With the advent of modular rack systems developed by companies such as Pearl, Gibraltar, Drum Workshop, Tama, and Yamaha, drummers now have the ability to position their components virtually anywhere in order to attain playing position that's the most comfortable.
Along with offering more set-up alternatives than conventional stands, there are other benefits to using a rack, including...
- racks lessen the overall footprint that a drum kit takes up on the floor, which is optimal when you have a limited amount of floor space or are forced to use a smaller than usual drum riser
- racks are lighter and simpler to move than typical stands with heavy tripod bases, and with plenty of gear as it is, lessening the amount of weight that we have to carry and move is a welcome benefit
- racks enable us to set-up our gear quickly and consistently
I have to use a rack given the sheer number of components that make up my 2 kits - sixteen drums and 50 cymbals on one, and 13 drums and fifty-three cymbals on another! Without a rack, it would also be extremely difficult for me to set-up quickly and accurately on a consistent basis.
If you're thinking about exploring the possibility of using a drum rack system rather than using stands and taking advantage of the full potential that racks can offer, there are a few things to consider when choosing a rack and setting it up for the first time.
Choosing The Type of Rack
There are 2 types of rack bars for your drum set - round and square. (Note: Yamaha utilizes a hex bar. However, for all intents and purposes, that bar functions like a round one.)
The great thing about using a round bar rack is that any rack clamp that you attach to the bar can rotate 360 degrees. To prevent clamp slippage and eliminate accidental rotation, you can install a memory lock next to each rack clamp for additional security. Another benefit of using a round bar rack is that they can be easily cut to any desired length utilizing a standard pipe cutter, allowing for some truly unique and custom designs.
A rack system like Pearl's that utilizes a square bar doesn't have any slippage issues whatsoever. However, because the bar only has four sides, you're limited to positioning clamps in only four positions (although Pearl does offer an optional clamp with a rotating end that allows for more flexibility). Also, there's a slight cost savings in using a square bar rack in that there's no need to buy memory locks for each rack clamp in order to prevent unwanted rotation/slippage.
In Part 2, I'll talk about topics like rack configuration, assembly, and how to mount your kit's components on your rack.
Should you have any questions or require specific advice about your rack decisions or challenges, feel free to reach out. I'm always here to help!
Along with offering more set-up alternatives than conventional stands, there are other benefits to using a rack, including...
- racks lessen the overall footprint that a drum kit takes up on the floor, which is optimal when you have a limited amount of floor space or are forced to use a smaller than usual drum riser
- racks are lighter and simpler to move than typical stands with heavy tripod bases, and with plenty of gear as it is, lessening the amount of weight that we have to carry and move is a welcome benefit
- racks enable us to set-up our gear quickly and consistently
I have to use a rack given the sheer number of components that make up my 2 kits - sixteen drums and 50 cymbals on one, and 13 drums and fifty-three cymbals on another! Without a rack, it would also be extremely difficult for me to set-up quickly and accurately on a consistent basis.
If you're thinking about exploring the possibility of using a drum rack system rather than using stands and taking advantage of the full potential that racks can offer, there are a few things to consider when choosing a rack and setting it up for the first time.
Choosing The Type of Rack
There are 2 types of rack bars for your drum set - round and square. (Note: Yamaha utilizes a hex bar. However, for all intents and purposes, that bar functions like a round one.)
The great thing about using a round bar rack is that any rack clamp that you attach to the bar can rotate 360 degrees. To prevent clamp slippage and eliminate accidental rotation, you can install a memory lock next to each rack clamp for additional security. Another benefit of using a round bar rack is that they can be easily cut to any desired length utilizing a standard pipe cutter, allowing for some truly unique and custom designs.
A rack system like Pearl's that utilizes a square bar doesn't have any slippage issues whatsoever. However, because the bar only has four sides, you're limited to positioning clamps in only four positions (although Pearl does offer an optional clamp with a rotating end that allows for more flexibility). Also, there's a slight cost savings in using a square bar rack in that there's no need to buy memory locks for each rack clamp in order to prevent unwanted rotation/slippage.
In Part 2, I'll talk about topics like rack configuration, assembly, and how to mount your kit's components on your rack.
Should you have any questions or require specific advice about your rack decisions or challenges, feel free to reach out. I'm always here to help!
About the Author:
Victor Salazar is the proprietor
of Vic's Drum Shop, an internationally famous drum and percussion store in
Chicago, Illinois. The voluminous knowledge of drum gear that he's accumulated over his forty
year career has made Vic a sought-after resource for beginning drummers, drumming
hobbyists, professional drummers, and many of the world's most famous drum
celebs.
of Vic's Drum Shop, an internationally famous drum and percussion store in
Chicago, Illinois. The voluminous knowledge of drum gear that he's accumulated over his forty
year career has made Vic a sought-after resource for beginning drummers, drumming
hobbyists, professional drummers, and many of the world's most famous drum
celebs.
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