add-on Timbales?

[pcs90]

I'm looking for a 10" or 12" timbale that mounts onto a standard accessory l-rod as part of a percussion set. The 2 best options that I have found are the Pacific 10" Mini Timbale and Toca 12" Drum Set Timbale. Has anyone had any experience with either of these?
Specific to the Pacific Timbale: how low can it be tuned and still sound good? There is already a piccolo snare in this set-up which is tuned pretty high so I would want there to be a decent pitch difference between the two drums.

[Redeye]

I'm looking for a 10" or 12" timbale that mounts onto a standard accessory l-rod as part of a percussion set. The 2 best options that I have found are the Pacific 10" Mini Timbale and Toca 12" Drum Set Timbale. Has anyone had any experience with either of these?
Specific to the Pacific Timbale: how low can it be tuned and still sound good? There is already a piccolo snare in this set-up which is tuned pretty high so I would want there to be a decent pitch difference between the two drums.

I know this is a couple months old, but there is not nearly enough traffic in the percussion section, so I'm reviving a few older threads...

I've been using an LP drumset timbale, 12x4, for a couple of years and it sounds great. I believe they have 12x4, and 13x4 black or 12x5.5 and 13x5.5 in chrome. I've also had a brass 13" Pearl one for a long time and it holds up well. I'd say tuning time depends on how hard you hit, but my LP holds it tuning as well as any mid range drumset tom does.

[pcs90]

I ended up getting a set of roto toms instead. Not timbale-like, but some more sounds. I am still looking for timbales, however I think I'd get a regular double set with a stand now. Are there any sets that use a standard drum key? There is the option of getting a 12" and 13" drumset timbale and mounting them to a percussion clamp but I would like the set to be at least 13" and 14" for more tuning choices. Has anyone tried the LP Aspires with better heads? They seem to have drum key tuning but are more of a beginner set, however with new heads they might sound better?

[Russ]

The LP matadors are pretty good if you can afford them. Pacific timbales fall into the same category rotos and octobons do, they're effect drums. Not technically true timbale sound, but a good accent for drumkit players.

[Redeye]

I've be banging on the same set of Matadors for almost 15 years now and they still sound great. The stock heads lasted 5 years, then I went to the Evans J1 Etched. They are super thin and sound amazing. I've used one or the other on the left of my hihat quite a bit. The 15" tuned really low is killer, and you can float a cowbell off the rim easily. I'm seeing used sets going for $200-250, well worth it in decent condition.

[kay-gee]

Roto toms can do a good timbale impersonation. Great for reggae intro's and such.

all the best...

[PHROGGE]

Yeah what he said,,,,

[Drumbledore]

I own a regular sized pair of Mano Percussion timbales (13"& 14") and a pair of Dixon mini timbales (8"& 10"). I use the mini timbales way more than the regular ones, as the mini timbales would often be part of a full acoustic percussion set (with congas, bongos and various odds and ends) or one or two of them would be added to the left side of a regular drumset (often together with a small auxillary snare on that side). Tuned right, they have a great ring and crack. The larger timbales I'd get out usually if I'm jamming with Latin musician mates, as the smaller timbales you can't play cross-stick patterns on (obviously due to the diameter of their heads) plus the larger shells of the Mano Percussion timbales sound better when playing cascara patterns.

[Redeye]

Here's something else for anyone looking for a timbale sound to consider. I just got a Pearl Firecracker snare, 12x5 last night. With no muffling and the snares off, it sounds exactly like a 12" timbale would. The resonant head doesn't get in the way at all. You also get an awesome small snare sound. I'll post a video with sound samples sometime this week.