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 align their components virtually anywhere in order to achieve playing position that's the most comfortable.
Along with offering more set-up choices than conventional stands, there are additional advantages to working with a rack system, such as...
- racks lessen the overall footprint that a drum kit takes up on the floor, which is ideal when you have a finite amount of floor space or are forced to use a smaller than usual drum riser
- racks are lighter and easier to move than conventional stands with heavy tripod bases, and with plenty of gear as it is, reducing the amount of weight that we have to carry and move is a significant benefit
- racks enable us to set-up our kit quickly and consistently
I have to use a rack given the sheer number of components that make up my 2 kits - 16 drums and fifty cymbals on one, and thirteen drums and 53 cymbals on another! Without a rack, it would also be impossible for me to set up quickly and accurately on a consistent basis.
If you're thinking about exploring the possibility of using a 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 employs 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 avoid 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 using 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 at all. However, because the bar only has four sides, you're limited to positioning clamps in only four ways (although Pearl does offer an optional clamp with a rotating end that enables more flexibility). Also, there's a slight cost reduction in using a square bar rack in that there's no need to get memory locks for each rack clamp in order to prevent unwanted rotation/slippage.
In Part two, 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 choices or challenges, feel free to reach out. I'm always here to help!
Along with offering more set-up choices than conventional stands, there are additional advantages to working with a rack system, such as...
- racks lessen the overall footprint that a drum kit takes up on the floor, which is ideal when you have a finite amount of floor space or are forced to use a smaller than usual drum riser
- racks are lighter and easier to move than conventional stands with heavy tripod bases, and with plenty of gear as it is, reducing the amount of weight that we have to carry and move is a significant benefit
- racks enable us to set-up our kit quickly and consistently
I have to use a rack given the sheer number of components that make up my 2 kits - 16 drums and fifty cymbals on one, and thirteen drums and 53 cymbals on another! Without a rack, it would also be impossible for me to set up quickly and accurately on a consistent basis.
If you're thinking about exploring the possibility of using a 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 employs 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 avoid 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 using 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 at all. However, because the bar only has four sides, you're limited to positioning clamps in only four ways (although Pearl does offer an optional clamp with a rotating end that enables more flexibility). Also, there's a slight cost reduction in using a square bar rack in that there's no need to get memory locks for each rack clamp in order to prevent unwanted rotation/slippage.
In Part two, 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 choices or challenges, feel free to reach out. I'm always here to help!
About the Author:
Victor Salazar is the owner
of Vic's Drum Shop, an internationally renowned drum and percussion retailer in
Chicago, IL. The vast knowledge of drum gear that he's accumulated over his 40
year career has made Vic a valuable resource for beginning drummers, drumming
hobbyists, professional drummers, and many of the world's premier drum
superstars.
of Vic's Drum Shop, an internationally renowned drum and percussion retailer in
Chicago, IL. The vast knowledge of drum gear that he's accumulated over his 40
year career has made Vic a valuable resource for beginning drummers, drumming
hobbyists, professional drummers, and many of the world's premier drum
superstars.
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