Floor tom size intervals

[Disco Mystic]

I'm looking at adding either a 3rd rack tom or a 2nd floor tom to my kit. Regarding the floor tom I'm thinking of getting a 15x13 instead of a 14x14. I really don't like 14" FTs but I'm concerned the 15x13 won't be a big enough interval next to my 16x16. Thoughts?

Rack tom choices are either an 8x7 or 13x10. All my current toms are thin birch SQ2.

[Jules]

In my recent interview with Gavin Harrison he encounted a similar problem. But in his case, 14FTs had too much sustain. So he went to a 15FT but it wasn’t enough of an interval for his 16 so he went with the 15 and an 18.

[Jules]

Here’s the link to the interview. Later I will post the time there we had that part of the conversation.

[Disco Mystic]

Hey thanks Jules. I knew he had the 15 and 18 setup but I didn't realize that he had tried the 15 w/ the 16. As older cat I'm thinking the 3rd rack tom might be my better play as it would be less twisting back to the 2nd FT. A 13x10 might be the better play in that it might provide a more natural interval as well.

[Stevesmithfan]

Get the 15” in my opinion 14” floor toms are very challenging to tune.

[debotcher]

A 15 x 15 would mate well with a 16 x 16.

[_spelman_]

Get an 8" and a 14" floor. Order both now so you don't have to do the waiting game twice.

[Scott_M]

My SQ2 (Med Beech) is 10x8 and 12x8 toms, 14x14 and 16x14 floors, with 22x16 and 18x14 kicks. I find the 14" floor tom to be pretty easy to tune, and I get a nice, even interval spacing between each of the drums.

In fact, the 14" floors on my previous Birch Designer and even the SSE Bop kit were both just as easy for me to tune up as well.