Holding a drumkit in place

[Saudade]

Hi all,

The rehearsal studio I work at has a nice DW kit (a 6-pc is it called? it has 4 toms). During a recent refurbishment we are trying do away with a drum riser + "rubber" carpet combination, and put the kit directly on top of the wooden laminate flooring (without any carpet).

This is mainly for aesthetic reasons cos we can't afford a real (expensive!!!) persian carpet to match the "look" of the room. Also, we realised that any carpet will retain a lot of wood splinters from the drumsticks and make vacuuming a pain.

So how do you guys who don't have carpets hold the drumkit in place? The kick drum will keep moving forward and the hihat and double pedal will slither away tutt

We are thinking of nailing to the floor some kind of permanent "stopper" in front of the kick drum (like a piece of wood ).

Anyone has any more elegant/less drastic solution?

Thanks for any help

[chrisso]

Sometimes it's handy to be able to adjust the positioning of things. Even if it's only by a fraction.
The carpet is the most flexible and workable solution I'm afraid.
Even if it's just a cheap black one or cream.
Sorry.

[artbeat77]

Even if you only buy a carpet square just for the drumset. About every 2 years I head to Home Depot's carpet section, find the cheap, thin stuff and buy a 6'X10' rectangle that I shove in my van. It usually comes to around $15.

Once I'm home I cut it into two 6' X 5' rectangles that travel with me and last about a year each. That's big enough for most 5 - 6 piece kits and won't stick out so far from the kit as to be distracting to the overall vibe of your room.

T

P.S. Hi Chris.

[Saudade]

Beat Brakes $12.99 - Replace Drum Carpet, Drum Mat - Audimute Soundproofing

Would this work Anyone has experience?

[Blindside]

Originally Posted by Saudade

Beat Brakes $12.99 - Replace Drum Carpet, Drum Mat - Audimute Soundproofing

Would this work Anyone has experience?

I'm gonna go out on a limb and say no.

I had this problem at a show a few weeks ago, but it's not only th bass drum pedal. My hi hat was moving too. Really, only a carpet which the hi hat stand, kick pedal AND drum stool all sit, is the only thing that will ensure the kit not moving. You could nail some 2x4s to the floor in front of the kick and hihat, but I'm not sure how it would turn out aesthetically.

[mrface2112]

you can always tie a piece of rope around the lugs on the kick drum, and then run it back around the throne and through/around any of the other pieces of hardware that are creeping away. the weight of the drummer will keep it all in place.

but ideally, i like carpet under the drums to make em stay put too.


cheers,
wade

[Jax]

Disclaimer - I haven't tried any of this! But I bet it would work!

Keeping your pedals in place:

If drilling holes in your kick and hi-hat pedal plates isn't too much for you, screw them down into a thick plywood sheet that your whole kit sits on. I'd put threaded metal machine nuts into the board, and use machine screws with washers. Of course, the pedals aren't portable unless you're willing to unscrew them every time.

Keeping the kick from creeping:

Most kick legs have spikes at the end. Staple (staple gun, not stapler) 2"x2" carpet where the spikes need to dig in. This alone will probably hold the kick in place. If you're worried about the finish getting nicked up, throw a bathroom mat under the kick.

I don't think my ride or crash stands would creep away, but I'll have to try this and let you know. I haven't played on a hard surface for quite awhile.

[sphykik]

I'd say go to Home Depot and get a cheap rubber black mat. You can probably find them in the bath section, or hell, maybe even a black floor mat for a car would work (make sure they have grippy stuff on the bottom). Then just cut them into 4"*4" little squares and put them where you need them.

[joeq]

Originally Posted by Saudade

Beat Brakes $12.99 - Replace Drum Carpet, Drum Mat - Audimute Soundproofing

Would this work Anyone has experience?

I am with Blindside. I also predict failure for this device.

while this will probably creep less than a typical pedal, it will still creep. A carpet keeps the various elements of your drum kit in the same relationship because your weight on the chair resists the pull of the pedals. Increasing the friction under the actual parts that move is not the point. The point is to link the resistance to pulling (from the chair) to all the elements that want to move, pedals, kick drum.

In a way, the carpet is really the same thing as tying the kick drum to your chair with a rope.


These little squares they are selling have increased friction on the floor but your pedal and kick drum "continent" is still able to "drift" away from the others. It will probably slow them down, but not stop them.

Also, we realised that any carpet will retain a lot of wood splinters from the drumsticks and make vacuuming a pain.

Playability of the drumset is what is most important. Looks are secondary and it might even be said that something that works automatically has a certain aesthetic appeal. Splinter Retention is way way down the list.

The carpet only needs to be big enough to lie under:

•both bass drum spurs,
•at least two legs of the drum throne and
•at least two legs of the hi-hat.

I like an institutional-style mat- charcoal grey with rubber backing. But I have also seen people cut out the exact "footprint" that they need (and no more). Some indoor/outdoor carpeting is excellent for this type of cutting, as the edges will not fray.

Of course in a rehearsal studio you will need to make the carpet bigger in every direction as you must accommodate a number of different possible drum setups.

IMO, a carpet would have to be pretty ugly to be uglier than a 2 x 4 nailed into your nice wood floor to stop the bass drum. Plus another 2 x 4 nailed in at a different angle to stop the hi-hat. You could do the ropes-tied-to-the-chair thing - but that's not real aesthetic either.

So how do you guys who don't have carpets hold the drumkit in place?

who are you talking to? Who doesn't have a carpet?

[kats]

I have those 3/4" 2 sq ft rubber matts they sell for exercise rooms at Home Depot/Walmart etc.

They're dirt cheap. I arrange/cut them so that just the kick drum/pedal and throne sit on them - the combined weight holds it in place.

I do this 'cause I like floor reflections off the snare etc and don't want them over carpet. The HH's aren't a problem moving if your using a good stand.

[stonewall40]

Hey guys, I'm currently working on a prototype drum and HH anchor system. I've had this problem for years, and finally wanted to do something about it.

It's works really well for me right now, but I'm sourcing out better materials for the mat part.
It's really nice not to haul around carpet to gigs and have a lively sound in the studio.

I hope to have my 3rd prototype finished in a couple of months. Provided I can find a suitable rubber material.

What you think? Any thoughts? My drummer friends say I have a pretty good product on my hands. My first prototype works really well.

If you'd like more info, let me know....

Cheers,
Dave

[Jax]

Dave,

Given the description, you've put some thought into the design and it sounds like it should work well.

Although I can easily imagine it, I'd like to see what your design looks like if you have any pics to share. Pics are worth a thousand words. Thanks!

p.s. - Do you think enough drummers are aware of the benefits of having no carpet under the kit that this product would do well on the market? I think it's hard to say, but maybe it would do well as word got out.

[joeq]

Originally Posted by stonewall40

Hey guys, I'm currently working on a prototype drum and HH anchor system. I've had this problem for years, and finally wanted to do something about it.

It's works really well for me right now, but I'm sourcing out better materials for the mat part.
It's really nice not to haul around carpet to gigs and have a lively sound in the studio.

Here's how it works.... hard to explain.... picture a T made of rubber. The top (horizontal) of the T is reinforced with a strip of wood. The kick spurs rests against the wood, and the 6 inch wide vertical part of the T runs underneath the kick and pedal and underneath drummer throne. The drummer's weight keeps everything from sliding.
Same idea for the HH pedal, except it's just a strip of rubber running underneath the pedal to the drummer's throne. A small piece of wood at the end keeps the HH stand in place.

...

sounds like a cool idea. And unlike the little friction squares, it acknowledges the reality that the drummers weight is the only thing that will truly stop the sliding. I think there could be a market for it. I personally don't mind taking a carpet to gigs, as it helps me 'mark my territory' on stage, but in the studio I would like as much wood under the kit as possible. I often lay down a small square board under the snare (but on top of the carpet)

[stonewall40]

Originally Posted by Jax

Dave,

Given the description, you've put some thought into the design and it sounds like it should work well.

Although I can easily imagine it, I'd like to see what your design looks like if you have any pics to share. Pics are worth a thousand words. Thanks!

p.s. - Do you think enough drummers are aware of the benefits of having no carpet under the kit that this product would do well on the market? I think it's hard to say, but maybe it would do well as word got out.

Hey Jax, I dont have any pictures just yet, I was thinking of doing a Google sketchup for kicks. (ew, no pun intended!)

I sure not many drummers are aware of the benifits of nice reflections coming off the floor.... but studio guys do right? So, potentially, there are 2 markets, one for the studio kits and one for the giggin drummer that doesnt want to haul a carpet to gigs.

[stonewall40]

Originally Posted by joeq

sounds like a cool idea. And unlike the little friction squares, it acknowledges the reality that the drummers weight is the only thing that will truly stop the sliding. I think there could be a market for it. I personally don't mind taking a carpet to gigs, as it helps me 'mark my territory' on stage, but in the studio I would like as much wood under the kit as possible. I often lay down a small square board under the snare (but on top of the carpet)

Thanks Joeq, I aways hated taking carpets to gigs myself, mostly because I either forgot it, or couldnt find room in the Carmaro.... thank god I have a truck now!

I used to do the same thing by putting some tiles under the snare, but then found that wood inder the whole kit was really cool sounding. More lively and resonant.

I suppose there are times when a drummer would want to have a carpet under the kit on really trashy and reverby sounding rooms.

Thanks for the replies. I'll keep you posted....

[beatmonkey]

Like most drummers, I've had this problem in the past, and did the usual carpet hauling to cure it. Then a few years ago I was in a camping supplies shop with a friend and noticed a roll of thin, close-cell rubber that was for sale as a camp "bedroll" - you know the stuff, about 1/2 inch thick and quite dense, but really lightweight. It cost me next to nothing and it has lasted a suprisingly long time - the bass drum spurs dig right in, as do the studs on bass pedal and HH. The rubber is so dense that the holes almost close completely when you pull the spurs out. I had to cut the approximately six-foot length in half to obtain two strips about two feet wide that I hinged together with a thin rubber strip so I've got a 3X4 rectangle that holds my kit together under the onslought of manic thrashing I fondly believe is drumming. Then it rolls right up like the bedroll it was designed to be.

[BassTerd]

Originally Posted by Blindside

I'm gonna go out on a limb and say no.

I had this problem at a show a few weeks ago, but it's not only th bass drum pedal. My hi hat was moving too. Really, only a carpet which the hi hat stand, kick pedal AND drum stool all sit, is the only thing that will ensure the kit not moving. You could nail some 2x4s to the floor in front of the kick and hihat, but I'm not sure how it would turn out aesthetically.

I just got some of these yesterday. THEY DON'T WORK. A heavy foot and hardwood floors are no match for these break beats.

I think I'm going to use Kats Idea but with some of that stuff BeatMonkey picked up.