Yamaha DTXpress/DTXplorer/DTXtreme

Hi Vap,

Huh, I 'thought' you were about to go into some sort of lighted drum 
rack Hybrid for a moment! :o ...We could even install a dimmer 
switch 'lol'...
Yeah, I was thinking about what 'other' things have as far as tubing 
go's...Even my computer desk, bought at Office Max has the exact 
size tubing used for it's base to table top legs. I figure I have to 
be able to find this stuff available somewhere!
When I'm done I'll see about taking a picture of it! I think it 
would be interesting to see what OTHERS have done with their racks 
and what creative ways can be configured. I really hadn't thought 
too much about getting ceative beyond a simple 'To-The-Side-Add-On' 
extention untill I did my side extention and then had extra parts to 
then play with.
At first I was dumbfounded on what to do...I stared at it over a 
beer or two, then with a proper buzz, I started getting 
creative 'he,he'.
To describe what I've done so far...To the left of my existing DTX 
rack, I've added a 3rd base, the 90 degree leg as on both sides of a 
standard DTX rack. I then added a long tube horrizontally(as in a 
cross tube middle section of a DTX rack)to connect this 3rd leg 
section to my 'tall' left virtical tube. This cross-extention now 
has a completely stable tube to mount my multiple modules on. This 
looks great and in addition to being stable, it's very functionable! 
As you know, when you install just ONE module in the NORMAL fasion, 
your rack starts a rockin' when you get rockin' - Try TWO modules! 
You've seen 'The Flinstones' when Fred get's a side of brontasouras 
ribs put on his car, tipping it over? :o

Ok, for my extention in "The Upward" fasion...What I've done is 
simply use my extra 'T' fittings as couplings to extend the Left & 
Right virtical tubes with my spare long tubes by about 2 ft or so. 
Then 'instead of the long tube with the "Yamaha" lable at the lower 
section as a 2nd cross section as shown typically on a DTX rack, I 
used this longer "Yamaha" lables tube at the 'Top' of my "Upward" 
extention. Looks VERY cool too! Besides looking very spiffy 
esthetically, I can then mount more semi-long extention tubes 
horrizontally on either side of my higher placed virtical tubes to 
mount more various cymbal & drum pads etc...

As said, I'd MUCH rather have the original, virtical sections of my 
DTXpress rack as one LONG tube on EACH side, rather than have 
to 'coupling' them together with the standard Yamaha 'T' fittings 
for much better stability. I'd imagine that with much use, the 
vibration of playing may loosen the coupled extentions, ESPECIALLY 
if I then mount various extra extentions arms and pads to them!
As it is the center section of my rack with it's two virtical 
extentions stands about 4 ft tall, but I'd like it to be a little 
higher when I can use longer/taller/single one-piece virtical tubes.

Actually, I think I was wrong about the 1 1/2" EMT electrical 
thinwall tubing being the same size...I quickly checked a while back 
out of curiosity, and I 'think' it's actually 1 1/4" EMT thinwall 
electrical tubing/conduit that's the same outside diameter...Or VERY 
close at least! I remember actually trying a Yamaha 'T' fitting on 
it at one time. Electrical EMT conduit however is not as 'smooth' as 
the aluminum tubing as it's slightly galvanized and may need to be 
smoothed out with a fine sand paper before painting it 
black....Speaking of paint and racks, I really DO NOT like the look 
of the DTX III rack systems with the silver color and the ribbed 
tubing. Though I guess the ribs add to the tightness of the fittings.

I always thought that the DTXpress kits with it's simple & small 
rack looked kind of basic and "toyish". With my extentions I've 
install so far, the set looks MUCH more pro-like.

Anyway, all this rack extending is my NEW passion or should I 
say 'obsession'...I don't know why I didn't do this a long time ago!

If anyone else has ideas and/or pictures of getting creative with 
their glorious racks speak up! :)

Steve



Hi Steve..
> 
> Would love to see a picture of what you are doing with your rack.
> I did a similar upgrade myself, by merging my existing rack with a 
> gibraltar rack.
> When I ran out of tubing, here is what I did. I found out that 
> the "Torchiere" FLOOR STANDING LIGHTS (hope I have spelt it 
right), 
> has 3 pieces of tubing twisted together to make one long piece, 
makes 
> an ideal substitute for the rack tubing. It is made of steel, 
sturdy 
> and just about the same diameter as the rack tubing. It is also 
> LIGHT. The LAMP I am talking about has a heavy round base in the 
> bottom and a dish bowl type shade on the top with HALOGEN type 
bulb. 
> It has a on-off rotational switch in the middle piece of the tube. 
> The lamp is made in China and most probably sold in home 
> depot/orchard supply...but why pay for a brand new one??? I found 
> heaps of them at the local SALVATION ARMY of THRIFT used store 
> outlets, or any place where they sell USED stuff. I paid $5.00 for 
a 
> good working one, and in great condition. The tubing was also 
BLACK. 
> Took it home and "gutted" all the unecessary stuff by cutting the 
> wires and unscrewing the three metal pieces. The final 
> product...about 6 feet of steel tubing. NOTE though, not ALL the 
> floor standing lamps are simialr as to the one I have described 
> above. Some have different types of stands....but when you spot 
one, 
> you'll know thats the one....
> 
> GOOD LUCK!!
> VAP.