Drumnetics Magnetic Pedal

Mike and I were talking yesterday. He has some ideas which will broaden things and hopefully bring in some funding for the next run.

It's a good idea which just about everybody can benefit from.

Pete, have fun, there, Buddy. Every day I sit at the kit I marvel at being able to play quads and quints without even being warmed up. The device just works so naturally with muscles and joints. You think, you play. It cannot play for you, of course, but it certainly presents a link between mind and body I have never experienced with spring-based devices.

And yeah, it is a really attractive design, too.

Looking forward to your review.

I am sorry to keep teasing you. Work
has been out of control and among
other things. I want to be really fair
in this look at Mike's creation.

Here's a little something else:



This is a new addition to the pedal
design that I do not have on mine. It
not only adjusts the beater angle but
also changes the angle at which the
link (lengthened) pulls down and
creating a greater response (pullback)
after beater impact. I really like it.
It reminds me of the VDL in what it
creates for the Axis-A, though is not
quickly altered as an Allen fixes the
angle with a bolt through.

There is a new beater, too, which is
very cool (comfy felt).

I will have more to say about this
incredible pedal, soon.

And I am going to get these pics a
bunch smaller so the thread is
more manageable.

Regards,

OK. I have been so busy, with
work and all the related develop-
ments and then there is life etc.



I have just taken all the pictures
of the pedal and I am going to
re-scale them from that elephant
size to something more manageable
and this week, I will have the review
of this pedal on this board.

Regards,

PS: Gone faster than I thought.
I should have the review out in
the next day or two. I have a lot
to say about this baby.

I should start by saying a couple of
general things about the pedal. This
is a KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) design.
There is not that much to it and that
is because a lot of thought and testing
went into it. You have a pedal consisting
of a base, footboard, uprights, cam,
beater, just like any other pedal but
that is on the surface. Magnetism
drives this pedal and where it does,
is signature and key.



Let's have a look at that beautiful and
now, 3-way adjustable cam. Remember
that the older designs were not anything
like this. The link was short the cam was
fixed creating a very tight action, which
was not bad but not versatile. Now, it
is totally different.



This length is perfect and when the
pedal is depressed, it brings the cam
down and right to the point, where
you get that snap back that you have
heard me mention.



It's that slight "backwarding" that
you get with the premium pedals and
that I ALWAYS look for in a design.



Each position allows for a different
angle of that link, upon impact. One
will be more impacting and less snap.
One will be in the middle and the
other will be lighter but with
maximum snap.



Now, this thing is is about spring-less
and magnetism. The magnets are
placed underneath the footboard
and opposite the floor-board and
at a precise angle. Using an Allen,
you can slide the magnet on the
footboard to counter the floor and
change the resistance.



It's really wild. You are on one of
nature's cushions and like nature:
it always springs back at you.



It is like a pillow. Every time, it
brakes you and picks you up and
readies you for that next stroke
and it does this through the inter-
action of these magnets: First,
the ones opposing each other
on the board and base.



These magnets are really exerting.
They push back and repel and in
that action, they cushion.



You are in control. By sliding the
magnet up top, forward and back,
you create the different resistance.
and remember that you can set the
cam for that subtle change that
for me makes the entire difference.



There is another adjustment that
can be made on the magnets and
this having to do with the ones on
the upright. This allows you to
choose how much of a repulsion
there is at that location. The
changes are subtle but no less
significant. I can't say it is easy
making these Allen changes but
once you find your spot, you are
likely good to go.



So, you get a different position for
these upright magnets. See if you
feel the need to play with these.



This felt beater took me by
surprise, I must admit. It is
very light and responsive, tele-
scoping vertically, which, I think,
is essential, as the shaft cannot
go all the way through.



That plastic is just tape to protect
it from going black from the pad.



The hoop-clamp was improved
upon. Though one-positioned,
it clamps down and releases
well. It does, however, move
a little more gradually than I
would prefer but that is minor.



You can see where your Allens
are kept, there. ^



My overall impression is that the
pedal is set to perform.

1. The materials used are sturdy.

2. The board is long enough.

3. The uprights are back enough
on the base to give that "extra"
action off impact.

4. The new cam adds to that, with
the added adjust-ability.

5. The link is long enough to add
to that "extra" action off impact.

6. The clamp has been modified
as well, now very easy to use.

7. The "tension" is easily adjusted
with the use of Allens, which are
easy to keep track of since the
magnets hold them close by but
what is more important is that you
have two magnetic systems at
work. The first system is on the
base and against the footboard.
The second is up on the uprights
and that helps get the beater
back into position (just super)
and on top of it - these are also
adjustable and I am still exploring
that and hope to write on it.

8. The footprint is nice and narrow
and allows for better setup options.

9. The new beater telescopes
vertically and you know how I
important I feel that is, with the
variable hoop-sizes, these days.


What I do not like:

1. I have always hated Allens. I
lose them all the time but there,
I will forgive Mike because he has
placed the two holes in the base
which houses the lower magnet
and here: the Allens are replaced
and always being "held onto" by
the magnetism.

2. Changing the upright magnet
alignments are not easy. I have
to be careful to align the screw
perfectly, so as not to scratch the
block. You have to be careful.

3. I like a hoop-clamp that can
change position. This does not.

4. While I can set this up pretty
quick, I can set the Trick up faster.
Though, once it is set up, it is
sure quick enough.

So, there it is. I will amend it, as
it needs and will be happy to
answer questions about it. I
will try and get to it as I can,
as my workload has quadrupled.

Regards,

I continue to be amazed by the pedal. Recently, because we are moving 1100 miles away, I was in another state for over a month. No drums. Just a pair of sticks to fool around with. When I got home I couldn't wait to play, and was just blow away by how I sat down at the kit and just played quads, quints, whatever as though no time elapsed. The pedal is a phenomenon, as far as I am concerned. I have never had such an experience after being away from the set for any length of time.

Mike has been working on some things and on his last visit he brought up a DW 9000 and some other pedals not involved in my testing. I was surprised at the feel of the 9000. It is very nice and responsive. Next to the Drumnetics, the best pedal I have tried. But for me nothing can replace the centered, organic feel of the Drumnetics and the magnetic action. I have not felt anything so natural to use. It really does marry to your foot. And being away for a month and just playing as though a day had passed gave me the feeling the pedal not only responds to me, but actually helps me play better.

Mike! Hang in there, Buddy. The ship is coming in.

Pete, have you shared anything about the Drumnetics with Billy? I wonder what he'd think of them?

Nothing on that, Asaph.

I will be experiencing something
entirely new, related, though.

I will be playing an Axis-X series
pedal, WITH a Drumnetics modific-
ation! I am very excited about
this and am thinking of having
my A's modified.

Regards,

Okay, so how well do they work?

That is a preview. He just completed
them and shipped today.

I will let you know as soon as I get them.

Regards,

Oh, man!! I love, love it!!

I am getting ready another pedal for him to modify!!

That added cushion allows for us to go looser on the
springs and the control and feel are improved!

I am having fun with this!!

Regards,

The twin action on the slave
is especially improved. I really
like it. I can see changing the
springs to a lower tension set
and seeing the magnets playing
even more of a role.

They're exactly like the picture
suggests. They feel great.

Any pedal with a flat uncrowded
baseboard is a candidate.

Regards,

Mike's been getting positive results and comments on his pedal conversions. He's got some of mine to change over - Pearl DD, Speed Cobra, Speed King, and the Trick. Will be interesting to see and feel the results.

He's found that using lighter springs makes a dramatic difference in overall feel. Thus far I only felt the difference in a DW 4 and 5000 and an Axis. It's a real improvement. Your foot just seems to marry to any pedals' action very quickly with the magnets pushing back under the foot board. It is just not the same thing as a spring pulling your beater back into place. But you have both that light force, and the force of the magnets pushing up. It is truly marvelous. I still like the Drumnetics with upper and lower magnets better, but the conversions get really close to that feel. 

It's that cushion both I and Pete have mentioned. The pedal seems to float underneath you. Especially playing quicker patterns. You really have to feel it to see how incredible it is.

If you are interested in a conversion send him a note. mike@drumnetics.com
http://drumnetics.com/page13/index.html

Pete, just wondering if you might have brought your Drumnetics for Billy to check out when you saw him.

I wrote to Yamaha a long time ago. They had someone contact me, as company protocol. I had them contact Mike. Nothing came of it.

If Yamaha is retooling everything it would be pretty cool if they outfitted their drums with Mike's pedal. I believe Billy would love a Drumnetics.

The short of it, Asaph, is no.

Extenuating circumstances and
on both our parts prevented us
from meeting during the day.  It's
a long story, which I will tell another
time but there still is a chance I can
show him Mike's pedal and in the
nearer future, which was always an
intention of mine and I agree with
you, that he would likely enjoy it
very much.

It was a great night.  I could only
stay for the first set due to a limit-
ation beyond my ability to control,
at this time.

So much has happened, here and I
am very distracted and under duress
but, as I wrote Mike:

Billy and the band really packed them
in, last night and I am sure that he
can get another couple of nights,
at the club, on his return east and I
think I am going to talk to management
about just that. There is so much
catch-up to do for all of us.

Now, I just have to get through some-
thing to get from here to there.

Incidentally, I am sorry I have been so
scarce. Like I said: lots going on.

Regards,

For anyone interested, after many hours of discussion and research and a mountain of considerations, Mike has decided to manufacture the pedal himself. CNC machine is now being worked with for prototype parts, etc. He's progressing nicely.

This gives Mike total quality control and ability to make pedals as needed. No expensive batches from other shops or businesses.

Having his own set-up he'll be able to experiment with things like longboards, and new designs for double pedals and all. He's excited.

So, hopefully new 3XFs will be ready to go soon. He's already got lots of people inquiring and lining up to get them. I wish him well.

The new site is up and running-

Drumnetics

Mike is making pedals! Last I spoke to him he had people ordering before he went live, so things have placed orders at 3-4 weeks out.

$329 + $20 shp.

Man, I wish him well.