2 floor toms?

[Frazzetto]

so, ive been really looking into mapex horizon 7 piece. its 3 up 2 down. and what i was wondering is.. when you see a person with 2 down, they cant comfortably reach the 2nd floor tom (usually 16") and rarely use it because of its far back positioning. I use 16 a lot! and if i get these, i want to make sure ALL of the drums are used! anyone show some pictures of some comfortable set-ups. maybe urs or a famous drummers. Just to show some options so that it can be just as easily accessed as the other drums? Thanks guys

[Aaaidn]

I have a Mapex Horizon 6 Piece, tried a 6 and 7 config before I bought. If a 2 down config is set up properly you can easily reach everything without straining. If not there'd be no one using them. If you don't like a standard 2 down config though I've seen people with a FT to the left of their hi-hats.

[EddieV]

This is one of the kits I use from time to time. An old Yamaha 5000 series.





I currently am using this kit off and on with a 10, 13, 16 & 18 toms. I love it. The only thing I adjust when I play it is the height of my stool - just a couple inches higher. I've never found it to be uncomfortable at all.

I've always like having two floor toms on the floor. Even if it's a 14 and a 16". Not sure if it's the two on the floor as much as I prefer only having two on the kick. I like a tight triangle between my Snare, Hats and kick.

[Drumbledore]

Here's but one example of a 3 up, 2 down. Mind you, my "floor toms" are 13" and 14" rack toms, but I sometimes change this to a 14" rack tom in the first floor tom position and a proper 16" floor tom on the far right. Everything is well within a comfortable position.

The rack toms are 8", 10" and 12", by the way. To the left of my main hi-hat on the left is a little 8" custom efx snare drum. Everything is placed well within comfortable reach. Notice that I place the 12" rack tom, the 13" and 14" "floor toms" in a straight diagonal line, as you'll see in the last picture. It's pretty ergonomic.

[veafer]

I find this setup very comfortable. But then, it's the same one that I have used for many years. Go with whatever fits you the best and you will never be wrong.

[Frazzetto]

ok cool thanks guys. and eddy, nice set man

[VIbes]

Here's the set up I use sometimes.

[late8]

I know exactly what you're asking and I've struggled to justify spreading the kit too far out stage left or right. I stand 5'10" with a short arms, long torso, short legs (T-Rex syndrome) and to keep in a relaxed playing form, I need the key pieces to be within the yellow lines of this pic:



The floor tom and the 16" roto tom are at the edge of my comfort zone but the other pieces are still within my reach. I could do without them but the challenge to push myself to reach for hard to get items makes practicing much more fun.

[ntn2it]

I have both of my floor toms (14" and 16") on my right side and can use both of them very well. Sorry for not having better birdseye pics for you, but I think this will give you a decent enough look at it.

[weezy]

You could put one of the floor toms on the left side like Larry Mullen Jr. does.

[areFish]

To echo Aaaidn, placing a FT where a side snare would typically go is a configuration I see from time to time. Also, if the 16 is your go-to drum, you can place that next to the kick and place the 14 next to the 16. That could make for some interesting fills.

[pastor_bob]

Here's my 6 piece Frazzetto. No problem reaching the 16" floor tom, and I'm not as young as I used to be - but then, who is?

I would say that if you are interested in the 7 piece, go for it. Hey, you can always make it smaller if you want.

[ty7177]

I use 2 down, but one is a 13" rack...
But my 16" is a little farther away from me so when I
reach for it my arm isn't cramped right into my side...

[livewire80]

I removed my 14 floor and now run a two up one down configuration. 10 12 and 16. I never really used that second floor Tom and was taking up extra space for on stage and not serving much purpose at all

[Rich_in name only]

have you considered a FT on either side of you? I use my 16" on my left and my 18" on my right.

[kay-gee]

Buddy Rich used 2 floors. The second one one used often as a towel rack.

all the best...

[fumbled time]

The 16" ft is my favorite drum, I don't feel it's out of the way at all. I get more comments on my 10 rack to being out of common place, It works fine for me though.

[wolvie56]

Don't use your tom mounts off of your bass drum, if you have them. Utilize a tom stand to off set your mounted toms to the left if your right handed. That allows you to put your ride over your bass drum, and then allows you to move your floor toms closer to your bass drum as well. Commonly called an off-set set-up I think.

[fumbled time]

Just love that custom classic wolvie, great color.

[Yoda]

As mentioned before you could put one to your left (I do this and its great) or set it up so its like this:



Put it higher and maybe tilt it abit towards you. Ive played a configuration like that (Three floor toms in a cluster) and its very comfortable.

[ThePloughman]

My two floor tom set ups are very comfortable.

[IAmNotATable]

The kit at my church has two. I'll usually either take off the 14" or put it to the left of my hats. Rarely do I leave it there. Check it, you can kinda see it over there. Talk about interesting fills... Quick triplets off that thing into the snare. Perfect for coming out of any breaks and such.



PS: Ploughman, is there any hope of me ever finding a 14" Holiday in blue onyx to match my kit? It'd be sweet to have one, but they are hard to come by and expensive do to their rareness. (So I've heard.)

[wolvie56]

Just love that custom classic wolvie, great color.

Thanks, man.

[ThePloughman]

IANAT, good things do happen. I feel I was pretty lucky when I found my 14x14 in sparkling blue pearl. Funny thing is, my 20-12-16 set is a cleveland dayton mix. All of them flat gray interiors. The 14 in right between the other two drums in serial range. The drum does have some finish issues, however they cannot really be seen.

So, yes. One could come to you.

[Frazzetto]

Thanks guys, helped a lot. and man.. youre sets are all beautiful! lmao.. when i geta new one. ill post pics :D cant wait. I WANTA BIG SET! haha