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Seriously! You guys are talking about BASS DRUM PEDALS!! Must be a slow news day...

That's it! I am adding you to the "More boring that Dave Matthews" list.

I have a DW, and for the life of me I can't for the life of me figure out why they cost so much. I'm really not thrilled with it. I bought it used and didn't pay a ton so I don't worry about that, but I just sort of feel like people who buy these new are getting the shaft.

Mayfair wrote:Seriously! You guys are talking about BASS DRUM PEDALS!! Must be a slow news day...

It wasn't obvious that I was spoofing the "what distortion pedal do you use?" thread? This is a forum on a recording studio's website, right? If the guitarists want to talk about their pedals, is a drum pedal thread really worthy of flaming?

The kick pedal is the most important peice of equipment in the band.



Seriously though, it helps. Much easier to keep the downbeat in the pocket when you aren't thinking about the pedal, and just playing.

A good pedal means you adjust it once or twice, and then forget it. Very few instruments are played with a piece of equipment with so many moving parts, specially one that affects feel and timing so directly. If you think about it, a kick pedal has as much going on as a bicycle drive train...(chain, sprockets, pedal, axle, bearings, etc)

I have used:

Ludwig Speed King - nice pedal for a 13 year old
Tama Pro Beat chain and strap drive - see below
Tama/Camco chain and strap drive - nice feel, but weak
Most of the DW line - break-o-matic
Axis - lasted me 1 week
Pearl - no comment

The older Tama Pro Beat chain drive drive pedals with the oversize chain and offset cams felt the best to me, but they were CRAP for durability. I have a large box of shattered footboards.

At one point I was buying cheaper double pedals and just using them as parts. (cheaper than buying spare parts alone). My record time with one of these was one rehersal and two gigs - SNAP on the first beat of the second gig. Always had a spare full pedal on stage.

Then I bought an Iron Cobra. I thought what the heck, it seems sturdy and it can accept the Tama footboards when I snap it.

That was four years ago and it's still going great, best pedal I've ever used.

DW 5000AD double pedal. Freaking awesome design, though I lost some bolts at my first gig with it and had to order replacements that were a bit co$tly. I've used a Pearl a Tama Iron Cobra before and while I'd take the Pearl over the Tama, the DW blows both of them away. I also like the hardshell case that came with mine. It was pricey but my kicks feel way more solid with this pedal.

For the guitar geeks (of which I am one): think of the pedal in a way that you'd think of the neck on a guitar. Some just allow you better leverage to get at what you're going for. It's a subjective thing, sure, and it depends on your playing. But it's just as important.

i used to use some olde school yamaha pedal. but, i kept snapping the beater shafts in half (3 in total). i play hard, but not that hard. they're just made of some cheap-ass metal.

then i got an iron cobra pedal. i love it. solid, fast, smooth. the link between the slave and the master pedals squeeked a bit, but a little bit of oil, and everything is smooth and silent.