[COLOR="DarkRed"]HI, and welcome !

~You can post in the Wanted section here.

~Not often, but several times a year on eFlay. The problem is, they end up going for a lotta money...talking over $300 range, usually.

~Edges wouldn't be different, actually. So, yes, it can be done; conversion of a bass drum. It begs the Q...is it any easier to find an 18x20 bass drum ? I don't think it is, but granted I don't look for them, either.

A few thoughts: Does it absolutely HAVE to be a Ludwig ? Precisiondrum.com can make up an 18x20 FT in the specifications of a vintage ludwig shell for you. They can even pre-drill for a muffler, leg mounts, and lugs if you ask. They can reproduce the Luddy bearing edge. Basically they reproduce a Ludwig drum.

It will end up costing less than $300, but will be a naked maple or mahogany shell. They do gorgeous work. Perhaps someone on Drumshed.org can also do one for you cheaper than Precision....

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Not Ludwig... not floor tom... but 18x20 ;) Till the right one shows up.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Tama-Starclassic-EFX-Bass-Drum-18-x-20-Liquid-Metal_W0QQitemZ230332624788QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item230332624788&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A1%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

Hi there D-Rum

Anyone who's had a 20" tom will attest to more cons than pros with 'em. Try finding a local store with 20" tom batters, which aren't the same as a 20" bass drum batter. So, you can get 20" tom heads over the 'net. Not very cheap.

You'll end up tuning it a lot higher after the first tune you've played gigging it, and you'll tweek it a time or two more before the end of the first set when you see how hard it is to get that big bastard's tone to blend with the rest of the set instead of thudding like an ocean of pudding.

Go for an 18," man. And if you've already got one and just want to add a deeper tom, tune another 18" down a third, and you'll have a much more responsive and satisfying drum.

I only throw this out here because I remember the headache my 20" floor tom used to be. It looked freakin' great, though.

I got a local music store to always stock a few 20" heads for me, but I ended up just leaving that drum in its case at home.

But if you go for it and grab one up, I also know you'll really dig it for a while... So, like, rock on, D-Rum brother !

Beatnikjazz Wrote:

Go for an 18," man. And if you've already got one and just want to add a deeper tom, tune another 18" down a third, and you'll have a much more responsive and satisfying drum.

Hi D-Rum, Welcome to the list.. I think you should look at Jaye and Beatnikjazz's ideas. First, say you find an 18x20 base.. you will have holes in all the wrong places and maybe a huge one where a tom mount was.

I think Beatnikjazz's idea would be cheaper. A friend of mine has two 16's..a 3ply maple and a 3ply mahogany tuned low. Man will that mahogany tom just melt right though you

Good luck,

Harry

Wow, thank you guys for the info! Right now i'm using an 18 floor, 14 rack, and 26 kick. Really the only reason I was wanting the 20 was because I was gonna re finish another luddy kit, but use a 16 rack and 28 kick. So I was really just looking to up the sizes. But I can see how a 20" floor would give me some problems. If I do anything, i'll probably go with precision, and have them make me one. I really appreciate it guys!

A 20" worked for Krupa! Cool1

Its all in the tuning.....Burger Kin

[COLOR="DarkRed"]Good point on the heads, Beatnik...I never even thought of that.

Harryc also makes a point many forget...just because tom sizes may be identical doesn't mean they have to be tuned identically. That's how the early, early "2-up" rigs were released...same size racks.

D-Rum...a question...if the 16" rack, what depth ?

Would you cut a 16 down, or use a previous marching tri-tom or snare ? (tri-toms tend to be 10" deep, marching snares 12" deep ....)[/COLOR]

Do you know what Ian Paice had his 16" cut down to? I think maybe it was 10". :D