18". Miles actually bought the kit that Tony used, which was a RB black nitron 18-12-14. Though some of the live recordings from other countries were on borrowed kits with a 20" BD.

And later proved that a 24" worked in a traditional jazz trio setting as well!

Awesome....thanks for the info. I knew it was one or the other, but for some reason I thought that the 18s were not available until the end of the 60s...

P.s. I bought a Spizz 22" from you guys recently :)

Gretsch 18's were around from at least 1959!

Gosh...I was way off! Not sure where I heard that late 60s...

Here's an early RB 12x18 three ply with re-rings!

And,extra holes! Laughing H

I am curious as to your opinions on this: I have often thought that the advent of an 18" kick was simply based on the necessity of what would fit in the station wagon used for touring jazz trios and quartets back in the 50's. Necessisity being the mother of invention. 26", and 28" kick drums that were prominent at the time were just physically too big. Only after the fact did musicians start to see the value of a small, articulate kick. What do you guys think?

18's were made to fit in the back of NYC taxicabs..