DW 5500DXF Three-Leg Hi-Hat Stand, Extended Footboard
The 5500DXF is a three-leg hi-hat stand with an extended footboard — that is what the XF stands for. The left foot does almost everything on the hi-hat that the right foot does on the bass drum: openings, accents, sometimes doubles. Here it gets the same leverage as long-board bass drum pedals.
What sets it apart
- Extended footboard on a three-leg hi-hat stand
- Forward contact point to open without lifting the whole foot
- Swivelling legs, positioned one by one
- Delta hinge with ball bearings
- Hinged memory locks and lateral cymbal seat adjustment
- Two pull rods, 21 in and 15 in
The left foot needs leverage too
Keeping a hi-hat closed takes continuous pressure. On a short footboard, that pressure is applied close to the hinge, where it takes the most force, and the left calf stiffens after a few songs.
Moving the contact point forward by a few centimetres makes the same closing pressure take noticeably less effort. The foot tires later, and the closure stays consistent from the start of the gig to the end.
Controlling the opening with the front of the foot
The half-open sound is the hardest nuance on the hi-hat: it lives in a gap of one or two millimetres between the cymbals. Finding it and holding it takes very fine ankle control.
With a long footboard, the front of the foot works that gap while the heel stays down. The motion becomes continuous instead of a series of positions, and the cymbal sizzles instead of snapping.
Three legs and a long footboard: the footprint
This stand takes up more room toward the back than an ordinary model. On a tight kit, plan its placement from the start, using the leg rotation to clear the area the footboard reaches into.
It is the only real trade-off of this version: space in exchange for a comfort and finesse that a short footboard does not give.
Specifications
| Footboard | Extended |
|---|---|
| Legs | Three, swivelling |
| What the length allows | Metering the opening from the front of the foot |
| Hinge | Delta hinge with bearings |
| Settings | Hinged memory locks |
| Pull rods | Two lengths, 21 and 15 in |
What it is for
- Busy hi-hat parts with lots of openings
- Funk, gospel and jazz, where left-foot nuance carries the groove
- Drummers whose left calf tightens up during gigs
- Working on half-open sounds and sustained sizzles
- Single-pedal kits with room on the left
Compare with other manufacturers
Long-board hi-hat stands from other manufacturers:
| Manufacturer | Comparable model | What differs |
|---|---|---|
| Tama | Speed Cobra long board | Long footboard as standard, low-profile shaft |
| Pearl | H-2050 extended footboard | Direct drive, separate angle adjustment |
| Mapex | Falcon hi-hat | Tension and angle adjustable independently |
| Yamaha | HS1200 long board | Fixed legs, simplified spring adjustment |
Frequently asked questions
- Does a long footboard really help on a hi-hat stand?
- Yes. The closing pressure takes less effort, and the half-open sound is easier to control with the front of the foot.
- Does this version work with a double pedal?
- Its three legs occupy the area where the auxiliary pedal goes. For a double pedal, the two-leg version is a better fit.
- Does the footboard fold for transport?
- Yes. It folds while staying attached to the base, so it does not get lost in the hardware case.
- Are both pull rods included?
- Yes, a 21 in and a 15 in rod come with the stand.
Avis clients
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