Axis VCS-S Vortex Straight Cymbal Stand  

The Axis VCS-S Straight Cymbal Stand incorporates new designs with new materials to produce a light-weight, durable, elegant and distinctive looking piece of hardware. Manufactured from aircraft grade aluminum and steel, and featuring some innovative design concepts such as the patented "vortex" legs and a washerless tilter which relies on ball bearings instead of clamps, this stand, like the other Axis accessories and hardware, represents an innovation and, possibly, an improvement over most of what's out there. Here's what you, (and the engineers at Axis), need to know: None of my cymbals fit on this stand. Not one. I started playing in 1965. Most of my equipment, the drums and cymbals which I prefer, were made no later than the late 60's and early 70's. Heavier cymbals probably have larger holes at their center. If you're a jazz drummer whose cymbals are from a different era, these stands seem not to have been designed with you in mind. I've discovered that there are methods by which I was able to convert these new stands to make them usable. The first includes a pair of pliers which can be used to reveal a threaded top which is small enough to fit through metal and felt washers which I cannibalized from another (60's Rogers) stand. The second involved replacing the entire top section of the Axis stand with the top section of a Swivomatic era Rogers cymbal stand. The result of making that switch is that the top section is chrome, but the stand can now accommodate not only one, but two cymbals, stacked one above the other, (a 21" vintage Chinese cymbal at floor tom level and an 18" crash on top). I've purchased two of these straight cymbal stands and one Axis hihat because I like the look of the flat black finish and because the stands are well made and light weight. Axis Percussion is at work designing and manufacturing top of the line foot pedals and stands that look great, feel great and function as well or better than all of their competition...With some tweaking, and a nod towards acknowledging the existence of Jazz drummers who are not quite yet extinct, I believe these are potentially the best stands available today. Conclusion: Worth the expense and the extra effort. Hopeful that Axis will act to improve a next generation of this product line to address this issue.