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Thread: Roto Toms

  1. #1

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    Default Roto Toms

    Thoughts ? Likes / dislikes ?

  2. #2

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    don't like. they're not very eye appealing to me. They sound cool but seems like a rack of 3 would be pretty heavy. Remo made a roto tom tuner so does that mean you can't tune them with a regular drum key?
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  3. #3

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    I know this will offend some people... because I've seen many with them so I apologize

    But they are cheap, ugly and no offense lame to me lol
    They were a fun concept but not for me haha.

  4. #4

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    Quote Originally Posted by SpazApproved View Post
    I know this will offend some people... because I've seen many with them so I apologize

    But they are cheap, ugly and no offense lame to me lol
    They were a fun concept but not for me haha.
    I've tried them and chose not to use any.
    Some guys buy them because they can't afford to add shells; I get that.
    Gretsch USA & Zildjian
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  5. #5

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    This one guy plays them in the park and they sound good but loud, very loud.

  6. #6

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    Nope never did never a need for them. Now a Roto hammer wow look out
    So whats so wrong with laughing. Some need to learn to laugh

  7. #7

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    I agree with you guys on this. I have no need or desire for them.

  8. #8

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    I've seen drummers do innovated things with them. My friend who's into busking will use a big one as a floor tom sort of. He has a compact kit to be able to move on the fly.

    I can see where they would be ugly on some hi end kits. But they have a place. I think that their great for young drummers who want to expand their kit cheaply but slinky had a good point about their weight. and the big ones are not cheap. Heck I'd add them but I don't have room.

    Also I can see the point where more drums don't make a better drummer. Downsizing might be the key to creativity to do more with less. Just a thought.

  9. #9

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    Can you buy a complete Roto tom kit? Just curious...
    SONOR 6 pc Special Edition 3007's red maple, old Pearl Brass 14x6 FF snare, Yamaha Tour Custom maple 8 pc., Tama 4 pc., honey amber B/B, Ludwig Supralite chrome 14x6.5 steel snare, Paiste, Saluda & Zildjian
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  10. #10

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    there's a doulbe bass roto tom kit pic floating around here somewhere. You'd need the Spoxe hi hat for it to be really legitimate though
    RDM/Damage Poets
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  11. #11

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    I appreciate the input, guys. The jury is still out for me, I'm kind of leaning toward a Remo 6/8/10 kit. It may be the right thing for me to do until I get better and get a better kit. Dunno........

  12. #12

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    Hey fastarrow if thats all you can afford right now to get you a couple extra toms then go for it, if you get a couple extra bucks to buy a tom or two you can always resell them someday, they seem to not depreciate to much, but they are not for me either.

  13. #13

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    I used to have 6,8,10, I liked them but they are pretty loud,and they're not heavy since the tuning wheels and mount bar are aluminum

  14. #14

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    Quote Originally Posted by wired View Post
    I've seen drummers do innovated things with them. My friend who's into busking will use a big one as a floor tom sort of. He has a compact kit to be able to move on the fly.

    I can see where they would be ugly on some hi end kits. But they have a place. I think that their great for young drummers who want to expand their kit cheaply but slinky had a good point about their weight. and the big ones are not cheap. Heck I'd add them but I don't have room.

    Also I can see the point where more drums don't make a better drummer. Downsizing might be the key to creativity to do more with less. Just a thought.

    Yeah, try not judging them as a substitute in a drum set for standard toms. Even though, In all fairness, that is how they've been marketed. How about roto-toms as a unique instrument in and of itself. Maybe some symphony orchestras would carry them their percussion section.. maybe some composers writing scores that call for them. I dunno .. just thinking. I think it would be a blast just playing roto toms in a drum circle or rhythm jam.

  15. #15

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    I agree with JoePasko, I wouldn't consider them as an alternative to a real tom. I was thinking of them as an addition to the kit, something with a different sound. I would rather have a nice tom rack and real toms to add on. I just have to work with the wife right now ! ;-)

  16. #16

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    Yeah my friend does crazy things like He'll have the hi hats set up in the 12 oclock position to the snare hovering right above it. And I've seen him have all his cymbals on only one stand in a stack configuration coming off the bass drum in a Christmas tree configuration, He tells me that it really tears his hands playing them that way.

    The roto tom as a floor tom idea is just for his street performance kit usually everything attached to the bass drum in case he's ran off and has to move everything quickly . What's funny is he'll let other drummers play his kit on the street and it usually throws a lot of them for a loop because he's also left handed as well.

    If I was going to buy some I think I'd buy the Remo brand because an off brand may not be easy to resale. But like my friend does with them, they would be cool to experiment with. Maybe take some old drums along with Roto toms and make a cabaret drum kit.
    Last edited by wired; 09-19-2015 at 11:29 PM.

  17. #17

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    Not to torture anyone, but here is the kit I'm thinking of buying. For those who do like them, what do you think ?

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0MoaoQNBcA

  18. #18

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    I have a Roto-Tom kit. Used to have one back in the 80's and loved it, sold it and always said I'd get another one. But those were different times with different sounds.

    I bought these Rotos a few years ago simply because....you know, you can never have too many drum kits and 7 wasn't enough. As mentioned I'd kicked myself in the head for selling the first one for 20 years.

    They have a unique sound that isn't as easy to "dial in" as you would think. In my ten pound opinion, YOU HAVE TO MIC THEM or they sound thin and ping-y. I also think they sound MUCH better when mic'd up from the bottom.

    I rarely use this kit......but, it's fun to play and many other fellow musicians and drummer like the sound of it.

    But....I admit, they're different.... and have their Haters simply because they look like something on a spaceship.

    I've been talking to a friend of mine and we've been brainstorming some type of rack for it. Who knows what we'll come up with and when. (and if).


    When I first used it out....and didn't mic it from underneath.


    FWIW....this particular Casino gig I set up early and left, when I came back the soundman (also a drummer) had mic'd the kit from the top. He dialed it in, but the next time there we mic'd it from the bottom and he had a 4 hour woody.
    Last edited by EddieV; 09-20-2015 at 12:31 PM.
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  19. #19

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    Quote Originally Posted by EddieV View Post

    When I first used it out....and didn't mic it from underneath.

    Dude, this is cool. I'd love to hear a recording of it all mic'd up nice.
    Kevin
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  20. #20

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    that full roto kit looks fun. I'd like to hear it.

  21. #21

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    Quote Originally Posted by EddieV View Post
    I have a Roto-Tom kit. Used to have one back in the 80's and loved it, sold it and always said I'd get another one. But those were different times with different sounds.

    I bought these Rotos a few years ago simply because....you know, you can never have too many drum kits and 7 wasn't enough. As mentioned I'd kicked myself in the head for selling the first one for 20 years.

    They have a unique sound that isn't as easy to "dial in" as you would think. In my ten pound opinion, YOU HAVE TO MIC THEM or they sound thin and ping-y. I also think they sound MUCH better when mic'd up from the bottom.

    I rarely use this kit......but, it's fun to play and many other fellow musicians and drummer like the sound of it.

    But....I admit, they're different.... and have their Haters simply because they look like something on a spaceship.

    I've been talking to a friend of mine and we've been brainstorming some type of rack for it. Who knows what we'll come up with and when. (and if).


    When I first used it out....and didn't mic it from underneath.


    FWIW....this particular Casino gig I set up early and left, when I came back the soundman (also a drummer) had mic'd the kit from the top. He dialed it in, but the next time there we mic'd it from the bottom and he had a 4 hour woody.

    I guess I'm stuck in the 80's, but I'd love to have that kit......................I've used roto-toms in many configurations over the years, but never had a full kit of them.

    I love them.

  22. #22

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    This is the only recording I have of the kit.... (of course....it sounds awful and doesn't give a fair representation of what it actually sounds like out front imo.)

    I use in-ears, and don't have a regular "speaker monitor" with any drum sounds coming through it so they sound very flat.

    This is with Malon Hawk. (Grammy Award Winning Mahlon Hawk..I might add!)
    "The problem with information on the Internet is that you can not validate it's authenticity. " -Abraham Lincoln

    SILVERFOX DRUMSTICKS & SOULTONE CYMBALS Endorsing Artist.

  23. #23

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    I've had a set since ... forever...hehe

    I don't gig with them but they are fun to have around and make a great add-on to expand a kit with something just a little different.

    Signature here

  24. #24

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    I had rototoms when i was a kid - once tightened one of them so tight the arms (or whatever you call 'em) cracked off the rim. still worked fine. Roto Toms for me are nostalgic...they're a novelty and work if you're going for an 80's sound. I have thought about picking up another set, but I have too much crap

  25. #25

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    Quote Originally Posted by Cdeleone View Post
    - once tightened one of them so tight the arms (or whatever you call 'em) cracked off the rim. still worked fine.
    That was a REALLY BIG problem when the PINSTRIPE head came out. Up till then most people used Remo CS Black Dots, Ludwig Rockers (great heads btw) and your typical single ply head on all drums including roto toms.

    When the double ply heads came out....you had to reef down on them to get them to sound good, ESPECIALLY on the Roto Toms and they would pop the roto tom spokes. More common on the larger roto toms too.


    And for all the SCROTO TOM HATERS out there!
    "The problem with information on the Internet is that you can not validate it's authenticity. " -Abraham Lincoln

    SILVERFOX DRUMSTICKS & SOULTONE CYMBALS Endorsing Artist.

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