Is anyone using these? How are they holding up?
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DW Aluminum floor tom legs
- Thread starter repete
- Start date
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Don't know I'm interested.....
sherm
sherm
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What does that mean; when they're "working"?JazzyJeff said:
sherm
I use them wherever possible, including other kits that will accommodate 12.7mm floor tom legs. I have them on my Craviotto's and plan to use them on an Oriollo kit with INDe brackets.
They aren't cheap, but they are much lighter than the crowbar legs (some of them are ridiculously heavy) you see on some kits. The lightweight significantly reduces the mass attached to the floor tom/shell and when combined with the thinner foot portion that extends at a right angle, results in a low-mass, yet surprisingly springy floor tom leg. You can actually feel the suspension element provided by the leg when they are placed on a floor tom and you move it around across the floor.
Way better than any suspension tips I've tried for tone optimization, plus the obvious weight savings makes it a highly desirable feature for me. I try to find them used.
They aren't cheap, but they are much lighter than the crowbar legs (some of them are ridiculously heavy) you see on some kits. The lightweight significantly reduces the mass attached to the floor tom/shell and when combined with the thinner foot portion that extends at a right angle, results in a low-mass, yet surprisingly springy floor tom leg. You can actually feel the suspension element provided by the leg when they are placed on a floor tom and you move it around across the floor.
Way better than any suspension tips I've tried for tone optimization, plus the obvious weight savings makes it a highly desirable feature for me. I try to find them used.
Thanks. I'm using the regular ones on a couple kits but also looking to reduce weight were even I can. Time to put some gig money aside!
When they are "holding up a drum" I haven't been able to note a difference.JazzyJeff said:
I was just kidding. I understood.
sherm
I need to save some dimes but aluminum sounds like a good deal.
sherm
sherm
Seems like something I would like, but I never heard of them before. Sometimes I think I must live under a rock.
I would never switch them out just for weight savings alone (again, they are also 12.7mm) . The primary driver for me to use them is the sonic benefit. However, when that is combined with the weight-savings, it makes a more compelling case for me.
They are priced too high in my opinion, so I'd be patient and look for a deal somewhere if you want to try them.
They are priced too high in my opinion, so I'd be patient and look for a deal somewhere if you want to try them.
And 3 lbs. on your floor tompurist said:
Geostorm98
Very well Known Member
I haven't tried the aluminum version but a significant part of decoupling and avoiding the deadening effects of some floor tom legs is due to the double right angle design of DW floor tom legs. There's no need for air tip/float style feet, at least for me. My floors are plenty resonant even with the steel legs. On my Sonor kit with standard floor tom legs, air tip feet make a huge difference; with the DW legs they aren't necessary.zenghost said:
I agree steel legs are fine and I do use them on other kits.Geostorm98 said:
The DW legs are just another tweak (ultimately unnecessary, but fun perhaps), like suspension tips with the added benefit of less mass attached to the shell and less weight in the gig bag.
The double right angle design feature is definitely a significant factor, along with with the material/diameter variation as aluminum is simply less stiff than steel (in general) and reduces the mass attached to the drum.
Undoubtedly, we are all far better off having good heads and being able to optimize the tuning than spending $80 on floor tom legs.
Chonson
Very well Known Member
I have a set on my jazz series kit; they're great and feel like they weigh almost nothing - especially when compared to the beefy regular legs.
That said, it's somewhat of a wash. I've upgraded a bunch of stuff on my Collector's kit over the years (tom mounts, mag throws, 3p butt, etc) but I really feel no pull to add aluminum legs to that kit. Similarly, since I haven't gotten pulled into the ultralight hardware arms race, it's a marginal drop of weight from my usual hardware. Every bit counts, to be sure, but I'm already playing 6000 & 7000 series hardware since I don't need anything bigger.
If you were concerned with saving every ounce possible, no matter the cost, but still wanted to play a full-size kit they'd be worth a look. Sonically, I don't have any opinion since, as I said, they're on my jazz series kit which is just a wholly different beast from collector's in terms of how they're voiced. And, in hindsight, I never thought to check it out.
Pure durability though? ("How are they holding up"?) They're fine. I am more likely to break one of the plastic tilter handles than those legs.
That said, it's somewhat of a wash. I've upgraded a bunch of stuff on my Collector's kit over the years (tom mounts, mag throws, 3p butt, etc) but I really feel no pull to add aluminum legs to that kit. Similarly, since I haven't gotten pulled into the ultralight hardware arms race, it's a marginal drop of weight from my usual hardware. Every bit counts, to be sure, but I'm already playing 6000 & 7000 series hardware since I don't need anything bigger.
If you were concerned with saving every ounce possible, no matter the cost, but still wanted to play a full-size kit they'd be worth a look. Sonically, I don't have any opinion since, as I said, they're on my jazz series kit which is just a wholly different beast from collector's in terms of how they're voiced. And, in hindsight, I never thought to check it out.
Pure durability though? ("How are they holding up"?) They're fine. I am more likely to break one of the plastic tilter handles than those legs.
RobbiefromAtlanta
DFO Veteran
They came with my Jazz series kit and they are really light. Not sure of any sonic difference between them and the steel legs.
the reason I asked is I'm giving my Club Customs a break from the stage and going with my Tempus kits for awhile - both floor toms use
DW brackets - I am also using the ultra lite stands so why not keep getting lighter?
DW brackets - I am also using the ultra lite stands so why not keep getting lighter?
Guys......
Go to home depot and buy 1/2" aluminum stock. Or order some on line. It's easy to bend and file down the top edge. I've been using a set on my Gretsch kit for years with no problem. I'm thinking about getting the PDP tilter assy and making a 22" boom, mostly so I have some room at the back end so I can attach another instrument, cowbell, splash etc.
Go to home depot and buy 1/2" aluminum stock. Or order some on line. It's easy to bend and file down the top edge. I've been using a set on my Gretsch kit for years with no problem. I'm thinking about getting the PDP tilter assy and making a 22" boom, mostly so I have some room at the back end so I can attach another instrument, cowbell, splash etc.
