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
Do you think that the feeling of it being "fast" is related to the overall lower mass of the design? Maybe that's why these jam session, junk pedals seem so responsive to me.
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.I know the Yamaha feels really light - they use a very light beater compared to DW. I had the direct drive of the Yamaha and it felt great.
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.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?
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.Do you have a sense as to what about the DW9000 was slowing you down? Was it the heavy weight of the overall mechanisms involved? Any sense of what it was?
I have both & they each do what I need them to. The Speed King for it's portability & the 5000 for it's ruggedness.I used to be in love with Speed Kings but I've really come to appreciate how much smoother modern pedals are. Particularly the DW 5000. Just so much less effort to do the same things.
Sounds like it's not so gimmickyI 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.
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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.
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.I realized the same thing with the DW9000 - it’s pretty hefty. But I was ok with how it felt. But I’ve also tried the Axis’s and Trick pedals - and those were light and incredible. I suppose the pedal in-between the light and heavy crowd is that new Yamaha FP9 - incredibly smooth and light - but also $350!
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.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.