Tommy,

I just installed the spacers.

YOU HAVE TO GET THEM! Put
three of them on (the max) and
it's just a world of a difference!

P,
Excellent. Are the doubles easier to do? How does it compare with the Pearl pedal now? You had asked me before why I would even consider another pedal. Well - the truth is anything that will make my doubles easier and faster to do I will buy it! The problem for me is that the likes of Sam Ash and Guitar Center and all the other so-called rumshops in the area don't carry the full line of Axis equipment. I suppose I'll have to order it (hopefully from Guitar Center - they had the X's before - the ONLY pair in the whole friggin' store! I need that 30 day trial with a money back guarantee feature. What would you estimate the angle of the footboard to be with the spacers on?
I tried a new combo on the Pearl today with the red cam, my usual spring tension (slightly more than medium) and moving the beater height up (leave about an 8th of an inch of beater shaft showing out of the bottom of the shaft hole. It was cranking! Rolling at 220 bpm no problem. Fairly powerful strokes, too.
Are you also using the Axis driveshaft? I hope so because there is zero "play" in it - which is what you need in a double pedal for precision. Looking forward to your reply.

Tom

Rumshops? Sure! let's try Drumshops! :)

Tommy,

I have one Axis-A Longboard and now,
one Pearl Eliminator. I have to hold onto
one and sell the other.

After trying the spacers, I'm in REAL trouble
now (much harder for me to decide).

The doubles ARE easier, Tom.

A higher footboard makes it the superior
pedal, with the better action. It's so easy,
at the higher angle, to find that sweet spot.
That's the Longboard design for you. It's
a great approach to kicking.

By the way, the spacers lifted the footboard
by 3/4 inch. It doesn't seem like much but it
sure feels like it!

At higher speeds, you have to make sure you
are in the perfect spot on the Eliminator.
You can find it but it's just not as easy
as with the Axis-A Longboard.

Since the Longboards are so expensive, it
makes it a hard choice but if you're playing
single-kick, I think you just have to have
them. It's just that good - that smooth.

Remember that the Axis-A Longboards have
the VDL, which allows you to come back
below a 90-degree pulldown of the beater
lever and this is a totally different
feel here. Doubles are ultimate, here.

I did adjust the Eliminator's Power Shifter
to the A position, which I like, Tom.

Boy, oh boy...

P,
Would you say your Axis board angles is around 45 degrees?
My Powershifter position in this last setup is in the middle - usually I have it all the way back. You can get a better rebound if you tune up the head slightly. Looks like I'll probably try some Longboards within the next few weeks. I have to know!!! Sometimes I can be such an equipment geek. :)

T.

They are a different animal, Tom.

I spent 40 minutes on the phone
with Axis design yesterday! What
a nice guy! Try talking to someone
from Pearl or Yamaha!

We talked about the VDL, the long-
board etc. I asked him to consider
making the longboard longer. He
said that I was not the first to ask
for it. He is actually considering it
and when it happens, I'll be one
of the first to know.

He encouraged me to reset the
beater distance back, using the
Allen wrench and also said that
if I had X's, to reset the base
plate forward to see what that
would do.

He went on to mention that he
was aware of how "some" of
the major drum companies are
trying to get around his patent
with all of these different ideas
but that they have not gotten
there yet. ;)

He mentioned that drummers
have not gone for the VRUK idea,
the triggering of the stroke, via
the heel-mechanism apparently
too much of an adjustment for
them, though he acknowledges
Tim Waterson's use of it.

When you try them, make sure
you are working on the Axis-A
Longboard, WITH the VDL. You
have try all the options on it,
especially the setting closest
towards you.

The Power-Shifter setting was
another idea that originally
came from Axis and when set
furthest away, or towards the
head, your maximum rebound
should be gotten.

I can be a geek about things
but mostly pedals and hardware.
When it comes to drums I'm al-
most generic, choosing durable
composites that aren't weather
sensitive. Heads matter more.

Let me know how your experience
goes and don't buy anything until
you check with me on your prices.

P,
Great info! I will let you know.

T.

Tom,

Do me a favor and check into the
DW9000 pedals and give me your
review of them. When I play it, I
will do the same but I have a recom-
mendation on it and I want to check
it out thoroughly.

Peter,
I can tell you already that the footboard is way too short on 9000. Doubles and DW pedals don't go together.
The best price I can get on the longboards is 200 a piece. How much was your spacer kit and is it possible to raise your footboard higher with more spacers or was 3 the absolute maximum limit?

Tom

Tom,

Thanks for the note on the DW9K.

To raise the footboard on the Longboard,
you can pull back the beater by undoing
the Allen screw, over the spring assembly.
Just pull it back to 30-35-degrees. You
will get a lot more whip from it. Now, you
may have to loosen the tension a tad. Try
and feel what's right for you. This is a start.

Now, adding the spacers is easy. Undo the
Allens at the top of the footboard and in-
sert the spacers. It'll cost $11, with shipping
and handling. Nothing. It works. I asked for
shorter screws, though. They protrude just
a little. Really, you can use any washers
down there but their spacers are made for
the job. I'll let you know if they replace them.

It feels a LOT better with them.

I think that 5 is the max, 4 being realistic.

3 seems like enough.

That thing is a work of art.

On the Eliminators, I find that the best
setting for the Power Shifter is all the
way in, for the best doubles.

What do you guys think?

how is it best peter?

Well, I think you should try them all
but what I have found is that the
best action (rebound) for doubles,
is with it all the way in, towards the
kick but at the sacrifice of power,
which is best gotten all the way
out or away from the kick. I can
get the action anywhere. It just is
easiest, all the way in.

Check it out. :)

Jeez, i'd say apply for a job at Axis! the amount of research you do about the physics of the pedal is phenominal!:) good stuff peter, and thanks for the (even more) advice:D

Hi Guys!
I just ordered 2 Axis A Longboards yesterday plus the spacer kits. I'll let you know in about 3 to 4 weeks. Guitar Center had a good price - $185 each.

Tom G.