DW Drop Lock Hi-Hat Clutch
This hi-hat clutch drops the hi-hat cymbals into the closed position with a slap of the hand or a hit of the stick. It solves a specific problem: when both feet are playing the bass drum, nobody is holding the hi-hat closed anymore.
What sets it apart
- Closing triggered by a slap of the hand or a hit of the stick
- The cymbals stay closed with no input from the foot
- Useful as soon as both feet are busy on the bass drum
- Back to normal operation by lifting the mechanism
- Chrome finish
Both feet are busy, and the hi-hat opens
As soon as a drummer switches to double pedal, the left foot leaves the hi-hat. The cymbals open right back up under the spring tension, and the part that was meant to stay tight turns into a continuous wash — exactly the opposite of what fast passages call for.
The usual workaround is to clamp the clutch very low before the song, then loosen everything afterwards. On stage, that means a pause, a drum key, and a song left waiting.
A gesture, not an adjustment
Here, the mechanism is triggered with a slap of the palm or a stick hit, while you play. The cymbals drop and lock closed. The drummer never leaves the drum throne or the tempo, and there is nothing to screw back afterwards.
The reverse gesture brings back the open position. That is what lets you switch within the same song: verse on open hi-hat, chorus locked closed, without your left foot having to choose between the two.
What a closed hi-hat changes, musically
A clamped hi-hat does not sound like a hi-hat held closed by the foot: the pressure is firm and constant, and the sound becomes short and dry, able to cut through fast eighth notes without smearing.
It is the texture of a lot of fast music, and it also gives a clear rhythmic reference when the bass drum already fills the whole low end.
Specifications
| Type | Drop-lock hi-hat clutch |
|---|---|
| Trigger | By hand or by stick |
| Resulting position | Cymbals closed, with no foot pressure |
| Use | Playing with both feet busy |
| Finish | Chrome |
What it is for
- Double pedal playing, where the left foot leaves the hi-hat
- Fast passages that call for a tight, clean hi-hat
- Switching between open and closed within the same song
- Kits with two bass drums
- Replacing a standard clutch that has become a hassle
Compare with other manufacturers
Drop clutches from other manufacturers:
| Manufacturer | Comparable model | What differs |
|---|---|---|
| Tama | Locking hi-hat clutch | Triggered by a side lever rather than by a hit |
| Pearl | Drop-lock clutch | Locking notch operated by hand |
| Gibraltar | Quick-lock clutch | Spring mechanism, different reset |
| Yamaha | Notched hi-hat clutch | Height adjustment and lock on the same control |
Frequently asked questions
- How do I go back to a normal hi-hat?
- Lift the mechanism, which gives control back to the left foot. You can do it while playing.
- Do I need to set anything before the song?
- The closed height is set once and for all. After that, only the trigger gesture comes into play.
- Is it useful for a drummer who does not play double pedal?
- It helps anywhere both feet are busy, or when you want a tight hi-hat through a long passage without tiring your left thigh.
- Will it fit another brand's hi-hat stand?
- The manufacturer does not publish a compatibility list for this model. Measure the rod diameter of the stand in question before buying.
Avis clients
How do you keep your hi-hat closed when playing double pedal?
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