I've played DW5000's my whole life (Thank you, uncle!!). Last year I bit the bullet and upgraded to the 9000 double pedal. So glad I finally did. I've played other brands, but to me, nothing feels as good as the DW. But I do love this video and your perspective. I'd watch these videos all day, brother! LOVE IT!
Jim, I had a Yamaha 500 series bass drum pedal for years they worked great. I always found value in the Tama Camco pedal … but inflation is off the charts today. I have hard time paying $15 for a pair of sticks! That’s why I use generic 5As if I can’t get the name brand sticks cheap enough. I’ve been blessed there lately with a bunch of Awesome Promark 5As at endorser pricing. Inflation is ridiculous today!
Yes, the 500 series was a really nice feeling pedal as well. I am with you paying these kinds of high prices for stuff. I barely get enough of a discount working at a music store vs buying online,. That's how tight sales margins are these days because of inflation. I made a mistake! The 7210a is only $12.00 more than its 1984 cousin the 720 that was $68.00. My math brain was not on when I filmed. I said 22.00. Doh!
If you have a Music Go Round or Guitar Center around go look for their "house brand" sticks because they are way cheaper than $16 for one pair and they are either Vic Firth or Pro Mark just un marked. Music go round has the "house brand" for $6.99 and Guitar Center usually has a 4pk for $19 or a bag of 10 pair for $30
I went to Sam Ash to see if I could score a bass drum batter head on their going out of business sale, at 15% it didn't even make a dent on an almost $50 drum head 😕. Also I think our drummer at church plays this pedal and his foot work is excellent
Drums are not my primary instrument, but I'm interested enough that I would like to invest more into my hardware. In the video you mentioned that this current Yamaha pedal is fine quality. Other than design, how would you compare the quality of parts between this one and the one that you purchased in college? It is amazing that over the years the list price has only increased by about 15% given that ~40 years ago $68 was worth over $200 in current USD value. Could you see the current iteration of the pedal lasting as long as yours?
I would say that my pedal, made in Japan, has really great casting with tight looking grain structure. The new version showed here, is made in China. So they are cutting costs primarily on materials. I do like the cross bar below the beater shaft. My vertical posts started to shift inward from use that caused the shaft to have play left and right. I corrected that by heating the base and pulling those apart. It has stayed. Mine is a strap drive, not a chain, I like the quiet smoothness of the strap.
I've played the Iron. It's a great pedal. Probably more $, I honestly don't know. But for a basic, great action pedal with no bells and whistles, I'm impressed with the 7210. Still.
