• Good news/Bad news

  
  As reviewed by Alan Dale on 11/1/2009

  The Axis VCS-S Straight Cymbal Stand incorporates new designs with new materials to produce a light-weight, durable, elegant and distinctive looking piece of hardware. Manufactured from aircraft grade aluminum and steel, and featuring some innovative design concepts such as the patented "vortex" legs and a washerless tilter which relies on ball bearings instead of clamps, this stand, like the other Axis accessories and hardware, represents an innovation and, possibly, an improvement over most of what's out there. Here's what you, (and the engineers at Axis), need to know: None of my cymbals fit on this stand. Not one. I started playing in 1965. Most of my equipment, the drums and cymbals which I prefer, were made no later than the late 60's and early 70's. Heavier cymbals probably have larger holes at their center. If you're a jazz drummer whose cymbals are from a different era, these stands seem not to have been designed with you in mind. I've discovered that there are methods by which I was able to convert these new stands to make them usable. The first includes a pair of pliers which can be used to reveal a threaded top which is small enough to fit through metal and felt washers which I cannibalized from another (60's Rogers) stand. The second involved replacing the entire top section of the Axis stand with the top section of a Swivomatic era Rogers cymbal stand. The result of making that switch is that the top section is chrome, but the stand can now accommodate not only one, but two cymbals, stacked one above the other, (a 21" vintage Chinese cymbal at floor tom level and an 18" crash on top). I've purchased two of these straight cymbal stands and one Axis hihat because I like the look of the flat black finish and because the stands are well made and light weight. Axis Percussion is at work designing and manufacturing top of the line foot pedals and stands that look great, feel great and function as well or better than all of their competition...With some tweaking, and a nod towards acknowledging the existence of Jazz drummers who are not quite yet extinct, I believe these are potentially the best stands available today. Conclusion: Worth the expense and the extra effort. Hopeful that Axis will act to improve a next generation of this product line to address this issue.

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• Great stand - but a few suggestions for design improvements

  
  As reviewed by No Stringz Attached on 8/26/2011

  Got mine yesterday, just in time to use it for a gig. I love the light weight and sturdiness of this stand. But there were a few minor details that kept me from giving this stand a 5-star rating: 1) Unlike traditional cymbal stands with a threaded rod and wingnut at the top, this stand has a hole at the top and a screw with a 1" or so long, straight bar that screws into the top. Fastening the nut onto the stand is a little awkward, and it's easy to drop and lose the screw when screwing it on. A round rubber coated one (like the kind on Aquarian Cymbal Springs) would be much, much better. 2) The screw that tightens the bottom of the center tube requires a drum key to tighten and loosen. A thumb screw would make setup/breakdown a lot quicker and easier. Nonetheless.... BUY THIS STAND! It is worth the price, you will not be disappointed.

  1 of 1 people found this review helpful.
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