What are your thoughts on the Offset Eclipse double pedal (or other such "centered" double pedals)?
- Thread starter BGDurham
- Start date
harryconway
Platinum Member
I've had both the OffSet and Sleishman pedals. The "other" contender back then, was the Sonor Giant Step Center Action (I don't think they make 'em, anymore, pictured below). I went back and forth at a NAMM show, comparing the Sonor and the OffSet ..... and wound up buying the OffSet. There was no Sleishman to try, unfortunately. Later, I did score a Sleishman used, and found it to work/feel better for me ..... and so to eBay went the OffSets.
The main purpose of these pedals is to center the bass drum ..... to get your "ergonomics" and/or "symmetry" on. As you can see ..... the OffSet and Sonor use drive shafts. So, it's like playing two slave pedals. The Sleishman felt more like playing two main pedals. So .... I give the nod to Sleishman, there.
I believe Mike Mangini is now a convert ...... single bass drum, symmetry abounds ..... his drum tech modifying his two Demon Drive pedals to a center pedal configuration.
The main purpose of these pedals is to center the bass drum ..... to get your "ergonomics" and/or "symmetry" on. As you can see ..... the OffSet and Sonor use drive shafts. So, it's like playing two slave pedals. The Sleishman felt more like playing two main pedals. So .... I give the nod to Sleishman, there.
I believe Mike Mangini is now a convert ...... single bass drum, symmetry abounds ..... his drum tech modifying his two Demon Drive pedals to a center pedal configuration.
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BGDurham
Silver Member
Thanks Harry Conway! Two questions:
1. To achieve more tom symmetry would have to use separate tom stands or float them off cymbal stands or use a rack, or could I still mount my toms on my bass drum?
2. Do you still use the Sleishmans? If you've gone back to regular pedal, why?
Thanks so much!
harryconway
Platinum Member
Whatever you have .... or however you want to do it. I have the Yamaha Hex rack .... which affords me slightly better positioning than stands ..... but a lot depends on how many toms and what sizes you're using. I also experiment with a center hi hat position. Early on, I was using a Yamaha cable remote hat. Currently, I have a DW 9550, which uses a drive shaft.
I sold the Sleishmans. I don't really play double bass that often. I first went back to my tried and true Camco by Tama pedals. Wanting to experience the "long board" thing, I picked up a Pearl P930 & P932. So those are my two fav. pedal types that I'm using, now.
I went back to a more traditional main/slave pedal design, in part, because the DW drive shaft center hat (when I use it) occupies that piece of real estate the bass drum sat on. The bass drum gets shifted back to the right.
Cmdr. Ross
Platinum Member
I don't double pedal enough to warrant the purchase of one, but I've had the opportunity to play on an Off Set and liked them a lot.
I'm big on symmetry and those pedals make me feel happy.
I'm big on symmetry and those pedals make me feel happy.
BGDurham
Silver Member
I think there is a wide open spot in the pedal market for a pedal that is essentially only the right half of the Offset double pedal pictured in my original post. A pedal set to the right of the bass drum, with its beater off to the left, and no double pedal on the other side. I would think such a pedal would sell pretty well...off to the trademark office!
harryconway
Platinum Member
..... you could deconstruct a left handed (footed) pedal. I offset my 24x14 Slingerland bass drum to the left, in order to get my "Mega" toms as low as I want. I kept the pedal operable as a double pedal, but my dominant foot is on the slave side of things. A shorter driveshaft would obviously center the bass drum, if you wanted that ..... and removing all the "main pedal" components would be easy, if you didn't want them there.
JimmyM
Diamond Member
Micky Dolenz called and he wants his setup back
Drummerrobin
Member
I've been using one of these pedals for about a year and a half and I'm very happy with it! I personally love being centred on the kit as it makes the toms more accessible and means I never have to twist when playing things on the far right of the kit (low tom, china, etc.). One thing I did recently was upgrade the driveshafts to ACD Unlimited ones and I'm loving the result! These things are absolutely rock solid and it now really does feel pretty much like playing 2 single pedals. Here are a couple of pics of my setup with the OffSets + the ACD driveshafts. Us middle pedal players seem to be a rare breed but I'm very happy to be in the club!
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bud7h4
Silver Member
I wonder, devoting so much to ergonomics, if they can also compete with the actual performance offered by other manufacturers who have been focusing on extremely high performance for decades. To come out with a new design like this AND have performance comparable to an Axis or Speed Cobra and so many more?
harryconway
Platinum Member
I hear ya on the reach thing. I'm a twin floor tom guy from "way" back. And having that centered bass drum really helps. I was even able to go 14, 16, 18 floors pretty easy, on the right side, when I had my Sleishman. Never say never ..... I've got a possible "Off-Set" available to me. Might have to re-visit center pedals again.
JimmyM
Diamond Member
I’m guessing you spend most of your tom time on the floors, right?
harryconway
Platinum Member
This kit I moved around a lot. All sorts of non-traditional set ups. And then I always seem to go back to 1 up, 2 down.
Jeff Almeyda
Senior Consultant
Brother, It's been done and I have a pair. I am an ACD Unlimited endorser and I have several of his pedals. The middle pedal is at the home kit. The pedals feel identical and the quality is better than Axis.
There are some issues with the general concept, however:
1. Takes too long to set up at a gig.
2.. You can't see the beaters now.
3. The beaters can hit the snare stand now if your set up is off a bit.
It will NOT make you better at double bass nor faster. It's probably more of an OCD thing than an actual performance thing. I use a regular double pedal for gigs.
Sonar Dave
Well-known Member
I'd love to try one.
1 hit wonder
Well-known Member
Always wanted to do that but was too cheap to buy a new pedal. One never showed up in a pawn shop. But now I'm wondering if my DW could be reconfigged for a lefty?
mikyok
Platinum Member
For your average single pedal working drummer like me they're a bit pointless, like double pedals or remote hi hats in general. The bass drum pedal setup should just be attach to bass drum hoop and that's it, no assembly required.
Pedals should also be low maintenance too, there's a lot that can go wrong with an offset pedal on stage or in transit. The simplicity behind an old Camco, DW5000, Speed King is why they're so good.
If I played music that needed a double pedal again, I'd just go for a standard double pedal. There's been far more R&D done and are far more reliable.
With guys like Mangini. He has a tech who does all the setting up and roadies to shift everything and spares of everything when touring. Us mere mortals sadly have none of this!
Pedals should also be low maintenance too, there's a lot that can go wrong with an offset pedal on stage or in transit. The simplicity behind an old Camco, DW5000, Speed King is why they're so good.
If I played music that needed a double pedal again, I'd just go for a standard double pedal. There's been far more R&D done and are far more reliable.
With guys like Mangini. He has a tech who does all the setting up and roadies to shift everything and spares of everything when touring. Us mere mortals sadly have none of this!
C
C. Dave Run
Guest
It depends on the towers. You must be able to flip everything 180° between the towers on each pedal. If your main pedal has a frame between the towers, it must be flipped also. Your secondary pedal must have 2 towers. If only 1, you cant flip the shaft to the correct side.
Which pedal is it?