The Tech Question of the Month #4 Double Pedal

[roddswett]

June's edition is.. double pedal!

One of the few new gadgets that SC introduced recently is a bass double pedal, which actually is going back to his early double bass work in Curved Air (that never worked for him anyway).
However, the question is about positioning. 99, 99% of drummers locate their second bass pedal closer to the main bass pedal or the right of the hi hat pedal. SC locates his to the left (from the drummer’s point of view) of the HH pedal.
So Jeff: How can this be accomplished since no double pedal rod is that long that it can actually reach beyond the HH pedal? What was your solution?
Thanks.

[Tamadude]

I found even with the rod fully extended it was still not wide enough, so I just took a beater off and use it as a single. I don't really care for double pedals anyways. I would much rather have the speed cobra single pedal. That said, I'm looking forward to hearing how Jeff got that pedal over so far to the left. Great question, Rod.

[jeffseitz]

[quote="Tamadude"]I found even with the rod fully extended it was still not wide enough, so I just took a beater off and use it as a single. I don't really care for double pedals anyways. I would much rather have the speed cobra single pedal. That said, I'm looking forward to hearing how Jeff got that pedal over so far to the left. Great question, Rod.[/quote]

It is a standard TAMA Iron Cobra Double Pedal link, extended to it's limit. It passes over the toe of the HH pedal. Both HH and Bass pedal heels are almost touching. The positioning enables SC to control the opening and closing of the HH while performing short double or flam strokes, using his heel, on the second BD pedal. For long repeated patterns both feet are engaged in the traditional manner.

[roddswett]

Thanks.
I have just found the proof from recent gigs in Italy:

stewartcopeland_lr_203_com.jpg (111.63 KiB) Viewed 4080 times

[Chatchka]

If I'm reading that right, Jeff, he is playing HH and Bass (sometimes) with the same foot?! That is just more than amazingly cool. (And, there is a joke in there somewhere about two left feet.)

If you are comfortable sharing this, I'm curious about how that collaboration comes about with you two? Does he say, hey I want to play both with one foot, make it work...Do you make suggestions to him...or are these gear arrangements more collaboratively sorted out through real-time experimentation?

Cheers!

[TheEqualizer]

[quote="Chatchka" That is just more than amazingly cool.[/quote]

Word.

[jeffseitz]

[quote="Chatchka"]If I'm reading that right, Jeff, he is playing HH and Bass (sometimes) with the same foot?! That is just more than amazingly cool. (And, there is a joke in there somewhere about two left feet.)

If you are comfortable sharing this, I'm curious about how that collaboration comes about with you two? Does he say, hey I want to play both with one foot, make it work...Do you make suggestions to him...or are these gear arrangements more collaboratively sorted out through real-time experimentation?

Cheers! [/quote]

Yes that is correct Catchka. It is an SC original and he came up with it on his own at The Sacred Grove or the previous Worried Rabbit studio. I believe before Oysterhead. He was inspired after seeing Joey Jordison!

[drummike]

Jeff, thinking about Stewart's current setup makes me wonder about his old drums. Whatever became of his old Imperialstars, Superstars, 2002s, 602s, and Rudes? Did they wind up in storage, sold, given away, or other? I know they all took a pounding over the many tours and recordings, being set up, played hard, sweated on, torn down, crated, shipped, and having at least one whiskey bottle smashed against them, but all those instruments are like holy relics around us Nutters. Also, the reunion kit did not include any temple blocks, cowbell, or electronic drums. I guess those have been stored away as well. I'm amazed that you could tear down SC's Chariot one night and set it up exactly the same way the next night, time after time.