I played Iron Cobra Power Glides (and Lever Glide HH stands) since 1998, which I think was the first year they were offered. I bought singles and doubles. And all the major variations (before and after the Cobra Coil, etc). I used them on all of my gigs - at least 5000 shows in 20+ years - but most of those gigs were not with my personal pedals. I loved their feel, especially the most current model. They feel lighter than the original versions - in a good way. But, I found myself playing a DW 3000 turbo cam (round sprocket) on a bass drum practice pad (not my equipment) to warm up before shows. Much to my surprise I really liked the round sprocket. So I bought the 5000 50th anniversary edition with the carbon fiber footboards to keep the weight down (hi-hat stand too) and swapped out the Accelerator cams with the round Turbo cams. I like them a lot. I also started using the 9000s on gigs. Hi-hat stand too. I like both the 9000 and 5000 equally, but they're different. I've been playing the DW stuff for about 2 years now. I'm sure I could probably get used to anything but I love my DW pedals. I will buy the 9000s (hi hat too) later this year. The biggest problem with the Iron Cobra is that the Oiles heel plate hinge always develop side-to-side slop. Always. Every one I've ever played, and I've played a lot of them. In my opinion, that hinge is junk. They don't ever break to where they become unplayable, but the slop develops within probably 100 hours of use. Also, there's side to side movement where the chain meets the footboard. It's like that when they're new, so it's inherent in the design. The DW's have zero side to side movement where the chain meets the footboard or at the heel plate hinge. It's so solid. I know the DW Delta hinge can break, but I've only seen that happen on pedals that get abused and thrown around during transport. And when it does, it's unusable whereas the Tama hinge can be played for years with the side to side slop. But the Oiles hinge develops slop with normal use. That being said... after playing the Iron Cobras exclusively for decades, I think the DW pedals are much more robust in their construction and feel much more solid and "serious" under the foot. Tama's and DW's both feel good and they are slightly different but not so different it's hard to go back and forth between them. But at this point I would never go back to the Iron Cobras due to that Oiles hinge and the side to side play where the chain meets the footboard. I'm very impressed with the DW's and I can see why so many people swear by them. I also love their standard 2-way beater. Sometimes you just have to live with a piece of gear for a year or two to really know what you want. I want DW.
Dw 9000 Vs iron cobra 900, which is better?
- Thread starter AZDRUMZ
- Start date
I’ve played the Iron Cobra 900 with Kevlar strap drive for 10 years with zero problems. I have the optional footboard return spring as i’m an old guy as it reduces fatigue by huge amounts. It now stays with my main kit and i just bought an Iron Cobra 200 for my Tama Pancake kit and its super smooth and a huge value for it’s low cost.
Also for breif period i had a Trick Pro V1. It was direct drive and super smooth and multi adjustable. At the time i had a
16 and 18 inch kick and the base was too wife so the kicks rocked around. It was very expensive then and more now. I took a beating but it was just sitting around not bring used. If you think the Iron Cobra 900 is big you could add another 1/3 to make it the size of the Trick.
Duck Tape
Platinum Member
I’ve owned all 3. The most important difference is the feel.
Dw is better built but the tama has a particular feel which some would prefer, and you wouldn’t know that until you’ve played it.
If I was to waffle on see below.
I sold the 9000’s because I simply like the 5000 feel more and I don’t bother with adjustments. The 9000 could probably be adjusted to feel like the 5000 but that’s not really something I need to persevere with if I already have the 5000.
The dw has more of a generic feeling. Those who say it’s heavy - that’s only because the standard beater is heavy. Put a round felt beater on it and it will feel light. With light beaters it is still a little heavier than my pearl eliminator, not sluggish though.
One of my first pedals was a double iron cobra power glide, eventually the driveshaft wore but otherwise it held up great. I don’t really like the hoop clamp, it looks a bit basic too, esp compared to the dw 3 toe clamp on newer models.
The ability to unhook the spring on the tama for storage/travel is cool for sure.
The thing about the iron cobra is there’s some kind of lope or sluggishness to the feel, the way the footboard travels it’s like there’s a hump to get over and it gives the sensation of propelling or momentum or something. You like it or you don’t, but you have to get used to it, and it’s harder to jump from a generic feeling pedal (eliminator, 5000, 9000) to an iron cobra because you have to adjust to the action of it. I like the cobra coil thing. I actually bought a newer model with the coil a few years ago because I wanted to rekindle my relationship with it, but it’s just weird jumping between kits and having to adjust to the tama. I bought a trick driveshaft for it in case the tama shaft wears out too. I thought about taking the tama out on gigs but it puts me off to think I’ll be practicing at home all week on one of my other pedals that feel so different.
If I had to try to find a negative with the dw 5000 maybe the way the beater angle adjustment is a bit finicky compared with the usual key adjustment on top of the post but it never slips, and like I said I’m a set and forget kind of guy and I would set it to neutral and never touch it again.
The plastic clips on the plastic tama carry case snap easily too. That’s about all I can think of.
Dw is better built but the tama has a particular feel which some would prefer, and you wouldn’t know that until you’ve played it.
If I was to waffle on see below.
I sold the 9000’s because I simply like the 5000 feel more and I don’t bother with adjustments. The 9000 could probably be adjusted to feel like the 5000 but that’s not really something I need to persevere with if I already have the 5000.
The dw has more of a generic feeling. Those who say it’s heavy - that’s only because the standard beater is heavy. Put a round felt beater on it and it will feel light. With light beaters it is still a little heavier than my pearl eliminator, not sluggish though.
One of my first pedals was a double iron cobra power glide, eventually the driveshaft wore but otherwise it held up great. I don’t really like the hoop clamp, it looks a bit basic too, esp compared to the dw 3 toe clamp on newer models.
The ability to unhook the spring on the tama for storage/travel is cool for sure.
The thing about the iron cobra is there’s some kind of lope or sluggishness to the feel, the way the footboard travels it’s like there’s a hump to get over and it gives the sensation of propelling or momentum or something. You like it or you don’t, but you have to get used to it, and it’s harder to jump from a generic feeling pedal (eliminator, 5000, 9000) to an iron cobra because you have to adjust to the action of it. I like the cobra coil thing. I actually bought a newer model with the coil a few years ago because I wanted to rekindle my relationship with it, but it’s just weird jumping between kits and having to adjust to the tama. I bought a trick driveshaft for it in case the tama shaft wears out too. I thought about taking the tama out on gigs but it puts me off to think I’ll be practicing at home all week on one of my other pedals that feel so different.
If I had to try to find a negative with the dw 5000 maybe the way the beater angle adjustment is a bit finicky compared with the usual key adjustment on top of the post but it never slips, and like I said I’m a set and forget kind of guy and I would set it to neutral and never touch it again.
The plastic clips on the plastic tama carry case snap easily too. That’s about all I can think of.
Last edited: