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Preferred Bass Drum Size

M

MisterGroove

Member
Now that I have a few kits I’ve been trying to decide what my ideal bass drums size is. I have a 20x14 and 3 that are 22x16.

I am thinking about this from several perspectives. 1) Sound 2) Beater response 3) Set up.

I am finding my 20” has a punchier sound, nice bottom end. I am finding the 22’s aren’t as punchy and can’t seem to get the same kind of tight punchy with low end boom from them.

The bigger BD also seems to have a less accurate beater response making it a little more difficult to do more intricate patterns and doubles. I’m guessing this is because the extra 2” in diameter plus an extra 2” in depth means I’m pushing more air with each hit, resulting in more effort expended.

I also find the 22” BDs result in needing more effort to set up to my liking because the extra 2” in height then raises the toms higher to clear the BD. This is even more of an issue with the deeper toms in my 2000 Yamaha Stage Custom kit. This isn’t as big a deal as #1 but still something to deal with.

And last night I rehearsed playing my guitarist’s Ludwig Questlove kit with what I think was a 16” (or maybe 18”). That drum was easy to play but understandably lacked the controlled boom I get from my 20”.

I know this has been covered in some fashion before but can’t seem to find the thread. Would love to hear from those who have an opinion.
 
Thanks. Lots of posts that address bass drum sizes for specific genres but no threads that are broad and unspecific.

But I should add that my playing generally revolves around classic rock, blues, R&B, funk etc.
 
I'm going back and forth between the 18" and the 20" Renown kick. The 20" for some reason seems a bit too sharp and punchy and the 18" is resonant. But then again, I'm in a folk rock group and I'm kind of a frustrated rock drummer and want to cut loose 🤣 and get going on that kick and do tasty dynamic things on the snare
 
The 22” definitely give you that bigger boom but sometimes at the cost of tightness and quicker beater response. It’s like you said, moving more air takes more effort, which can slow down fast playing.
 
It’s wild how 2 inches turns your kick from “James Brown tight” to “Bonham loose.” Like, did I just age 30 years switching drums?
 
i love my 20x16...Pearl Master Custom Maple

it can sound like a cannon, tight and punchy, or a jazz kick. It is current ly set to punchy cannon!!
 
For sound I prefer 24" bass drums, always have, especially with modern advancements in bass drum head options. I love the tone of a 24".
For beater response 18" or 20", anything on the smaller spectrum.
For set up--at least for me--I now prefer a single tom set up which is not an issue with a 24" bass drum. Really not an issue with a single rack tom on any size bass drum. But if I were playing multiple toms I'd go either 20" or 22" to physically position the toms a bit lower for comfort.
Also for set up, if the stage is small and real estate is limited it obviously makes sense to go with a smaller bass drum.
 
I started with a 20" bd many years ago. Most of my heros were using 24"-26" drums, and I felt like mine was kind of wimpy. So when I got my next kit(s) I went with 24s.

I like the sound of 24s a lot, but they could also be a PITA to haul. A couple years ago I got the itch to try a 20" again, so I picked up a Ludwig CM in Downbeat sizes.

With modern heads and good tuning, I LOVE the 14x20 bass drum. It just sounds good. I think I felt my old 20 was wimpy because I stuffed it with blankets and pillows and whatnot, which was the fashion of the day, plus I wasn't usually mic'ed. But tuned right and not muffled to death, I think the 20" is amazing.

I mentioned in another thread that I just saw Jason Isbell. His drummer was using a 20" Gretsch, and it had all the low end punch you could possibly want. It sounded so good!

(22s, on the other hand, have never floated my boat. They sound fine, but just don't do it for me.)
 
Of course, different drums will have different results, but with the drums I've owned, I found a 16x20" bass drum to be the best all-around bass drum. The 16" depth gives me the lower pitch and good bottom end tone, with good beater rebound.
 
Stroman said:
I started with a 20" bd many years ago. Most of my heros were using 24"-26" drums, and I felt like mine was kind of wimpy. So when I got my next kit(s) I went with 24s.

I like the sound of 24s a lot, but they could also be a PITA to haul. A couple years ago I got the itch to try a 20" again, so I picked up a Ludwig CM in Downbeat sizes.

With modern heads and good tuning, I LOVE the 14x20 bass drum. It just sounds good. I think I felt my old 20 was wimpy because I stuffed it with blankets and pillows and whatnot, which was the fashion of the day, plus I wasn't usually mic'ed. But tuned right and not muffled to death, I think the 20" is amazing.

I mentioned in another thread that I just saw Jason Isbell. His drummer was using a 20" Gretsch, and it had all the low end punch you could possibly want. It sounded so good!

(22s, on the other hand, have never floated my boat. They sound fine, but just don't do it for me.)
Click to expand...

moral of this story?

no stuffing crap into your drum!!!! ;)

but yeah, with a Powerstoke 3 Clear batter, and Remo Ebony Reso, my 20" bd kills many other bigger drums with a punchy attack, and low end (or "ass" as my freind calls it) for days

sound guys love it because it is so easy to get sounding great
 
Like others I started my career using a 20" - did many things with it that turned out great. But... then there were a couple of requests (from people I worked for and greatly respected) asking if I would consider using something a bit bigger. That was enough for me to explore use a 22. And there was that bit lower fundamental pitch they were missing. And that was it. At least as far as a "go to" size goes (I'll use any number of sizes for specific effect).

But from then on - my go to size has been a 22" and decades later, no one has ever again suggested or inquired about me using anything different.

So 22x14 or 22x16 is my preference.

And at least for me, muffling or lack thereof, has nothing to do with it. Back when I made the switch, we were running single heads... but the differences stay consistent running rests with a port or intact resos. For me, the 22" just hits the most versatile sweet spot. For me.
 
I think 20 x 14 is a great size, particularly for a lot of modern music where sub-bass synth/samples or even 5 string electric bass have the low end covered. Just don’t over stuff it with laundry and keep the mic port hole small for max resonance . However, for me 20” kick can’t drive a guitar led rock band for that I need the fullness of a 22”. I rarely use my 18” kick but it is a lot of fun, slightly bonkers and surprisingly pairs well with really aggressive snare drums. In summary all kick drum sizes are good 16 -26 ” .
 
I only played 22" bass drums for years and years, until getting a 24" about 10 years ago. Now, the 24" is my favorite size, it just has so much tone and feels like it really fills up the low end space in a really satisfying way. I'm almost afraid to try a 26" because I figure it'll be just like my 24, only more so.

Last year I did play a backline kit with a 20" bass drum. It had nice tone and was just as punchy as I've heard they are, but I missed the presence I get with bigger drums.
 
I love my 20" .... it became my favorite when I put it on a lifter... that really improved the kick pedal feel and power.
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The two kits I've owned since 1994 have had 22" bass drums. I'd love to try a 24" and 26". I'm not interested in anything smaller than 22", even if Ringo did play a 20".
 
I started with a 20" on my first kit years ago. In the last 15 years, I've owned an 18 and currently have a 16 and a 20". I've played 22" as well but overall prefer the 20".
 
I've been going down in depth but staying with a 22" diameter. Making things a little easier to lug around. The Ludwig CM I just got a few weeks ago is a 22" x 14". So far I'm liking it.
 
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