Best-designed hdwr for compact kick drum?

[bongomania]

Heyo,
I know there are a lot of options out there for small kick drums, like "Hipgig" kits and floor-tom conversions; what I would love to hear about is which of these kits, systems, risers, etc. is best-designed in your opinion. By that I mean:
Rugged
Lightweight
Folds compactly
Looks cool
Not limited by little proprietary bits that may break or get lost
Holds the drum securely (and doesn't scoot across the floor)

I know almost all of the kits/systems do OK at all or most of these qualities... But which ones knock it out of the park?
Thanks!

[chilledbongo]

funny you should ask.
for the past 5 years or more, i used the lifter made by danmar to convert first an 11x14 pearl session tom, and now a 16x16 pearl session floor tom.
http://www.interstatemusic.com/35326...er-1035BW.aspx

it worked pretty well. no creep if i put it on a rug and used a pedal with spikes or velcro on the bottom. its main flaw is the drum would sometimes be pushed off it's pedestal if i kicked it too hard. this would be annoying in the middle of gigs. the lifter works with clamps that grab the drum on both sides around the tension rods near the lugs.

recently, i decided to switch to the pearl jungle kit adaptor:http://www.amazon.com/Pearl-JG16-Jun.../dp/B003KTBGVK
this works much better. no creep. very simple design and looks better, in my opinion. the only hitch is it works best with pearl toms. you have to add one of these:http://www.amazon.com/Pearl-IS1216SL...ref=pd_cp_MI_1

and you need pearl 2.3 superhoops for it to clamp onto. if you have those items, then this works best. i use this set-up for maybe 50 percent of my gigs.

there are other options out there, including a very expensive and heavy riser by dw.

you can get other types of spurs for other drums from www.drumfactorydirect.com, and gibraltar makes a gadget for lifting your rim to clamp to a pedal.

overall, i think the pearl system looks best and is easiest to use.

[bongomania]

Great info, thanks! Anyone else?

[drummaman1]

I have one I bought in the 90's, but I don't think the company exists anymore, so...great help that I am. It's called a Swif-Kick, it's basically a riser made out of wood that you set, in my case it's made for a 16" drum, on top of it. The pedal area is sdjustable so you can hit the drum in the sweet spot, and it has its own spurs. I've always wanted a bop kit but couldn't afford a second kit, especially in the 90's so I bought this Swif kick and just bought the right heads for the FT to become a BD.

Like I said, it doesn't help you because they are no longer made, but one of us wood-working types here on the forum could probably whip one up, if the price was right??? It's pretty straightforward when you see it.

Oh right, I guess I'll have to take some pics. Be right back.

[RG1820X]

funny you should ask.
recently, i decided to switch to the pearl jungle kit adaptor:http://www.amazon.com/Pearl-JG16-Jun.../dp/B003KTBGVK
this works much better. no creep. very simple design and looks better, in my opinion. the only hitch is it works best with pearl toms. you have to add one of these:http://www.amazon.com/Pearl-IS1216SL...ref=pd_cp_MI_1

and you need pearl 2.3 superhoops for it to clamp onto. if you have those items, then this works best. i use this set-up for maybe 50 percent of my gigs.
. . . overall, i think the pearl system looks best and is easiest to use.

I also use the Jungle Gig Adaptor for my 16x18 floor tom, but I use this type of ISS Mount: http://drumsonsale.com/product.php?i...FQ-f4AodlXcAxA

I use it with Die Cast hoops and I spent less than two dollars for some plastic washers at my local hardware store (due to the 18" rim) and it has worked perfectly ever since.

[RG1820X]

Additionally, it may be helpful to know that Aquarian will "custom" make their SuperKick heads with tom hoops. I use a SuperKick II (batter side) with a Remo Renaissance Powerstroke head (resonant side with a felt strip) and it sounds great.

[bongomania]

Interesting stuff, thanks for the details and links. Making sure I understand, the extra bracket is for connecting the L piece that the kick pedal clamps onto, to the steel rim of the drum? I suppose to avoid stress to the shell as you kick? And you guys are saying the Pearl brackets only fit Pearl rims?

Thx again!

[chilledbongo]

Interesting stuff, thanks for the details and links. Making sure I understand, the extra bracket is for connecting the L piece that the kick pedal clamps onto, to the steel rim of the drum? I suppose to avoid stress to the shell as you kick? And you guys are saying the Pearl brackets only fit Pearl rims?

Thx again!

no, saying the pearl iss mount needs to be either for 2.3 superhoops or 1.8 regular triple flanged hoops, depending on what you have, in order to fit. it also has to be the iss mount for 16 inch floor toms....there are other iss mounts for smaller toms, so be careful there, too.

the rest of the pearl kit should work with any drum, but i would check the diameter of the floor tom mounts to make sure the pearl spurs will fit ....not all floor tom mounts are the same diameter...

confusing, i know....but that's the way it is.

[RG1820X]

chilledbongo, I thought I must be completely wrong about my ISS mounts, but I just double-checked it. It really IS an ISS 1216 mount and it DOES fit on my 18" Pearl "MasterCast" Diecast Hoops *perfectly. [Please note that the CAPITALS are because I am ecstatic that it actually works as well as it does!]

*I added one black plastic (nylon) 5/8-inch washer (1/4-inch center hole and 1/16-inch thickness) to both screws that was purchased at my local hardware store. It is VERY sturdy, flush with the bottom of the hoop, and works great.

[RG1820X]

Interesting stuff, thanks for the details and links. Making sure I understand, the extra bracket is for connecting the L piece that the kick pedal clamps onto, to the steel rim of the drum? I suppose to avoid stress to the shell as you kick? And you guys are saying the Pearl brackets only fit Pearl rims?

Thx again!

The ISS Mount is to attach the L piece to the steel rim; The shell would not take any of the stress of the mount. I only foresee that the rim would take about as much stress as if it were mounted to a tom stand; The Pearl brackets should fit most types of steel hoops regardless of the brand - I have another Jungle Gig/ISS setup on an old Tama 16" floor tom with flanged Tama hoops.