This might work for you. I invented this cradle years ago and I use it all the time. This particular cradle is built for a 14" tom tom conversion, but you could make one to fit any drum:

http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u89/O-Lugs/bassdrumcradletogether.jpg

http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u89/O-Lugs/bassdrumincradle.jpg

http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u89/O-Lugs/bassdrumcradletommounted.jpg

http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u89/O-Lugs/bassdrumcradlewithtomandcymbal.jpg

http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u89/O-Lugs/bassdrumcradlewithpedal.jpg

http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u89/O-Lugs/bassdrumcradleapart.jpg

....AND it all breaks down flat if need be! It's easy to build...INEXPENSIVE and very durable!

I'll probably build the next one a little bit different to see if I can improve on a couple of things. I painted this one black, but if you wanted to, you could even use some scraps of wrap to cover it to match the rest of the drums!

Well, anyway, it's much better than buying a cheapo "junior" kit, in my opinion. D' Drummer

*Note: The bass drum pedal does NOT attach to anything. It merely butts up against the little spacer block of wood (pictured). Since the pedla came with a footplate for added stability, it won't wobble and the whole thing sits on a rubber-backed rug, so nothing slips.

You can make this with a small amount of 3/4" plywood and a jigsaw in a couple hours for less than ten dollars!!Excited

Thanks for the replies O-Lugs,

I actually just pickup up a DW cradle yesterday.

Pretty fancy and pretty expensive.

I'll see what I can get done with this.

Something about a cradle just seems so temporary to me.

Anyone else attempt a Floor Tom to Bass Drum Conversion?

If so, got any tips or links to point me in?

Thanks!

Bob

Well, I like the fact that the cradle enables the tom tom to be converted to a bass drum without having to physically alter the drum, itself.

As far as a FLOOR tom (the kind with legs -not the hanging variety) goes, There are complete conversion kits available that allow a drummer to use the existing floor tom's leg brackets to be used with the swing-out style bass drum legs in conjuction with a lifting plate/pedal mount. I have no experience with that system, though. It does look good -more like a "real" bass drum, I guess.

There are just so many more options to these experiemnets these days. When I built my first bass drum cradle -nearly 20 years ago, there just weren't the choices there are now.

I have seen that DW riser. It looks very adaptable but it's a lot heavier and more complex than what I need. Danmar also makes a riser/cradle thingy and I think the pedal/lifter plates are offered by just about any major company now.

Anyway, I hope the DW works out for you! Burger Kin

I don't know how old or tall your child is but I got my son started at 4 or 5. I set him up on a kit composed of my rarely used pieces. A 16x16 floor tom as a bass drum using the DW cradle, an 8x10 rack tom and a 9x13 rack used as a floor tom. I used to gig with this kit at dinner places. At first I had him on a 10" snare so he could get close enough to the foot pedals. The problem was a hi hat that sat low enough so I picked up a kids hi hat that was a piece of junk and used my 10" minihats to allow it to get close enough to him. Eventually I got him onto a full sized Vistalite kit (12, 13, 16, 22 and full size snare). He's 8 now and he's quite comfortable on it but he's a 90th or so percentile height kid.

There is a picture of the kit posted in the Gallery as Gretsch Mini Kit. Most musicians don't dig the sound of the little bass drum (it's been referred to as a "midrange drum").

I think you'll find that it takes so long to get the DW cradle adjusted that you'll never want to fold it up so be prepared to leave it on your passenger seat if you ever need to take it out.

Regards,

Gary

Dix Hills, NY

Hi, 10 or 15 years ago I needed a bebop size kit to lug around the music con. So, I found an 18in Tama floor tom (super star i think), covered it in black, got some 18in bass drum hoops, put on the 'classic' Pearl tom mount (to mix and match with other assorted pearl drums I owned),(also the second tom mount hole was perfect for the ride), added some b/drum legs and it sounds great. Yes, I do realize now what I did back then was an absolute butchering but I'm thankful I didn't own my 67 slingerland then....its came in very handy though as it's very easy to lug. I would pick it up and carry it from the tom mount with the tom still attached. It's done 100 gigs and a couple of recitals, and now I'll just hold on to it until my 2 yo son is ready to play. I'll just set him up with 8,10,12 and the 18 and its more than enough for him to bash on and scratching it won't upset me a great deal. I've never tried these bass drum mounts but it's not an issue with an 18, you can set the beater to not quite hit the centre of the head but close enough to pull a more than acceptable sound. And miked up, it sounded huge.

My son will be 2 on March 1st. He loves sitting behind my kit, on my throne and playing the drums. The only problem being that he can't touch the pedals.

So yesterday I took my DW cradle and stuck a detuned 12x9 tom and set up my snare (took up too much room for his size though) and a 10x8 tom as a floor tom. Also riggesd up a small wuhan for him to crash on. He's digging it.

I'd really like to build him a 16 or 18 bass drum and fill in the rest of the kit with extra drums that I have now. So, I think I'm looking in the $350 range when all is said and done. A decent floor tom would cost that alone without the hoops, t's & claws and spurs. That's not including all the stands, cymbals and a smaller (soprano) snare.

If anyone happens to find a decent bass drum for cheap, please let me know.

Thanks for all the feedback.

Bob

You can never start them too early.....look at Buddy Rich.

So that my kid's feet could reach the pedals, I sat him on one of those step stools you give the kids to stand on while they brush their teeth. I also made sure the kit was in his room. He plays more that way. I saw Max Roach do a clinic once and he said he "literally woke up into his drum set each day." That's what I was looking for.