All his equipment reviews are just another way of saying it doesn't matter what kind of equipment you use. Good ears, good tuning, musical and tasteful playing. He could make anything sound great. But I'm buying that Speed Flyer so I can play better.
I have a bad right ankle due to an Achilles tendon detachment sometime ago and I've been using the predecessor to the Speed Flyer (the Atlas Pro pedal) for about two years. I tried the DW 9000 and while it's a very smooth and fast pedal, it's so smooth that I have no "feel" with it and I was, consequently, using a DW 5000 Delta 3 Accelerator. The Atlas Pro pedal has enabled me to play better with less effort than the 5000, but still be able to "feel" the action of the pedal, so the DW has been retired to "back-up" status. I need to try this upgraded Speed Flyer!
You don’t have a great foot?? Ha!!! You’re foot and you’re playing is stellar! I don’t enjoy listening to drums by themselves. That being said, I can listen to you for hours. One of my favorites.
Totally agree about the 9000 being over engineered, I used a double of it for years and it drove me crazy trying to get it to feel a certain way. So many freakin adjustments on the 9000 that will make you lose your mind getting it to feel right. I don’t want to learn a certain technique to use a pedal, I just want it to do what my foot does.
Agree 100%, I picked up a 9000 10 yrs. ago, worked with it for a day and took it back. Too many adjustments, now using a 3000 with a 5000 for a back up. Will definitely look into the Speed King, my pedal of choice back in the 80's.
I have an original Speed King and it’s fabulous! Breaks down flat for easy transport and can take any beater I give it. The direct drive nature of it takes a bit getting used to, but it’s really great all around. Doesn’t squeak yet, but give it time.😂😂
I bought a speed flyer earlier this week and it's great. I love it. It feels super natural and light, like there's nothing under your foot. And yet if you lay into it, it smacks the drum with a wallop!
Rafael Estrada Cool. I’m a fan of light pedals (and straps). Some of the top of the line pedals feel a bit too heavy for me & I’ve never been a big fan of chain drives. They feel too...‘mechanical,’ I guess?
I’m so used to my DW 5000 but now I feel like I need to have a SF. Was thinking about about a Pearl Demon Drive but I love the simplicity and functionality of this SF. Thanks for the demo.
Great review and commentary! I like how you showed the pedal's spring response by touch and go, as well as lengthy samples of each pedal and beater. Thanks for posting
Great video and I have my eye on these pedals since their announcement at NAMM. Also, thanks for playing first then chatting last in the video. All too often videos have someone rambling on in a self-promotional way for the first 5 minutes before getting to the meat.
Interesting... On my Speed Flyer, i have the CAM almost at the other end of the setting.... I must try this ONE. But let me tell you, this is a WINNER on All aspects WOW! You will love it. Jp.
i use a speed king that's probably from the 70's (I got it c. 1987)... super fast. the best pedal i've ever used. I always liked to joke that there's only two people who use the speed king- me and john bonham.
Great review Carter! I am looking to upgrade my pedal and you just solidified me getting the Speed Flyer. Looking forward to taking another lesson with you soon. Take care, Corey
My first 2 pedals where Speed King. Back then they were notorious for being noisy, if fact on one of the Led Zepplin songs you can actually hear it squeak. When I bought them back then they were only $25, and a pair of drumsticks were $1.25
Damn you!!.....such clean articulation it hurts my feelings!!. Once again you make a strong case for Fiberskyns!. And I'll trust that Ludwig pedal does not suck ;:-) Interesting you mention the DW 9000. I once recorded a very serious local player. I had one on hand to use. His thoughts were that, it felt SO smooth and precise...like well oiled rifle bolt action, that it was almost too well engineered.. As a result, he couldn't get really comfortable with it, and ended up going with his old Tama Flexi Flyer ;:-)
DW pedals are weird feeling to me. It seems like they're too heavy. I love my Ludwig classic. The non-solid base helps with sideways motion which makes it feel more free. I like the old Asba Caroline pedal as well, someone needs to make that one again.
Agreed, got the rad hi hat stand too. Added Gibraltar Kevlar straps. This is the same pedal just doesn’t look as cool. I’m a Yamaha guy, went to get the latest, played it, felt like a toy. This was BEFORE the current amazing FP9. Anyway was real bummed and started playing all pedals without even going to buy one and was blown away by the quality, feel, details on the atlas. Bought the double right there, still love it. Tough af, no slop, COMFORTABLE (DW pedals have that silly tall heel plate and feel so sluggish). I was coming from a beautiful but awful feeling trick dominator with that hoop chip clip they use for some reason. Yeah going from straps to direct drive, terrible idea. Even a year later I still felt I needed to go back. Ludwig hardware was re designed a while back by a young engineer, and is all fantastic. Recommend it. I also use the low boy felt, INSANE thump first hit. You won’t need another beater ever
"What a dream job! I would love to drown in Carter's 'pool of percussion'.... Don't worry Carter, I'd have my next of kin sign a release not holding you liable....."🥁🥁🥁
Big fan of your drumming. Any videos/resources you would recommend to help become proficient at the slide technique? edit* Around 6:30 you say you don't have any specific technique, but the question still stands.
Thanks Carter. Will you you get your Lion King pit gig back when concerts and theater are safe to attend again? I must have heard you play, cause we went to NYC and saw it several years back..... I'm a pedal hoarder. New or used, I can't get enough. Constantly buying online. I've had my eye on this Speed Flyer and I'm about to pull the trigger. Most of my drummer friends all love the 9000.but I like the Mapex Falcon single much more. My latest discovery is the Drumnetics Magnetic pedal. It has a great feel and the repulsion is fully adjustable. Super quiet design.
Hi, Speed King guy for as many years. I'll give the new one a try. Question, I noticed the Atlas drum throne. How wide is the seat ? The pork pie is 15 inches wide. How does the Ludwig Atlas throne feel ? How does the padding compare to pork pie ? I'm 6 ft 298 pounds. Can Ludwig Atlas support that weight ? The speed flyer looks great !!
I love my speed king, looks like they made some changes. I got a new one about 10 years ago and it separated at the bearing. When I took it apart I noticed they changed the mechanism from the old ones and this change allowed the rocker to slip out of the bearing. I hope they fixed this in the newer one. Do the new ones still squeak?
Hello! Any thoughts on the DW 5000 series? Right now I'm trying to decide between: Ludwig Speed King 2020 (because of obvious Bonham reasons) DW 5000 (maybe the Turbo variant or a double chain one [Dave Grohl nirvana days]) Tama Irom Cobra (because of Stewart Copeland)
Very nice drumming. My question would be, can you set the angle of the pedal on the speed flyer? I have the speed king and it doesn't seem possible to set an angle so that the beater is square with the drum. To compensate I tilt the bass drum back toward the pedal, but I thought there might be some pedals that account for that.
Yes, you can. I just bought it last week, I could adjust up & down footboard to the way I like independently from beater angle. Is my answer to late? 😂😂 Do you still use this pedal?
@cartermac how would you compare the Speed Flyer to the previous Atlas pedal? They look about the same with the exception of cosmetics. Are they the same?
The executives in the Ludwig boardroom are not too bright. Discontinuing the Speed King. A pedal that is widely used by sooooo many drummers, still to this day. "Hey, you know that pedal that is used by some of the most famous drummers????.....We should discontinue it." Personally, I have played about 20 different pedals over my drumming life. I always seem to go straight back to the SpeedKing. The Speed Master is a sweet pedal too!!!!. They should bring it back. But keep the original look to it.
That's exactly what he's reviewing in this video, Ludwig reissued the Speed King for 2020 with only some very slight tweaks to the original design. It'll be out in stores sometime on the spring.
how fast does the speed flyer feel compared to the speed king reissue , with weight and speed on your foot? is their a big difference?.. i can't decide... thanks!
@@Fleetato Typically, for a "review", to be credible (like for cars, phones, TVs, etc.) the reviewer is either impartial or discloses any associates with the product's manufacturer. That's why, in my comment, I mentioned that it's a fine product demo - just not a review. I hardly doubt he would offer a critical opinion outside of Ludwig ears. This doesn't make this video less informative or entertaining, - just oddly/incorrectly titled.
Dan Barsi you are correct, when someone endorses a brand, it is NOT a review, but a commercial. And worse, McLean says he has given up using the DW 9000, because he prefers the new Ludwig - after using the DW for ten to fifteen years. Because the DW is overengineered! I agree, but in use for ten years, it cannot be a major problem. This is a commercial, a comercial with a fantastic drummer! Love and peace!