What are your thoughts on the Offset Eclipse double pedal (or other such "centered" double pedals)?

drummer0294 said:

All I can say for me that is not the case. If you are playing a traditional double pedal the slave always feels like a slave. The best way I found to address this to replace the shaft with a Trick shaft. I have done this on both a DW5000 and DW9000 DP and that gets you there. The shorter shafts on the middle pedal in my experience make their response on either side like single pedals. I did machine 2 Trick shafts to make short ones for the Sonor pedal above.

The real purpose of middle pedals is the setup of the kit. I like the kit tight and me centered like I behind a DB kit. I personally never liked to offset the bass drum approach but that is my preference. That's the great thing about drums and drummers everyone has their personal preferences and styles for what works best for them.

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I was going to say, of course the Trick shaft (which was originally created by Pearl) eliminates that slave feeling. It surprises me that not many high end pedals come with that system..

BGDurham said:

This centered/middle double bass pedal by the brand Offset looks very interesting. Can anyone provide a review? Thanks!

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I have both a Sonor Giant Step Middle pedal and an Offset pedal. The Sonor pedal isn't being made anymore and it was VERY expensive. I was a Sonor dealer which is why I have one and it's now 19 years old and still my main pedal.

I bought the Offset (chain) pedal as a backup and have used on a kit in my studio. My first impressions - the drive shafts were too short for how I like to set-up the kit. They do sell longer ones but want like $65 each for their longer ones. I purchased an $8 DP shaft sleave and cut it down and made the stock shafts longer. That solved my set-up issue. I next found that the springs on the middle section were two stiff for my playing so I swapped them out for standard Gibraltar springs. I then find the pedal very stable and responsive.

Middle pedals are not for everyone, their purpose is to allow you to be centered and get the kit tight. Your best bet is to find a shop that has one and try it out.

mikyok said:

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!

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I'm not sure if any saw the picts on Mikes Demon Middle pedal. I'm sure it was custom made for him.

doggyd69b said:

I was going to say, of course the Trick shaft (which was originally created by Pearl) eliminates that slave feeling. It surprises me that not many high end pedals come with that system..

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Agree...Pearls shaft costs $350 and the Tricks are $150. DW sells a $350 shaft as well and includes it on their MFG series. My opinion is get the Trick shaft, they make a big difference and cost $200 less the Pearl and DW.

bud7h4 said:

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?

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I have had both the the A21 longboards AXIS, and now have the Speed cobras, and I'll tell you right now- they're not even! but that is aside from the point. even though the Axis pedals were superior, they both gave me lower back and right hip flexor pain from playing very fast metal, utilizing the twitch method of db rolls. I'm really condsidering getting an Offset brand eclipse (long board version) or a different type of center action; I've seen a few videos posted on YT whereas the drummer is complaining of the same symptoms I exp and talk about how the center action of offset has really helped reduce the pain. And so, it may be worth buying and trying, but I don't want to spend all that money to find I hate the feel of pedals. for many years I played direct drive db and the eclipse pedals offer a 80$ conversion kit which is cool. My wet dream db pedal would be a Trick Bigfoot V1 with a center action. wish that were possible! I'm no machinist, and anything over 1k is out of my price range.

I like the idea even though I can only play single kick. It certainly helps with positioning. I wish it could be as light and fast as my Speed King, but there's not even a regular double pedal that feels similar.

Iristone said:

I like the idea even though I can only play single kick. It certainly helps with positioning. I wish it could be as light and fast as my Speed King, but there's not even a regular double pedal that feels similar.

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how many have you tried..? certainly not ALL of them? lol
I am curious if you are able to find one similar enough. do you play belt or chain drive?

meshuggah escape plan said:

how many have you tried..? certainly not ALL of them? lol
I am curious if you are able to find one similar enough. do you play belt or chain drive?

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I've heard that Ludwig Speed Flyers are close, but I've not had the chance to try them yet, and they don't come in the "offset" pattern. None other chain, belt, or even direct drive pedal I've tried feels similar.
My reasoning is that the Speed King feel comes from 3 main points: direct drive, compression springs, and an exceptionally light footboard. AFAIK Dixon and ACD still make compression spring pedals, but they both take special orders and I haven't got the chance to try them.

Iristone said:

My reasoning is that the Speed King feel comes from 3 main points: direct drive, compression springs, and an exceptionally light footboard.

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I think it's a synergy between the 3 points. I've tried an Axis DD pedal that doesn't feel similar, a Tama pedal with a compression booster spring that doesn't feel similar (extremely sluggish), and a Yamaha belt-driven pedal with an exceptionally light footboard and yet still doesn't feel similar (extremely flimsy).

drummer0294 said:

I have both a Sonor Giant Step Middle pedal and an Offset pedal. The Sonor pedal isn't being made anymore and it was VERY expensive. I was a Sonor dealer which is why I have one and it's now 19 years old and still my main pedal.

I bought the Offset (chain) pedal as a backup and have used on a kit in my studio. My first impressions - the drive shafts were too short for how I like to set-up the kit. They do sell longer ones but want like $65 each for their longer ones. I purchased an $8 DP shaft sleave and cut it down and made the stock shafts longer. That solved my set-up issue. I next found that the springs on the middle section were two stiff for my playing so I swapped them out for standard Gibraltar springs. I then find the pedal very stable and responsive.

Middle pedals are not for everyone, their purpose is to allow you to be centered and get the kit tight. Your best bet is to find a shop that has one and try it out.

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I just got a brand new Offset pedals, and they were great for one practice, but after that its been very loose, and cannot be tightened as I've located all tension bolts/rods and Allen holes. I do play a bit harder than drummer who mic the bass or use a trigger system. now when I play- and yes, I checked ALL the components for tightening- there is a serious or moderate lag inside the rubber jointed arms. I am considering sending this back. perhaps its a one-off? I just posted a new thread topic on the quality/ issues with Offset. tagged under Offset double bass pedals