Thanks everyone! I wish I could afford to try out all of your suggestions. Actually, I have a forties Speed King that I just might try. Nothing to lose.

Thanks again.

P.S. drumhack, listen to your wife. It's a "no brainer".

Speedking all the way - yay!!! Light, fast and precise.

/Magnus

I throw another vote in for the DW 5000. They have newer models these days (like the 9000- I have no idea what they improved, but the price is much higher!) but I think bang for the buck (particularly used) the 5000 is the way to go. I see them under $100.00 all day used.

If you can't adjust this pedal to give you exactly the feel and response you want, just hire an engineer! It is adjustable in all ways, and there was also a turbo version which had a cam shaped chain follower to accelerate the (two-sided) beater into the head.

I have never seen a broken one (but you can get every individual part if you manage it) so it is not 'disposable' like every other thing made these days.

Bonus: it is hidden from view so it does not detract from your vintage kit.

^^^^^^

What he said. Totally agree.

B

Yes this is my pedal also..I have used this for what now seems forever....European tours, U.S tours.....and tons of shows & rehearsals right here in my home town.......never, ever had a problem.....I also have a 71' SPEED KING which I play with at home.....Really nice pedal also.:D

I have been using the same DW 5000 pedals since the early 90s. Great pedals that are easy to fix and clean. Before that, I liked the Slingerland yellow jackets and super speed pedals.

I don't use a single pedal anymore...although I wanted to get back into it recently. I have been pushing myself to use one pedal even though I have a double. I currnetly use the limited edition Iron Cobra double by Tama. Many people complain about how heavy they are, but I kind of like it. I keep my bass tuned tight, the springs are tight, it has good response for the way I play with plenty of punch. They are very adjustable giving me many different potential "feels" within each pedal.

My main point of issue is they are all chrome. While at first I loved that, I have grown to hate it. The chrome is peeling off the footboards. After 5 years of use I am finally starting to have some slop in the arm pivots so I am looking for a new one...which will also fix the stripped set screws I have. I have also developed a bit of play in the shaft...maybe bearings going bad or something? I don't know yet, I am too busy using it to bench it to fix whatever issues I am having.

I got em cause they were on sale for $150 at my local Guitar Center brand new. I have used Axis pedals and higher end pedals before, they always feel cheap under my feet. Not saying they are...they probably all hold up better than my Iron Cobras...but initial feel is they are light and flimsy. I also got no better speed, control, or accuracy out of them. I never really adjusted them either so there is potential I would assume.

In the end I will probably go with a single Speed King and bench my Cobras for the twice a year my punk/metal band plays out. I used a Speed King on a friends kit just messing around and WHOA! Even with my slow heavy feet it was nimble and responsive. Now that I have been working with my feet a little more I am really curious to see what it can do.

The other night I was jammin at a local open mic on the supplied kit. It was actually a very respectable set except the cymbals...and the dead kick pedal. I can handle crappy snares or cracked cymbals, but when you are rockin a single pedal that is just flat and lifeless...it sucks!!!

Bought my Speed King in 1965. Still using it! Has never failed, has never sqeaked!

Still have my Speed King from 1970.I also like the original Tama/Camco which I have and I also have an Iron Cobra double which only gets occasional use.Still looking for ASBA Caroline at a reasonable price.Maybe around Christmas.

Steve B

I've had my DW pedals since the 90's some time and I have not so much as added a drop of oil to them.

I had old crap pedals in the past where I broke the footboard (and I've never even cracked a cymbal- I'm a pretty light-ish player all-around) had bearings walk out of the housings screws strip and/or fall completely out, beaters fly off, hit the top of the hoop and whack my shin (that one sucked like a black hole)>

Point is- the DW comes out of the case/box/bag/trunk (whereever it gets tossed) clamped on and it rocks. It seemed like (and was) a lot of money when bought them, but since I will never need to replace them, it was money well spent in my opinion.

Since I'm disassembling and cleaning all my drums, maybe I'll show the pedals some love and clean them up too...