Non-drummer question about double bass pedals...

[miroslav]

So I finally found a second matching kick drum for my existing studio Pearl kit.
It's a nice 10-piece kit, w/18, 16, 14, 13, 12, 10, 10, & 8 inch toms...
...but I only had one kick until now. So when I spotted this matching kick on eBay...I couldn't resist going for it to make it a totally complete kit with double bass drums.

I mean, it's more for looks than anything. I didn't really need double bass drums for recording...but I still want to make it fully playble, and now I now realize I will have to get a double bass pedal for the kit, but here's the thing....
The guy who plays the kit most of the time for my recording purposes is a lefty drummer.
I see that some double bass pedals specify right or left footed...but I am wondering if there are any brands of pedals that can work either left or right footed just by flipping things around...that way if I ever have a right foot drummer I won't need to buy another double bass pedal...or is every brand specific for left or right foot only???

 

[drumslinger]

have a look at this miroslav. Product Review – Off-Set Double Bass Drum Pedal

and another one but it's adjustable for right and left footed players. http://www.tayedrums.com/index.php?...uble-bass-drum-pedal&catid=28:double&Itemid=2

 

[miroslav]

That's very interesting...but it doesn't really say anything about a double bass drum pedal that is interchangeable for left or right footed drumming...

...or did I miss something in the article???

 

[drumslinger]

miroslav,

have a look at the pics under photos. you can see where the arm can connect to the other side. click the picture to enlarge.

here's a youtube clip of it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXO2ebGOuDE

hope this helps.

 

[Rimshot]

If you are using a double kick drum, you use two single pedals. You use a double kick pedal when you are playing two feet on one kick drum.

 

[bdenton]

As Rimshot noted, you do not need a double bass pedal, you need two separate pedals when you are using two separate bass drums. And typically, both pedals are of the same make and model...

 

[Greg_L]

If you are using a double kick drum, you use two single pedals. You use a double kick pedal when you are playing two feet on one kick drum.

That this needed to be pointed out makes me weep for our future.

 

[BentRabbit]

But you'll still have to swap the left and right bass drums when a southpaw is playing them...

 

[miroslav]

here's a youtube clip of it. YouTube - Features of Taye MetalWorks Bass Drum Pedals

OK...I can see how that model allows for left or right footed drumers....but that's a bit pricey. I was hoping to find a good solution for under $200 - new.

I see by some other responses that folks may not be clear on what I am asking.

My main studio drummer plays lefty. I just bought a second kick drum, so I am looking for a double foot pedal. Not just a two-beater pedal...but a double foot pedal rig so that when he is playing the Hat, he can still play both kicks with one foot if desired.
That said.....I'm asking which double foot pedals allow for either left or right footed players, as I see some of the pedal rigs are specifically designed for one or the other, but I am hoping to find one that is switchable so if/when a right footed player comes to play...I won't need another double foot pedal rig for him (too much $$$).

Mind you, as I said originally, this second kick drum is more for looks, so I'm not expecting a ton of double-kick drum tracks...but it would be nice to have it all be fully working as it should for both left and right footed drummers.

 

[Rimshot]

OK...I can see how that model allows for left or right footed drumers....but that's a bit pricey. I was hoping to find a good solution for under $200 - new.

I see by some other responses that folks may not be clear on what I am asking.

My main studio drummer plays lefty. I just bought a second kick drum, so I am looking for a double foot pedal. Not just a two-beater pedal...but a double foot pedal rig so that when he is playing the Hat, he can still play both kicks with one foot if desired.
That said.....I'm asking which double foot pedals allow for either left or right footed players, as I see some of the pedal rigs are specifically designed for one or the other, but I am hoping to find one that is switchable so if/when a right footed player comes to play...I won't need another double foot pedal rig for him (too much $$$).

Mind you, as I said originally, this second kick drum is more for looks, so I'm not expecting a ton of double-kick drum tracks...but it would be nice to have it all be fully working as it should for both left and right footed drummers.

What you describe makes absolutely no sense to me. I haven't seen or heard of such a hook-up. It is possible that such a thing might exist, but in my 45 years of being a drummer, I have never seen it.
You do realize that the whole kit will need to be reconfigured for a right handed or left handed drummer.

I occasionally play a double kick and when I am playing my hats, I simply move my left foot over to the hat pedal and continue playing my right kick. I may also use a drop clutch on the hats so I can play them closed when playing the double kick.

 

[Greg_L]

What you describe makes absolutely no sense to me. I haven't seen or heard of such a hook-up. It is possible that such a thing might exist, but in my 45 years of being a drummer, I have never seen it.
You do realize that the whole kit will need to be reconfigured for a right handed or left handed drummer.

I occasionally play a double kick and when I am playing my hats, I simply move my left foot over to the hat pedal and continue playing my right kick. I may also use a drop clutch on the hats so I can play them closed when playing the double kick.

This ^^^^^^^^

You are asking for something that doesn't exist. How would you play two kicks with one foot? It's impossible. Righty, lefty, it doesn't matter. Kick pedals don't know which foot you use. If you're looking for a lefty double-pedal, good luck. There aren't many out there.

A double pedal setup is used for one kick, allowing the drummer to play it with both feet simulating two kick drums. The main pedal attacheds to the kick like normal, it has two beaters, and the slave pedal is placed near the hat pedal and it's connected to the main pedal by a bar. You sit with your feet spread out, usually with the snare between your thighs, and play like there are two kick drums with the non-dominant foot moving back and forth from the hat pedal to the slave kick pedal. That's how double pedals work. Two feet, two beaters, one kick drum.

To use two actual kick drums, simply hook a single, standard pedal to each drum.

To play the hats while double-kicking, use a drop-clutch. Look one up if you don't know what it is.

As far as I know, there is no way to control the hats and two beaters all at the same time. Humans simply don't have that many feet. There is no way that I know of to play two kicks, or a double pedal, with only one foot. If your guy is really good, he can do rapid, one-footed doubles on a single kick that, if played fast enough, can sort of simulate a double kick sound.

 

[miroslav]

What you describe makes absolutely no sense to me. I haven't seen or heard of such a hook-up. It is possible that such a thing might exist, but in my 45 years of being a drummer, I have never seen it.
You do realize that the whole kit will need to be reconfigured for a right handed or left handed drummer.

Yes...I do realize that the whole kit needs to be reconfigured for left or right and not just the pedals.
Because I thought there were double pedal rigs for specific left/right feet (and yes I have seen some of them labeled as such)...I was simply thinking I could save some $$$ by not having to buy two double pedal rigs if I got one that could be switchable.

But OK....now I see where my confusion about double bass pedals stems from.

When I look at something like this:

I thought you could also attach a beater to the pedal on the left (and I could swear I've seen it like that in some images...somewhere).
That way, with one foot, you would hitting both bass drums.
It's really not a long stretch having a rig like that...since they already have a single pedal with 2 beaters to simulate two drums, so with the rig pictured, why couldn't you have a beater in the left pedal...and a beater (or two) in the right pedal...adjust their timing to taste, and play both bass drums with one foot....which is where/why I was asking about left and right foot rigs.

You are asking for something that doesn't exist. How would you play two kicks with one foot? It's impossible. Righty, lefty, it doesn't matter.

To use two actual kick drums, simply hook a single, standard pedal to each drum.

Yes...I do understand now. Honestly...I have NEVER gotten up close to a double bass drum kit to see WTF was up with the pedals ....and of all the drummers/bands I've ever played with, not a one used a double bass drum kit, so that's why I'm glad I came here to ask you guys about it. You just saved me some money.
I'll just buy another single pedal for the second bass drum!

I would have asked my drummer buddy...but I was going to surprise him the next time he came over to record. Boy, he sure would have laughed his ass off had I purchased the rig in the picture above, and then attempted to hook it up to two bass drums!

That said...while I do believe you guys that what I was originally thinking of doesn't exist...do you not think it's possible to take a rig like the one pictured above, have each pedal attached to each bass drum (and also to each other via the axle)...and have a beater on each pedal...???
I don't think it would be all that complicated to fabricate seeing how they already make most of what I was imagining.
Then you really could play two bass drums with one foot and still be able to play the Hat with the other foot....yes/no?

Like I said...I'm a non-drummer...so maybe my thinking is a little out of the box ...but I don't see why it wouldn't work.
Anyway...I'm just kicking around an idea about the pedals...and not trying to debate the value of having something like that
...but the real point is that now I understansd that all I really need is another single pedal for the second bass drum.

 

[miroslav]

So in the rig pictured above...basically each pedal controls one of the beaters, but they both hit the one bass drum...right?

That's what made it confusing to me...because everyone calls that a double bass drum pedal...and I thought they were meant for 2 bass drums...when in fact it's really a single bass drum pedal that simulates two bass drums being played.

OK...all clear now...

 

[Greg_L]

There's two problems with your idea, which isn't a bad idea, but it's kind of impractical:

1) You're talking three beaters overall, right? Let's say beaters one and two on kick drum A, and beater three on kick drum B. You'd have to have a way to disengage the slave pedal while linking the first and third beater. That could be cumbersome and clumsy to do on the fly while drumming.

2) You'd have one foot controlling one pedal smacking two kick drums at the same time. What's the point in that? You're still getting one hit, just on two bass drums. The whole general point of double bass drums/pedals is to basically do fills and/or accents on the kick that are too fast for one pedal.


The standard double pedal, like the one you pictured above, hits one bass drum. The right pedal attaches to the kick like normal, and is used as a single kick pedal most of the time. Stomp with your right foot, like normal, and the right beater smacks the kick head, like normal. The left (slave) beater and pedal just sits out there, doing nothing, until you need it. It doesn't even attach to anything. The left pedal just sits on the floor, and is connected to the master pedal by that bar. Stomp the left pedal, and the left beater hits the head. Stomp the right, and the right smacks the head. Alternate your stomps and get some fast bass drum action happening.

I think TAMA makes an attachment that attaches the slave of their Iron Cobra double-pedal setups to their Iron Cobra hi-hat stands, eliminating the need for a drop-clutch. You just slide your left foot a certain way and it deactivates the hi-hat, forcing it closed, allowing the drummer to go crazy on the double-kicks. I've never used it, but it seems like a neat idea. I'm personally not much of a double-kicker, although I have double-pedals and use double-kick accents and stuff occasionally.

 

[miroslav]

Yes..I see your point...it could be cumbersome engaging/disengaging the whole rig ever time you wanted to use just a single beater on one drum VS 2 or 3 beaters on both drums.

Anyway...thanks for all the clarification...that double bass drum rig just wasn't very intuitive to a non-drummer. I was looking at the whole thing as being much more involved than it is.

I just ordered another single pedal...actually I ordered a pair of single pedals, since the one I had was a pretty lame entry-level pedal, so now I got a pair of better pedals to keep everything in balance. My drummer will be happy.
Heck...I don't even know if he's much of a double-bass player. The two kits he has are both single bass drum kits.
Either way...as I said...I was going more for the look to my whole kit than a anything else. With all the toms I have...it was begging for a second bass drum to fill the hole under the toms.
Good...now I can also get rid of at least two cymbal/tom stands and just use the second bass drum for mounting.

 

[bdenton]

You mentioned "playing the hat"...

There are two main methods used by drummers who are actually playing either two bass drum pedals or a double bass drum pedal:

The first, and cheapest (around $20), is called a drop clutch. It replaces the standard "clutch" which holds the top cymbal on the hi-hat. The most common units have a small lever which you hit with a drumstick to disengage. The top cymbal will then drop down and sit on top of the bottom cymbal, so you can play the hat as if it were in a lightly closed position. To disengage the clutch, press the hi-hat pedal all of the way down, and the hi-hat will then operate normally.

The second method, a closed hi-hat "stand", looks like the upper part of a hi-hat, without the pedal. You mount it to a convenient part of the drum kit, and install a second set of hi-hat cymbals. The stand can be adjusted to provide the desired amount of hi-hat "openness", although it cannot be adjusted while you are playing. You either set it and forget it, or you can adjust it between songs if you wish.

Hope this helps...

 

[Greg_L]

Yes..I see your point...it could be cumbersome engaging/disengaging the whole rig ever time you wanted to use just a single beater on one drum VS 2 or 3 beaters on both drums.

Anyway...thanks for all the clarification...that double bass drum rig just wasn't very intuitive to a non-drummer. I was looking at the whole thing as being much more involved than it is.

I just ordered another single pedal...actually I ordered a pair of single pedals, since the one I had was a pretty lame entry-level pedal, so now I got a pair of better pedals to keep everything in balance. My drummer will be happy.
Heck...I don't even know if he's much of a double-bass player. The two kits he has are both single bass drum kits.
Either way...as I said...I was going more for the look to my whole kit than a anything else. With all the toms I have...it was begging for a second bass drum to fill the hole under the toms.
Good...now I can also get rid of at least two cymbal/tom stands and just use the second bass drum for mounting.

I've always wanted two bass drums. Not for any real reason other than aesthetics. Two kicks simply looks like you mean business. They're a bitch though for a gigging drummer. Totally unnecessary as they're a pain to haul and set up, and they make your drum footprint twice as large. Most club/bar stage drum risers can't accomodate two kicks. Not to mention an extra 80 dollars worth of heads to tune. The double-pedal is probably the greatest drum innovation since drums were invented thousands of years ago. In this day and age, there's no real reason to use two kicks unless they're different sizes and you play music with variety that can utilize two different kick sounds. They're not even really worth it for the extra mounting capacity. If you have that many toms and cymbals, just get a rack. You can mount tons of shit to a rack and keep the single kick drum with a double-pedal.

 

[miroslav]

I know what you are saying about a rack for mounting, and that there's no real *need* for a second bass drum when you can use those double pedal rigs...I get it...but...
...I also agree with your other comment: "Two kicks simply looks like you mean business."

Like I said...I was going the look probably about 90% worth and only 10% for actual need/use.

 

[grimtraveller]

Back in 2001, I bought this thing called the duallist for my drumkit because at the time, I thought it might be good to try and utilize double kick beats in some things. It's really interesting how people reacted. My buddy that I'd played music with for 20 years at the time who's a couple of years older than me, hated it. He wouldn't even try to get to grips with it {funnilly enough, he was like that a few years later with an electronic kit} and always used the single beater set up.
Whereas the son of a friend, currently 19 {we started jamming and recording when he was 14} totally embraced it {likewise the electronic kit} and when I bought the electric kit, I sold him the pedal. I've noticed that older guys tend to be more against it so the views coming across here have been quite refreshing.
I thought the duallist was a good idea although I've learned to utilize space for the kick more effectively since then.

 

[Greg_L]

Back in 2001, I bought this thing called the duallist for my drumkit because at the time, I thought it might be good to try and utilize double kick beats in some things. It's really interesting how people reacted. My buddy that I'd played music with for 20 years at the time who's a couple of years older than me, hated it. He wouldn't even try to get to grips with it {funnilly enough, he was like that a few years later with an electronic kit} and always used the single beater set up.
Whereas the son of a friend, currently 19 {we started jamming and recording when he was 14} totally embraced it {likewise the electronic kit} and when I bought the electric kit, I sold him the pedal. I've noticed that older guys tend to be more against it so the views coming across here have been quite refreshing.
I thought the duallist was a good idea although I've learned to utilize space for the kick more effectively since then.

I've played with one of those at the drum shops. It's pretty awkward and useless on a real kick drum. That upstroke beat is pretty weak. I can see it working on an E-kit though.