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Thread: Converting floor tom to bass drum

  1. #1

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    Default Converting floor tom to bass drum

    After talking to a friend of mine at work about his son and his band. Some of the venues that they have played at were al most to small for their band. I have decided after a lot of consideration and price checking I am going to convert my 16"x16" floor tom to a 16" bass drum. I found bass drum hoops and a Dixon bass drum lift for a very good price that I can afford.
    I told my friend at work that a lot of drummers are down sizing their drum kits due to the small venues that are out there. We just don't have the big rock concerts like we had 20 to 30 years ago. Plus I won't have to go out and buy a new as it is called a jungle/ mini kit for $300.00 or $800.00. With that said once I am done I will put pics of my Gretsch catalina maple mini kit which I think will be a nice looking kit when I am finished.

    Keep drumming

    Gregg

  2. #2

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    Default Re: Converting floor tom to bass drum

    I did the same with a Remo 16" floor I had sitting around . I used the Pearl "Jungle Drum" conversion kit that they sell . Worked out just great .
    We too have seen the places get smaller . Not only that but you have to play at a lower volume as well . However I came to the conclusion that the small kick drum set up takes up as much room as the full kit . So I just take the full kit . All I had to do really was to learn to play softer . As a matter of fact when the bartenders see me setting up my full kit they all say " Alright !! A REAL drum kit ! ... we've had these guys come in with those TOY drumsets . I like feeling that kick drum !! Yea..play on !" Yes...that's what they say . Maybe if I had to carry my stuff in a cab or on the back of a bike I would think of switching .... but I don't so I keep using the full kit .
    That little kick thing is great for rehearsals tho cause I don't have to put it in a case or bag . I just throw it in the back of the truck with the pedal still attached . And it's quiet enough that we don't need the PA . All I use is the kick , hi hat and snare .
    I hope it works out for you .
    Rudy .

  3. #3

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    Default Re: Converting floor tom to bass drum

    I bought this CzechoSlovak Socialist Republic-made Amati kit to do something kinda similar, interestingly enough, I got a low-end Tama pedal with it, and you can actually attach it to the rim of the FT. so you might want to try just doing that, you probably will have to move the beater higher so it doesn't hit the head, or saw off part of the bottom. If that doesn't work, you probably can make a small metal plate to attach to the FT, and then attach the pedal to that...

  4. #4

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    Default Re: Converting floor tom to bass drum

    Quote Originally Posted by jedi View Post
    I did the same with a Remo 16" floor I had sitting around . I used the Pearl "Jungle Drum" conversion kit that they sell . Worked out just great .
    We too have seen the places get smaller . Not only that but you have to play at a lower volume as well . However I came to the conclusion that the small kick drum set up takes up as much room as the full kit . So I just take the full kit . All I had to do really was to learn to play softer . As a matter of fact when the bartenders see me setting up my full kit they all say " Alright !! A REAL drum kit ! ... we've had these guys come in with those TOY drumsets . I like feeling that kick drum !! Yea..play on !" Yes...that's what they say . Maybe if I had to carry my stuff in a cab or on the back of a bike I would think of switching .... but I don't so I keep using the full kit .
    That little kick thing is great for rehearsals tho cause I don't have to put it in a case or bag . I just throw it in the back of the truck with the pedal still attached . And it's quiet enough that we don't need the PA . All I use is the kick , hi hat and snare .
    I hope it works out for you .
    Rudy .
    I agree with this but in part. I love playing the 18 and it almost feels odd to play on a larger bass now. I do this not for space issues or anything, but simply I like the sound and ergonomics of it. (allows for a tighter set up)

    On the other hand, I find a 16" just a tad too small. By the time you raise it high enough for proper pedal action, you may as well be playing a 20". Plus you lose some of the important bass tones. That's OK for really quiet acoustic stuff

    all the best...

  5. #5

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    Default Re: Converting floor tom to bass drum

    I like playing my small kit. It took a while to get used to the feel of the 16" bass. It takes up less space on stage....not a LOT less, but It has definitely made a difference when trying to pack 7 guys into the corner of a tiny bar and still leave a dance floor. Plus, it's so compact and efficient to play that its a ton of fun.
    -Brian

    "Too many crappy used drum stuff to list"

    Play the SONG......not the DRUMS!!!

    "I think that feeling is a lot more important than technique. It's all very well doing a triple paradiddle - but who's going to know you've done it? If you play technically you sound like everybody else. It's being original that counts." ~ John Bonham

  6. #6

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    I just learned something new on this subject. Was looking for the legs for the 16" bass drum and found out they are called spurs and are made by Gibraltar. I ordered them today from GC. Thought I would pass that information along.

    Keep drumming:drumset-3

    Gregg

  7. #7

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    Default Re: Converting floor tom to bass drum

    I just learned something new on this subject. Was looking for the legs for the 16" bass drum and found out they are called spurs and are made by Gibraltar. I ordered them today from GC. Thought I would pass that information along.

    Keep drumming:drumset-

    Gregg

  8. #8

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    Default Re: Converting floor tom to bass drum

    Big bang distributes a product spur by ronn dunnett as well
    "FEEL DA GROOVE & PLAY IT FORWARD..."

    "BEAUTY IS IN THE EARS OF THE BEHOLDER ,
    ENJOY IT ALL,,, MY BROTHERS & SISTERS"

    COMMANDER & CHIEPH OF
    "PHROGGE'S AQUARIAN ARMY"

    LEGEND IN MY OWN MIND
    & FORCE BEHIND DA
    "PHX AZ LEGEND OF DA ZYDECO GROOVE VEST"
    (AND OTHER TOYZ) INCLUDING PIZZABOX SNARE DRUM

    IT'S ALL ABOUT DA SHOW !!!!!

  9. #9

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    Default Re: Converting floor tom to bass drum

    I use maxwin 16" floortom as bassdrum filled 1/4 full with styrofoam peanuts ,,,double headed use aquarian modren vintage ii head on batter ...modren vintage on reso ....vater lambwool beater on pearl kevlar strap bassdrum pedal 12" & 13 " tom also use aquarian modren vintage ii heads on batter sides....1st time ,,,,i have ever heard every guitar player i have worked with ,,,compliment me on sound of kit ,,,,,when's that hoppened to you???
    "FEEL DA GROOVE & PLAY IT FORWARD..."

    "BEAUTY IS IN THE EARS OF THE BEHOLDER ,
    ENJOY IT ALL,,, MY BROTHERS & SISTERS"

    COMMANDER & CHIEPH OF
    "PHROGGE'S AQUARIAN ARMY"

    LEGEND IN MY OWN MIND
    & FORCE BEHIND DA
    "PHX AZ LEGEND OF DA ZYDECO GROOVE VEST"
    (AND OTHER TOYZ) INCLUDING PIZZABOX SNARE DRUM

    IT'S ALL ABOUT DA SHOW !!!!!

  10. #10

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    Default Re: Converting floor tom to bass drum

    Once I put this small Gretsch catalina kit together The specs. will be as follows.

    Bass drum 16"x16"
    Floor tom 14"x14"
    Snare 5x14

    Gregg

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