help buying shells, and good sizes

so forget about recoating, i am just going to try to buy 2 tom shells (high tom and floor tom)

http://www.drummaker.com/

-seems to have a good pricing on them, but they dont come with holes in them for lugs, at least i dont think? so how would i go about getting my lugs on? i am definatley no good with a drill.

i got a really nice bass drum and really nice snare today so my toms sound like crap. i think i am looking for a high tom at 8x10, so what would be a good size floor tom? i play heavy music with some indie and some pretty fast screamo. thanks for reading, id appretiate your help.

-rik

Drummaker.com will drill your shells and put edges on them for you if you want him to. His labor costs are pretty reasonable. I'd check out amdrumparts.com, he'll cut your edges and drill holes for free in the shells if you buy his custom lugs (assuming you need lugs).

As for sizes, if you get a 8x10 shell, then i imagine a 12x14 would be a good size floor tom. Anything bigger than that and you're gonna have a monster gap in sound. Personally i like 10x13 and a 14x16 floor tom. Deep enough for rock, but they can be tuned to fit just about any scenario. I'd be reluctant to use a 10 and 14 inch tom in heavy rock type music. Small toms in that setting just don't do it for me, but that's just me.

Do NOT get a tom that's 8" deep for your only rack tom! I made that mistake, and it was a STUPID decision. Get a 10", and tune it high when you want to play high, but it's a real bitch to have an 8" and tune it like a 10" all of the time - you go through heads like nothing and you lose a lot of resonance if you have to tune it really low. I suffered for a couple months using my 8" as my primary tom, and it was hell! I went through so many heads because I had to tune the tom real low, so the head was always getting dented. And even when I had a new head on there, it sounded like ass because I had to tune it so low, so it was just very...'blah' sounding; just a thud - the drum did not sing at all .

My toms are 10X8, 13X11, and 16X16. Before I was using my 13X11 as my floor tom! It was horrible! If you get a 13X11, I would suggest getting a 14X14 for a floor tom though, because 5 inches depth is a big jump from one tom to another. Then for depth you have 8", 11", and 14"...which is nice. I'm going to add a 14X14 floor tom soon, I hope.

Sorry I don't have any advice on the lugs and everything.

maybe im mixed up... with you say #x# which comes first, the deepness of the drum, or how wide it is(like the head size)?

how about this instead of 8x10... getting a 10x8... for my only rack tom, then what would be a goof floor tom size? thanks for all the advice.

-rik

because my snare is 12" (12 inch head, 4 inches deep) and it seems stupid to have an only rock tom that is bigger then you snare. thanks again-rik

:confused: i cant even find any 12x14 floor toms. ugh i need so much help its not even funny. i need to get these as soon as possible too, before we go to south dakota to record.

whats a good size floor tom if my rack is the same size or smaller then my snare (12" across the head)

thanks

-rik

i believe the sizes are "depth of the drum" X "diameter of the drum". with that said, i believe that maybe a 14x14 floor tom, or if u can't find one in 14x14, 14x16.

if you wanne be safe with sound, then get a 13(width)x9(depth), or 14(width)x10(depth)and a 16x16 floor tom. i dont know about your sanre, i was a lil confused after reading this post, you have a 10 inch snare?? if so then just borrow a 14 inch, prolly 14x6.5:D but those sizes(not including snare) are normal for a rock sound and do great. good luck!

I have a five piece kit, but only play a 4 piece. I mostly use a 9x12 (12 in drumhead) and an 11x14 when I play live with my heavy rock band. It works well for me. I have an 8x10, which I will sometimes substitute it for the 9x12 when playing live, which works really well too. I always use the 8x10 and 11x14 configuration when I record though. An 8x10 sounds killer recorded if you have it tuned right.

I think if you are gonna be playing live hard rock, go with a 9x12 or 10x12 with a 11x14 or 12x14 or even go with a 16inch floor. 12 and 16 inch toms are a good combination. Hope this helps.

Jason

I agree.

Personally, I would suggest either a 10"x12" and a 14"x16" (either a rack tom, or a floor - whichever you refer.)

One of my friends uses this configuration, and it sounds really good together....I always thought that the 12" tom would be too small, but it sounds great together, and he uses Ambassadors on both sides of the toms. These things sound GREAT when they are mic'd up.

Tim