Not sure what hardware you need to buy? Buying drum hardware depends completely on the drum kit you already own and what style of music/circumstances you play. For example, if you are a drummer who gigs a lot or is on the road then double-braced hardware is more suitable for you. Below I will give you a brief outline of the different types of hardware we have to offer.
Boom Stand or Straight Stand
The main difference between both stands is that booms are usually more flexible in your set-up. A boom stand has an extendable arm which means that you can adjust the cymbal position with more ease. The straight stand (also known as a cymbal stand) basically goes straight up and down. Our Drums and Percussion Specialist Lizzie personally uses a straight stand for her cymbals between the hi-hat and toms and then boom stands for her ride and second cymbal. You can also buy convertible stands that can be either a boom or straight making it interchangeable for your kit layout.
Double or Single Braced Hardware
Single braced hardware is not necessarily less stable as double braced hardware, however, they are much lighter and easier to transport. If you are using doubled braced hardware, it is more durable and can withstand more ‘beating’ so to say. Essentially, you can say that double braced hardware can withstand more weight, so if you were to add a tom, for example, onto your cymbal stand, a double braced one would be more suitable. Weigh up the cons and pros of why you would use either or of the braced hardware. Single braced is lighter and easier to transport, however, you can add more to the double braced.
Drum Pedal
One of the main things that makes a drum pedal good quality is the drive. This is the mechanism that connects the footboard to the beater. The main drives used are chain and belt. The chain drive is most common amongst entry level and intermediate pedals. The belt drive, as you can imagine, is a lot smoother, lighter and has a faster response when playing. The belt drive can have a shorter life span than the chain drive, however, both are easy to replace. The footboard on a drum pedal will provide stability and comfort when playing. Finally, the biggest part to the bass drum tone is the beater. The beater is the part attached to the drive. This comes in various shapes and materials. The most common is the cotton head however you can get wooden beaters to create a punchier tone.
If you need any more information on Drum Hardware then please feel free to contact Lizzie directly and she will be happy to help and answer any queries you have. You can call her on 01283 535 333 option 1, or email to lizzie@normans.co.uk.