Kick size - 20 vs 22 vs 24

[Meriphew]

What size kick drum do you prefer for recording and what type of music does it best suit in your opinion?

[abodean]

I would suggest, IMPO, a 22. not too big, not too small. Offers the best of both worlds.

But that's just my opinion. Regardless, get the best drum sounds first, make sure the drums going to tape sound good. This, IMPO, is more important than kick drum sound.

Also, tune your drums; very important to tune your drums.

-Andy

[wing]

I've heard 20's and even 18's that sound bigger than 22's and 24's, on occasion. Don't forget the importance of the drum's depth as well.

to me, a fantastic size is 20x16... lightweight and easy to move/carry around, but still sounds huge. My current one is that size, it looks small, and I have had comments that it sounds bigger than a 24. It just sounds really big and great... so it goes to show that other things come into play here, such as drum head, tuning, the shell/drum itself, and playing. So for me, as long as all those things are optimized, I'm all about 20".

But I also have a 24x16 which also sounds fantastic in whole different way... though I still prefer the 20 as it is lightweight and easy for me to go mobile with.

[djgout]

i'm a 20"-er myself, but i know how to use it!!!!

20" kicks have always sounded alot more focused than bigger size drums to me. I've played 16"-26" kicks and 20" is definitly my favorite. it's just big enough to get really low notes out and is just small enough to remain focused.
when i got my *new* ('71 gretsch, new to me) kit with the 20 x 16 i pretty much flipped out at how good the kick sounds

[J.B.Horns]

I think for recording, the 18s and 20s sound best- like the way I think 10" speakers sound better than 15s on bass cabs. That said, I love huge drums and 15" speaker cabs for live. I just think when you're sticking a mic with a 1/2" to 1" diaphragm in front of something so big, and playing it back through a 5-8 inch speaker, it's a little harder to translate.

[chetatkinsdiet]

Just pick the kick drum that sounds the best...regardless of size. Not to sound like the guys over on the RAP group, but that's sort of like asking which size amp is best to record with. It depends on the player, the room and the drum itself. The drum material, heads, muffling, etc...all plays a part in it that's probably equal, if not more important than the size of the drum.
later,
m

[HoneyBear]

Style of music is a factor of course. Just as a Jazz drummer will often play an 18" - its probably better to record him on an 18". The quality of the kit is the biggest factor. I've recorded a drummer with an 18" kick 22" deep (he built it himself) and it sounded fantastic. We took the front skin off - stuck a D6 inside - nothing on the beater and had a fat kick with nice definition and the right amount of pop. You just have to use your ears and in the room and again when you place the mic. If you don't have any bottom in the room - you aren't going to get it after you record.

[bunny]

as with most things musical, IT DEPENDS.

i play a 28" marching (not deep) drum with no holes in the front head and no muffling inside. it doesn't sound gigantic compared to my 22", but it's surely louder and can compete with the full stacks the rest of the band uses. i'm looking for a 16" rack tom (and a snare stand that will open that wide to accomodate it) and an 18" floor tom to complete the kit, make it as ridiculous as possible (15x12 marching snare, 24" ride and 20" hi hat - yes i said 20" hi hat).

but i found myself using the 28" on the *other* music i record, the quiet stuff, and i like it. a whole new boominess. so don't get hung up on size, just experiment and run with something you like.

[bunny]

[Zeppelin4Life]

Depends on the music...18", with head on and no muffling for jazz

22", muffled, and ported for rock

John Bonham used a 26" ludwig for most of his career...put that in a stone walled huge room+stairwell, and a loud as hell player..you get a kick ass sound

[neemer]

I wear 9 1/2. How's that for a kick??? Oh...wait a minute....wrong type kick....sorry....

[neemer]

Yes, Wes is wasting more space. But hey, I've wasted enough tonight.....