12" is easier to mount though on my rack. But then again if you have a 22" kick, that shouldn't be an issue either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members joe97yo Posted October 29, 2009 Members Share Posted October 29, 2009 I already made that choice. My kit's toms are 12/13/16; I only use the 12 and the 16.The 13" is just a little harder to tune and position. This is me as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members JakeBurton Posted October 29, 2009 Members Share Posted October 29, 2009 13" drums are not hard to tune. What makes it difficult is when you have a 12 and 13 on the same drumset and the drums are tuned too close together. Then you get problems with either the 12 being too high or the 13 being too low. As you guys probably already know, drums shells have resonant frequency that they naturally vibrate at. If you can get the drumheads to vibrate at the same (or close to) the resonant frequency of the shell...then the drum is going to be happy. All of this crap about 13s being hard to tune is bull{censored}! You either:1. don't know how to tune2. you have a 12-13-16 setup and the 12 and 13s are too close in pitch Here is what you do...contact a custom drum builder and have them make you a 12 1/2 drum. Then get in touch with a drumhead manufacturer to make you a custom drumhead. Problem solved. Or....learn how to tune and space your tom intervals out more. Problem solved. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members lossforgain Posted October 29, 2009 Members Share Posted October 29, 2009 Or...not play a 13 because you don't like that size. Like me. I can tune it, sure, but I don't like the fundamental range of a 13 as much as the slightly higher fundamental of a 12. Thanks for figuring everything out tho... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Eyehearya Posted October 29, 2009 Members Share Posted October 29, 2009 12" for me. The Yammys I got had a 10",12" and a 16" and I was thinking 'ehh, I'll just pick up a 14" later' because 10,12,14,16 is what I was used to playing. I'm enjoying the separation of the 12-16 so much I'm thinkin about an 18" addition instead of a 14" now. Bring the thunder! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members JakeBurton Posted October 29, 2009 Members Share Posted October 29, 2009 I like all drum sizes. It doesn't matter if it is 6" or 26"....I just like to hit them! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members rambler1959 Posted October 29, 2009 Members Share Posted October 29, 2009 i had a 13x11, never liked the way it sounded so i would use the 12. then i cut two inches off the 13 and cut a 30 degree edge into it and roundover on the outside. sounds amazing now! tunes up real easy and punchy as hell!! can also tune up hi with out being choked. right after this, i picked up a ludwig standard in 13 16 22 and i got to say they sound great and that 13 is not hard to tune at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members whitford0 Posted October 29, 2009 Members Share Posted October 29, 2009 it's a 12 for me. the only 13'' tom ive had before was a bit of an arse to tune. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Jack Thumper Posted October 29, 2009 Members Share Posted October 29, 2009 i had a 13x11, never liked the way it sounded so i would use the 12. then i cut two inches off the 13 and cut a 30 degree edge into it and roundover on the outside. sounds amazing now! tunes up real easy and punchy as hell!! can also tune up hi with out being choked.right after this, i picked up a ludwig standard in 13 16 22 and i got to say they sound great and that 13 is not hard to tune at all. There's something magical about that 30 inner with either a counter cut or round over,meatier sound,wider tuning range and choke free. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members TamaDrummer0 Posted October 29, 2009 Members Share Posted October 29, 2009 Make this a poll please!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Thundergod Posted October 30, 2009 Members Share Posted October 30, 2009 1st Kit - 12", 13",TT 16", & 18" FT. Sonor2nd kit - 10", 12", 13",TT & 16"FT. Tama3rd kit - 8", 10", 12", 14",TT & 16"FT.PacificI never had a problem with tuning any of my 13" toms. i always tuned mid tension 40 to 65 range, i never liked high tensions on toms, the larger the loos'er, seemed to work for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Living Dead Drummer Posted October 31, 2009 Members Share Posted October 31, 2009 I think I would go 13"I like the 12", in fact that's what I have always used when playing with one rack tom, but a few kits I used in rehearsal studios had a 13" & 16" setup and I really dig it. But it has to be the right 13" With a 12" you can go with just about any depth. With a stand alone 13" I don't think I could use one deeper than 10"... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Tomske Posted November 1, 2009 Members Share Posted November 1, 2009 My 12" birch/bubinga tom is a dream I'm going to buy an 8" mounted tom and a 14" floor tom to put my toms into 2" intervals, making it 8", 10", 12", 14" and 16". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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