Pearl or Gibraltar drum rack?

[ibrokemydrums]

i am looking for a drum rack i have 2 toms, 1 floor tom and a bass drum, going to get another tom soon. and i have 6 cymbals and hats. i am deciding between a Pearl DR-503C and a Gibraltar(not sure what kind since i like the 3 bars on the pearl and gibraltors only have or 2)

i am worrying about the gibraltar slipping and not having that 3rd side still. but about the pearl, how its a sqaure not able to have a better angle for my toms.please help.
and also what time of gibraltar? i am deciding between a GPR-450, GRS-850DBL(even though i have single bass) or the Icon. please help.

[trkdrmr]

i am looking for a drum rack i have 2 toms, 1 floor tom and a bass drum, going to get another tom soon. and i have 6 cymbals and hats. i am deciding between a Pearl DR-503C and a Gibraltar(not sure what kind since i like the 3 bars on the pearl and gibraltors only have or 2)

Gibraltar v-rack station. 3 sides, same or less than pearl. Mine works great!

[harryconway]

I had a Pearl DR-100 (daddy to the Icon). One of my lead singers used to sit on the corner of my rack, during guitar solo's and such (stage presence, ya know?) I wouldn't suggest trying that with "any" round tube rack. I got 15 years use gigging, etc., out of my DR-100. I've never seen any round tube rack go 15 years.

[elcid]

I had a Pearl DR-100 (daddy to the Icon). One of my lead singers used to sit on the corner of my rack, during guitar solo's and such (stage presence, ya know?) I wouldn't suggest trying that with "any" round tube rack. I got 15 years use gigging, etc., out of my DR-100. I've never seen any round tube rack go 15 years.

That's great to know because my son just bought a used Pearl drum rack (Jeff Porcaro model) for his newly acquired Legend candy apple red drum set.

I got it from a guy at Drum Forum Org. for $200+ shipping, and the rack comes with 4-tom brackets and arms plus 6-cymbal arm brackets. How did we do?...

-elcid

[harryconway]

I got it from a guy at Drum Forum Org. for $200+ shipping, and the rack comes with 4-tom brackets and arms plus 6-cymbal arm brackets. How did we do?...


The fact that you got 10 rack clamps in the deal is cool. While not quite as massive as the DR-100, the DR-80(?) is plenty strong enough. I was all set to buy THAT model, when the salesman at GC pulled me aside, and told me he "personally" had a used DR-100. So I ran with "that" ball instead. Around 1980, Paul Jamieson and Jeff Porcaro developed the drum rack, basically. I had just taken a hacksaw to about $500 worth of Tama boom stands, and had a buddy welder make me a rack. No "commercial rack" was available back then. Went and saw Toto 6 months later, and there was the DR-80 prototype on stage.

[Naigewron]

Sounds like your kit is about the same size as mine. For what it's worth, I posted a review of my Gibraltar rack (along with a few comments on the Gibraltar vs Pearl rack topic) in this post:
http://www.drummerworld.com/forums/showpost.php?p=527312&postcount=5

Here's the full thread:
http://www.drummerworld.com/forums/showthread.php?p=527312#post527312

[SharkyBait911]

i am looking for a drum rack i have 2 toms, 1 floor tom and a bass drum, going to get another tom soon. and i have 6 cymbals and hats. i am deciding between a Pearl DR-503C and a Gibraltar(not sure what kind since i like the 3 bars on the pearl and gibraltors only have or 2)

Defenatly go for the pearl. I got one about half a year ago and it's great,
Because pearl have paitented the square design there is not slip un like the gibraltar.
It's great for hangin everything off, when i first got it i just put my cymbals on it but now i have got my cymbals all my toms (Except floor tom) all my percussion, and my second snare.
So it's the best rack out there !

[trkdrmr]

Defenatly go for the gibraltar. I got one about half a year ago and it's great,
Because Gibraltar have designed a rack that if you actually tighten things, there is not slip unlike people who don't. And it's not a huge, blocky, ugly square rack with a matte finish like pearl.

It's great for hangin everything off, when i first got it i just put my cymbals on it but now i have got my cymbals all my toms all my percussion, and my second snare.
So it's the best rack out there !

[Leadfoot]

I have never been able to understand why people have (or claim to have) had a Gibraltar rack slip on them. I have three Gibraltar road series racks, & have used them heavily for fifteen years and have never, not one time ever had anything slip on one, & I have used them to hang several very heavy Sonor drums along with many very long boom arms and large cymbals all cantilevered in the same direction. When properly set up, they do not slip, period. I think the fact that they are round leads people to believe that they won't stay put when they are in fact very well engineered & well made. I submit that if your Gibraltar rack slips, you are in fact doing something wrong with it, most likely not tightening it enough & using memory clamps. And for the record, you do not have to apply a four foot cheater bar to the clamps to tighten them down, hand tight is more than adequate.
I have no problem with Pearl's rack, they make a fine product but esthetically I prefer the shiny round tubes, they just look nicer to my eyes.

[trkdrmr]

I have never been able to understand why people have (or claim to have) had a Gibraltar rack slip on them. I have three Gibraltar road series racks, & have used them heavily for fifteen years and have never, not one time ever had anything slip on one, & I have used them to hang several very heavy Sonor drums along with many very long boom arms and large cymbals all cantilevered in the same direction. When properly set up, they do not slip, period. I think the fact that they are round leads people to believe that they won't stay put when they are in fact very well engineered & well made. I submit that if your Gibraltar rack slips, you are in fact doing something wrong with it, most likely not tightening it enough & using memory clamps.
I have no problem with Pearl's rack, they make a fine product but esthetically I prefer the shiny round tubes, they just look nicer to my eyes.

I have everything from 8-16" toms on mine, all my cymbals. Except for failing to tightening the clamps, there is no slip, The slim, chrome tubes compliment the kit, it doesn't look like a police barracade.

[Leadfoot]

I have everything from 8-16" toms on mine, all my cymbals. Except for failing to tightening the clamps, there is no slip, The slim, chrome tubes compliment the kit, it doesn't look like a police barracade.
Yes, the Pearl rack looks a little industrial, but it is in fact a very good quality rack as well. All preference.

[dr.funkenstien]

I'd go with the pearl rack, the thing I love about them is that they are square and you will never have any issues of slipping. Hope this helps.

Brendan Colameco
www.myspace.com/brendancolamecodrums

[trkdrmr]

Yes, the Pearl rack looks a little industrial, but it is in fact a very good quality rack as well. All preference.

The pearl is a good quality rack. But reasonably intelligent individuals will never have a "slip" problem on a Gibraltar. That's another internet myth that has been exploded into extreme exaggeration.

[Leadfoot]

The pearl is a good quality rack. But reasonably intelligent individuals will never have a "slip" problem on a Gibraltar. That's another internet myth that has been exploded into extreme exaggeration.

Precisely..............................

[harryconway]

The pearl is a good quality rack. But reasonably intelligent individuals will never have a "slip" problem on a Gibraltar. That's another internet myth that has been exploded into extreme exaggeration.
All I know is what I see, and have seen, in the Los Angeles area club and concert venues. And I've seen "enough" round tube rack failures on stage, going back mid-80's to present, to never want to put my money into a round tube rack. So I wouldn't exactly call it an "internet myth". Now, it you like the "look" of round tube over square, fair enough. Tama (the 1st of the round tube racks, I think), Gibraltar, PDP, etc., well, they got that game. The idea of having to use a memory clamp (as an anti-slip device) to hold the equipment clamp in place, that just seems like a poor design to me. You need a clamp to hold the clamp. I guess that's great, if you're into the clamp selling business. That, combined with I've known of/known/know probably 20 drummers who have switched from round tube systems to Pearl, and not one drummer going the "other" way........went to a drum show/parking lot sale last year. Cat was there, all day, trying to sell a Gibraltar rack (and a bunch of other stuff). No one wanted to buy it. No one wanted to trade for it. At the end of the day, he left it there. No one went over to pick it up for free. Just a few "observations" I've made in 26 years.

[trkdrmr]

All I know is what I see, and have seen, in the Los Angeles area club and concert venues. And I've seen "enough" round tube rack failures on stage, going back mid-80's to present, to never want to put my money into a round tube rack. So I wouldn't exactly call it an "internet myth". Now, it you like the "look" of round tube over square, fair enough. Tama (the 1st of the round tube racks, I think), Gibraltar, PDP, etc., well, they got that game. The idea of having to use a memory clamp (as an anti-slip device) to hold the equipment clamp in place, that just seems like a poor design to me. You need a clamp to hold the clamp. I guess that's great, if you're into the clamp selling business. That, combined with I've known of/known/know probably 20 drummers who have switched from round tube systems to Pearl, and not one drummer going the "other" way........went to a drum show/parking lot sale last year. Cat was there, all day, trying to sell a Gibraltar rack (and a bunch of other stuff). No one wanted to buy it. No one wanted to trade for it. At the end of the day, he left it there. No one went over to pick it up for free. Just a few "observations" I've made in 26 years.

*IF* I ever developed a slip problem, I'd beeline for the yamaha hex rack. I can't stand the "I-beam" look of the pearl.

I am sure for every 100 drummers that use round racks, there have to be horror stories. Yet there have been improvements in Gibraltar clamps in 26 years. I am trying to be objective here and avoid extremes of opinion, good or bad.

Pro drummers that are now using round racks (like Mike Portnoy) outnumber those using Pearl racks probably 300:1 to 500:1. They would not continue to use them if catastrophic failure was that common.

And being that I was around 26 years ago on my trusty Tama, There was three types of hardware back in 1982: Rogers memriloc, Tama titan, and crap.

[Leadfoot]

There is the fact that you need to be smarter than the object in question, some folks manage to drive vehicles with perfectly good brakes right into concrete walls. But anyway, buy what you like best & find the best deal that you can.
Just to be fair, in addition to my 3 Gibraltar RS racks I do own a Pearl Icon rack which came with a set of Ludwigs I bought. It was a little banged up from being tossed into a van without being disassembled & since I didn't have use for it, I've permanantly "loaned" it to my brother who uses it in his furniture shop as an adjustable sawhorse. It's sturdy as hell & he absolutely loves it and wants another as a mate to it.

[DamoSyzygy]

I've never seen any round tube rack go 15 years.
I should have sold you mine - I got around 16 out of it and have now sold it on to the next buyer. From what I hear, its still going strong.

Slippage actually occurs from a history of overtightening. Provided you dont overdo it, the racks should last just as long as any square, triangular or 26-sided rack.

[razorx]

If you go with Gibralter you will have allot more configuration options. If you can imagine it you can get it with Gibralter

[harryconway]

And being that I was around 26 years ago on my trusty Tama, There was three types of hardware back in 1982: Rogers memriloc, Tama titan, and crap.
Yep, when I built up my big Ludwig kit (1980) I wanted either Memriloc or Titan boom stands. 10 of 'em. It might have been a coin toss that decided that one, I'm not sure, but I went with the Tama.

[Leadfoot]

I should have sold you mine - I got around 16 out of it and have now sold it on to the next buyer. From what I hear, its still going strong.

Slippage actually occurs from a history of overtightening. Provided you dont overdo it, the racks should last just as long as any square, triangular or 26-sided rack.

Fifteen years was a conservative estimate on my first one. I found the receipt and it's actually been 17 years since I bought it. It's actually not even a road series, it has the old style end & base tube clamps on it, still works great despite most of the black anodization being gone from the clamps from banging around in the trap case. It did 16 years of Friday & Saturday gigs with no problems. It's on my practice set now, only because of its appearance.

[trkdrmr]

Yep, when I built up my big Ludwig kit (1980) I wanted either Memriloc or Titan boom stands. 10 of 'em. It might have been a coin toss that decided that one, I'm not sure, but I went with the Tama.

I have to be fair and add that sonor hardware was pretty good. But sonor was a *rare* sight, much like saquatch. There is a link on the sonormuseum that compares sonor to Ludwig hercules hardware.

But since there were no sonor dealers within 4 hours of me, in the 80's I only met *one* guy in a 500 mile radius that had one. He had a rosewood bop kit from the 70's. I think that buying used was the only way he could afford it. He told me the price (I forget exactly) but it cost as much used as a new 7-pc superstar kit.

[elliotdrummer7227]

yes!
i don't to say you pearl icon lovers are wrong or get in a fight..........
but i saw this thread where a member put a real push bike a gibraltar rack and clamp and i didn't budge!
you shouldn't worry about slipping if you tighten them hard enough?

i wouldn't kknow because i don't have a rack!
but please tell me if i have just talked out of me buthole?
=)

elliot

[Naigewron]

Like I said in the post I linked to further up, I have never had any slippage problems, and I don't even have memory locks on my clamps. Ride cymbal, toms, big crashes, no problems at all.

[diosdude]

That's great to know because my son just bought a used Pearl drum rack (Jeff Porcaro model) for his newly acquired Legend candy apple red drum set.

I got it from a guy at Drum Forum Org. for $200+ shipping, and the rack comes with 4-tom brackets and arms plus 6-cymbal arm brackets. How did we do?...

-elcid

If it's a Jeff Porcaro Model, that's a pretty good deal with 10 clamps. The JP rack is the strongest rack ever made, heavier in construction than the old pearl DR100 and today's Icon. The DR-80 was the lightweight rack that used smaller square tubing than the DR100 and icon. I used to have a DR 80 and it was strong enough to support my huge pearl export double bass kit with 10,12,13,14 square power toms and about 8 cymbals.

here's a pic of the porcaro rack:

[diosdude]

I used to have chronic slippage with my gibraltar rack. My power toms on my kit were square toms with shell factory penetration mounts and it was impossible to angle them the way i wanted without having the support arm tilted more horizontally than vertically. This caused too much leverage on some of the bigger toms and consequentally, slippage. With today's isolation mounts, i don't think i would have as much problem, but from a firsthand perspective, the slippage thing is not a myth. As far as slippage coming from overtightening it, what do you do when the big tom you have mounted starts slipping? you tighten it until it stops slipping. But what if that's over-tightening? Then it will cause slippage again. So what do you do when it starts slipping again? You tighten it until it stops slipping. But what if that's over-tightening? Then it will cause slipping again. So what do you do when it starts slipping again? You tighten it until it stops slipping. But what if that's over-tightening? Then it will cause slipping again. So what do you do when it starts slipping again? You tighten it until it stops slipping. But what if that's over-tightening? Then it will cause slipping again. So what do you do when it starts slipping again? You tighten it until it stops slipping. But what if that's over-tightening? Then it will cause slipping again. So what do you do when it starts slipping again? You tighten it until it stops slipping. But what if that's over-tightening? Then it will cause slipping again.So what do you do when it starts slipping again? You tighten it until it stops slipping. But what if that's over-tightening? Then it will cause slipping again. So what do you do when it starts slipping again? You tighten it until it stops slipping. But what if that's over-tightening? Then it will cause slipping again. So what do you do when it starts slipping again? You tighten it until it stops slipping. But what if that's over-tightening? Then it will cause slipping again. So what do you do when it starts slipping again? You tighten it until it stops slipping. But what if that's over-tightening? Then it will cause slipping again. So what do you do when it starts slipping again? You tighten it until it stops slipping. But what if that's over-tightening? Then it will cause slipping again.

I recommend the Pearl.

[timmdrum]

I've never had one slip problem on my Gibraltar Road Series Rack that I've been using for 9 years. Simple common sense avoids problems completely. I have two rack toms mounted from a double holder in one clamp, my ride & 14" floor tom hanging together from another. I do have a memory clamp beside the rack toms' clamp, but it's "just in case", since they're hovering over my bass drum. I have none on the others, and everything's solid as a rock. Oh, I do have memory clamps where the horizontal tubes attach to the vertical ones, but that's because I have a lot of crap hanging on each tube. Of all the clamps holding actual percussion items, only the 1 clamp holding the racks has a memory clamp. Plus, sometimes I don't want every mounted holder to have to be vertical- for instance, my splash is mounted on a cymbal stand boom arm that's directly clamped in to a rack clamp, coming forward from the horizontal tube at about a 75, maybe 80 degree angle (assuming veritical is 0), and if i had a square rack I couldn't do that. I'd have to use a full-on boom holder assembly, not just the boom arm... Anyway, I'm not knocking the Pearl racks (well, the older ones get flimsy over time, and are a nightmare to disassemble for transport, but the Icon racks are great), I just see a lot of advantages to the round-tube Gibraltar racks EVERY DAY. Can't vouch for other brands.