Members slippermen Posted May 1, 2009 Members Share Posted May 1, 2009 I am seriously looking into getting one of these pedals after playing a model made about 20 years ago. I was wondering if anyone has a recent model and how the build quality etc. is? Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members RickP Posted May 1, 2009 Members Share Posted May 1, 2009 I own one and it is great! It doesn't squeak like the older ones ( a bonus)and it has a very quick unique feel and you can pick them up new from EBay for pretty cheap.I originally bought one for use as a backup on my jamming kit, but I liked it much better one I tried it a few times than the Tama Camco I was using. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members boxofrocks Posted May 1, 2009 Members Share Posted May 1, 2009 Had one of the newer ones, and it was great, sold it, and wish I still had it. Was a nice pedal, and pops apart and packs up in a small package. Never heard any squeaks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Merlin Coryell Posted May 2, 2009 Members Share Posted May 2, 2009 I own one and it is great! It doesn't squeak like the older ones ( a bonus). No squeaking? Then its not possibly a Speedking! Mine was from '79 and still worked fantastically, its what encouraged me to go back to direct drive pedals a year ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Carminemw Posted May 2, 2009 Members Share Posted May 2, 2009 The squeak is the signature! How dare they be silent!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DW_Man_TX Posted May 2, 2009 Members Share Posted May 2, 2009 LOL, I have been told, if you listen carefully you can hear Bonham's squeak. I will now have to go back and listen to every Led Zep tune. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mikeofbaltimore Posted May 2, 2009 Members Share Posted May 2, 2009 Listen to Since I've Been Loving You it's very noticeable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members danrothmusic Posted May 4, 2009 Members Share Posted May 4, 2009 Speed King's are great pedals--straight and to-the-point; there's not extra adjustable junk on there (which means less that can go wrong/break) that most people don't touch anyways.I have an older one (80 probably, I got it used) that I still use. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members oldman2 Posted May 4, 2009 Members Share Posted May 4, 2009 Have mine about 30 years now. Use other pedals some but love the old Speedking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Cross Eyed Mary Posted May 4, 2009 Members Share Posted May 4, 2009 How do they feel? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members RickP Posted May 4, 2009 Members Share Posted May 4, 2009 How do they feel? You know it is kind of hard to describe- they are VERY smooth -you need to dial them in right as they use a compression spring rather than an expansion spring like most pedals.When I first got my new one, I just took it to a rehearsal and played it out of the box it came in and the spring tension was extremely tight and I hated the pedal.We took a break and I adjusted the tension and it was like night and day.Wow, very responsive it beater comes back extremely fast and it has quite a bit of force when it strikes the batter head.Minor adjustments to the spring tension make a big difference to the feel.You dont get the same feel with a speed king like you do with strap or chain drive pedals.There is no lag and the response is immediate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members rambler1959 Posted May 4, 2009 Members Share Posted May 4, 2009 ive got an old wfl speed king that i love. it started to get choppy and stiff so i took it apart myself and rebuilt it with new/used cams and now it is smoother than ever! was able to find all the parts at pro drum in hollywood. not bad for an about 50 year old pedal that feels like new again. oh yeah and after i rebuilt it with new bushings on the strap as well, the squeeks went away! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Carminemw Posted May 4, 2009 Members Share Posted May 4, 2009 Throw him to the wolves, boil him in oil! The squeak shall live in infamy!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Carminemw Posted May 4, 2009 Members Share Posted May 4, 2009 Just for the record, my first pedal was a '66 Speed King. It got retired when I bought my Camco chain drive in 1980. I still have it (the Camco) and it works well. But my Flying Dragons reign supreme for me now! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members 1001gear Posted May 5, 2009 Members Share Posted May 5, 2009 I used to have a pair - yes two, way back. They felt very fast and heavy duty. I also thought stuff with the clip on springs looked rickety. One eon later, my Gibraltars work a hundred times better. Why?Chops. That's basically all you have from one design to the next. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members boxofrocks Posted May 5, 2009 Members Share Posted May 5, 2009 Only thing I didn't like about the speed king, was to tighten it to the hoop the screw was under the foot board. I like it on the side so you don't scrape your knuckles fastening it down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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