DW 9000 ...not good?!?

[Kurt R]

After reading this

http://209.25.203.234/showthread.php?t=60291

I'm having second thoughts on going for the 9000's from my Elimators I have now. The pearl ones I use just really arnt nice to me when playing doubles and I've been at it for months. All I really want for gigging is a solid single pedal so I'm thinking of getting the 9000. Would you switch after reading that..?

[no_bells]

Thanks for posting that, I haven't been satisfied w/ the 9002s I bought a couple of months ago. I just haven't been able to get them to feel good for me. I had the Eliminators for a week before I returned them for the DW , they felt good but I heard that the Elim's cams wear out because they are plastic. The DW's direct drive and the adjustable cam features are what sold me on them but no matter how I adjust it or what beaters I use, the pedals still seem to have a "heavy" feel.

One small thing that I don't like about the DW is that there are no memory locks on the beaters. That might seem like a small thing but setting up the pedal every gig/rehearsal is time consuming and for a pedal that's close to $500 bucks you should'nt have to rely on tape for your memory adjustments.

[Kurt R]

Has anybody used Axis before? I like the fact I could always make it a double peal if I wanted to. It seems a real simple in your face design.

[no_bells]

I think there was a discussion on this board regarding the Axis stuff. It might have been PeterC that has alot of experience w/ the Axis longboards. If you haven't already, check out the Virgil message board too, there seems to be alot of Axis users on there.

[Tom Hipskind]

I've had a 9000 double pedal for about 8 or 9 months now, and I can definitely say I love the feel of it. To me it doesn't feel "heavy"--I have the spring tension set pretty loose. But I'm very satisfied with the feel I get out of it. The other technical issues some others mentioned on the Pearl forum aren't a particularly big deal to me; the only minor quibble I have is that I can't seem to get it securely fastened to the hoop. I have to REALLY tighten the crap out of it, otherwise it's angle to the bass drum might change. And like the other guys say, for $450 a pop, well, the damn thing should shine my shoes!

The thing I have a bigger problem with, though it may be slightly off the regular topic, is the 9000 hi-hat stand. The ultra-rigid footplate design results in excessive wobbliness on most, if not all, surfaces. This is distracting, to say the least! Another beef I have with the hihat stand (and the bd pedal to a lesser degree) takes an inordinate amount of time to set up and break down. Too many parts to the process.

Whomever said the Iron Cobra wins the prize for best roadworthiness (especially in regard to the hinges), I cannot agree more! I've had my IC for over 4 years now, and aside from dust and cosmetic wear & tear, I can't distinguish it from when it was brand new. Remarkable. And while I do now prefer the feel of my DW 9000 pedal, I'd definitely not say it's not anywhere near the Iron Cobra in terms of bang for your buck. The 9000 should go more for about $350. And if you buy your bd/hh pedals in "tandem" like I do, I'd bet you'll be sorely disappointed with the 9000 hihat stand (though the hi hat stand DOES have a nice feel if you can get it to stand still).

So, my personal feeling is that the 9000 is a little better, but not enough to warrant such a huge price jump. Go with the Iron Cobra.

-Tom

Oh, and P.S. the DW 9000 definitely does come with beater memory locks.

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ December 29, 2004 01:08 AM: Message edited by: Tom Hipskind ]</font>

[peter c]

I am surprised to hear the comments
on the Pearl Eliminators, which I
have and think of very fondly. The
idea of the cams wearing out?!

[img]eek.gif[/img]

I have not and do not consider that
an issue for this series pedal.

On having trouble trouble doing doubles
with them, I don't know what to say,
except to ask if you tried setting in
the Power-Shifter al the way in and
also, if you have tried the Blue,
Purple and Red Cams?

I have worn the black paint but that
is all. They are the best pedals on
the market, for the money. If you
can't double with the blue, purple
and red cams, I don't know what to
say except I have no problem with
them, as far as that goes.

I also own Iron Cobras and Axis-A
Longboards, which take the cake.

You should try the Yamaha Flying
Dragons and see what you think.

The DW9K's spring placement is
just not logical. Players with
larger feet have nothing but
complaints about it.

Pedals are personal. It's true.

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ December 29, 2004 01:58 PM: Message edited by: peter c ]</font>

[drumgod1]

I've got a set of DW Titaniums that I love! I find them very light, but it took me a bit to get used to them. The machined aluminum footboards give a bit when you play them, which could be good or bad. It was definately something to get used to. I added Tama beater balancers to the beaters to serve as memory locks. The DW Titaniums didn't come with them. I also have issue with the springs on the inside area closest to your foot. I'm 6'3" and wear size 13 shoes, and if I move my foot too far up the board or too much to the right or left, I do hit the spring. My double pedal skills aren't as great as some of the folks on this forum, so I can't really comment as to how they are with doubles. I have been working on playing heel down (I'm a heel up player of 20 years) and these pedals feel great.

Just my $.02.

Mike

[PocketPlayer]

My DW 5000 single pedal feels heavy. I just switched from a double Pearl pedal with a very smooth feel. I still have a hard time with quick notes--it just feels so heavy to me and like Mike, I am a size 12.5, so I don't have little Porcaro feet.

[Derek DeFields]

I currently own a number of DW 5000 doubles. I think one thing you have to fiddle with is the beater. I personally hate DW's 2 side beaters as they are way too clunky for me.

I always use the lightest felt beater I can find which for me is the standard Yamaha felt. For some reason it's much lighter than anyone elses and cheap too.

I had a 9000 double and returned it. It felt good but was too complicated for what you get out of it. (In my opinion) It also had a number of annoying little things like where the beater bolt is. (that holds the beater in place.)

It's on the side of the head and I hate little things like that so I just bailed on it. I love DW but that pedal needs a little redesign and some price help IMO.

Anyway, switch beaters and it'll lighten that pedal right up. (you can always come try mine since you're just up the road)

[WecklsMechanic]

I've always been a fan of DW pedal products. I always felt they were the best constructed and most heavy duty of pedals out there. But I guess being heavy duty isn't what some need.

I also agree with the B.D. rim clamping issue. It's something to do with the fullcrum, and always forget to give DW a call about that. It's an engineering problem.

If you look at pedals in general.... they all have roughly the same engineering/fulcrum/pivoting function. It's where you put the weight (i.e. the beater weight, placement, counter weigght, pedal weight, weight of linkages, etc) and where the manufacturer decided to put the fulcrum.

As peoples talent varies regarding B.D. techniques, so will peoples opinions. But if some of the greats are any indication..... (i.e. Vinnie and Dave), you'll see that they play whatever is given to them for free.

So with that given...... go to a local proshop that you can put all the pedals side by side and set up a kit and bass drum to sound the way you want it to sound, and go to town. That is the only way you're going to be even remotely satisfied with spending the bucks.

A good pro shop will be more interested in your making the "right" purchase as opposed to their commissions and having to listen to Joe drummer #1,343 play a beat for 15 minutes. If you get flac for playing and doing what you want, ask to speak to the drum manager and tell him what you're trying to accomplish.

Tom Hipskind?? Does DW now make a 9000 HH stand?? Because I love my 5000 HH stand. It's built like a sherman tank and I hang lots of percussion accessories off it. I play it with all 3 legs instead of two (no.... I'm not an alien), like some of the newer HH stands are designed to do.

hope this helps...

-j