Gibraltar SC-DC Hi Hat Drop Clutch

by Gibraltar

Product Features

• Disengage and drop top cymbal by hitting the lever with a drumstick
• Step on the pedal and the clutch reattaches itself at original position

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 4 x 6.5 x 2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B0002F73YY
• Item model number: SC-DC
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,278 in Musical Instruments (See Top 100 in Musical Instruments)

Product Description

Disengage and drop top cymbal by hitting clutch with drumstick. Step on the pedal and clutch attaches itself at original position (1pk)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential for double bass pedal players, November 29, 2004

By 

Victoria Tarrani "writer, editor, artist, des... (Florida, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Gibraltar SC-DC Hi Hat Drop Clutch (Electronics)

This is an ingenious clutch that engages when you step on your hi-hat pedal, but will drop to the closed position when you hit the lever on the top. This allows you to either ride closed hi-hats when using both bass pedals, yet return to normal hi-hat playing when the music calls for it.

Be aware that this clutch has only two positions - open and fully closed. However, there is a way to work around this if you like partially open hi-hats in the closed position for a sizzle sound. I did a work around by placing a spring on the hi-hat stem, with metal and felt washers on the top of the spring, which gives me that opening when I drop the cymbal to closed. There was a lot of trial and error finding the right spring because each cymbal pair has a different height when mated together, and I was looking for a tiny fraction of an inch opening. Too small or low a tension a spring and stickwork chokes the sound. Too large or stiff and you will not get the sound. However, this is all personal preference, and many drummers ride a fully closed hi-hat anyway, which makes this clutch perfect out of the box.

Regardless of your hi-hat style, if you are using a double bass, this is a "must have" accessory. Gibraltar's model is solid, heavy duty, and engages and disengages perfectly every time.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Product, March 8, 2007

By 

Stephen Pardy - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gibraltar SC-DC Hi Hat Drop Clutch (Electronics)

This works good and does exactly what it is suppose to do. Its essential for double bass drum technique. Minor complaints are that the latch does not engage fluidly and sometimes will turn making it hard to dissengage. These can easily be overcome however.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars easy and ajustable, May 18, 2011

By 

Michel Lepine "123zboom" (caribbean) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Gibraltar SC-DC Hi Hat Drop Clutch (Electronics)

Those who say it cannot close totally, or you need to put a spring in between, or it needs to open a minimum of 1" did not totally get it.
The level of the top hat can be adjusted by putting the bolt on the correct height on the thread. This being said, works perfect.