... Not one drummer I know uses a Speed King so I have no idea of their performance, and additionally I don't know of any "drummers drummers" using them ...
What is a "drummers drummer"? Roy Haynes uses a Speedking. Would he qualify? If you are worried about the construction of an SK, they are sturdy. If they weren't, there wouldn't be so many perfectly working old ones around.
/Magnus
What is a "drummers drummer"? Roy Haynes uses a Speedking. Would he qualify? If you are worried about the construction of an SK, they are sturdy. If they weren't, there wouldn't be so many perfectly working old ones around./Magnus
Well said.......now back to the comment about John Bonham and his speed king.....the speed king he used is the same one for his whole career.
As far as the "drummer's drummer" comment and you not knowing anyone who uses one....how about Charlie Watts. He's used them for years, Levon Helm used one for ages right up until his passing. I've had the same WFL model speedking since I was 13, and its the one I STILL gig with. (I'm 42 now, you do the math) It's never broken or let me down, and it was old when I got it, so if that doesn't qualify, I don't know what does.
Thanks guy's thats great. I've already started looking. Ebay UK don't have any right now, but I can track a new one down easily I would imagine. I can't believe I have gone so long without trying one, I'm looking forward to it.
I have my 1965ish Speed King for sale on ebay right now for anyone interested. It's been in a case since 1974 except for a few gigs. i'm sure it needs to be re-lubed but it actually still seems to play smooth.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/230905397959?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1558.l2649
or search Ebay for Ludwig Speed King bass drum petal
[IMG]http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e275/roysteve/For%20sale/IMG_5283.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e275/roysteve/For%20sale/IMG_5284.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e275/roysteve/For%20sale/IMG_5286.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e275/roysteve/For%20sale/IMG_5288.jpg[/IMG]
Serious question. Why do people like these? I am thinking of getting a new pedal, but then I thought, why not an old one? So what's the deal with the Speed Kings?
Hi,
As a pro drummer for over 5o yrs now I have been given various makes of kit to play over the decades and had no other choice but to play what I was given and to advertise as an endorsee. I have played most of the pedals on the market today including of course the "Ludwig Speed king " which I first played back in the 60's. It was not until recent years when I ceased to be an endorsee and was able to play what ever I wanted. The upshot of this story is, I have returned back to playing a Ludwig Speed King as it is the ONLY B.D pedal that feels like a natural extension of my foot without thinking about it, plus they have the reliablility of a " Rolls Royce " and will never let you down EVER !.
Wow – thanks, everybody. Another reason I regret selling my blue sparkle kit back in the early 80's :( But I'll be on the lookout for a new/old Speed King.
Me too! By selling my blue sparkle kit back in the early 80's.... I have never owned a modern pedal that was as good as the speedking.
Anyone who is reading this, I just got my first one and didn't come across the fact that different era speedkings are spaced away from the batter skin differently when I was doing my research. Just an FYI, try to find one from your era.
Surrounded by drummers here! (I am a guitarist.) Ludwig Speed Kings were ahead of their time when they came out. First they are a direct drive pedal, meaning that there is a direct link from pedal to beater. No leather straps, chains, or anything else that would stretch. The metal clip gives you a direct connect to the beater, therefore you get instant response . second the springs are enclosed and are compression type springs so they don't stretch. Speed Kings are really low maintance. If you take an old Speed King clean out the old grease and use teflon grease, I promise they will last forever and be as fast as any Tama iron cobra out there I know because I use both. I have a double bass set of Fibes. my left bass uses a Speed King and my right bass uses a two pedal double beater Tama iron cobra. If you are real heavy footed you could possible break or wear out a footboard. I have had mine since 1964 and I have worn out the footboard at the hinge point. I might also add that I have four of these pedals. I use to use two on my double bass set and it's good to have a spare when you are on the road. Try one I don't think you will be disappointed.
I'm not sure why a compression spring would be any different than any other spring. There are at least 6 different springs on pedals: compression coil, extension coil,combination coil, torsion leaf,concentric leaf and leaf. There is even a rubber band pedal. Many of the extension coil spring models use poor springs, giving a false view of the capability of that design but in the final analysis a spring is a spring, and as long as it is designed to retain it's potential energy ,even after extreme deformity , one is as good as the other.
Hi Calfskin,
You don't feel the difference? I find the bounce back from a Speedking much quicker (spring decompressing) than on the more typical expansion springs where the quickness is on the attack rather than the return.
Anyway, that's the way the difference feels to me.
If you are suggesting that a spring is just a spring and a Ghost pedal is no different in feel from a Speed King or a Gretsch Floating action, that doesn't match my experience.
best,
Patrick
Hi Calfskin,You don't feel the difference? I find the bounce back from a Speedking much quicker (spring decompressing) than on the more typical expansion springs where the quickness is on the attack rather than the return. Anyway, that's the way the difference feels to me.If you are suggesting that a spring is just a spring and a Ghost pedal is no different in feel from a Speed King or a Gretsch Floating action, that doesn't match my experience.best,Patrick
A pedal is basically a recoil catapult and like a catapult, there are many factors that contribute to the smoothness or speed that the object( beater ) is propelled with. So, a Ghost, or a Gretsch Floating Action or any other pedal has an action that is determined by a lot of mechanics. The spring recoil is only one of them and Ludwig didn't invent magic springs. Any differences you sense between those three pedals is the result primarily of the mechanics of leverage, rotational force and friction, pedal angle,pedal mass----a whole bunch of stuff.. It would be possible to convert the shaft ends of a speed king to an extension spring design, leaving all else the same and feel no difference whatsoever. It would all depend on the temper and relative stiffness of the springs employed and the freedom of the extension..
