DW True-Pitch 50 Tension Rods and Receivers for 14 to 18 in Deep Toms
The 16-rod box of True-Pitch 50 is the tension rod set the manufacturer intends for toms whose shell is 14 to 18 in deep. It is the shell depth that sets the length of a rod, not the diameter of the head: the rod runs down along the shell to reach its receiver, and its length follows that travel.
What sets it apart
- 16 rods per box
- For toms with a shell depth of 14 to 18 in
- 50 threads per inch
- Receivers included
- Stainless steel
Depth, not diameter
This is the most common mix-up when ordering tension rods. A drum is described by two measurements, its width and its shell height, and only the second affects the length of a rod, since the rod runs down along the shell to reach its receiver.
So the manufacturer sorts its boxes by depth, and this one covers shells 14 to 18 in deep. Shells that deep are found mostly on floor toms; the rack toms of a typical kit stay below it. Measure rather than trusting the stated size.
The floor tom, the drum nobody tunes
It is the most neglected drum on a kit. It sits low, it is big, it sounds “good enough”, and you move on. As a result, many floor toms spend years on a rough tuning.
When you finally get to it, you often find that half the sustain you took for natural came from a mismatch between two opposite points. Once the drum is back in balance, it gives a clear note, and the resonant head stops ringing on its own when the bass drum is hit.
Count your lugs before ordering
Sixteen rods is what is in the box, and it is the exact count for an 8-lug drum: eight on top, eight on the bottom. The math to do at home fits in one line: count the lugs on one side of the shell and multiply by two.
If the result is not sixteen, do not force the box: adjust the number of boxes. A drummer with two floor toms orders two, and there is no half box in the catalogue.
Specifications
| Intended drums | toms with a shell depth of 14 to 18 in |
|---|---|
| Number of rods | 16 |
| Receivers | included |
| Thread | 50 threads per inch |
| Metal | stainless steel |
What it is for
- A floor tom whose shell is 14 to 18 in deep
- A studio kit where the toms have to hold their note
- Replacing a corroded set of tension rods
- A drum whose heads waver in pitch from one tension rod to the next
Compare with other manufacturers
What is available elsewhere for large tom tension rods:
| Manufacturer | Comparable model | What differs |
|---|---|---|
| Mapex | Stock tom tension rods | Like-for-like replacement, no change in thread pitch |
| Yamaha | Floor tom tension rods | Lengths tied to the depths in the brand's own catalogue |
| Gibraltar | Tension rods sold individually | Bought one at a time, handy for replacing a single rod |
| Sonor | Tension rods with bearing collar | Wider contact on the hoop, standard thread |
Frequently asked questions
- How do I measure my tom before ordering?
- Take the height of the shell alone, bare wood, without the hoops or heads. That measurement, the depth, is what the manufacturer uses to choose the rod length. The diameter of the drum does not come into it.
- Will these rods fit a shallow tom?
- No. The manufacturer intends this box for shells 14 to 18 in deep; on a shorter shell, the rod would stick out below the lug. There is a separate box for shallower shells.
- How can I tell if my heads are not evenly tuned?
- Tap five centimetres in front of each rod, one after another. If the pitch varies from one point to the next, the head is not evenly tuned, and that is what creates the wobble in the note.
- Should I replace both the top and bottom rods?
- Yes. Mixing two thread pitches on the same drum makes every correction unpredictable, and predictability is exactly what you are buying here.
Avis clients
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