Drumnetics Magnetic Pedal

Sounds like he and Bob Gatzen are in the same boat.
Best to them both. Keep me posted, Pete....

Thanks.

Oh, and Pete,

What's your quick view on not just the concept of
the Drumnetics but how well it works? I know you
really like the Trick.... In your opinion, is the Magnet
pedal head and shoulders above the rest in terms of
playability?

Don,

I really want to be fair to Mike.

When I first found out about the
pedal, a couple of generations
ago: there were issues that I
had with the pedal, including
the link (strength and length),
the hoop-clamp and proprietary
screws requiring Allen and what
I thought was a limited range
of beater action because of
chief reliance on the magnets.

What I was not prepared for
was/is the quality of this person.
He listened very carefully to all
the issues I had but that is not
all. You see, I did not expect
him to take me on these things.

When he gave the pedal the
"shifting option" and then when
he adopted the single and longer
length link option, he showed me
his commitment. He sent me the
modified pedal. It was the world
better. I was so pleased.

Well, you can imagine when he
sent me the most recent mod,
in the magnets up top (axle),
which pull the beater back from
the head. The fact is that I could
not stop playing the pedal. It
felt so perfect and with just the
need of adjustment of beater
angle, after setting the foot-
board back (for me).

To the chase - the pedal has
very little to set and after it is
set, that is it. It stays there.

The Trick is more expensive and
a bit more complicated but still
the hot rod. It has more adjust-
ments but that is not for every
body. I can make it sing but
that might be the drawback. I
have to make it sing. Mike's
pedal just sings.

While I wish the new Drumnetics
pedal used conventional screws,
I am willing to let that go for the
very simple concept that he's made
real in this most recent design.

I have it set, right now and it is
just killer. I love it. I am using
the Trick Detonator Beater, how-
ever, which is still the best on the
market, in my opinion.

I will review it extensively in the
future, with pictures etc.

That is the short of it. Hope it
gives you an idea.

One more thing - I love Mike.

Regards,

Thanks, Pete,

And I don't want to ask you too many questions
about this unit since you will be doing a more
indepth review.... But My main question is out-
side of all the adjustment comparisons between
the different pedals that's out there, how would
you rate it's playability in comparison to say, the
Trick pedal?

When you say that the Trick is still the "hot rod"
do you mean that after all is said and done, after
all the adjustments are made between the two,
that the Trick is still the king of the hill for you?

I ask this because my needs are as I see it much
simpler than yours as I've never had a problem
with the way any pedal I have liked sits on the
drum or it not having enough adjustment features
to meet my needs.

I'm much more concerned with what the pedal
does in actual use. According to Asaph, you can
basically line up everything else well behind the
Drumnetics...

In short, is this the best pedal you've ever
'PLAYED', Adjustments not withstanding?!

Remeber, I fought with you a little with your
high praise reviews on the Boa.... Until I
bought one. To date, it's the best pedal I've
ever used... So your opinion on this magnet
setup means a lot to me.

Speaking single pedal, only
(as there is no Drumnetics
Double Pedal, at this time:

I think the generation that I
have offers the best action
in the simplest design. It
is very much like the action
of the Trick but even more
consistent, as the magnetic
field is the "cushion of cush-
ions". My doubles, triples
and quads are effortless
but not a given. You still
have to know what you
are doing and that is a
good thing, of course.

The narrow footprint means
your hi-hat pedal can be
very, very close to it.

When I play it, I feel no need
to set up the doubles.

You won't lose your Allens
because they stick to the
magnets on the floor board.



If I were Yamaha, I would
get this guy on the phone
and keep him from talking
to anyone else.

Someone is going to get lucky.

Oh, I have to mention, again,
that I am using the Detonator
which telescopes in all directions.
I think that is something needed
with any pedal that does not
have a hoop-distancing feature.

Regards,

Thanks, P.

That's good enough for me.

I'm in the market for 2 singles for my double bass
setup. My plan is to snag a pair of these when I can.

Don,

You know what was amazing about
Mike was that he offered me a trial
for just the postage! Can you believe
that?! He WANTED me (drummers)
to experience it, with the faith that
they would love it.

He may do that, again, in the future
and that would make it all the easier
for you. I hope he does it, again.

Either way, I will let you know. I
want you to try it, too.

There are some great pedals, out
there. You know how I feel about
most of them. The Trick, The Demon-
Drive and the Boa... I love these
pedals. I still play some of them
and like you, I have a special thing
for the Boas despite the short
foot-board and other issues I have
talked about extensively. In fact, I
hoped that they would take some
of the suggestions I had to heart
in a re-vamp of it, correcting what
the market was pointing out. To
this day - I am still convinced that
it is the most universal cam-design
available. You can make it do just
about anything but I am crazy for
loving it: some people think.

Anyway, there is something very
cool about spring-less. I know you
will appreciate this.

We'll find a way for you.

Regards,

I believe you can forget Yamaha.

So be it.

Next?

Many pedals have gone through modifications over its lifetime. I found the Speed Cobra to be better than its older brothers which I owned.

In the case of Drumnetics, owning the 12th pedal Mike made (which I got off ebay), and having the Nucleus, now the modified Nucleus, and playing the new 3XF I can say Mike does, indeed, listen to players and consumers. Very admirable. But he still has an uncanny ability to take what people suggest and apply his own spin to it.

In Michael Gerber's book, The E Myth, he writes about business and the need for small owners to wear three hats - the Technician, the Manager, and the Entrepreneur. Mike wears the Technician hat very well. The other two have been difficult for him, but circumstances are placing people in his orbit to address that and I believe the time has come for Mike to be able to take all this to the next level.

When you think about taking just an idea and turning it into an actual device, with patents, and carting up your life and investing in this as Mike has ... it is not easy by any stretch. Mike has hung in there when other people would have thrown up their hands and said forget it by now.

His ship will come in. Just a matter of time.

You're right, Asaph.

The economy, in addition, has animated
the situation but that is reality.

Yes. His ship will come in; I believe.

The product is just too good.

Regards,

In Michael Gerber's book, The E Myth, he writes about business and the need for small owners to wear three hats - the Technician, the Manager, and the Entrepreneur. Mike wears the Technician hat very well. The other two have been difficult for him,

That's because he has total control ove the technical aspect
of his product. The other two "hats" requires one to address
and deal with others wearing hats of their own.

This is why it's so difficult to hold a band together. It takes a
village and the villagers don't all agree.

For the most part Mike just isn't "wired" to wear the business hats. I and others have made suggestions for various aspects of business and marketing, etc., and he says, "Why didn't I think of that?" Simply because the manager's hat and entrepreneur's hat aren't his thing.

But, yes, when you have to take ideas and make them work you have to address other people in the process. Making a pedal is just you and the materials. Of course, on the other hand getting the materials is part of that process and that has involved some "interesting" people for Mike in the last six years. It's especially painful when parts aren't manufactured correctly. Puts a sour taste in the mouth for everything, and the manager's and entrepreneur's hats become even more unwelcome.

Mike may be the only drum hardware business out there that offered a trial period for the nominal fee included in the full price if you buy the pedal. But, amazingly, astoundingly enough, Mike tells me Pete and I are the only ones to take him up on that offer. I find that so hard to believe. Just shows how tough it is to be a new player in the neighborhood. He has certainly bent over backwards to get this device before the people.

Well, the manager's and entrepreneur's hats are
necessary if he wants to get his product on the market.
Or maybe he can hire someone to cover those ends.

As to the trial offer, this is the first I've heard about it.
All the more reason to get those other hats on straight
I guess.

Basically, you are talking
about only three variables:

1. The Shifting.
2. The magnets [upper (set) and lower (adjustable)].
3. Beater Arc.

There is nothing else to worry about. In this
regard, it is clearly the simplest alternative.

Regards,

Pete, I'm not certain how your post fits into the flow of the discussion. I feel like I missed a page somewhere but, to clarify, the axle magnets are adjustable, too.

What do you refer to when you state "shifting?"

Asaph,

Not sure how to take your meaning.

Don appreciates the K.I.S.S. approach
to pedals. I was just noting that for
him. I think he got or will get what I
said and how it applies to him. Of
course, it is about Mike's pedal that
I am speaking and this is the thread
on it, so here it is.

Don, over the last 10 years or so,
has made it quite clear to me that he
understands or does not understand
why I write or say what I do. We
have gotten to know each other.
He is not bashful. hehe

My axle magnets are not adjustable.
Tell me about how your axle magnets
are adjustable. I think that would be
a great thing. I got one of the early
jobs from Mike.

That is very cool about yours. You
are lucky. Someday, we'll have the
complete pedal; I am sure.

"Shifting" refers to floorboard being
able to be shifted forward or back-
wards creating that different pull
or snap back of the beater and
off head or pad. It is because of
of the angle at which the link is
pulled down that creates the
effect. The Pearl Power Shifter
pedals did this a certain way. It
is very effective. We had to get
the same effect a different way.
That's all it is.

Yes, we are very fortunate to have
these pedals from Mike that we do.
You, perhaps, more than I. That
is still very cool.

Take care.

Regards,

P.,

I fully understand why you write what you write,
as you are cataloging how these pedals pertain to
you and your needs.... Totally understandable.

The thing that I must be careful of in reading your
reviews is I have to keep in mind that you play on
a surface that's far different than what I or Asaph
play on.

So in the area of say, response of a pedal off the
surface, I must then take into consideration the
different surfaces that's being used between us.

Pete,

The thread kind of morphed into some discussion about business and all, and when I read your post of the 3 elements I couldn't link it to anything addressed or asked on page 8. So, I felt like I had to have missed some posts somewhere.

Funny how on the Speed Cobra even though a chain has no real snap back, the severe angle of the chain, in relation to cam and posts, creates a nice feel. But having the link on the Drumnetics at that severe an angle, by placing the posts further back was something I couldn't get used to. I like the posts forward, which straightens out the link more. The 3XF takes an in between position. Feels great, too.

Mike came here and showed me what to do to modify my Nucleus pedals. He just let me do it all in my shop. The top magnet cartridge is fixed to the cam, but the bottom cartridge is loose on the axle and has three holes in it. A small hole is drilled and tapped in the posts. A small hex screw can be placed into the cartridge holes for placement of that magnet - closer to, or farther from the fixed magnet.

In my case the best feel for me was to accentuate the forward motion as much as possible, and go beyond the third hole and the cartridge ends up having the screw protrude behind it so it can be rotated even closer to the fixed magnet. Unorthodox, but it works.

So, are your bottom cartridges fixed to the posts? Hm. You might want to back those screws out and see if you have placement holes in the cartridges you are not aware of. Once the cartridge is loose you can just turn it forward enough to see the face of it. You'll see the holes if they are there.

The 3XF has that adjustment feature on the bottom axle cartridge. Simple, but quite effective.

Have you gone to Mike's facebook page to see the new pedal? He was having pictures taken of the new pedal last I spoke to him, and the web site is under construction, but the actual CAD drawings are on the FB page. The thing just looks so cool. Because every part of the pedal was made in one shop this time it has a more uniform look to the aluminum. The design on the footboard is really good - the whole magnet theme. And the cam system is beefier.

Don, seeing i have both adrums and edrums, and use the Nucleus 3 double pedal on my edrums, I can say the feel, for me, is even faster off my two kick pads. The tighter surface just allows the pedal to respond that much faster. It really does what your foot does.

I have an older DrumTech kick pad, which I modified by gluing four mouse pads together on the aluminum plate. The other is a Hart kick drum, basically a 3x13 snare drum with spurs and their guts in it. Mesh head, with a foam block behind it which cushions the trigger.

The feel between a flexing bass drum head (22" and 24" for me) and the edrum pads is different, but I find no negative effects as far as the pedal is concerned. Just a matter of muscle memory when jumping between kits.

Looks like Mike has added a few pics of the new design on his FB page:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152019135145181.900579.369896140180&type=3

Don,

I understand. When you
play them, you will be able
to decide. I think you will
like what you experience.

I am going to have a look at
the pedal, Asaph. Thanks.

Great pics! I like the look!

Regards,

I've been playing my Drumnetics pedals since 2007 and am very happy with them. I've had ZERO problems with them and they've held up to my playing (I'm a heavy hitter with a lot of double bass).

Before I switched to Drumnetics I played DW9000s.

timekeep69, having one of the pedals from that time period (0012), which is really great, I hope you get a chance to feel the new model. Trust me. You would be ecstatic how the upper magnets enable speed and control. I keep saying velvet rocket to Mars, and that's exactly what it is.

Look what I just got in the mail:



I have been inundated and so
busy but plan on a lowdown
for everyone. It sure is pretty.

Consider it a coming attraction.



Regards,