The 4 Best Roto Tom Sets (2024) (What They Sound Like, How They Work)
Roto toms are great-pitched drums that can add a bit of spice to your sound. They have no shells and are tuned by rotating. Because they are pitched, they are also a great instrument to match the key of any song you would like to play and fill in with amazing sound combinations and pitch.
My top recommended roto tom set is the Kalos KP-6810 Roto Tom Set. This is a great-quality set with sturdy construction.
My second recommended roto tom set is the Gammon Percussion JBCT6810 Roto Tom Set. This is an affordable and quality set with a heavy-duty stand.
Contents
- The 4 Best Roto Tom Sets (2024)
- 1. Kalos KP-6810 Roto Tom Set
- 2. Gammon Percussion JBCT6810 Roto Tom Set
- 3. Remo Roto Tom Set
- 4. Ashthorpe Roto Tom Set
- What Are Roto Toms Used For?
- How Do You Mount Roto Toms?
- What Is The Difference Between a Roto tom and a Concert Tom?
- Some Famous Drummers Who Use Roto Toms
- Benefits and Drawbacks of Roto toms
- Conclusion
The 4 Best Roto Tom Sets (2024)
Let’s compare these in more detail.
1. Kalos KP-6810 Roto Tom Set
The Kalos KP-6810 Roto Tom Set is a well-rounded set of roto toms that feature a die-cast metal frame, making it exceptionally sturdy and providing great longevity.
This set comes with a double-armored and heavy-duty support stand with adjustable height. You can adjust it according to your preference, whether you want to play them individually standing or place them next to your drum set while sitting.
Overall, it’s a great roto tom set with superb value for money that will make an excellent addition to your drum set or as an individual setup.
2. Gammon Percussion JBCT6810 Roto Tom Set
The Gammon Percussion JBCT6810 Roto Tom Set is a budget-friendly set that comes with 6″, 8″, and 10″ roto toms and a heavy-duty stand.
This set has tunable roto toms, placed on a double-braced and exceptionally sturdy stand that provides good stability for playing. Using the rotating drumheads, you can raise or lower the tension hoop and adjust the pitch.
With a durable tripod stand, quality construction, and tunable roto toms, the Gammon Percussion JBCT6810 is a great value-for-money purchase.
3. Remo Roto Tom Set
The Remo Roto Tom Set comes with three standard-sized 6”, 8”, and 10” drumheads and makes for a reliable option for excellent-quality roto toms.
Each drum has an effective range of about an octave. The sound and the pitch are great, as you would expect from Remo. They feature a super heavy-duty plated counterhoop and tension rod as well as a double-braced stand.
With heavy cast frames in a black finish, great quality sound, and sturdy construction, the Remo Roto Tom Set is a professional choice.
4. Ashthorpe Roto Tom Set
The Ashthorpe Roto Tom Set is a budget-friendly option that comes with 6″, 8″, and 10″ toms with Remo UT-series heads.
You can individually tune each tom with the tension rods for full-octave tuning and either add them to your existing drum set or play them individually. The heavy-duty stand is double-braced and height-adjustable.
In a nutshell, if you want quality yet affordable roto toms with Remo heads for great sound, the Ashthorpe Roto Tom Set is one to consider.
What Are Roto Toms Used For?
Roto toms are typically easy to play and tune. Roto toms create a timbale-like sound. They are relatively light and affordable, which makes them a nice option to add some nice sounds to your set without much hassle. Because they are pitched instruments, they can be tuned to the key of the song being played, which is a big advantage.
How Do You Mount Roto Toms?
The mounting of the roto toms seems a little complex as there is more than one option to mount them. The standard one is the track mount. The track is made up of a long metal rod that has got a built-in channel that holds the central threaded spindle.
Tightening handles or levers are threaded with the spindle to fasten the roto toms in the track space. There is a drawback to the track mount system; the drums are to be positioned linearly, whereas, some drummers find it easier to position their drums in a curve or a non-linear arrangement.
Other than the track mount, there is an individual clamp mount that supports only a single roto tom. But you have to do a significant amount of tilting over the top of the stand to make it vertically upright.
The single drum is attached to a screw in the center whereas the hoop is connected to a wheel that has a central nut. The nut slides on the screw. Once you turn the wheel, the single drum experiences a tension that creates a clear sound.
What Is The Difference Between a Roto tom and a Concert Tom?
Roto toms are drums without shells that can be tuned by rotating them. Concert toms are single-headed toms with shells and they have quite a different sound because the wooden shell gives concert toms quite a different tone and resonance.
Some Famous Drummers Who Use Roto Toms
Many prolific drummers have used roto toms to up their musical game. Some of these notable stars were Phil Collins, Taylor Hawkins, and Nick Mason of Pink Floyd.
Phil Collins used roto toms early in his career. Taylor Hawkins from the band Foo Fighters likes to include several roto toms in his traditional drum kit. Likewise, Nick Mason used roto toms to record the special introduction of the band’s popular song ‘Time’ from the album The Dark Side of the Moon.
Many such names have utilized roto toms, that too, in a great number. Composer Sir Michael Tippett had a whopping total of 38 roto toms, tuned chromatically and spanning across 3 octaves.
Benefits and Drawbacks of Roto toms
Pros
- Super versatile instruments that can produce sounds of various pitches
- They have an octave-plus range of tunes and are easily tunable
- Cost-effective instruments that are great as additions to existing drum sets
Cons
- They take up some space on stage or in your drum setup
- They require a stand
- They do not project as well as deeper drums
Conclusion
To wrap it up, roto toms are a great investment if you are looking to expand the sound combinations of your drum kit. They’re not the default go-to choice for drummers, but they are a reliable drum set add-on that can spice up your sound.
My top pick is the Kalos KP-6810 Roto Tom Set, a great-quality roto tom set with sturdy construction.
My budget pick is the Gammon Percussion JBCT6810 Roto Tom Set, an affordable and quality set with a heavy-duty stand.
Featured image by Andreas Hünnebeck / CC BY
