I'm impressed with this Hi-Hat stand!!! I've been playing Yamaha hardware for over 30 years, and it has been incredibly reliable and held up year after year! I decided to upgrade my old Yamaha Hi-Hat - which has served me well and still going strong. I was drawn to the HS1200 because of the smooth footboard, and a few other features. The tri-pod base rotates just like the older Yamaha hi-hats, which is great for positioning around double bass slave pedals (see pic). Everything about this stand is HEAVY DUTY, yet provides a very smooth, quick, and quiet action (this is the direct-pull-drive version). Side note: I have the 2 legged version with the toggle-link drive coming soon, so that'll be interesting to compare to this direct-drive version.The tension mechanism is very easy and fast to adjust. I found my perfect tension within 60 seconds of adjustments. The memory lock sits into a cool "tongue/groove" slot, which also has a "port" on the side to attach a spare drum key (see pics). Both these features are really simple, but REALLY cool. Yamaha really put some thought into the design of this stand. The top cymbal lock clutch is also improved from previous models, as it has a lock feature that prevents the clutch from spinning and changing the tightness of the cymbal clutch. This feature is awesome, as I hate it when the top hi-hat cymbal becomes looser during extended playing. The reversible felt/rubber washer is also a nice touch, because it does impact the cymbal sound. I use CYMPAD washers for all my cymbals, and it's very similar to the rubber side of this washer - which brings out a "brighter" sound out of the cymbals.The stand's main post is taller than most hi-hat stands I've seen, and I didn't need to extend the secondary post that high to achieve my preferred hi-hat playing height (which is about 10" above the top of my knee when sitting down).MINOR COMPLAINTS:The stand comes with 2 pull rod lengths (14" and 20"). When the shorter one is installed, it provides an overall rod height of 41". When the longer rod is installed, the rod length is 47", which is insanely high! That's almost 4 feet high, and I don't know anybody that plays their Hi-hat cymbals that high. For my old Hi-hat stands, I actually purchased the shorter 14" rod for them because I Iike the 38" overall height of the rod, and it didn't get in the way of the Roto toms I have above my hi-hat cymbals. I think because the main post on the HS1200 is taller, the base pull rod had to be made longer, hence increasing the overall rod length (see pics where the 41" overall height extends about 3" higher than I had with my older 38" rod length). Not a huge deal, as I can always take a hack saw to the rod and chop 3" inches off it,... but I just hate doing that. The 20" pull rod that comes with the stand, is just insanely too long - I can't imagine that anyone would use it unless they were over 6' 4" and sat really high. The 20" rod should be a special-order item for someone like that, and I would like to see Yamaha provide 11" and 15" rods with the stand instead (or just offer the 15" rod length and reduce the list price of the stand - yet offer special-order options for the 11" and 20" rod lengths). FYI - I paid $16 each for the shorter rod for my older stands.The only other gripe I have is that there isn't a mechanism provided to attach the hi-hat stand base, to a slave pedal from a double bass pedal (to keep it from creeping away). Back in the day, Yamaha actually made such a gadget, which I actually had for my older hi-hat and double bass pedal. I don't think they offer any such gadget anymore, as it probably wasn't a big seller and/or too expensive. No worries, as I use a very cheap solution - which is to wrap a velcro strip around the post of the hi-hat base and post of the slave double bass pedal (see pics). This works brilliantly, and costs less than a $1. (this might not work for you if like your hi-hat pedal and slave double bass pedal even/side-by-side next to each other).Other than those 2 minor issues, this hi-hat pedal is "almost" perfect - but I still feel it deserves 5 stars.In terms of shipping, it did take 16 days from the time I ordered this and when I received it, but it's actually pretty good shipping time considering it came internationally from Japan, sealed in the original manufacturer's box, and then double boxed by Amazon. Considering the FREE shipping and cost I got the stand for, it was well worth the wait!!!!!