Rock Salad
Silver Member
I don’t know about old, but I like the simpler and lightweight pedals best too. I think it does have to do with the mass and inertia maybe
Anyone Else Find Cheap, Older Pedals Sometimes Better?
- Thread starter dfairley
- Start date
caddywumpus
Archnemesis of Larryace
Cheap and old? They all play close enough to the same. The only qualifier for me is that they have to have a baseplate.
equipmentdork
Junior Member
Simpler might be better. I'm also playing a Yamaha 7210 live. It feels great and you can beat the snot out of it; I see it at every rehearsal studio, and they wouldn't be there if they failed. Lots of Pearl and Yamaha pedals feel superb to me and none of them were top-of-the-line. My go to before these were DW 5000s from the 80s. Same deal, simple design and durable.
Dan
Tamaefx
Silver Member
The difference is baseplate or no baseplate. The feel is really different. Basic cheap pedal like Tama HP30 has a great feel and I never found it much fragile or more prompt to loose any part than my old iron cobra. The feel of a less rigid pedal without a baseplate is great.
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I've never had a direct drive pedal before although I once briefly tried an Axis Long Board double pedal. I couldn't believe how quick and precise it was; however, I never really got the chance to test it when playing it dynamically....like when playing a swing beat with beats (against the batter head) of varying intensities. Like when doing quick, dynamic ostinatos.
What did you think of the direct drive Yamaha that you had. Could you get it to play like chain driven models?
Bo Eder
Platinum Member
Unfortunately the Yamaha taught me why I no longer play direct drive pedals. I grew up on a Speed King but have primarily played Camco-type pedals most of my life. The one time I went back to a direct pedal there were some things I couldn’t do (all discovered when I took it on a gig the same day I got it). So I returned it and went back to a chain, or a strap on a cam. Fortunately you can get that same Yamaha pedal with a chain and that behaves as it should for me.
That said, this is also the reason I haven’t really upgraded lately - if they all feel the same, I don’t necessarily need a newer version of an old feel. The biggest upgrade feel, for me, is still having the pedal on a plate. There’s nothing more solid than that feel. Maybe I should put my old Tama Flexi-Flyer on a plate - but I have no way of anchoring it without drilling the frame and the heel.
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Hollywood Jim
Platinum Member
The DW9000 has a large mechanism for adjusting the cam. And the return spring has to move this portion of the pedal during the return stroke. In fact the spring has to move the footboard, beater and chain during the return stroke. I need a stiff spring tension so that the pedal stays against my foot during the return stroke. Consequently I had the spring tension very high on my DW9000. So it returned ok for the return stroke but the strong spring tension made it harder to press down on the pedal for the down stroke. With a lighter pedal you can have less spring tension and it will be easier to push down on the pedal for the down stroke. I hope this makes sense for you.
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Mr. Heavyfoot
Member
I tried proving to myself over the last few years I didn't need an Axis Longboard to do everything I wanted & in fact, wondered if so many years on them & not using them for triggered kicks was holding me back from evolving. Old belt/strap pedals are pretty great to play, not so big on single chain. Havent got to try many old DDs apart from a Speed King
Cmdr. Ross
Platinum Member
I have both & they each do what I need them to. The Speed King for it's portability & the 5000 for it's ruggedness.
Supraman5x14
Member
I still enjoy my Speed King, in addition to my 1999 Iron Cobra (almost bulletproof), DW 3000, and Sonor Perfect Balance. But lately, I've been using my 30 year old Tama HP-45, which I've used off and on all these years. I still like its portability and action. Between the HP-45, Speed King, and Perfect Balance, I guess simpler is better for me.
roncadillac
Platinum Member
I am firmly in the camp that these below pedals are all that one ever needs (unless of course you need a double pedal version) and anything more expensive than these is just an attempt to get you to pay more for more of the same thing. You can swap the chain for a strap model if you'd like and change the beater out, those options are all fine. All other "features" found in high end pedals are just capitalism.
That said, the Tama Classic series pedal is my favorite "fancy" one I've ever had and is a decently priced modern quality vintage inspired pedal. The height adjustment is gimmicky but as someone who likes 16" and 18" bass drums with no riser it definitely is functional.
That said, the Tama Classic series pedal is my favorite "fancy" one I've ever had and is a decently priced modern quality vintage inspired pedal. The height adjustment is gimmicky but as someone who likes 16" and 18" bass drums with no riser it definitely is functional.
DutchDrummersDreams
Platinum Member
I don’t (I love the PDP B. O. A.) but I do love that you can fold lighter pedals up so easily.
Maybe I should do a conversion and combine the two.
Maybe I should do a conversion and combine the two.
Sounds like it's not so gimmicky
When I was young a local store had a vintage Ghost Pedal.
I loved it! SO smooth...seemed to stick to my foot.
I think it was a confluence of its re-build and its 'tuning'.
i saved...but it was sold out from under me.
i kept looking at them but finding one in good shape turned out to be really expensive and rare...so Camco it was...then DW3000...until much later when i found an Axis dbl in the S.F. Guitar Center...that changed what I think of pedals.
I loved it! SO smooth...seemed to stick to my foot.
I think it was a confluence of its re-build and its 'tuning'.
i saved...but it was sold out from under me.
i kept looking at them but finding one in good shape turned out to be really expensive and rare...so Camco it was...then DW3000...until much later when i found an Axis dbl in the S.F. Guitar Center...that changed what I think of pedals.
plaid sabbath
Active Member
Another fan of the inexpensive Yamaha pedals. My 6110 has never let me down.
BacktoBasics
Member
I switched from DW 9000 to the new Yamaha FP9D...Yamaha is so much more sensitive and responsive. Same with the hi hat stand---from 9000 to Yamaha toggle. My playing improved the moment I sat down on them, and has been improving at a rate I couldnt acheive with the 9000.
Edit: Thinking about getting the cheapest Yamaha pedal available just to compare.
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Bo Eder
Platinum Member
I’ve been happily using the old FP8 chain drive (it looks like a Flying Dragon) and it’s great. I am using a Crosstown hi-hat, but I think I may upgrade that to that HH800 series hi hat stand - I swear sometimes I think the aluminum bends when I’m really bashing away on the Crosstown hi hat stand.
Iristone
Silver Member
If you're talking about Speed Kings then yes, 100%. The current issue is even better but quite expensive.
Most good cheap chain-driven pedals are IMHO still in production. They mainly offer less adjustability and fine ball bearings, but offer good value if you like their basic feel.
Most good cheap chain-driven pedals are IMHO still in production. They mainly offer less adjustability and fine ball bearings, but offer good value if you like their basic feel.
A J
Silver Member
I have an inexpensive Pearl pedal (Model P120, I think?) that's been fantastic. It plays just as well as expensive ones. At least my foot can't tell the difference.
A lightweight Yamaha pedal without a base plate has been tucked away in my "emergency" bag. I've never even unpacked it. Some day I really ought to set it up and bring that baby to life!
A lightweight Yamaha pedal without a base plate has been tucked away in my "emergency" bag. I've never even unpacked it. Some day I really ought to set it up and bring that baby to life!