Tuesday, September 30, 2014

To Add To Your Comfort Behind YourDrum Setup, Be Wise and Begin Utilizing A Backrest!

By Victor Salazar


A well built drum throne with infinite height adjustability is one of the most important pieces of gear that a drummer can have. We drummers spend loads of hours sitting behind our kits and need to use a high quality throne to attain the highest level of comfort and support in order to help us get the best results while performing.

For those who want additional back support, you may want to consider using a throne with a backrest. Many drummers like Anton Fig from "The Late Show with David Letterman", Stewart Copeland of The Police, U2's Larry Mullen, Jr. and Jane's Addiction's Stephen Perkins all use backrests.

Companies like Roc N Soc, Tama, Gibraltar, Drum Workshop, and Pearl make thrones that include a backrest or backrests that can be added to your existing throne. If you're thinking about adding a backrest or getting a new throne with a backrest, there are several important things to keep in mind:

1. ALWAYS situate one leg of the throne's tripod base directly behind you. This will dramatically decrease the chance of you leaning back and accidentally falling over. If you use a throne with four legs, stability won't be an issue.

2. DO NOT lean back on your backrest while you're playing. Leaning back may impede your ability to reach each component on your drum set. You should maintain proper posture and only lean back to stretch when you're not actively playing.

3. While playing, the backrest should only lightly touch your back and serve as a constant reminder to maintain proper posture. If you lose contact, it could suggest that you are slouching forward.

Not every add-on backrest is compatible with every throne on the market. Certain backrests like those made by Drum Workshop and Pearl only work with specific throne models offered by each respective company. For example, you can't mount a Drum Workshop backrest on a Tama throne. The two aren't compatible. So before you rush out to get an add-on backrest, make sure it will fit the make and model of your existing throne.

Gibraltar makes a universal add-on backrest that fits most major manufacturers' thrones by clamping directly to the throne's upper tube. However, it can't be used on hydraulic or lighter weight designs.

While backrests may not be necessary for every drummer, they certainly can make our time behind our kits incredibly more comfortable. A comfortable drummer is a happy and more productive drummer!

If you have any questions or need customized advice regarding your drum throne backrest decisions or dilemmas, feel free to reach out. I'm always here to help!






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