Are all tension rods created equal?

[Diggabuzz33]

I’ve been doing some repairs and have noticed some quality challenges with tension rods. I want to have some spares for all of my kit, so who makes solid, dependable tension rods?
Thanks.

 

[Tommy D]

The ones sold at DFD seem to be of nice quality. If you just need standard thread pitch rods for an inexpensive price, I would recommend those.

 

[JazzDrumGuy]

No they are not. Cheaper import drums have what seems like thinner rods and thinner heads and are much lighter. Will they last? Possibly. But I prefer the weight of the heavy ones and/or vintage ones. Of course you're paying more for vintage one so I don't always use vintage lugs on my rebuilds. It depends.

I agree about buying rods from DFD or generics from Gibraltar......