DW True-Pitch Stainless Steel Drum Tension Rods, 1.65 in, 6-Pack
These drum tension rods are made of stainless steel, and that is the whole reason this version exists. A chrome-plated rod eventually pits where it is most exposed: inside the lug, in contact with sweat, the damp of a van and rehearsal basements.
What sets it apart
- Solid stainless steel, not a surface treatment
- True-Pitch thread at thirty threads per inch
- 1.65 in (41.9 mm) long; specified for toms and snare drums
- Pack of six, enough for one six-lug head
- M5-.8 thread
Corrosion never starts where you are looking
Chrome plating protects as long as it is unbroken. But the part of the rod that lives inside the lug rubs with every tuning, and the plating ends up wearing thin there. Rust sets in out of sight, and shows itself the day the drum key catches instead of turning smoothly.
A stainless rod has no plating to wear through: the material is resistant through its entire thickness. A scratch creates no starting point, and after ten years the rod behaves just as it did on the first day.
Thread pitch, and the tuning precision it gives
Head tension is not set by force but by travel: each turn of the key drives the rod in by a distance equal to the thread pitch. Thirty threads per inch advance more slowly than the twenty-four of a common thread.
The same flick of the wrist therefore produces a smaller change in tension, and the half step you were chasing between two notches becomes reachable. It is also what makes evening out six rods genuinely possible rather than theoretical.
Who stands to gain from switching to stainless
Drummers who sweat a lot, those who store their gear in a garage or basement, those who play outdoor gigs in summer, and those who keep their drums for twenty years. In those conditions, a set of chrome rods gets replaced; a stainless set never does.
For a drum played in an air-conditioned room and stored in a case, the difference is much less visible. The decision rests on real conditions, not on principle.
Specifications
| Material | Stainless steel |
|---|---|
| Thread | M5-.8, True-Pitch at thirty threads per inch |
| Length | 1.65 in (41.9 mm) |
| Quantity | Pack of six |
| Intended drums | Toms and snare drums |
What it is for
- Outdoor gigs and humid climates
- Gear stored in a garage, a basement or a van
- A drummer whose rods already stick or pit
- Restoring an older drum whose threads catch
- Fine tuning of a tom or a shallow snare drum
Compare with other manufacturers
Fine-pitch or stainless tension rods from other manufacturers:
| Manufacturer | Comparable model | What differs |
|---|---|---|
| Pearl | Pro series tension rods | Standard thread pitch, chrome-plated steel |
| Tama | Wide-head tension rods | Larger-diameter head, standard thread |
| Ludwig | Classic tension rods | Imperial thread of American origin |
| Sonor | Metric tension rods | The manufacturer's own metric pitch, different lengths |
Frequently asked questions
- Why do my tension rods stick?
- Usually because the chrome plating has worn away inside the lug and corrosion has set in. Cleaning puts off the problem; stainless steel eliminates it.
- Will these rods fit any drum?
- They are M5-.8 thread and 1.65 in long. On a drum from another brand, check the thread and length before ordering.
- Should I replace all the rods on a drum at once?
- Yes, otherwise two different thread pitches share the same head and the tuning becomes impossible to even out.
- Should tension rods be lubricated?
- A trace of wax or a lubricant made for the purpose is enough. Too much attracts dust and eventually hardens.
Avis clients
Do your tension rods catch when you tune?
Aucun avis pour le moment. Soyez le premier à partager votre expérience après votre achat.