EricT43
Senior Member
I just mentioned in another thread how moving my gear to and from gigs is starting to become a big pain. Traditionally, I throw all my stands into a hardware bag, but as I get older and saltier it is taking more and more out of me to move that heavy SOB.
In an effort to make it easier over the years, I've done a couple different things. I got a bag with wheels on one end of it - helps a lot except when there are stairs. I switched to single-braced stands for my snare and crash cymbals. I still use DW9000's for the ride and high hats, and those things weigh a ton, but I love 'em. I've limited my cymbal selection to hats, ride, 2 crashes, and a china. So, 2 heavy stands and 3 light ones, plus the floor tom legs, throne, pedal etc. For the drums, I switched from SKB hard cases to Ahead soft bags.
The bottom ends (the end with the wheels on it) for both of my hardware bags have ripped open with use, so I need to get replacements. This time around, I'm thinking maybe it will be better to get 2 or 3 lightweight bags with no wheels, and split the gear between them to reduce the weight. More trips back and forth, but they should be easier to manage. Asking my band for help is a possibility, but I much prefer to get there first and set up before space starts getting eaten up by the others.
What do you all do to make the hardware easier to move around?
In an effort to make it easier over the years, I've done a couple different things. I got a bag with wheels on one end of it - helps a lot except when there are stairs. I switched to single-braced stands for my snare and crash cymbals. I still use DW9000's for the ride and high hats, and those things weigh a ton, but I love 'em. I've limited my cymbal selection to hats, ride, 2 crashes, and a china. So, 2 heavy stands and 3 light ones, plus the floor tom legs, throne, pedal etc. For the drums, I switched from SKB hard cases to Ahead soft bags.
The bottom ends (the end with the wheels on it) for both of my hardware bags have ripped open with use, so I need to get replacements. This time around, I'm thinking maybe it will be better to get 2 or 3 lightweight bags with no wheels, and split the gear between them to reduce the weight. More trips back and forth, but they should be easier to manage. Asking my band for help is a possibility, but I much prefer to get there first and set up before space starts getting eaten up by the others.
What do you all do to make the hardware easier to move around?