Custom Drum Hardware Blog

By Tim Kane

Drum set, percussion and amplifier microphone mounts run the gamut today from simple clip-ons to more heavy-duty claws and just plain old-fashioned vocal stands. The design team here at Gibraltar Hardware has a few interesting varieties of our own specially geared to the demanding musician who does not have time for cluttered hassles and needs longevity from their equipment investments.

What’s ultimately important for musicians that regularly use microphones live and in studio are they’re placement possibilities. We understand that you need to easily maneuver mics to the sweet part of your snare, conga or amp’s sonic atmosphere, and position them in a way where they won’t be hit by an errant stick, overzealous hand, or guitarist’s stomping leg. Then there are the valid concerns we’ve read online about excessive vibrations channeled through some clip-on mic mounts that adversely impact sound quality. That’s one reason why most of our mic holder models have SC-GSM shock mounts installed on their ends. Likewise, the ability to isolate mics enough to separate certain percussive elements in a mix is crucial. To meet those demands, drummers require versatility in product line and we deliver on those expectations.

We’ve chosen eight Gibraltar Hardware microphone clamps and mounts to showcase this week as examples of the innovations we continue to achieve.

For our beloved Gibraltar drum rack owners, the SC-GRMM GIB RACK SHOCK MNT is the perfect assembly with dimensions fitting the same set-up efficiency and agility reasons. The GIB Rack Shock Mount is 16.5 x 16.5 x 1.5 inches and only weighs 1.2 pounds. It slides easily before locking and can be left in tact on your rack for breakdown when your playing time ends. Enough said.

The SC-GMBA GIB BOOM ARM W/SHOCK MNT comes in a cool black finish that attaches to virtually any cymbal stand or small accessory clamp. How many times have the legs of your traditional mic stand tipped over or posed a problem in getting the mic where you need it to be? This product is absolutely perfect for that outstretched ambient cymbal mic and exacting amplifier speaker placement. It also makes for a great replacement when the top portion of your vocal mic stand breaks.

What we love about the SC-GMQC GIB MIC QUICK SET CLAMP is its ability to attach to tubes 1.5-inches in diameter. With tube clamping, musicians can place this baby almost anywhere on a drum kit or percussion arrangement, or even hang it out in the audience off of a rafter or skinny support beam if you want to record a live crowd mix. The best part of SC-GMQC is its two different ratchet adjustments, greatly enhancing horizontal and vertical positioning options. The curved rubber bushing on the clamp itself also makes mounting a breeze and rock solid tight.

For drummers and percussionists who tend to hit their microphones by accident, the SC-JDRMM GIB JAW DBL RATCHET MIC MOUNT lessens that risk big time. Besides its seven inches vertical adjustment of the rod, it also tilts side-to side and backwards. That backward adjustment is an especially nice feature to accommodate different microphone sizes and placement. The rubbery coating on the claw and rubber fitting where the mic attaches eliminates unnecessary vibrations. And we’re proud to say that there are six other varieties in the Gibraltar jaw mount family to secure mics via drum hoops and percussion tension rods.

If height and maximum reach is what you need for mic placement, you should also definitely check out our SC-GMCMA SHOCK MOUNT CYMBAL ADAPTOR. This small but adaptive piece treads on to any standard 8mm cymbal tilter, essentially turning it into a microphone arm.

Same applies with our SC-MMMC MULTI MOUNT MICROPHONE CLAMP. The SC-MMMC is a quick on and off variable size clamp with a gooseneck mount and single wing nut that fits square or round 1.5-inch rack tubes, cymbal stands, marimba frames, any tube or metal piece down to 5/8-inches.

If you require something a bit more permanent in a particular set-up, you may want to try-out our SC-DMM NYLON CLAMP W/GOOSENECK MOUNT. All this nylon clamp needs is a gooseneck and you’re on to tightening the dual clamp wing nut and hex nut down on virtually any piece of hardware.

We’re really excited about this model, too. The SC-GBDIMM BASS DRUM MICROPHONE MOUNT attaches directly to the lug screws inside your bass drum shell to get perfect internal microphone placement – not to mention more pure sound recording and mix production. No more worries about external kick drum boom stands denting your resonate side drum head, or being shifted around during a gig by uncontrollable forces.

When micing a drum kit, percussion set-up, or amplifier, selecting the right mount or clamp can be the difference maker between a great recording and live mix or muddied mediocrity. We would like to think our options are made with high quality sound spirit meets efficient positioning in mind.

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