With the advent of modular rack systems developed by companies like Pearl, Gibraltar, Drum Workshop, Tama, and Yamaha, drummers now have the opportunity to position their components virtually anywhere in order to achieve playing position that's the most comfortable.
Along with offering more setup alternatives than conventional stands, there are other benefits to working with a rack, including...
- 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 simpler to move than typical 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 equipment quickly and consistently
I have to use a rack given the sheer number of components that make up my two kits - sixteen drums and fifty cymbals on one, and 13 drums and 53 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 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 operates 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 extra 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 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 enables more flexibility). Also, there's a slight cost savings in using a square bar rack in that there's no need to purchase memory locks for each rack clamp in order to prevent unwanted rotation/slippage.
In Part 2, I'll discuss 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 concerning your rack decisions or dilemmas, feel free to reach out. I'm always here to help!
Along with offering more setup alternatives than conventional stands, there are other benefits to working with a rack, including...
- 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 simpler to move than typical 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 equipment quickly and consistently
I have to use a rack given the sheer number of components that make up my two kits - sixteen drums and fifty cymbals on one, and 13 drums and 53 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 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 operates 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 extra 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 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 enables more flexibility). Also, there's a slight cost savings in using a square bar rack in that there's no need to purchase memory locks for each rack clamp in order to prevent unwanted rotation/slippage.
In Part 2, I'll discuss 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 concerning your rack decisions or dilemmas, 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 respected 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 respected drum
celebs.
