is there much difference between a 12 and a 10 inch tom?

im still up in the air about sizes for the new kit. i thought i wanted a 12 on the rack. but the 10 is looking very sexy right now.

the set up will be

20x20

12x14

and either 7x10 or 7x12

im playing mostly pop punk.

what do you think? discuss.

According to my estimates, the difference is about 2".

Personally, I think every kit needs at least a 16" floor tom....but that's just me. You just can't get a 14 to go as deep as a 16, IMHO. With that in mind, and with the assumption that you want another smaller tom, I think the spread between a 10 and a 16 is too far.

Since you're going with a 14, you could probably get away with a 10. But I'd ditch the 14 in favor of a 16 anyway, so why listen to me?!?

I like the response of a 10" much more - I feel more inclined to be more articulate on fusion sized drums than I do on power tom sized. My first kit was 12-13-16, but I've scaled down to 10-12-14 nowadays.

Inherently, you'll have a deeper pitch on the 12", but I think it comes down to how you play your pop punk! Check out Brookfield to hear a killer use of a 10" rack tom.

I play a dw kit at my church (quite contempory music so don't be fooled by the "church") and its a 10 12 14. I have a 12 14 16 so i was skeptical when i saw the small sizes. But boy, that 14 can hold its own. the 10 goes great with it too. Id definitly go 10. You'll want some gap there. I'm thinking about buying a 10 and adding to the kit, possibly even taking away the 16. But I do like 16s too. 10 and 14 would be great tho for punky pop tho.

I tend to think the 12" flows better with the 14 floor. I agree with Steve though about the 16" floor tom. It is VERY difficult to get a small drum to sound deeper, but relatively easy to get a big drum to sound smaller.

12 inch heads are cheap, plentiful and available in a wide variety of types.

10 inch heads are more expensive, not carried in bulk and not all head types are available in most varieties unless you are special ordering.

I'd say go for the 10 and 14. I have a Yamaha Stage custom with 10-12-14. When using a 4 piece I used to always use the 12 and 14. But not anymore. the 10 sounds great and the 14 gives me all the low end I want. You need some high sounds out of your toms too. go 10.

i agree with the 12" and 14" flowing together better, but the comment about the 16" floor i dont agree with so much. i think it depends on the drums, ive seen 14" toms sound plenty deep.

i'd go for the 12" and the 14"

my 2 cents

if you go 14, get the 10. if you go 16, get the 12

I unfortunately think a 12 x 14 for a floor is too week. It can play a low tone, but it needs a little more volume (not the loud kind, rather the size kind) to move more air. If it was a 14 x 14, you'll have a shot at it. I use a 14 x 14 floor and that's the minimum I'd use, IMO. A 12" rack works fine with that! My kit that you see my granddughter using in my avatar is a 12" rack, 14 x14 floor and a 14 x 18 kick. Pops pretty good with good separation...

Exactly. Depends on how you tune and what you like to play, but I couldnt get my 10" or 14" to sound right to me. My 10" always sounded too "boingey". But go with whatever you like best..... I love my 12" and 16" combo.

don't play pop-punk

j/k

I think that you should go with the 10" tom to give yourself a greater tuning range between toms

I've used a bunch of 10,12,14,16 set ups and my experience tells me that you will be happier with this combo...

20X20

7X12

13X16

You'll have a larger. bouncy surface while still having the option of tuning high (because the drums are shallow) or low (larger diameter).

A 10 can be hard to hit at times (if its your only rack) and a 14 isn't always deep enough. My goal as a kid was to get small drums.. but then I grew up and realized that a larger surface sounds better and is easier to hit.

Good luck

I love tens. They have a distinctive, dry, woody sustain. They just belong. Twelves are like just a drum. I say get them both.

well what would ya'll think about a 10 on the rack and a deeper 12 on the floor next to a 14 on the floor?

I'd prefer both small toms, a 7 or 8 x 10 and at least a 9 x 12, in front and off to the side of the bass drum. If clearance is a factor, you can hang the 12 outside of the ten.

If you're just after the miniature look the 12 floor would be pretty cool.

yeah. i thike the mini look.

I use 8,10,12 rack toms. I also tune them down a bit more than usual. They not only look cooler, they allow greater flow of movement because they are closer together. Plus regardless of what anyone tells you, smaller toms will be louder/punchier. Try a rim shot on smaller toms, wow!

really? all i've heard is that compared to a 12, the 10 wont cut through or it will get lost in the mix.

Ok, I figured it out: get a custom built 11" drum! It's the perfect merge between a 10" and a 12" (at least the calculator thinks so).

Then spend the rest of your life looking for supplies of 11" heads!

oooh! 11, its one louder...

I'd have to say that is wrong. Especially if the drums are tuned correctly. I like more impact with a bit of pitch drop during the sustain of the hit.

I recorded a quick demo using my cheap stereo recorder, I just placed it front of the kit. It has automatic gain which puts a cool compression on the kit. I'm only using 8,10 toms, snare, bass, cymbal.

wow! how deep are those toms? and what heads are you using?

Yeah...IMO 10's are punchier than 12's and have no cut problems...however i prefer 12's any day of the week because it doesnt matter what floor tom you have whether it be a 14 or a 16...however if it is a 14 you will want a 14x14 and nothing shallower...because in my experiences 14 floors sound great but only if they are 14'' deep as well...the shallow ones just dont cut it...16'' are my personal fav....but go wiht what you like...a 12 and 14 or a 12 and 16...you cant go wrong with either...i suppose you could use a 10 14 setup...and have it sound great but as was said earlier its easier to make a large tom higher than to make a small tom lower.

Nice clip up there. Good example.

One thing about a 12 floor, legs will probably kill all the resonance.