There is now a great selection of bass drum cymbal mounts available. These are perfect if you are wanting to make the most out of the space available on your bass drum.
If you are wanting to mount a cymbal to your bass drum or a small percussion instrument, these are our top picks.
Benefits of mounting on the bass drum
The main reason for mounting anything on your bass is to save space and make your life a little easier when moving your kit about.
The fewer stands you have to carry the better!
This is a huge benefit for street performers or those who love a minimalist setup.
It is already very common that toms are mounted on the bass drum. This is especially the case on lower-end kits.
But it is now becoming more common for small percussion instruments and cymbals to be mounted on the bass drum.
If you are wanting to place something over the top of the bass drum it can be a tricky place to reach with a stand. Having something mounted on the bass drum centrally can solve this issue.
Disadvantages of mounting on the bass drum
The disadvantage of mounting anything on your bass drum is that it can affect the sound of your drum.
Most mounts need to be attached to the bass drum with nuts and bolts. This means drilling into your bass drum to allow for mounting.
Every time you drill into your bass drum you are going to be slightly changing the sound produced.
Often this sound change will be very small but if you have a high-end kit, you will need to think carefully before making a permanent change.
Remember, when you drill into your bass drum this is permanent.
That being said, there are some great mounts on the market for those not wanting to drill into their drums.
Our top picks
If you are wanting to add any mount cymbals to your bass drum, these are our top picks. It is worth noting that there are many cowbell adaptors available.
These are common so in the product recommendations below, we have focused on cymbals mounts or particularly unique mounts.
Tama MC9 Bass Drum Hoop Grip
The MC9 hoop grip was released by Tama in 2021. This mount is attached to the hoop of the bass drum. To this mount, you can then attach an L-rod or Z-rod.
This makes this mount ideal for small percussions such as a cowbell or splash cymbals.
The best thing is that this is held on through pressure tightening the grip. This means it can be removed as and when you wish.
There is also rubber to ensure the protection of the hoop.
Pearl CHB-830 Bass Drum Mount & Cymbal Holder
Pearl have a great selection of bass drum mounting options.
If you are wanting to mount a larger cymbal to your bass drum the Pearl CHB-830 is a great option.
With this mount, you will need to modify your bass drum with two holes. This allows the mount to be firmly attached and able to take more weight than a hoop mounted option.
Pearl CLA-130 Mini Closed Hi-Hat Holder
If you are wanting to mount a secondary hi-hat or stack it over your bass drum this is a perfect mount. Released in 2021, this mount is attached to the bass drum hoop using pressure.
The main thing to note is that you have limited options for customising the placement due to the limited reach.
If you are wanting a central hi-hat on the bass drum this is a great option.
Pearl Bass Drum Hoop Mount Cymbal Holder
This is essentially the same hoop mount as you get with the hi-hat mount with a different cymbals mount.
Like the Tama MC9, this would be better suited to smaller cymbals. The main advantage over the MC9 is that you have more adjustment options for getting the perfect placement.
DW Bass Drum Hi-Hat Mount Clamp, DWSM2141HHM
Functionally this is very similar to the Pearl Mini Closed Hi-Hat Holder.
The main difference is the way it clamps onto the bass drum. The Pearl one clamps on with pressure whereas the DW clamps on like the hooks on the bass drum head.
This should give you more stability of the hi-hat clamp on the bass drum.
These actually seem pretty hard to come across but you can pick one up for GAK.
Our thoughts
Attaching accessories to your bass drum is a great way of maximising your space. It is good to see more creative uses coming around rather than just cowbells.
Personally, I am still a bit on the fence as to if I would want to add things to my bass drum. Especially on an expensive drum kit.
I don’t want to risk damaging anything I saved up a long time.
That being said, if you do a lot of shows and you have a mid-level kit for gigs, this could make your life a lot easier.
What do you think about mounting cymbals to your bass drum? Are there any stands we have missed? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
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