Drum Sizing Guide

Welcome to Newcastle Drum Centres drum kit sizing guide. Choosing a drum kit can be pretty daunting and when you throw different sizes into the mix it can seem impossible to choose. On this document well try to explain the differences between the four main size choices to make your day a little bit easier. If you have any further questions were always happy to talk and can be contacted with any of the details above.

22 Rock
This size is one of the more popular we stock. The 22 refers to the size of the bass drum and rock to the size of the toms. Just because its called a rock kit doesnt mean it can only be used in rock music however the slightly larger drum sizes do mean that it is a little better suited to louder situations. As weve already mentioned, a 22 rock kit will include a 22 bass drum. It also includes 12 & 13 rack toms (those that are usually mounted on the bass drum) and a 16 floor tom (the one thats on legs). As with most kits, theres usually a 14 snare drum included (although not always, so its worth checking) but other than that, thats pretty much it!

22 Fusion
Currently this size of kit is probably the most popular one we sell. As with the rock kit above the 22 in the name refers to the size of the bass drum and fusion to the size of the toms. As youll see below, a fusion kit has evenly spaced tom sizes which makes it a little easier to get the drums all sounding different. A 22 fusion kit is suited to most musical situations. A 22 fusion kit includes a 22 bass drum. It also includes 10 & 12 rack toms and a 14 floor tom. Sometimes in a fusion kit the 14 floor tom is swapped for a 14 tom which is usually a little shallower and has no legs so must be mounted from a cymbal stand. Some people prefer these so they can save on the amount of floor space their kit takes up. If you have a preference for one type of tom over the other its worth checking which one is included in a kit before buying.

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20 Fusion
As youve probably worked out by now the 20 in this kits name refers to the size of the bass drum and fusion to the size of the toms. As with a 22 fusion kit, a 20 fusion kit has evenly spaced tom sizes which makes it a little easier to get the drums all sounding different. The smaller bass drum in a 20 fusion kit makes it a little more suited to lower volume gigs although theyre often used in all sorts of performances. So the sizes included in a 20 fusion kit are a 20 bass drum, 10 & 12 rack toms with a 14 floor tom.

22 American Fusion
Probably the rarest of the four most popular sizes, the 22 American Fusion is for drummers who want the versatility of a fusion kit but with the wider range of sounds offered by a 16 floor tom. The sizes included in a 22 American Fusion Kit are a 22 bass drum, 10 & 12 rack toms and a 16 floor tom.

Anything Else?
There are quite a few other sizes offered by the various different manufacturers although the four above are far and away the most common. If youre after something a bit rockier than the kit above then its worth checking out a 24 bass drum kit or if jazz is your thang then a cheeky little 18 be bop kit might suit you better. However, by and large, the above four kits will probably cover the needs of the vast majority of drummers. It worth mentioning that weve only been speaking about the diameters of the drums (i.e. the size of the drum heads) in the sizes above and that drum kits are also available in different depths. If this has completely thrown you then were sorry, give us a ring or an email and well talk you through it. However, the diameters are the more important thing. Happy drumming, NDC x

NEWCASTLE DRUM CENTRE, 10-12 AKENSIDE HILL, NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, NE1 3XP. VAT REGISTERED: 633 551059 Page 2 of 2