Does anybody around here have any recommendations for kick pedals and/or feedback on specifically DW 5000 single-chain or Axis models?
Thanks in advance.

poolboy wrote:Does anybody around here have any recommendations for kick pedals and/or feedback on specifically DW 5000 single-chain or Axis models?
Thanks in advance.

The drummer in a band I play in (he is also a lurker on this forum) uses one of those Axis pedals. It is ugly as hell... kinda 80's futuristic.... could have starred in Tron.... but I have to admit it is better than my old Speed Kings.... and it has the grip bottom that helps keep your kick from sliding forward... it really is a great pedal.... they are pretty pricey ($150 and up) but seems well worth it.

The DW stuff developed from CAMCO, always good solid and reliable. The Axis is pricey, but seems solid.

I despise the Axis, but some people swear by them. Your results may vary.

I like the DW, but the hinges seem to fail once in a blue moon. The drum shop I frequent replaced them without any hassle, though. Keep your receipt.

I don't much like the action on the DW kick pedals I've played. I was never able to get it to move easily enough.

My drummer swore by the DW for years. But then he sheared through one of the springs, and when he went to get it fixed, there was some kinda debacle. He tried out the ones that they had there, and ended up going with the Iron Cobra, which he likes better.

I used to have an LP kick pedal some time ago, which I liked but nobody else seemed to. Now I have a Tama pedal that is for all practical purposes an Iron Cobra (double chain) though it predates the Iron Cobra name, so it isn't *totally* an Iron Cobra.

Did I mention Iron Cobra?

The DW's I've played have been nice. The Axis pedals felt so light that I could never feel comfortable with them, but that's just a preference. I have owned several of the Tama/Camco lines and can also vouch for the cheesily-named, but well-performing Iron Cobra.

I've been using the same Pearl pedal that came with my Sessions ten years ago. It's probably their cheapest crap model or something, but I like it, I'm used to it, and I've never had any problems with it. I've considered a DW pedal for years, but can't justify spending the money until this one starts sucking. It's kind of like I don't know what I'm missing, and I'm fine with that...

...or maybe I'm not missing much, I dunno?

I know two different people who on three different occasions have broken or bent the footboard of Axis pedals. One of them is not at all a heavy hitter.

Chris Garges
Charotte, NC

Peripatetic wrote:I've been using the same Pearl pedal that came with my Sessions ten years ago. It's probably their cheapest crap model or something, but I like it, I'm used to it, and I've never had any problems with it. I've considered a DW pedal for years, but can't justify spending the money until this one starts sucking. It's kind of like I don't know what I'm missing, and I'm fine with that...

...or maybe I'm not missing much, I dunno?

I used the Pearl pedal that came with my kit for years and never had a problem with it.

Then, about 6 years ago, I decided to drop some cash on one of them there fancy-ass DW pedals (red and black...so nice).

To be completely honest, I've never been completely satisfied with it. I'll agree with Scott (just this once) that sometimes it feels a bit stiff.

The only pedal I've tried since buying the DW is a vintage Ludwig Speed King. It was...TOO vintage.

I think those Axis pedals look silly, but maybe I'll try one out? Dunno...

I have an ancient Tama pedal that is not chain-driven. Instead it has a metal strip that connects the pedal to the beater- best bass drum pedal ever. I'll never use a chain driven pedal by choice. Chain driven pedals seem to gather a little bit of slack which affects the action, I've found. Boom-boom-bah-boom.

If you want my advice, seek out an old non-chain-driven pedal that's in good shape.