Not sure how many guys on here have or use drum racks, but I was curious about something. So I've had racks for years, mostly to help me when I have Monster kits that require a rack to mount everything. Always been a fan of Gibraltar and have even owned Tama rack. Never got into Pearl with the square. Now aside Pearl's first Black Rack, no one makes any rack black. All shiny Chrome. Yet what strikes me is the availability of black lugs,rims,tension rods,actual stands. Why not make Black Rack? Granted I'm sure it could be custom ordered, but would likely cost a lot more. The company I work for has a crap ton of 1/4" thick black aluminum pipes, which they are letting me have as they want them out of shop. I'm personally going to transform the Rack that I use for my symphonic metal band all black. I also have the means to order the necessary clamps, as we use multiple styles for the stages we build. I guess the point and main question is would it be sensible to start a company called " Black Rack " and make racks based on what someone wants / needs? Or do I make Black Rack and do the typical heights ,etc... that Gibraltar does?
Black Drum Rack
Not a Guru, just addicted to drums
- Jay
Hey Jay
Sounds like a great idea. Never could figure out why they only came in chrome... If your going to start a business, the standard sizes woul be a great start and the "custom orders" should of course drive a little bit of a premium. Another product line could be custom snare racks. There is only one I have found through the bay that has 5 levels and holds about 7 per level. I would love a custom shape to fit a space or a unique design just to look good in the drum cave
Let me know how it progresses
Michael
Some of my favorites from the kits in the collection
58 WFL New Yorker Blue Sparkle
67 Ludwig Hollywood Red Psychedelic
69 Ludwig Standard Red Ruby Strata
70's Ludwig BOP "Ringo" Kit
A few of my favorite snares
20's Leedy Black Elite
51 Leedy & Ludwig Knob Tension
58 WFL Buddy Rich Classic Blue Sparkle
63 Walberg & Auge Sea Blue Agave Green Pearl
66 Leedy Shelly Manne Blue Agate Pearl
I think "Black Rack" is trade marked...:( Deer antlers you can rattle that are black... imagine that..
Maybe "AOC Racks"... "absence of color" racks... just thinking out loud.. bad habit.
IMO, the clamps and memory locks would eventually create marks and/or scratches in a black finish. Chrome is very resistant to marring.
You could do a black Mil Spec "hard anodize" on the aluminum, depending on the alloy they are made of.
But, I believe Yamaha has their Hex Rack available in black. I could be wrong, as I never got on the rack band-wagon in the 80's, but I think they offer it in black. I also think it is aluminum. Like Gibraltar, they have curved and straight sections as far as I remember.
Red Ripple '70's Yamaha D-20 20b-12-14f
Piano Black Yamaha Recording Custom Be-Bop kit 18b-10-14f
Snares:
Yamaha COS SDM5; Yamaha Cobalt Blue RC 5-1/2x14; Gretsch round badge WMP; 1972 Ludwig Acrolite; 1978 Ludwig Super Sensitive; Cobalt Blue one-off Montineri; Yamaha Musashi 6.5X13 Oak; cheap 3.5X13 brass piccolo
IMO, the clamps and memory locks would eventually create marks and/or scratches in a black finish. Chrome is very resistant to marring.
I don't honestly believe it would do any damage to the black. Typically ( from my experience with my racks over the years ) there isn't many ways for the clamps / memory locks to really do much as far as scratching. But something to look into. One benefit I know of is any rust / discoloration would be harder to notice. Chrome, unless it really shines just doesn't look as good. The specific pipe I can get from work is made in black, so the coloration won't pull off. But again, very much something to experiment with and see.
Not a Guru, just addicted to drums
- Jay
IMO, the clamps and memory locks would eventually create marks and/or scratches in a black finish. Chrome is very resistant to marring.
I don't honestly believe it would do any damage to the black. Typically ( from my experience with my racks over the years ) there isn't many ways for the clamps / memory locks to really do much as far as scratching. But something to look into. One benefit I know of is any rust / discoloration would be harder to notice. Chrome, unless it really shines just doesn't look as good. The specific pipe I can get from work is made in black, so the coloration won't pull off. But again, very much something to experiment with and see.
I have a black Voelker rack. it was powder coated. Powder coating is nothing more than melted plastic...
The clamps can and do leave marks. Also, if you throw the pipes in with all of your other hardware, it WILL get scratched....
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