DW 6000 Series Ultralight Hardware

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| JANUARY 2017 WWW.MUSICRADAR.COM/RHYTHM
GEAR REVIEW
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B
efore rock went heavy in the
1960s, fl at-based fold-out leg
stands were a familiar sight. By
the late 1960s, however, rock
drummers were fi nding these stands too
fl imsy. Double-braced boom stands came
along and since then hardware has gone
gargantuan. The inevitable backlash has seen
gigging drummers look for quality hardware
that doesn’t induce a hernia.
Most companies do a single-braced
lightweight tripod range, but in recent years
there has been a surprise return to fl at-based
stands with a newly-cool vintage look. First
DW came up with its 6000 Series Light
hardware, and now we have the 6000 Series
Ultralight hardware.
Build
DW has achieved the Ultra-Light goal by
employing aluminium instead of steel for the
legs. Additionally, everything that can be has
been reduced or miniaturised – the tubing,
section housings and tiny memory locks on
the hi-hat and snare stand. Yet it all feels
strong and built to last. The result is genuinely
impressive. You can literally pick up these
stands in the crook of your little fi nger. The
snare stand, for example, weighs just over a
kilogram, the equivalent of a bag of sugar!
The hi-hat stand has a smooth, twin-chain
off-set direct-pull action and the familiar DW
split-heel footboard. DW is marketing a set of
four stands (snare, hi-hat and two straight
cymbal stands) in a special mini carrying bag.
Hands On
DW has packed the stands with useful and
functional design fl ourishes. The snare
From £79 If it’s seriously lightweight stands
you crave, look no further. These are way the
lightest in mainstream production
DW
6000 SERIES
ULTRALIGHT
HARDWARE
WORDS: GEOFF NICHOLLS
basket is sprung so that it holds the snare
lightly, the rubber arm grips carefully
designed to minimise constriction. The
aluminium base has a small footprint with 8"
(20cm) legs, which is fi ne for light playing
situations. The basket has continuous angle
adjustment (not geared), which is to my
mind an essential of any snare drum stand.
At its lowest your snare bottom will be 16"
TO STATE THE OBVIOUS, THERE’S NO
WAY ALUMINIUM LEGS CAN HAVE
THE GROUNDED STABILITY OF
WEIGHTY STEEL. BUT SWAP TO
THESE AND CARRYING REALLY DOES
BECOME CHILD’S PLAY
(41cm) from the fl oor. There is also a
memory lock for fi xing the height.
Along with the fl at base, the support
arms are the fold-out-fl at type also. Anyone
who started out with a 1960s fl at-arm stand
– Premier or Olympic for example – will
remember that under hard playing the
arms eventually start to bend down so that
the centre of the stand pushes through
1
GIBRALTAR 8000
SERIES FLAT-
BASED
HARDWARE
We say: “Independent
hardware company
Gibraltar offers a keenly
priced fl at-based stand
series that, like DW’s, is
packed with smart
design ideas. ”
2
PEARL 150
SERIES FLAT-
BASED
HARDWARE
We say: “ Pearl enters
the competition with
typically well-
engineered fl at based
stands. Steel legs
make the set heavier
than DW’s, but
correspondingly
more stable. ”
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RHY263.gear_dw.indd 94 28/11/2016 18:28