Buying a TD-30K - Which stand for maximum expandability and flexibility?

[itai345]

I've been playing for a few months on a TD-4KX that I bought back around 2010, with the kick upgraded to the KD-9 and the ride to a CY-12R/C (so it's more like the TD-4KX2 now). My drum teacher now wants me to start doing all kinds of fancy ride-bell stuff, and the CY-12's bell never really worked (the greatest disappointment with this set), so I've decided to make the jump that I've been fantasising about anyway and buy a TD-30K (possibly upgrading the HH and one of the crashes, and maybe leaving the kick behind because I really like the KD-9).

I don't yet know exactly where I'm going with all this drums thing, which is pretty new to me, but I'm pretty sure I'll want to start going into latin soon, so I'm planning to keep all the gear from the old set and gradually re-incorporate it into the new one for timbales, bongos, cow-bells, splashes, etc.

So now the question is which stand is the one that's right for me...

Ideally, I'd like something that will:

• Allow me to position the kick on the right side of the set (Matt Ritter style) and not at the front as is usual.
• Allow me to add all, or at least most of my existing gear without too much hassle.
• Will not be too big, heavy, or expensive.

So I'm pretty sure I can't get all of these things and will have to compromise, but I'd like to hear your opinions. The "natural choices" seem to be MDS-25 or the MDS-12, but I fear both of them are not going to be compatible with putting the kick to the right, as their front legs are right where I'd like the kick to be. I've started wondering if my MDS-4 can do the job, at least for a start. It has the plusses of being free (since I already have it) and that it's front legs are close together so there's room to put the kick between the right-front and the right-back legs in a position that's perfect for me. OTOH it probably won't have room for adding anything more than the stock TD30K hardware, so no expandability.

Any thoughts?

[kgoroway]

My drum teacher now wants me to start doing all kinds of fancy ride-bell stuff, and the CY-12's bell never really worked (the greatest disappointment with this set), so I've decided to make the jump that I've been fantasising about anyway and buy a TD-30K (possibly upgrading the HH and one of the crashes, and maybe leaving the kick behind because I really like the KD-9).

This isn't what you asked, but it has to be said.

Before you do anything, try the TD-30K's ride, and especially the bell. If there is anything that Roland gets wrong (IMO) it's the ride bell. My aKit is right next to my eKit, and if I'm doing anything as far as touchy/feely ride/bell work, it has to be the aKit. (and I've *done* the cymbal mod to make my ride bell extremely sensitive, it still is no where close to what you can do with a real cymbal).

As far as your rack question. Get a long gibraltar tube for <$20 (something like this? http://www.amazon.com/Gibraltar-SC-G.../dp/B001RMDQWY) and put it in the middle of your MDS-4. Certainly cheaper than anything else you might try!

[hairmetal-81]

Welcome to the forum, itai345!


Consider getting a *chrome*-finished Roland rack! You will be able to upgrade/extend/customize it further down your road with nicely matching Gibraltar parts!


Happy Drumming!


HTH

[itai345]

Thanks for the answers!

kgoroway: Yes it's good that you remind me of this fact. The bells on these Rolands are a real disappointment. Will definitely follow your advice and go try them out at the store. I wonder if the Hart-Dynamics cymbals are going to be better for this...

kgoroway and Dänoh: I understand from your answers that the Roland racks are compatible in terms of rod size with Gibraltar hardware...? That's very interesting, as it indeed allows for almost endless customizability...

Dänoh: Why specifically the chrome one? Aren't them all compatible, or is this just a question of looks?

Thanks again!

[hairmetal-81]

Thanks for the answers!

Dänoh: Why specifically the chrome one? Aren't them all compatible, or is this just a question of looks?

Just the looks.... purely aesthetical!
Gibraltar doesn't offer black tubes, and a lot of Roland (and Yamaha) racks come in black. That's a problem... aesthetically.

If you go for a chromed rack straight away, you will not have much trouble in the looks-department when expanding further!



HTH

[kgoroway]

Finding used black tubes to match your current rack (if you care) is pretty easy, there are plenty on ebay. Again...much cheaper than buying a new rack!

But, yes, in general, all of the round tubed racks are compatible with each other.