Gibraltar Owner Racks | Custom Drum Hardware Blog

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.

Tobin Wagstaff, a recipient of a new home thanks to Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (see photos of the home makeover on ABC site), has restored his 30-year-old drum set by polishing up the rusted hardware, and covering it with photos taken during the construction of the home. It is his way of thanking everyone involved in his home’s makeover. Tobin is using Gibraltar snare and cymbal stands, and a Gibraltar bass drum petal with his kit. Tobin has a music school, Studio Percussion, a charitable music school and one-of-a-kind drum shop in Gainsville, FL.

Tobin Wagstaff and his custom drum kit

Tobin says

The smallest tom-tom is dedicated to volunteers of the people: the everyday folks that helped us. The largest tom-tom is dedicated to the “stars” of the build. That is, the designers, the family, the builder, the leads, and crew. The bass drum is dedicated to the home itself. You will see pictures of the old house through its demo and construction of the new home. This is my way, as a drummer, of saying “thank you” to everyone who supported the build.

You can see a gallery of the kit here.

Note: This should not to be confused with Gibaltar’s Extreme Hardware Makeover. Gibaltar’s Extreme Hardware Makeover is a play off of the name of the TV show mentioned above, Extreme Makeover Home Edition.