Once great copiers, the Japanese drum makers were emerging
as leading designers by the 1980s. Pearl and Tama became
recognized for their innovative hardware concepts. Pearl
had already begun coming on strongly during the 1970s.
(Photo 29) Of note was their tom holder. It was very similar
to the Rogers Swiv-O-Matic design. In 1970, Pearl’s
no.716S single tom holder used the ball and socket design
with solid hexagonal steel arms almost identical to the
Swiv-O-Matic design. By 1972, it was modified with a much
thicker hexagonal riser. It was Pearl’s top-of-the-line
tom holder. Double toms were common by then, and Pearl’s
no.730 double holder was being installed on drum sets
of all different kinds.
|
Pearl
1972 ball and socket tom holders |
|
Photo
29 |
Pearl spearheaded new directions in styles that would
define much of the next generation. By 1978 they were
using their all-new design in tom arms that nearly every
manufacturer began to copy. They’re still the industry
standard. (Photo 30)
|
Pearl
mid-1980s-90s smooth ratchet long arm |
|
Photo
30 |
A key-tightened all-angle clutch with smooth action and
sturdy support, its simplicity is ingenious. Geared versions
and variations of improved models are plenty, all adaptable
for isolation mounting. It remains the most popular, but
it’s not the only design in use, of course. (Photo
31)
|
Pearl
1980s geared tom arm |
|
Photo
31 |
Tama has their own hefty “L” arm designs.
Yamaha has their ball and socket design with a big, easy
thumb screw instead of key tightening. All of the modern
tom holders are variations on a few older designs using
“L” arms, straight rods, tubular arms, and
either a ball and socket, or a geared joint of one sort
or another - and usually withsome form of an isolation
mount. (Photo 32) These days there are so many brands
offering so many different styles and models that it’s
too much to keep up with. But it seems as if the tom holder
renaissance may have finally reached its peak after so
much reinvention of the wheel, with isolation mounts,
stands, and rack systems to divorce toms from the bass
drum. Yet creative minds will keep bringing new ideas,
even if only to revive some old ones. Now some vintage
designs are being brought back, either faithfully renewed,
or in an all-new modern design retro style. The vintage
market certainly has a place for new older-style holders,
while the modern market seems undaunted by overwhelming
choices today. Anything new and different seems to find
a place in the market, at least for a while.
|
Yamaha
2000s CL-940B tom holder |
|
Photo
32 |
(Photo 33) Gibraltar, the modern-day Walberg & Auge
for all the hardware they catalog, offers a massive new
two-bolt rail consolette which a lot of working drummers
have fitted to their vintage set-ups. It helps retain
a vintage look, yet it offers far greater ease and reliability.
They are available on Gretsch’s USA Custom bebop
kits, and they can be ordered from Gibraltar. While they’re
great for an 18” bass drum, they seem a bit tall
for most 20” players.
|
2007
Gribraltar new-style rail consolette |
|
Photo
33 |
Vintage drum guru Steve Maxwell now offers an all-new
vintage-style rail consolette and accessories to fit any
style vintage drums. With the two-bolt Walberg & Auge
style rail, it has a Ludwig-type link and ratchet tilter,
which requires a hex rail key, and it can utilize any
type of holder. (Photo 34)
|
2009
Steve Maxwell's new rail consolette & accessories |
|
Photo
34 |
These new retro-type holders are great for vintage enthusiasts
and the gigging vintage player. The actual vintage holders
are worse now than they were back in the days when they
were being made. Trying to find a rail consolette and
the related parts in good condition is a difficult and
costly venture now, and one which often brings an education
on why other types of tom holders have been invented.
(Photo 35)
|
R.I.M.S.-type
tom suspension holder |
|
Photo
35 |
Whether using a vintage holder or a new design, one of
the most commonly used modern items today is an isolation
mount. Designed to suspend toms without the choking effect
of bolted-on brackets, the idea was to let the drum shells
resonate fully. The first isolation mount was called R.
I. M. S., for Resonance Isolation Mounting System, invented
and patented in 1979 by drummer Gary L. Gauger.
|
|
