Hello, I just bought a drum kit so I am not really finalizing a decision now, just wondering what the difference is. I would eventually like to upgrade to a double bass setup, but I am not sure whether 2 bass drums or a double bass pedal is right for me. The local music shops don't carry many drum supplies and I haven't been able to try 2 bass drums at once yet, so I was wondering if anyone here can share their opinions on them. Cost is not really an issue, since I am not purchasing right away. Any input would be great, thanks a lot! - Adam

Thats one of the pros for a pedal. I was also wondering about the ease of playing, the difficulty of matching their sounds, and I also heard that with a pedal the second beater is usually weaker. I realize most of these questions are obvious to most and redundant to veterans, but I would like to gain a good knowledge base before going out to start looking. Appreciate any input, thanks a lot! -Adam

Some of us have a very extensive playing repetoire', and some of us even have a college education.

As far as this thread's situation goes, aside from the sound, what really wins it over for me with two bass drums is flexability. With a double pedal, I always feel constricted. Those two pedals just stay in the same place. With two bass drums, I can set up my spacing a lot more comfortably. If you do a lot of double bass playing, I'd highly recommend two bass drums for this reason -alone-.  If you don't do that much double bass playing, or you feel that two bass drums aren't as practical for you in your gigging/travel situation, get the single pedal. Of course, if at all possible, try 'em both.

I played a double bass set for 25 years before switching to a double pedal, and haven't regretted the change for a minute.

Obviously, a pedal is lots easier to haul than another drum.  Another factor is stage space.  The pedal allows me to get the double bass effect in any situation, a definite plus.  Some of the places I play there's simply not room for two bass durms.

I never had a great deal of trouble tuning two bass drums to the same pitch, but it can be a problem.

Two bass drums may cause problems positioning the other parts of your kit, especially if you're using large drums (mine were both 24").  Using a rack can alleviate this somewhat, but it can be a problem getting your hihat in close if that's what you like.

I haven't noticed any difference in power between the left and right beaters on my double pedal.  Power here is a matter of speed and mass of the beater.  Any high end double pedal will perform well in this regard.  Listen to Dennis Chambers or Rodney Holmes and try to figure out which beat came from which pedal.

Finally, I have almost always bought used drums.  For me it means getting better drums for less money, but may limit your options sometimes.  It's lots easier to find single bass sets.

The pedal option gives me convenience, flexibility and quality sound for less money.

i totally agree felix.

I'm sorry but I just have to say. I haven't never heard so stupid or childish comment as that ^^. Who said heavy-metal drummers haven't ability to do anything else. If there is someone who have thought's like that I can say you this: Download next songs from internet or find them from somewhere, and you can hear great drummer's and they are playing heavy metal in some gategory: withering surface - joyless journey, withering surface - walking on the phantom ice, withering surface - dancing with fairies, helloween - revelation, helloween - where the rain grows, helloween - sole survivor, labyrinth - chapter 1, labyrinth - behind the mask,  arch enemy - enemy within,  (i recommend arch enemy for you who like female vocalist's   ), masterplan - enlighten me, masterplan - through thick and thin. And of course one drum track from our forthcoming self financed album.... my own drum playing.. there's one demo quitar track and drums only.. you can criticize it if you want.. x) you can download it from here:
 http://www.kotinet.com/riihijo/HeraldsOfNightjotaiMIXDOWN.mp3

         I think there is so many songs that you can find at least one of them from somewhere, and and if you don't have this childish opinion from heavy drummers you can still try to find some of those songs 'cause they include so @$%# good drumming.  And sorry if I misunderstand something... It's wouldn't be new for me.. x). but that was nice to search those songs for all you who like good drumming.. and sorry bad english... x)

I think you misunderstood me. I'm NOT anti-double bass and have had a lot of experience playing metal, AND playing a wide variety of styles. I do NOT have a childish opinion of metal drummers. Next time you attack somebody's post, please read it more carefully.

I'm telling you about prejudices that *I* have personally encountered. If your experience has been different, good for you.

But I have REPEATEDLY encountered people who make snap judgments about what I'm capable of, based on surface things like the size of my drumkit, the length of my hair, the band they were seeing me play with, etc.

Hell, I'm just NOW starting to be taken seriously as a jazz drummer in my current home (South Florida), because I made somewhat of a name in this area years ago playing metal. And yet my jazz background is more extensive than my metal background.

But apparently people here remember me behind a huge kit, with hair down to my waist, pouring a beer over my head while I play a drum solo. For some reason, that makes them assume I don't know how to play Stella By Starlight on a bebop kit with brushes. But I can.

BUT - that last sentence points something out. If I get hired for a jazz gig, people will NOT expect me to show up with a huge double-bass kit. And if I do, it will turn them off - guaranteed. Has your experience really been so different?

There are some terrific metal drummers out there, who may be capable of amazing versatility. But I only know TWO drummers who can get away with bringing a giant kit to a jazz gig: Simon Phillips and Dave Weckl (whose kit has recently grown quite a bit). Other than that, there ARE expectations of what is the appropriate drumkit for a specific style of music. If you're not encountering that where you live, good for you!

Prejudice is out there - I'm just warning people about it, NOT supporting it.

That's part of why I do NOT want to be known as a "metal" drummer. Or a "jazz" drummer, or a "rock" drummer, etc.   I'm just a drummer, period.

I can play all of those styles and more, and so can a lot of us. But now and then it takes some salesmanship to get other people to believe that. And it's important to do so, because chances are they are the ones hiring you, not vice versa.

So that one aspect of my post that you chose to attack was simply geared at alerting drummers to the prejudice out there, and to offer them a way around it. I was just trying to offer some practical advice, based on the realities of the music business as I've experienced them. Your mileage may vary.

The only thing I'd like to add that no one has seemed to address about the slave pedal (the 2nd pedal or left in most cases)  being "weaker" that the right... There are universal joints that connect the 2nd beater with a shaft.  Sometimes the u-joints have some slop in them (like comparing rack & pinion to power steering) making your left foot work harder.  Myself, it doesn't bother me & I feel like my left foot is actually better than my right, but an expensive solution is to look at Axis pedals or at least their drive shaft.  It uses ball bearing connections as opposed to a crappy little pin.  I've beat the snot out of my DW 7000 double pedal and it still feels like new.
Food for thought...

I'd rather play on two bass drums, but i'd rather lug around a double bass petal.  Another bass drum is a lot better than a slave petal, there's a lot of pros and cons, but myself i use a double petal