Double bass drum pedals

I want to get a double bass drum pedal. I have a price range, and while i would like to get that new gold plated DW pedal, that desire is just not realistic. Ideally, i would like to try each one that i've been looking at for about a week, but i don't think that's very realistic, and i don't know anyone who has one that i can play with. Here are the ones i've been looking at:

Pacific Drums DP602C - $189.99

DW 7002 PT - $240

Gibralter Avenger - $170

Pearl P122TW - $180

I'm leaning toward the Pacific Drums because i've heard they make decent stuff. I threw in the DW because i know it's probably pretty nice, but slightly out of my price range, yet still attainable.

What do you guys think? Or should i just stick with purchasing a really nice single pedal. My current setup includes whatever cheap single pedal that came with my 2005 pearl export. I'm not a pro, or performing, but i would like to have a double pedal setup with better action than my current bass drum pedal which just doesn't seem to cut it. Hopefully it's the pedal and not my sloppy right leg which is to blame.

I use pearl pedals. . .love 'em. Have used (and own) DW. . .another great pedal, but if it's a price consideration, you can't go wrong w/ pearl. Just my $.02

I read a lot of high reviews of the pearl double eliminator pedal, but it's $330 unless i get one used. Quite a bit out of my range. I like pearl hardware, but I'm not really satisfied with the pearl pedal that i have. But then again, like i said, it could be me, and that i just need to do some boring kick drum practice. I've only been playing again for 5 months after several years of living in an apt, so my chops are still a little sloppy, but i've gotten a lot better. But i have a burning hole in my pocket that's telling me that i would enjoy playing that much more with a decent double bass pedal.

Thanks for the suggestion.

Double pedals I've owned/own:

DW 7002- It's an OK pedal to start out with, not ridiculously fast, not a lot of adjustments. Had issues with set screws falling out a lot.

Tama I.C.'s- Great pedal! Fast, damn near infinite adjustments, very sturdy and dependable. Buy used and you can get a deal.

Pearl Eliminator (Currently own)- Great pedal again! Very adjustable, fast, sturdy and dependable. Mines a strap drive, smooth. Same as above. Buy used and you can find a great deal.

Axis Longboards (Currently own)- Damn fast! Great pedal, but high dollar. I bought it as a double, but now use it as two singles only. You either love 'em or hate them. I love 'em.

Is there anyone you can borrow one from for a weekend just to see if maybe you think you have a feel for one? If you think (?) your right leg is sloppy, you may think your left isn't even attached at first. This could last awhile to boot, which may frustrate you even more.

Maybe just buy a great single pedal and get your groove on with it first before jumping to the conclusion that have a double pedal will solve your problems. I'm still working on my skills and at times I wasn't sure I could even play one. It has a pretty big learning curve to overcome when you first start out.

JMO man.

Good luck,

marko:thu:

If the pedal that came with your Export kit is a single chain drive, it's probably a Pearl P122, which is the single pedal version of the Pearl P122TW double pedal that you listed in your original post. In other words, if you're not happy with the single pedal version, you probably won't like the double. I recommend that you look for a used Iron Cobra or Eliminator, as others have suggested.

Ditto on the iron cobra. They are built so well and indestructible that a well used one that is 7 years old, will still be willing and able to take any stomping you can dish out. (I own the double and its fast,strong,and just plain kick ass)

I hate to be a poopypants, but dropping $150 on used Iron Cobras might be the best ticket there. At least go out to a store and give 'em a try. Pearls looks pretty decent, though. DW's look solid, too, but here... that's $240 for ya.

Used Iron Cobra's. They're all over the place.

well it sounds like iron cobras are well liked around here. I've heard a few people say that, considering the price, they aren't that great, but i've never tried one.

Marko46. Thanks for the reviews. My right foot isn't that sloppy, lol, but i know exactly what you mean about adding the left into the equation. i had a double bass pedal about ten years ago before i got burned out on music all together. I want the double because i feel a little limited in trying to copy the styles of drummers that use two bass drums or double pedal with only one.

the problem i have with my current pedal is that it just doesn't seem to react quickly enough for me to get a responsive attack when playing fast, so i can't really feel the groove in my foot like i do with my hands. When i'm really in the zone, i can do a little better. Maybe i'm just delusional and just need to practice, but i feel that i do a little better in the pedal dept. Or maybe i need to fool with the adjustments.

Thanks for the advice all. I'll take a look at some used stuff. Unfortunately i just moved back to Chattanooga after three years and i don't know anyone here that plays drums who could let me try their kit

Anyone who says Iron Cobras are not good for the money is either ignorant, or has an agenda. Iron Cobras, from an objective stand point, are the best pedals out there, with the exception of high end pedals like Axis and Trick. There are many subjective points that might cause people to dislike the Iron Cobras, but when it comes to durability and adjustable components, Iron Cobra wins.

I send everyone to this link, and I'll do the same for you:

http://www.pearldrummersforum.com/showthread.php?t=60291

There's good information on there.

You would be much better off saving a little extra $$, or buying some used IC's than you would buying any of the pedals you listed. Just make sure you don't buy a "Jr."

You get what you pay for.

Wanna buy your next set of pedals? Anything on your list.

Wanna buy your last set of double pedals? Get the Iron Cobras or the Eliminators. (Trick or Axis are much more expensive.)

+1111111

if not the iron cobras, out of the ones you listed i would go gibraltar.

another vote for the Iron Cobra...

check it yo:

[YOUTUBE]o7I9s_Cghfo[/YOUTUBE]

Don't go for teh gold plated petals.

Spend a few extra bucks and get a Tama Iron Cobra for 300 bucks. EXCELLENT PETALS

well i appreciate the advice. I wouldn't have ever considered the IC based on the advice i had heard from a few people i know; they recommended DW pedals. But i found a deal that i can't pass up. A guy i work with who used to play drums has a Tama double pedal he's willing to part with for $40. It's the base model double pedal, but i wasn't exactly wanting to spend a fortune. But when i'm ready to upgrade in the future i'll keep the IC in mind. I think i'll use the money i'm saving to buy some new drum heads. New thread...

What did they say about the IC's?

I like pearl pedals the best. I have a P-2000 single, and I love it.

It's my opinion that DW 5000, Tama Iron Cobra, or Pearl Eliminators would be a set of pedals that will last you years and years. All three feel different, so it's personal preference. But a lightly used double pedal shouldn't run more than $200.

If you REALLY need to get a new pedal, the DW 7000's are the only thing I'd consider in that price range. I've been using DW pedals for 15 years, and I never had anything break. I've been using the older version of the 7000's for seven years, and the only problems I've had is that I took it apart to adjust something and lost some pieces that I have to order. Everything else works great though. The new 7000's are actually built better than the classic 5000's that everyone used in the 90's. It's a solid pedal.

Good call.

A guy i know in Nashville said that, for the price, DW and Pearl made a better pedal than Tama. I used to have a Tama drumset. I did like the hardware, but it wasn't a very nice set of drums as far as how they sounded, and they weren't very loud. So i'm a little biased myself. But i am surprised that so many of you recommended the IC. Nobody said anything about the Pacific pedal i listed. That was the one i was initially leaning towards.

I used to own that very same double pedal. It was clunky and not very smooth.

Then I decided to move to single pedal (maybe because of those double pedals) and got my a Pearl Eliminator and absolutely LOVE it! I'll never buy another pedal again.

You really can't go wrong with any company's higher-end models. They are all VERY high quality and will do whatever you want them to, but each pedal has a very different feel from the others and it's all up to personal preference. I'm not a huge fan of Iron Cobras because of the way they feel and I'm not a fan of DW's because of the foot boards, but I can completely understand why people would want to use them. They are excellent products.

Just go to the store, try 'em all out, and se whichever one you like best!

A lot of folks here will probably disagree, but I say stay away from DW. I've had two pair (4 single pedals, true dbl bass kit) over the years and EVERY SINGLE ONE THEM fell apart! Broken hinges, chains and sprockets, stripped adjusters, batters - they were a disaster. I managed to put together one usable pedal out of the leftover, unbroken parts and gave it to one of my students to replace his very low-end Pearl pedal, but I would never recommend spending actual cash on one. You can get better built pedal for less $$$ from almost any "quality" drum manufacturer.

Well here I am the lone gun again...I still love my Yamaha Flying Dragons...smooth...sturdy...lots of adjustments. And I got mine on sale last year for 125.00...oh well...best money I've spent...other than my kit that is...

I use IC's both double and single, and too had a little prob with the feel. The cure was to replace the cobra hammer beaters with standard Gibralter beaters, this alone made the pedals feel alot more comfortable.

"Buy once, cry once"

It sounds like you're looking to upgrade your pedals so that you know they aren't a limiting factor. Why get the $40 ones, then, when you're going to say to yourself "yeah, but these aren't the best, they are still limiting me"? Do it right and save the $40. ICs or Eliminators. Then, you know that your hardware isn't an "excuse".