Racks

when are racks used most ? as in when is it a good idea to get one ? when you decide you are going to get alot of cymbols and add toms or ?

I would generally say, that most people use a rack, because they have too many drums and cymbals to easily use stands. It just becomes a set up nightmare with lots of stands. With a rack, its easier to set up more things... simply. Some think that a rack offers better placement of drums and cymbals, and some just like the idea of being able to lift the rack and carry all your stuff offstage.

I found that stands are easier to deal with. Once you have your kit on a rack, it becomes a job for the National Guard to get it onstage. I've seen more than one fall apart during "liftoff" at a gig. I've also seen entire sections of a rack fall while the music is going. Kind of stops the gig right there.

I have my electronic kit on a rack for now because it isn't going anywhere. I went the cheap route and bought clamps, then found thin-wall gas pipe and schedule 40 metal water pipe that the clamps fit around. I think at the time I set it up I was buying 12 foot lengths of the Sch. 40 for $9 apiece. The gas pipe was much cheaper. The heavy stuff provides vertical support, while the thinner stuff is set horizontally.

If I wanted to get really anal I'd bring the pieces down to a plating shop for some chrome, but why waste the money? You can't tell what it is unless you really look at it, and nobody will care anyway.

yeah, i was just giving info. i personally hate racks.

Moreso than ease of setup, I think it becomes less confusing the more you have. If you have a dozen cymbals to set up, it's going to get crowded with all the stands. If you have a rack, not only will it be less crowded, but you'll have more options. You won't have to worry about stands getting in the way if you need to shift a cymbal over a few inches.

That's why I don't like racks...I have a minimalist setup. 3 toms, 3 cymbals.

i think it defiantely depends on the kit coniguration , but i love my rack system . within minutes i can customize the size of my configuration to suite whatever venue that i'm playing , and it comes in really useful in the various studios when space is always a major factor .. it's really a beauty in the eye of the beholder thing i guess. and more for the function purposes than hey that looks cool .. but i can't imagine how awkward the past 3 yrs. of playing ,and using my kit at home and various locations without having the ease ,and versatilty of my kits rack system .. stands in most cases of my kits configurations that i use would just take up too much room ost times,and would just be that much more to lug around ..

just my 2 cents worth ,

sam(otacon28)

however, otacon's set is mental

hahhh !!! of all of the comments i have gotten on my kit this is first for that statement .. that's cool man '

sam(otacon28)

who makes the better racks? im looking for one that will be able to hold alot of cymbols

Dude, you're the minimalist's minimalist. There's nothing on that rack but a cowbell!

here's a pic with all the gear mounted . figured on my original post that it would be easier to see the rack without all the drums and cymbals on it . i have been using this rack system for the past year with my acoustic kit,and never have had anything not stay where i want it to ..

sam(otacon28)

that's really a hard call , because each drum rack in my opinion has it's own features that set it apart from the others .. i prefer the gibraltar ones for the fact that they are extremely solid,and mounting possibilites are kinda endless .. the tama ones are nice too , and i know there's alot of drummers on here that like the pearl racks as well , so i think it's really on what's more important to you when you want a rack for your kit . alot of people have made mention to clamps slipping on the round tubing racks . i have rack style memory locks on every clamp,so this has yet to happen to me . plus i like the gibraltar ones for the mere fact that alot rack parts and peices are easily obtainable when you want to expand your existing rack to make room for more gear (ebay almost always has at least a half dozen auctions for gibraltar clamps on there too) i like the pearl racks too. i'm just not a big fan of how limited it seems with the square tubing ...

sam(otacon28)

Octacon: how long does it take you to set up?

I'm getting closer to getting a rack myself, and here's how I see the different choices:

Pearl: Square rack rail prevents slipping...it also prevents you from using anything but Pearl's rack clamps.

Gibralter: Biggest name in racks. Good quality. Easy to find parts.

Tama: Uses the same sized stuff as gibralter, so they're interchangeable. Unfortunately they cost about twice as much for no apparent reason.

Pacific: New to the rack world. Round tubes, same sized as Gibralter's stuff, so they're interchangeable. A few minor differences, but priced well.

Peace: Got this tip from Moyerbros...looks like a generic version of Gibralter's stuff.

Right now, I'm leaning toward Gibralter or Pacific...the hardest part IMHO is figuring out what EXACTLY you need to buy, what EXACTLY comes with the pre-packed racks, and combining that with what you can use from your current hardware to put the whole thing together. The pre-packs are much more economical than buying all the pieces a la carte, so it gets confusing.

well because i have custom designed cases for my rack . it really only takes about 5 minutes tops to have totally put together ,and everything ready for mounting up my gear on it .. my rack usually doesn't go down to being totally broken down (i leave alot of the cymbal arms,and drum mounting arms attached to the various rack bars when i transport it because i have the custom anvil cases for it ) keep- in mind that i don't always use the complete set-up either (usually depends on the gig or studio situation) ,so sometimes that makes it easier to set-up too . but i have gotten my set-up down to a science on breaking it down fast ,and set -up usually flies pretty quick too.. plus with a rack when i set -up a certain layout for my kit it's the same for every and any gig or recording project until i change the layout again. i have to say if i was looking for a drum rack again . i would place my $$ on the gibraltar rack hands down. it has worked great for me over 3 yrs. and running .. i have heard that with the pc series clamps on the pearl racks that only certain mounting arms will fit too (i'm not sure on this as being an actual fact since i've never owned a pearl rack system ) but i know i have used a slew of different mounting arms from various brands on my gibraltar rack,and with the clamps they have (which are very similar to the tama ones) i am able to mount arms of various diameters with the clamps with no problems.. i would say shop around and see first hand what the pro's and cons of each drum rack has to offer , but for versatility,and future upgrading options i would say the smart money would be on gibraltar or the tama ones ..

I own one, I love it.

IMO if you have a larger set up, racks are well worth it. For your typical 4 or 5 pc I think a rack is totally unnecessary.

I have a custom designed Falicon Rack with Gibralter clamps. Nothing has ever slipped.

yeah i have actually looked into one of those falicon racks just recently a friend of mine is selling one . wow what a solid system,but this one i looked at with the risor,and all that i'm not sure that most venues would let me use it ..so i'm still undecided on whether to scoop it up or not .. but they are killer looking set-ups .. got any pics of yours ??