IMHO, if you play a lot of Rock, Blues, Funk or Big Band Jazz, I don't think that you will like the 22 tuned up high. Also, if you like to lay into the BD and hold the beater against the head, you might not like how it feels either. The only situation where I've been happy with my 22 up high is when playing small group jazz (acoustic trio/quartet). For those gigs I usually use my 18 anyway. Bottom line? Tune 'er up and experiment with it! Good luck!

I've tuned a 26" up en muffled it a bit. Same pitch as a 20" but louder, more attack and tone, very present in a rock-situation.

I see what you mean, but i'm not really talking a drastic tuning up of the heads, just enough to maybe make my 22 sound like a 20" with a nice thud and sustain.. I guess i'll take your advice and experiment a little with it..

Thanks ! ;)

Wow ! i can't imagine ever tuning, let alone hearing what a 26" kick sounds like tune up that high !.. Must sound interesting..Hmmmm

I don't believe his high-tuned 26 would sound like my 20. I tune my 20 low and you would be amazed at the sound. Very beefy, meaty, thuddy....with tons of low-end......people generally are surprised it's a little 20.

But that was exactly the point: the only thing it had in common with the 20" was the pitch, for the rest it sounded different.

Unmiked 20" drums are not loud and present enough in my band.

Anyway, I play a normally tuned 24" in my band, which does the trick. The 26" was an experiment.

I crank the res much higher than the batter head. I like it. But it takes a few minutes to get that difference to sound good but it`s awesome.

I love it.

All of my 20s and 22s are tuned "Highish".

Coated ambassador on the batter, smooth white ambassador out front (The front head tuned a tad higher than the batter) and wide open. No felt strip, nothing in the drum.

The final touch, which I switched to over the summer from moleskin, is a round felt impact pad.