DW SideKick Pedal Pictures? / Introduce Myself

[Mr. Compactness]

Finally! My account is activated

I'm new to the cocktail drum world, not even owning a set yet. At the moment JT Whitney is making me a Mahogany stained SideKick Penguin (14x16, 7x10, 5x12) that I suspect should be done at the end of July. I'm having the "KickTom" made with floor tom legs, and my snare and tom will be mounted off my hi-hat stand and a DW Flatbase Boom respectively.

I was wondering if some of you who have one could post a picture of your DW SideKick Pedal. I'm curious to see how this mounts to the supplied floor tom leg, and the easiest way to dismantle the pedal for packing. I use a DW Canister Throne so I'd like to be able to store the leg/beater assembly separate from the pedalboard. It looks like the cord attaches to the beater by a clamp of some sort with drum key screws and that you can just detach that way leaving the beater assembly on the leg? I know I could fold everything flat once the leg is off, but I'd like to have other options to further protect the pedal without taking the beater assembly off the leg and losing my "comfort spot".

Just a quick word about me and what I'm doing with this setup. I was born with Cerebral Palsy, and if any of you heard of it, I created and ran a disabled drummer website called Handidrummed.com for the last 4 years. Unfortunately though I had to let it go at the beginning of the year.

My goal with this set is to have the "kicktom" be a bass drum essentially on both sides so I can play it with my hand or foot. Sometimes my right leg gives me problems during a gig and it is nice being able to keep the bass going and not on something as resonant as a floor tom.

Of course pics will be posted once I get it

Glad to be here!

[zorf]

Welcome.

Here's a photo from this site :
<img src="http://www.cocktaildrum.com/gallery/upl ... -Glass.jpg">

There might be more than one version. Anyone?

I been drooling over the Whitneys for a long time.

Hopefulley, you can fit everything in the DW canister throne.

When i measured the inside of one, i noticed some screws sticking inside that
reduced the useful diameter.
You cou probably modify it to reclaim a little bit of that space, but i'm thinking a 12 inch
drum would be about the max.

I wish i could get one of those in an 18 inch version.

Since it's so hard to make canister shapes, i think i';; make a rectangular throne.
Not as cool, but easy to find or make.

best

[Dinkus]

Excellent, Welcome to the forum

[Mr. Compactness]

Was Zorf trying to post a picture and it's just not showing up for me? I don't see anything in the two replies he made. Strange.

[Mr. Compactness]

Welcome.

Here's a photo from this site :
<img src="http://www.cocktaildrum.com/gallery/upl ... -Glass.jpg">

There might be more than one version. Anyone?

I been drooling over the Whitneys for a long time.

Hopefulley, you can fit everything in the DW canister throne.

When i measured the inside of one, i noticed some screws sticking inside that
reduced the useful diameter.
You cou probably modify it to reclaim a little bit of that space, but i'm thinking a 12 inch
drum would be about the max.

I wish i could get one of those in an 18 inch version.

Since it's so hard to make canister shapes, i think i';; make a rectangular throne.
Not as cool, but easy to find or make.

best

Hmm now I see your post. I didn't last night, odd.

Thanks for the tips. Actually I was looking for any pictures that someone themselves may have of the pedal. All those stock pictures don't show enough detail for my question of how to remove the pedal from the beater assembly during breakdown. But thank you anyway

Actually I'm not putting any drums in the canister throne. When you said a 12" drum would be the max I think that's what you were getting at? But I have done all the tests to make sure everything hardware wise will fit. I'm only going to have a DW FlatBase Hi-hat and FlatBase Boom stand with Pacific tom holders for hardware. That and the pedal + floor tom legs. Having to move only that, a 14x16 bag that weighs 20lbs and a cymbal bag with a pair of 12" hats, 12" splash, and 19" ride (unless I get the itch to go shopping at cymbalsonly.com again lol) will be so nice

[zorf]

Sounds like you are living up to your name!


I was lucky enough to find a sidekick in a local store and it just clamps on to a floor tom leg.
Anybody else here have one?

Inspired by the construction section of this site, i just reversed a pulse and i'm using
gravity and a small rug to hold it together.

And yes, i'd like to find a canister throne big enough for the main drum. I may make my own.

Let us know how it works out.

[murph]

Can anyone share their thoughts about feel/playability of say a reversed Pulse pedal versus the DW Sidekick (5000S)?

The sidekick does look a little Rube Goldberg-esque, but seems to offer some cocktail drum placement flexibility. I have been experimenting with my trad kit setup cocktail style, and have realized that I really like the BD pedal almost directly in front of me... which puts the snare to the left and elevated floor tom to the right (like a traditional sit-down kit for a right-hander).

Part of the reason this "feels" natural, is because I can stand with my feet somewhat close together... right foot forward on BD pedal, and left foot placed slightly behind where it would normally be if standing upright. Both feet are basically pointing forward (not at much of an angle to the left or right).. I"m able to distribute my weight better this way and not put all of it on my left leg. Anyway...

What I've realized is that if I go with a reversed Pulse on a rug, under the cocktail drum, the drum will have to be out front of where I would typically have a FT. Not a big deal, but if I want to keep the FT in it's "familiar" spot (or close to it), then the DW sidekick could be mounted on the left side of the FT and the pedal would be "mostly in the typical BD pedal location".

Seems like the reversed Pulse pedal would be very solid with the big plate, and maybe velcro'd to a small rug. Seems like the action of the pedal would feel similar to a regular BD pedal... sure the beater would be moving differently, but overall, "just another chain drive" type feel. The sidekick looks much different.... appears to be driven by a nylon cord. This in itself looks like it could solve the problem of "how high can the lower head be from the floor" question I raised in another thread. SInce part of the pedal mechanism actually mounts to the cocktail/FT leg, seems like you could increase the length of the nylon cord to suit your needs (including adjustments to have the pedal-board in a lower/less angled "resting" position. (This assumes there is some amount of adjustment available for the throw. I have no idea how this would affect response of the pedal (specifically the lengthening of the nylon cord).

I need to call around and see if any of the local shops might have one of these in stock, or can order one for me to check out in person. Fun stuff!

-murph

[zorf]

sidekick is cool for sure.
Gives you some good set up options.
I dont have the extra $ to throw at one right now.

Im also liking not having to set up the brackets each time on gigs.

Maybe you can try one out at the store with a floor tom.