Basically I want this kit to mostly a studio kit, but I will play it live too, so the emphasis will be on its performance in the studio.
I already know a few things about my new kit, such as the make and the finish, etc. I also know that I'm not buying a snare drum with it (I have plenty and I'll buy an appropriate mate for this kit later.)
So basically I'm down to two very important factors: Sizes and Wood type.
Let's start with the kick drum. I will be having very mixed feelings about selling my Yamaha kit just on the strength of the kick drum. Easily the most agreeable kick drum sound I've ever mixed in the studio. Plenty of snap, and very controlled low-end. Not the loudest kick drum in the world but I'll never play either live or in the studio without a mic in it so that's the least of my concerns.
It seems that the popular size for kick drums in the past 10-15 years is the 22"x18" configuration. That being said I may be tempted to make my new kick drum a replica of my current Yamaha. That is to say: Maple shell and 16" deep instead of 18". Anyone here have a lot of experience recording 18" deep kick drums? Are there any remote benefits to the 18" depth with the possible exception of volume (which is not really a concern of mine.) Also something to consider is a 16" is cheaper and smaller, both things that I like.
Final question on the kick drum: Maple vs. Birch. I am pretty certain I am going to go with birch shells for the toms, but again for the kick drums I am thinking of maybe going a different direction and getting a maple shell to replicate my current kick drum. it may not really matter much in the end, but if this is the last drum kit I ever buy (and I really hope it is) then I want to get it right.
For the toms it is a bit easier. I know I'm going for birch shells (unless someone makes a very strong argument to the contrary.) because of the fundamental difference between maple and birch:
Internet wrote:Maple shells naturally have long and slow sustains ratios causing a warm and resonant tone throughout the drum. The addition of reinforcing hoops to maple shells provide strength, definition, and focus the overall sound. All reinforcing rings vary in size depending on the drums dimension. Birchwood shells tend to contain opposite tonal properties from maple. Birch naturally has short, fast sustain ratios causing a higher pitch and greater attack velocity. We do not install the reinforcing rings on the birch shells because of the overkill and choke that would result in doing so.
I like all of what birch would offer to my toms.
As for sizes, I have pretty much decided that I'm going with what some drum company calls "F.A.S.T." tom sizes. These sizes are shallower than standard shells of days past but seem to be somewhat in vogue in the past decade. "FAST" tom sizes are as follows:
Internet wrote:7x8"
8x10"
9x12"
10x13"
11x14"
12x15"
13x16"
14x18"
Now within those there are only 3 toms to really pay attention to: The 10", the 12" and the 16".
My question is whether or not to bother getting the 10" though. 90% of the work I do is just 12" and 16", and in my opinion the other 10% that could use a 10" tom, one could probably still use a 12" tom and no one would care. I really prefer playing a 4-piece configuration but if I'm going to make a custom kit with a custom finish, then maybe I should just got ahead a get the 10" so I have it if I need it.
I am really not interested in getting a 14" tom though. I'm pretty sure that is only useful 0.00247% of the time.