Monthly Archive for April, 2011

Clamping Down On The Confusion With Gibraltar Hardware Model Numbers

Published
by
Dennis
on April 20, 2011
in Accessories, Custom Hardware Setups and Extreme Hardware Makeover
. 0 Comments

By Tim Kane

One recent DIY forum participant had this to ask about Gibraltar Hardware’s model numbering methodology. DrumGit89 wrote, “Why do you guys name your clamps with those extremely complicated names?” It’s a great question. The perceived complexity of our model numbers has generated a bunch of comments on our social channels and our goal here is to help you understand our methods better.

So this week our team has decided to allow me the privilege (no drum egg throwing, please) to decode some of the perceived mystery behind our product model classification numbers, particularly in our long line of clamps.

First, we do offer several online catalogs you definitely should check out that contain all product lines linked directly here as our Gibraltar full ebook catalog, additional Tech Report and a separate parts list. These were all just updated in Winter 2011 and model numbers are placed with each part on the corresponding pages. With interactive flipbook pdf technology, it allows the online document to be fully searchable, enlarged, and downloadable making it easy for you to find an item even if you lack specific model numbers. We feel the great graphics, photos and detailed product descriptions in our online catalogs are pretty cool, too.

For those who can’t or don’t want to access our catalog as a search mechanism for products, here are a few tips to clear up the confusion. And there really is a method to our madness.

Percussion Artist Specialist Brent Barnett offered up this easy-to-understand method for decoding our product codes: Each clamp model number is actually an acronym for the name and function of the device. For example, the SC-GRSRA stands for Gibraltar Road Series Right Angle clamp. The SC-GRSMC stands for Gibraltar Road Series Multi Clamp, and the SC-GRSARA stands for Gibraltar Road Series Adjustable Right Angle clamp. This model number not only identifies the function of the clamp, but also the series of the clamp. Any model number with “GRS” means Road Series, which are the black heavy duty clamps. If we look at clamps with “GC” in the model number, this identifies our “Chrome” series. For example, SC-GCRA stands for Gibraltar Chrome Right Angle clamp.

We know this doesn’t make memorizing the clamps any easier, but we feel it is better than naming them something that has no association with the series or function.

Question of the week: If you were the person creating model numbers for Gibraltar, how would you classify them?

- Tim Kane is an independent drummer, instructor and writer living in Massachusetts. He writes a weekly blog for Gibraltar Hardware.

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The GEMS of electronic mounting stations

Published
by
Dennis
on April 12, 2011
in Accessories, Custom Hardware Setups and Gibraltar Owner Racks
. 0 Comments

By Tim Kane

Gibraltar Hardware understands that drummers and their fellow musicians often must lug around makeshift support systems in order to mount a laptop, recording system, trigger module or small mixing console. As the guy charged with digitally recording and mixing my own band’s music live and in studio, I was once that drummer, too. I really needed something a lot more angular, portable and road worthy than my grandma’s old end table.

That’s only one reason that compelled the team here to create the Gibraltar Electronics Mounting Station (GEMS) as the best option to achieve professional level platform nirvana. The unique stand is not only for laptops, but also can support a DJ controller, VJ controller, beat machine or most any other piece of electronic equipment. The GEMS is highly adaptable to supporting a variety of gear in concert, symphonic and recording situations. Guitarists and keyboardists have found this stand as useful as drummers do. In fact, any member of a band – no matter what its size or composition – would truly benefit from owning one.

In today’s digital-driven world of music, we felt the stand itself perhaps would not offer enough options for the multi-gear enabled performer. So an optional 12-inch by 12-inch fiberglass GEMAT Folding Accessory Table was also designed to mount to the vertical tube of the GEMS stand to support smaller modules or even percussion accessories. The platform’s black felt exterior finish looks cool, too.

The specs on these two products give musicians plenty of versatility with regard to angles and heights for their electronic devices. In my world, I need to run my MacBook Pro laptop and M-audio Ultra 8R interface simultaneously live, whether on the road or recording in my home studio. If you have ever tried to adjust gain knobs or panning positions on an interface while playing the drums, it can be quite a challenge to do both at the same time. The GEMS simplifies that process with its tilting mount and height adjustable tripod stand. For drummers with a Gibraltar rack system already in their arsenal, they can also opt for the Gibraltar Electronics Mounting Clamp. That device is attached to a metal rack clamp with a large T handle that fits onto any standard 1.5-inch rack bar.

We’ve noticed some recent forum posts about these products and the one resounding theme is how your precious and expensive electronic gear would be fastened down. That’s where the genius of Gibraltar’s invention comes into play. The two 16.5-inch flat metal mounting arms both have two adjustable stoppers that can slide up and down and lock with an easy hand turn. Your laptop or other device sits perfectly secure between these stoppers, which also sport Gibraltar’s patented no metal-to-metal contact points. The stoppers won’t press into your sensitive electronic gear like other clamps could because of the rubber bushings on their sides. It is a rock solid assembly that also has Gibraltar’s custom memory locks so you don’t have to mess around each time you set-up to achieve that perfect angle and height.

Beyond the incredible stability of the GEMS, which is supported by a 1 ¼-inch tubed tripod base with up to 28-inch wide stance, our Gibraltar design gurus also placed heavy emphasis on the positioning mechanics of the product. Highly efficient and intimate use of digital and electronic gear is paramount to a great performance, especially for drummers. The two t-knobs used to adjust and lock the specific angle of your arms are nice and thick (like a giant sized drum key) and lock down well, allowing almost any vertical or horizontal alignment for your devices. And the stand can reach as high as 42 inches or as low as 28 inches, making it a perfect side station for any type of drum kit or stage arrangement.

If you are serious about recording, sampling and mixing equipment live and in studio, you really need to check out our Gibraltar Electronics Mounting Station.

Question of the week: What type of support do you use to hold your electronic gear?

- Tim Kane is an independent drummer, instructor and writer living in Massachusetts. He writes a weekly blog for Gibraltar Hardware.

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Drumware Reaches A Turning Point

Published
by
Dennis
on April 6, 2011
in Accessories and Custom Hardware Setups
. 0 Comments

By Tim Kane

Any chance to downsize the heavy lifting and time involved as a drummer with gear set-up and breakdown is a welcomed perk. And it usually translates into more drumming fun.

The newest engineering masterpieces here at Gibraltar, dubbed “Turning Point Hardware” and its adjoined “Swing Nut” auto tilter, solve these challenges. The Swing Nut’s spring-loaded, auto tilting mechanism is positioned atop Gibraltar’s new L-Bar Aluminum Arrowlite leg tripod straight stand (9710-TP) and boom (9709-TP). If you’re all set with stands or not quite ready to invest in our re-invention of the standard double-braced stand base design, drummers can still get in on the super popular Swing Nut action. We sell separate Turning Point boom rods in short (SC-LBBT-TP) and long (SC-SBBT-TP) lengths. These rods can be clamped on to any cymbal stand or rack, and offer a cool memory lock feature.

The Swing Nut and the new 9700 series stands and boom rods are the perfect marriage, as so many of you have already noted in online forums. Drummers just press down on the spring, swing the nut, and mount their cymbal, simple and easy. I can’t tell you how many times this blogger has wasted precious time fiddling with wing nuts that often get lost, misplaced and stripped. And there are no gears inside the Swing Nut mechanism so drummers can position the cymbal at almost any angle. For me, the Turning Point series will certainly come in handy during smaller venue shows when I want to swap out a cymbal fast and just don’t have room for extra stands to accommodate my full arsenal of metal.

Other comment threads we’ve found floating in cyberspace concern the actual adaptability of the 9700 L-Bar Aluminum Arrowlite legs to support additional tom-toms or cymbal mounts. Thanks to advancement in the aluminum fabrication process – and, of course, some great strength engineering here at Gibraltar – our Arrowlite leg stands can support a variety of add-on mounts. The alloy is stronger and more supportive than ever before. In fact, Director of KMC Percussion and Gibraltar Product Manager Ken Fredenberg says L-stock aluminum is about 30 percent lighter than steel, but still reacts like double braced.

I personally own a Gretsch Catalina Maple kit and hang both 10 and 12-inch rack toms off a non-double braced Gibraltar stand, no problemo. I do this to enable my mega 24-inch ride to be positioned closer to my snare like a standard jazz kit arrangement. Despite playing about 25 gigs and scores of practices with this particular set-up, the gear has not once fallen over, nor does it shake or rattle when struck, and the hardware still looks and acts like brand new. We’ve noticed quite a few drummers saying similar things about Gibraltar Hardware’s overall lifespan and for good reason. The 9700 series L-Bar Aluminum Arrowlite leg tripod stands and boom rods were road tested by our design team and designed to last as long as steel hardware.

We’ve also received some great accolades from our peers following Turning Point’s unveiling at NAMM in January. And our recent nomination for best new drum hardware with Turning Point at the upcoming April 7 Musikmesse International Press Awards rocks. Please continue to let us know what you think, and stay tuned to this forum for updates on more Swing Nut innovations coming soon.

Question of the week: How many cymbal stands are in your set-up and how much do they weigh?

- Tim Kane is an independent drummer, instructor and writer living in Massachusetts. He writes a weekly blog for Gibraltar Hardware.

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