Basically I want to know what you think is best a drum rack or individual stands. Keep in mind, I have 10, 12, 14, 16” toms, 6 piece set with an electronic pad etc. I use to have stands when I had a 5 piece kit then I got a Pearl Icon Rack. I’m in the middle of revamping my whole set and it’s come to the point where I am either getting a new rack or stands. Here are the things I need help with.

- I heard racks have less vibration, is this true? I’m a hard hitter will I notice a big difference between the rack and stands?
- I think stands may be better for setup time because of this. Where I live there’s only one venue in town where you can setup your whole drum rack on side of the stage, then lift the whole thing up there quickly. That’s one place though. If I had stands, I could have everything on their own stand and be able to walk them thru small doors right on stage for quick setup as well. The other thing is I have a three sided rack, 4 legs in all. What if I had a 3 sided rack with 6 legs. Then each side is free standing and it might be easier to fit everything through a door.
- Which is easier to pack up into road cases?
- Which do you believe to be quicker to setup? I don’t mind a few extra mins. Before we get the stage.
- Lame question but had to ask. Which do you think looks better?

I will probably think of more but any insight you can give me would be great. If I get a new rack it’ll be either a curved Gibraltar or curved Icon rack. If I get stands they will be DW 9000 series. Thanks for the help!!

It really depends on what type of gig you are playing.

I originally started with a Pearl Rack and loved it. I was in a coverband that played the whole night (one band).

I then changed to the original band thing in Los Angeles where you're one of 4-5 bands so it's hurry up on and off. The Rack just didn't cut it and I had to switch to stands for the same concerns you mentioned (too little space, room to store, moving it quickly).

I have since gotten back into a coverband and I'm back to using a Rack because it's just easier and takes up less stage area.








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Jeff Porcaro - Lord of Groove

Well, I personally like the Pearl Icon 3 rack over ANY stands i've ever seen.

I drumtech for a guy who has a 9 peice Mapex ( with alot...ALOT..of cymbals ), and it is SO much easier to put his rack up, fit everything on and carry it on stage. If he were to have stands..we would be running back and fourth ALOT more than we do now.

What looks better? A rack..DEFINAETLY. No stands, regardless of how they are set up, will look as good as a rack will.

And I honestly urge you to get the Pearl Icon 3. It's versitile, light, and Oh so easy to set up and take down. Did I mention it's light?








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Vetis

what electronic elements are involved? Racks can transmit vibration to any E-drum mounted on it, stands might at least split them up and you'd have less chances of cross-talk or sympathetic triggering.
if it's a problem, there are several ways of addressing it, but to some degree it's always going to be there with a rack.

I'm having to make the same decision when we tour again.
The rack is SO convenient, but heavy. I'm trying stands with the kit while it's in the studio, but I can already see it's much more trouble than a rack. Especially if you can leave a lot of hardware attached to the rack when you transport it.

Looking forward to hearing some more input here.








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analog missionary
M=yspace

Well if you don't carry much cymbals for every gig, don't have a lot of hangin toms, then stands are better.
To some extent it's personal choice- a friend of mine uses a crash ride hh 2 toms and a floor tom and he uses a rack. I use 2 crashes 2 rides hh 1 tom and 2 floor toms and I go for stands.








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Mapex, Istanbul Agop, Attack, Vater/O4D.
I want an endorsement
Quick link to the search engine:
http://www.drumsmylife.com/search.php

I think it all depends... obviously if you're playing out with a 4 pc kit and limited number of cymbals then a rack would be overkill. also, someone made a good point about considering live situations where you're loading to stage and then tearing off with other bands doing the same. That can get a bit bothersome with a rack... however if you have a decent sized kit I feel its worth the risk.

I have a moderate sized drum kit and when on the road bring my rack with me so before playing out I can pretty much have everything set up and tuned up before hand and just be able to load to stage immediately. With that said, A LOT of house sound guys and other folks do get annoyed easily with the amount of time it takes to "set up" a rack system before a gig. I honestly don't believe it takes much longer if at all than a stand based kit but who knows... theres always those know it alls out there on the road!








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Wake The Light
http://www.myspace.com/wakethelight
Tama shells / Pearl hardware / Ziljian cymbals / Evans heads / Vic Firth sticks

I've got 2 rack toms, 2 floor toms, and 9 cymbals, so I use a Pearl Icon rack for many reasons. Ease of setting up, ease of transporting, everything is always in the exact same spot, nothing moves or can fall over. Our singer always jumps on my rack, so it adds to the live show a bit. If you play hard and have a decent amount of gear then the rack is a great choice. Just try to get an older Icon rack that has the short feet (12"). All the new ones come with feet that are ridiculously huge (18-20"). The rack would stand up fine with no feet, so why do you need 4 gigantic feet? Sorry for the rant, I love the Pearl Icon racks though, that's my suggestion.

I honestly think a rack looks better when its called for like if you have+rack toms/lots of percussion stuff/a whole vault of cymbals/etc.

If you hardly move your set and like your settings exact each time and have the space for it,I'd go for the rack and have stnds as back up if there isn't enough room.








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Pearl Drums

Paiste Cymbals

Vater Sticks

Evans Heads

rack.. simple as stands are just annoying








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Pure Deaththrash

well i recomend the rack. especialy for multiple toms
i realy like Gibralter racks. but recently i fell in love with a PdP(pacific) rack. its insane. strong. better than the gibralter. slightly more. but alot better. i prefer a rack whenever possible. just dont overload it. there is a limit. and if it doesnt have good feet it may shift. the Pearl Icon racks are nice but you have to get feet. if not they shit alot. i would definatley go with a rack. you can always add more and stuff to acomodate.








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Get KRUNK...Its A Death Metal Thing.

well i've never tried racks
but i use a pretty small set-up so stands are perfect for me anyway








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Tama/Zildjian/Remo/Vater
www.myspace.com/scotthurford

get the icon!








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sabian
tama
pearl rack
vater
evans

Well i have a PDP 3 sided rack and it's awesome, i have a 7 piece mapex set with 11 cymbals and my Roland electronic pads on there also, i can set it up, take all the cymbals out of the cases and set up the pads in under 20 minutes because it folds up nice, and it also has it's own level on it so you know it's right, i can't down pearl because I've never owned on but, I've also found one the is great...








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Always question reality

I used to have the Icon, as a matter of fact I still have it, does anyone in the Southern California area want to buy it??? After a couple tours I went with stands, for a few reasons

1- I went from having a 6 piece with 5 crashes, a ride, a china and a bell, to having a 4 piece with two crashes with the bell on top of one and a ride.

2- They may be a lot of time to set up but stands are way easier to pack into a case. To take all the arms off the rack to get it in the case would be a bitch.

If i were you and didn't want to play a smaller kit I would definitely go for the Icon rack. BUT, I would not want all 3 sides curved!! We played a show with a drummer who had that this and it is massive! I would special order one curved arm and use your old straight sides.








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www.AugustHouseBand.com
www.myspace.com/AugustHouse
www.myspace.com/dennisdrums

I have a 5 piece Tama, with hh's, ride, crash, crash ride, ride, and two chinas. I use stands because of the utter price racks tend to be, I just don't have that kind of money.... If you have it, then yah go for it. I personally like Tama the most, so I wouldn't mind getting the rack that Tama offers that can have arms... however I am fine with stands, but I am considering sometime getting a rack, the stands are getting annoying somewhat...








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I play drums with the following items: Tama Superstar SK Hyperdrive, Sabian, Paiste, Aquarian Heads, Vic Firth sticks, and Latin Percussion. Nicko McBrain(Iron Maiden) deserves FAR more respect than he recieves!!!

Racks are something every drummer should look into. Ok, so I know that they have this whole "metal/glam" stigmata atached to them but I promise you, You will NEVER find any other type of set up that allows the versatility of tom and cymbol placement that a rack provides. I have a large set including (but not AT ALL limited to) 10',12',13' rack toms, 14' and 16' floor toms, a 14 timbale, 3 standard rotto toms, two blast blocks, two cow bells, 1 22' ride, 14', 16', 18' crashes, 16' and 18' chinas, 12' and 10' splash and a zill bell. Here's the thing...the rack accomidates all of it. It's sturdy, tependable and with a small amount of modification breaks down and sets up in about 5-10 minutes. That's the greatest thing about a rack, a hack saw will do wonders for it's shape and mobility. Check out the Gibraltar rack components. I have a four sided rack that is held together with hinged bar clamps. Turn one wingnut and it breaks down to fit anywhere.








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Drums are to music as water is to goldfish.

I had a rack (basic Gibraltar) at one point and it actually made more work than having stands... took much longer to set up, couldn't get things angled right, everything slipped, freaking expensive... and the list goes on.
I use a lot of combo stands now and I use arms whenever possible.

Another rack tick I got from Derrek Roddy is to use a cymbal stand and mount a horizontal rack bar on that and then mount the rest of your stuff off that horizontal bar. I think he got all his cymbal and toms mounted on 3 bars, which means he only had 3 cymbal stands to move.








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8-piece Mapex Vx
5-piece Premier 1960s vintage

custom vintage Mapex 5-piece (for sale)

I use two small racks, one over each bass drum. Basically the same idea as Roddy. I leave all the cymbal holders and tom holders on the rack when I pack it in the car or trailer. The hardest thing about a rack it getting it in and out of your vehicle. Once everything is out, my set is up and ready to play in 10 minutes, and I play an 8pc with 10 cymbals.








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Right now, I'm crazy. Someday, I hope to be eccentric. The difference between crazy and eccentic is about $2 million dollars.

I have a Pearl rack and have had it for years. I've played many gigs with it, sometimes even leaving toms and cymbals attached on short local gigs or tryouts or even a new practice space. High hat, pedals, snare, throne and rack. That how I do it!

I'M A HUGE FAN OF THE RACK. I HAVE ALOT OF CYMBALS, SO TO SET UP STANDS WOULD PROBABLY TAKE ME AS LONG AS IT WOULD TO SET UP MY RACK. I CAN USUALLY SET UP MY WHOLE KIT IN 20 MINUTES MINUS INTERUPTIONS FROM HALF DRUNK RETARDS IN THE BAR ASKING ME STUPID QUESTIONS ABOUT DRUMS OR TELL ME STORIES OF A BUDDY THE GUY HAD THAT HAD THIS WICKED KIT, OR COULD PLAY TOM SAWYER BY RUSH TO A TEE. ANYWAY I'VE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM GETTING MY RACK ON OR OFF A STAGE AND MY RACK TOM DOES NOT SHAKE AS MUCH AFTER HITTING IT MOUNTED TO MY RACK AS OPPOSED TO BEING MOUNTED OFF OF A STAND. ALL IT AROUND, THE RACK DOMINATES. BUT THAT IS JUST MY OPINION.








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ROCK ON!!!!

Man I know how you feel, I Revaped my kit about 6 months ago and got stands after useing a rack for 6 years, they both have there ups and downs. Stands easyer to travel and setup and take up less space but racks give you the same setup every time and dont coast as much when you add cymbals to you kit ( a rack clamp and cymbal arm are cheapper than a hole stand) but as far as stability, I have pearl 1000 and 2000 series hardwear and is as good as my Icon rack I had, so it all comes down to, space-time-money and what you like best. I hope I was some help.








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I Play Hard! I play Loud! I play Pearl!