Regular or Deep Toms

[drummer]

Curious. How many have power toms and how many have regular size toms?
I would think most have power toms, yes?

[Boo]

I used to use power toms (a really silly name for them), but I found them very hard to get tuned well. The few inch difference between the top head and bottom head really made a difference in tuning...but that's just me. They did look really cool though.

[Utopia]

whats the diff?....how much bigger is a power tom?

[pinkfloyd]

well ....for instance ....an 8" power tom is 10" deep instead of 8

this is an 8" Power tom



this is a regular

[1DrumBum]

I just use regular toms. I wish I could aford a set with concert toms like Metal Drummers. D*** they sound good!!!

[LIMPy]

Deep toms for me. More depth and power overall.

[METAL DRUMMER]

I just use regular toms. I wish I could aford a set with concert toms like Metal Drummers. D*** they sound good!!!

THANKS, 1DrumBum. I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one that appreciates them. And they look cool-as-hell too!!!!!

[Utopia]

i c....thanx 4 clearing that up for me pinkfloyd...i had no idea that power toms existed...now i wonder what mine are...i'll have to check....

[zar99]

power toms

[bongobro]

Thanks for the visual explanation, pinkfloyd. Looks like I'm a regular guy...while you get a cooler look and maybe a deeper sound, the regular toms do the job for 99 percent of what I play...

but if you like the deep toms, go for 'em!

[drumsetsnide]

Well, I'm getting to this thread very, very late but what the heck, I'll chime in. My '86 and '88 Granstars and my '93 Rockstar have power toms, my 50's Gretsch has regular toms and my '99 Starclassic Performer has accel (in between the traditional/regular and power toms) size toms.

[Xoferif09]

I'm too short for deep toms..So I like the smaller "fast" sizes. My Pacific toms I believe are the perfect depths.

[jazzkat]

My toms are not traditional depth or power depth.
idk
8x10
9x12
11x14
13x16

9x12 over the 22" kick is a little tough for my short ***. would like the 8x12

[Russ]

I wish I had one kit with deep toms to compare them side by side, but alas I can never find nor afford a set with those sizes. Currently only my floor toms are real deep sized, and man they pack some real thunder into every stroke! Can't imagine how an entire set of drums like that would be to play, my only experience with those sounds is with BFD's recording custom kit samples. I would love to play on one of those types of kits one day, but I assume the weight and size of them would make transportation as well as positioning of the drums something of a challenge.

[drumsetsnide]

The '88 Granstars have deep or power toms and a thick 9 ply 100% birch shell. They are thunderous and projective yet have a nice tone (even with a 22x18 bass). As we all know the traditional size toms are very vocal and light (even shallow? sounding) but still have a nice tone. The Accel sizes have a bit of both. They have a good low end with a great tone and can be played light as well. Played both heavy and light (head choice plays a part as well, obviously) they have a fantastic response. They are loud and projective when they need to be and light and "airy" when the music calls for it.

[wolvie56]

well ....for instance ....an 8" power tom is 10" deep instead of 8

this is an 8" Power tom



this is a regular

I don't see your visual examples. Assuming there were pictures.

[Ciz]

Neither. Mine are not square nor deep, I've got the 'fast' sizes by DW. 10x8,12x10,14x12,and 16x14 toms. I love the sizes.

[ThePloughman]

14x20, 14x24, 16x18 Bass drums
8x8, 8x10, 8x12, 9x13 mounted toms
14x14, 16x16, 16x18 Floor toms

I sold the only thing I had even close to a "power tom," a 10x12 on an otherwise fantastic set of drums, Ayotte Custom. Absolutely fantastic set of drums, but that size sucked. 10x12 is something that belongs on a luan shell low budget import from the 80s. It doesnt belong on a high end custom kit with thin 6 ply all North American maple shells with reinforcing rings. I hated it. Loved the drums for their quality, but hated that one drum with a passion. it never really could be made to match sound projection or resonance in the 4 piece. Why give 4500.00 for a high end custom set and then put two ply muffle edge heads on it to make it sound like a set of exports? I did not buy them new, got them for cheap and made a little bit when I sold them for 850.00.

Deeper sizes probably work great for soft wood drums, with thick shells that lack resonance. They dont work for thin maple shells.

Torpedo Tubes belong on a submarine.

Some people might like them, I dont.


This really was a blast from the past thread.

[Drumbledore]

All I ever play are regular sized toms. 8"x6" (8"x7" on my Ludwig Epic set) 10"x8", 12"x8", etc etc. No F.A.S.T. sized floor toms either, unless you count the fact that I use a 14x10" rack tom as a floor tom with one of my kit set ups, and maybe might ocasionally play a 16"x16" regular floor tom together with it.

[areFish]

Neither. Mine are not square nor deep, I've got the 'fast' sizes by DW. 10x8,12x10,14x12,and 16x14 toms. I love the sizes.

12 x 9, I knew what you meant.

[pastor_bob]

The Catalina Maple kit has 10X8, and 12X9 ride toms, but then the floor toms are square at 14X14, and 16X16. My Gretsch Catalina Elite Jazz kit has a 12X8 ride tom, and a 14X14 floor tom.

[dave0549jv]

I've got the pdp fast sizes too

[Russ]

Really the standard 12x9, 10x8, 8x7 trend that you see on so many sets today is put there for good reason. It works, it's tried and true and will always sound good no matter what you play. It's in some cases a lot harder to make a big tom sound the way you want it to, than it is for a smaller one. I'm sure 80's-90's diehards will always revert back and fight it tooth and nail, but shorter toms have caught the eye and ear of many modern day drummers for good reason. They are very versatile.

[marko138]

My toms are not traditional depth or power depth.
idk
8x10
9x12
11x14
13x16

I have the exact same sizes and Tama calls them "accel" sizes. But they seem shorter than most toms. Tama called toms "deep" that were 1 inch deeper...which I would say is regular size. This was from their 2001 catalog...the year my drums were made.

[ThePloughman]

Deleted by ThePloughman due to the asinine rules regarding vintage content.