Best adjustment for single bass pedal?

Empathy · Newbie Alert Joined: 26 Jul 2004 Posts: 1

Hi
I had a problem with my bass pedal ever since I started playing. But first, I've got standard single Tama pedal. When I started to play drum about a year ago, I had problems with the intensity/resistance of the pedal. It was too hard to control and play. I first thought that, that's because I'm new and I'll overcome that problem in time. But when I sat down on the Pearl drum kit(with standard pearl pedal of course) in my school I was suprised. The pedal moved so much more smoothly, it was kinda glued on my foot but not too much to show some sort of resistance. I tried to lossen up my pedal but I discovered how many parts affect the movement of the pedal, so now it's kinda too much lossened up and dead. I even have problems that I never had before when I'm playing diddles. So please help me about this. I mean what else does affect the whole thing. Like pasture, seat height...???
Help!!!!!!!!

chetatkinsdiet · Ferret Joined: 26 Jul 2004 Posts: 107

You are correct in thinking that posture, seat height and a few other things go into pedal feel...a lot more than just the spring adjustment.
I'm not sure what you've done to your pedal to mess it up, so can't possibly determine how to get it back to where it was. It shouldn't be too hard though.
In general....only you can determine how you're most comfortable sitting at your kit, but there are certain things that all drummers should be doing. If you're not, it's not a bad idea to break the bad habits...if you've got them.
You should sit up straight, with your back upright, not hunched over. You're thighs should be about parallel with the floor. You're knees should be right about over the edge of the pedal. Just so that your shins are perpendicular to the floor. Don't hug the snare and don't sit too far away from it.
Now, as far as the other drums. Everything should be set so that you can reach anything without too much movement. You should be able to hit most things just by rotating in your seat a bit and with your elbows in close to your body. If you're contantly having to reach out your right arm fully extended to hit that china, then move it in closer. So, assume you have your kit set up in position and it's comfortable....and you are too. You can start working on your pedal feel. It's just a matter of taste how much resistance you want. There are a number of other adjustments a pedal can make such as angle of the pedal board, striking distance the beater rests from the head, length of the shaft of the beater, size and material of the beater....heck, even the shape of the beater. The lower end pedals won't have all these adjustments, but the higher end pedals do. If you can't get your pedal to adjust properly for you, I highly suggest you get one that feels right to you. This is probably more important that the drums you're playing. Especially if you're a beginning drummer as the techniques you are learning now, will carry on you're entire drumming life. I just went through a new pedal purchase last week and am loving the change I made. I finally went from my 20 year obsession of playing Camco/Tama pedals and moved into something a bit more modern. I had all intentions of going to the store and buying an Iron Cobra, but I decided to try out everything just to be fair. I ended up with brand "P". I got their highend single model and really think that it's amazing. Not to say that the Iron Cobra isn't as good, or even the Axis, or any number of other pedals....This one just felt best to me in the store. After having it at home and really dialing it in for a few days, I think I made the right decision.
Also, one thing to note is the way your pedal feels on different drums. You will get a different feel/bounce off of an 18" kick than you do from a 24". Also, a properly tuned drum feels better to me as well.
Anyway, I hope this helps a bit.
later,
m

random white person · Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2004 5:22 pm Post subject:

i would say its probably the footboard adjustment that makes it feel weird the most... too high an angle, and it become unconforable to play. too low, and its easier to hit, but harder to achieve and volume whatsoever. also, if you did something like move your seat closer in to the kit, then you may be too close, and you have to bend your ankle just to hit the pedal right. if it feels really "hard" and is uncontrollable, then turn down the spring tension. also, mess with the beater angle. it will also change the angle of the board as you move it up and down, so find the right footboard adjustment, and then you can move the beater to fine tune it.
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Kevinlsg · Posted: Tue Jul 27, 2004 8:37 am Post subject:

Another thing that you might want to consider is the quality of your pedal. If you got the pedal with the kit chances are that it's not that great. There is only so many things you can do to get a nice feeling kick. i'de trying watching posture, whatever feels right for you is what you should stick with. also like RWP said it could just be the spring tension. On the side of the pedal there should be a bolt with a spring on it that connects to the frame of the pedal. there is a nut at the bottom of the bolt that effects resistance...left to loosen right to get more resistance...Thats about it. If none of this stuff is working than save up and buy a decent pedal
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random white person · Posted: Tue Jul 27, 2004 8:50 am Post subject:

what kind of tama pedal do you have, empathy? im sure if its an iron cobra jr, there are plenty of adjustments that can be made. theres probably not much that can be done if you have the swingstar pedal.
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paintballer687 · Posted: Tue Jul 27, 2004 10:44 am Post subject:

actually i used to have the swingstar pedal (until i replaced it with a dw 7000) and it can actually adjust in tension and beater angle... i cant say the same for my dw 7000 tho...
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Barbie · Posted: Tue Jul 27, 2004 10:45 am Post subject:

If it's the $29 Tama no-model version it just sucks. It can't be played sloppy. That was my 1st pedal and it's totally playable but not very user friendly.