Update: watch a video about these cymbal mounts.
Need To Hit It? You Can Fit It. Here’s How To Stack Up Some Fun.
Download the parts list PDF for the Effects Cymbal Stacks
Special Effects cymbals are great fun, but the question is where to put them? The answer is: stack them up or hang them down.
Effects cymbal stacks can be made from numerous combinations of cymbals. You can use new stuff, like China cymbals and cymbals with holes and special designs. You can also use old, junky cymbals that are bent, cracked and folded, because they often sound great when mated to another cymbal. Figure 4.2 is a stack made with a mix of instruments mounted on Gibraltar cymbal stackers.
The bottom cymbal, mounted on a sturdy cymbal stand, is a metalworks type of flat cymbal with a cheap, small crash cymbal resting on top of it. The resulting sound is a short, trashy bark. Instead of using a wingnut to hold the two cymbals in place, they are held down by a 4” cymbal stacker.
SC-MCSA-4 4-inch Cymbal Stacker
On the 4” cymbal stacker is an upside-down China cymbal. To give the China a tight fit and little play, it’s fastened with a felt disc and a wingnut. Then, threaded on top of the wingnut, there is a 6” cymbal stacker.
SC-MCSA-6 6-inch Cymbal Stacker
On top of that 6” cymbal stacker is an 8” China Splash cymbal, and on top of that another 4” cymbal stacker, which is crowned with a small jingle tambourine.
The whole assembly is easy to put together. There’s nothing tricky to it. Just thread on cymbal stackers and keep going up.
Figure 4.3 shows same set-up, without the cymbals on it. This method allows many sounds to be placed in a tight, convenient spot.
You can also use the other kind of Gibraltar cymbal stacker. It comes in two pieces, attaches to the top of a regular cymbal stand or cymbal tilter, and has a tilter on top. Figure 4.4 shows rig, without cymbals.
SC-CSA Straight Cymbal Stacker Assembly with Tilter
The cymbal stacker gives comfortable spacing. There’s nearly eight inches between the cymbals. Here it’s used for a favorite large China cymbal and also a medium-sized China. On the tilter is nested a China Splash inside a junky old hi hat cymbal. Now all three exotic sounds are secure and within easy reach.
SC-CSA Straight Cymbal Stacker Assembly with Tilter
For free-swinging fun you can make a cymbal tree. This is easier than it looks. Start with a sturdy tripod (this was on old one, gathering dust in the closet). Add a Gibraltar Ultra Adjust cymbal boom arm, the kind with two Ultra Adjust ball joints. Having two ball joints allows you to make over 180 degrees of ‘bend’ in the arm. That’s what allows the China Splash to be ‘hung’ from above. Figure 4.6 shows the other two, short cymbal arms are attached to the tripod via a three-hole platform mount. This is a great way to get a lot into a tight space while looking cool.
SC-UCB Ultra Adjust Double Adjust Cymbal Boom Arm
Fun can be had by just hanging around! Hanging effects cymbals, that is. A few new pieces of Gibraltar hardware will get your crazy sounds positioned anywhere you want. Remember: with Gibraltar, you have Nothing But Options.
Download the parts list PDF for the Effects Cymbal Stacks
I love the ideal of being able to use multi-cymbals without having to use a lot of stands & rack space. I use the Stealth Rack by Gibraltar………
I love the Kik Drum on the Yamaha set that has a natural finish. I want a Kik drum just that size. I have a set of new Yamaha Recording Classics but the Kik drum is not close to being that long in length. I bet just the Kik cost $2000. I have close to $5,500 in my set as it is!!
A Huge Fan,
Phil
Hi Phil.
Yes that Yamaha kit looks great. It belongs to Giuseppe Distefano who has contributed it to our Flickr photo sharing group.