Max height of bottom head with "typical" pedal set

[murph]

Greetings,

Long time lurker, first time posting.

I've searched the forum quite a bit, and still hoping to get some additional info.

My question is in regards to the typical maximum height that can be achieved for the bottom head (relative to the floor), using the more common Pulse, Ludwig, etc. reversed pedal setups.

I'm considering a 24" x 16" cocktail drum and would like the playing height of the top head to be ~34". With the 24" drum, that puts the bottom head ~10" from the floor. The few BD pedals I have laying around are ~8" tall (for the main assembly). I realize the beater length and actual "throw" of the beater can extend well above 8", but this also affects the angle of the beater when it strikes the head and amount of tension in the pedal towards the end of the stroke, etc.

There are many factors (and compromises) that go into a given cocktail kit setup, but I am curious what some typical bottom head heights are (in relation to the floor), and which pedals might work best to accommodate a relatively taller bottom head height. Thanks in advance for any insight you can share!

Best Regards,
-murph

[Uncle Jimmy]

I am a beginner on cocktail drums, however, I will share what I know. I recently purchased a Peace cocktail set which I actually set-up lower than what I believe is normal because I want to sit while playing. Even so, the pedal did not connect properly to the bottom skin so I used a large book (like a big college textbook) to set the pedal assembly on. The side attachments that connect to the legs will slide up or down before tightening and I had absolutely no problems.

[jmettam]

Hey Murph,

On my Slingerland drum (25x14) I have the bottom head aslo about 10" from the floor. The beater angle when touching the head is just slightly past parallel with the floor. You probably do not need much more than that or the pedal balance will feel a bit mushy.

I also checked my Pulse Pro pedal which is an easy cocktail conversion. It is right around 9 inches tall and this pedal works great for Cocktail Drum. Again the striking beater angle is just beyond parallel with the floor.

Uncle Jimmy's situation is a little different because the main drum of a Peace kit is much shorter than a typical Cocktail Drum, 18" I believe. It is designed to have a standard snare (5" deep) float just above the main drum to give the height of a Cocktail Drum (23" total) but to have an actual snare for the top drum.

Hope this all helps!

- John

[murph]

Thanks John and Unc for replying... I really appreciate the insight. I'm still fooling around with drum heights that work while playing. Right now I'm experimenting with a conventional kit while standing, and I realize how important the bass pedal feel/response/rebound/tension is going to impact playing in this manner. Getting a pedal reversed and dialed-in is probably the biggest fear I have about "going cocktail" sooner. Hehe.

Does anyone know who's setup this is?

http://www.cocktaildrum.com/gallery2/ma ... ewsIndex=1

Looks like it would be really sturdy, and the pedal offset from the drum looks like it could be very flexible for main drum placement.

-murph

[jmettam]

Hmmm, I don't know who's kit that is. A cool concept if you are more comfortable straddling the drum. As far as flexible, that is a permanent pedal mod. You would have to cut and re-bend the stringers that run under the pedal and attach to the cam assembly. Once the angle is set it would take the same effort to change it and eventually you will run out of stringer material to make any more changes. A very creative solution though!

<img src="http://www.cocktaildrum.com/gallery2/ma ... alNumber=2">

You could also try and find an old Slingerland pedal that has the leg rod as part of the assembly:

<img src="http://www.cocktaildrum.com/models/sling/pdlsling.jpg">

This one allows you to swivel the pedal around the axis of the post.

I think your simplest solution is find a good conversion pedal with a base plate:

<img src="http://www.cocktaildrum.com/learn/const ... ulse13.jpg">

These pedals should work fine without a bracket as long as you have a carpet under the drum. That way you can easily move the pedal around and find your favorite playing position. If your favorite spot is in a place where the beater does not strike the head properly for good tone and feel then work on a solution for that!

- John