One Pedal, Two Mallets?

[Verdas]

I have been seeing these pedals on musiciansfriend.com which are single pedals that are designed with two mallets and allow you to get double strokes, striking on the up and down stroke of the pedal (The Duallist)but can be switched on and off, or has a pedal built into the heel which independantly controls the second mallet (The Sonor).

I am wondering if you guys have ever used one of these, and if they actually work well.

I am interested in the Duallist because it can be switched on and off, and I think I could run it better with the steady control of the up and down strokes of my foot.

Do people see these as cheating? I wouldn't want to give up my hi-hats if I didnt have to.



Sonor Giant Step $649 @Musiciansfriend.com $999 Retail
http://img3.musiciansfriend.com/dbase/pics/products/1/7/3/260173.jpg

The Duallist $349 @Musiciansfriend.com $599 Retail
http://img3.musiciansfriend.com/dbase/pics/products/5/6/6/257566.jpg

[We_Love_Lime]

Not worth it.
Learn to play normally like every other great drummer.

[Berk]

the dualist seems kinda cool

[Tillmon]

I have never used one but I have a feeling it's just a gimmick that's probably not worth it.

[oliv_da_skinmasher]

It's a bit of a gimmick IMO.

[keaton_86]

I've used the giant step one for about 2 minutes. Seemed cool. It felt nice and smooth, but it also felt like it would take alot of practise to get decent kick patterns out of it.

[Chippy569]

the sonor's cool but it's not worth $650. the duallist has issues with its plastic parts.

if you can find either for less than 200, it's worth the pickup to play with. I used a duallist on a tambourine at the store, which really opened up some fun possibilities.




as far as "cheating," 98% of this forum would jump on the "yes" wagon. However, i figure it takes just about as long to "master" one of these pedals' unique techniques as it would to "master" normal pedal technique (including the "heel toe" method (see jojo mayer)).

[_Austin_]

I've used both and they are both different ways of playing double bass...

The advantage with a normal double pedal is the choice between types you get.

Tama, mapex, yamaha, pearl, axis, DW, truth, gibraltar, stagg and a million others all make conventional style double pedals which offers a huge variety in feels and playability.

If you choose to go for the 'single-pedal, two beaters' route; you only get the choice between those very two. But a conventional double pedal offers a much larger choice of pedals so you can find the one right for you.

Of course they do have advantages over conventional double pedals. The main one being that you have an extra foot free.

But it comes at a price of:
A, Being expensive
B, Not having much choice between different makes of pedal.

This coming from someone who has a double pedal and hasn't used it in a year or so.

But keep in mind, not a lot of people care what gear you use. Its how you use it that really matters.

Hope this sheds some light :)

[oliv_da_skinmasher]

as far as "cheating," 98% of this forum would jump on the "yes" wagon. However, i figure it takes just about as long to "master" one of these pedals' unique techniques as it would to "master" normal pedal technique (including the "heel toe" method (see jojo mayer)).

I agree with you.

I think its a bit of a gimmick but with that said I would like to see the cool patterns you could get with 2 duallists and 2 kicks. Would be cool.

[Verdas]

I really dont see anything as a gimmick, unless it was playing for you. I mean, you could see all kinds of things as gimmicks, I think it would be much cooler to integrate this double playing possibility with the hi-hat.

The reason I say this is because I am a hi-hat fiend and I am always ****ing with my hi-hat during beats and I feel like so much is lacking when the hi-hat is stale.

As far as the gimmick argument goes, I dont agree at all, I mean, there are all kinds of advances you could blatantly calla gimmick. Maybe double kicks were considered gimmicks back in the early days.

Anything that expands what you can play out of you're kit, is only going to make what comes out of your drums, better. Thats all that matters, I mean you can't tell me you could not make completely unique beats solo's etc.

Anyway, I am getting one from my local music shop and they are going to let me use it for a month before I buy, because its pretty pricey. I am going to try the Duallist, the Sonor is $1,100 retail!!!! hahahaha

Anyway, I'll let you know how it goes.

[donteatpieontuesday]

buy two, then buy two bass drums then play some 64th notes

[ant_182]

Meh, imho learn to play really fast with a single pedal. Id see that as more impressive, not worth the money either. Its like having two sticks in one which double stroke in one hit (one hit then the rebound would be the other stick) if that makes sence. I'm too tired to think :(

[Charlie Daniels]

Meh, imho learn to play really fast with a single pedal. Id see that as more impressive

Should an artist let his music suffer over something that will only impress a very small minority of fans (drummers)?

Food for thought.

I've never used one, and I'm curious as to whether there is a noticeable difference in volume from each beater. Can anyone fill me in on this?

If it works, and from most reports it seems to do what it says it does, then I don't see how it's cheating? It's not like it's a maths test is it?

[Imperial Star]

On Thomas Langs Creative control DVD he has a section on the Sonor Pedal. He doesn't use it on the kick but on a wood block type thing for his left foot.

Its pretty impressive, he plays broken 16th note patterns with it and then plays beats over the top with his hands and right foot.

[ant_182]

I dont think its "cheating" just doesn't seem natural if you know what I mean. Hell yeh if you want to blast out beats that fast go for it. But there's nothing wrong with double pedal imo. Anyway its all preference I wouldnt buy one ESPECIALLY at the price it is :)

[donteatpieontuesday]

Meh, imho learn to play really fast with a single pedal. Id see that as more impressive, not worth the money either. Its like having two sticks in one which double stroke in one hit (one hit then the rebound would be the other stick) if that makes sence. I'm too tired to think :(

it's not all about you

[ant_182]

I never once said it was about me, but wha the f*ck would be the point in posting if I wasn't ofering my opinion? What should I have said? GET IT DUDE! EVERYONE else will like it! Or should I just post pictures of cats?

[Panopticon]

like phil:p

Anyway...cheating is breaking the rules right? So how can it be cheating if drumming has no rules?

It's pretty cool that you get to try it out first. Lemme know how it is. I'm also interested in whether both beaters are the same volume.

That being said, i would take the sonor over the dualist because it looks a lot stronger (Of course, this is just going off of looks) and the fact that the dualist is mostly plastic while the sonor is made of metal.

[Verdas]

Also, I have to say I am not a fan of those bass beats that just repeat so fast. I like to spice it up with accents and stuff, so it is not just to go fast and pound away, I hate that style.

[Chippy569]

just a little food for thought, the sonor is actually more like two pedals in one. the heel piece moves independently of the rest of the footboard.


i still don't like how damn expensive they are.

[WyrmDL]

the sonor is pretty interesting, but pretty difficult to get used to. quality stuff, runs smooth, but hellah expensive.

the dualist, ive tried a few times. the second stroke feels a lot different than the first, but thats pretty obvious seeing as the movements are different (also, i dont see how you can control accents with the secondary stroke either). i didnt see any issues with the plastic though, as its pretty damn sturdy.

the giant step seems like its built to do its job like a pedal (and more), where as the dualist seems like it was made just for the sake of double hitting, neglecting a lot of the other characteristics most pedals hold.

id say, try them out first, because they are pretty expensive.

[AdultSwim815]

I haven't used one. I see it as cheating. Mainly because what happens when you are playing on another kit. Most people don't have the dualist (the only thing I like that dualist has is the triple pedal) so you'd be screwed when you want to show off your drum beats. I would say get a 9002 for that price. Or go with what I'm getting as soon as my tax return is here, the 7002, it's $219, and I played a single chain version, very smooth and nice. But now they only sell double chain models so it'll be more durable and smooth for the same price.

[WyrmDL]

I haven't used one. I see it as cheating. Mainly because what happens when you are playing on another kit. Most people don't have the dualist (the only thing I like that dualist has is the triple pedal) so you'd be screwed when you want to show off your drum beats. I would say get a 9002 for that price. Or go with what I'm getting as soon as my tax return is here, the 7002, it's $219, and I played a single chain version, very smooth and nice. But now they only sell double chain models so it'll be more durable and smooth for the same price.

I dont quite see it in the same perspective. Sure, dont fully depend on it, but that kinda applies to almost any gizmo for drums, such as a double bass or a drop clutch.

It really is up to the player to decide how they want to use it, but I dont think putting too much emphasis on something like that, to the point that youre unable to play normally, is a good idea.

[LoneStarDrummer]

i definitely don't consider it cheating, since, as mentioned, there are no rules. it would open lots of possibilities, buy getting good at standard dbl bass is difficult enough.

also lang uses the giant step and does some crazy things with it. i would never have that coordination.

[Panopticon]

I haven't used one. I see it as cheating. Mainly because what happens when you are playing on another kit. Most people don't have the dualist (the only thing I like that dualist has is the triple pedal) so you'd be screwed when you want to show off your drum beats. I would say get a 9002 for that price. Or go with what I'm getting as soon as my tax return is here, the 7002, it's $219, and I played a single chain version, very smooth and nice. But now they only sell double chain models so it'll be more durable and smooth for the same price.

you can't cheat in drumming. It's impossible.

[fishbulb]

I dont quite see it in the same perspective. Sure, dont fully depend on it, but that kinda applies to almost any gizmo for drums, such as a double bass or a drop clutch.

It really is up to the player to decide how they want to use it, but I dont think putting too much emphasis on something like that, to the point that youre unable to play normally, is a good idea.

I agree, a double pedal could be considered just as bad as a duallist. What if you play on a kit with only a single pedal, then you cannot show off your skills to other people.