Here’s a random “head’s up.” The DW 7000 series kick pedals totally rule, but they have a significant design flaw that everyone should be aware of.
First of all, let me say that I own one of these pedals and I have used the model for years. I had a 7000 double pedal back in highschool, and I bought a single in college, and a couple years ago bought another single after a short stint experimenting with an Iron Cobra. Ultimately, I like the action and feel of the 7000 the most out of any other kick pedal (aside from an old Yamaha leather strap drive that I use for Jazz). The popular 5000 and 9000 series pedals cost way more, but those models offer very little improvement on the 7000, and are instead packed with frivolous and unnecessary add-ons. In fact, as the 5000 and 9000 models have undergone upgrades, the 7000 has typically replaced the old models (meaning, the 7000 that you buy today is the exact same pedal as the 5000 from a few years ago). So anyway, for those of you who wonder what kick pedal I use, I recommend the DW 7000, especially when you consider the price.
That being said, there has always been a huge design flaw in the model. It’s the placement of the bolt connecting the chain drive to the foot plate. The top of the bolt is recessed into the foot plate, and connects through to a bracket underneath that attaches with a nut on the other side. This bolt, for whatever reason, always breaks. I noticed this when I began to really kick hard (in college), and I found myself snapping the bolt about once every 3 months. I had to carry around extra bolts that I bought from the hardware store so I could fix my pedal whenever it broke (which sometimes happened during performances). It was so annoying that I switched to an Iron Cobra. When I had a litttle trouble with the Iron Cobra (several years later), I opted to sell it instead of fixing it and decided to buy another 7000, because I assumed DW would have fixed the problem. To my dismay, I opened the box and found the same design, and a packet of extra bolts! Obviously, DW was aware of the problem but chose to provide replacement parts instead of improving the design. Sure enough, the bolt broke in the middle of a gig two weeks later.
So, I fixed the design myself. I took the pedal to a sculptor friend of mine who drilled a bigger hole in the foot plate and the chain drive attachment. Then, he just put a thick, tempered bolt in place of the small stock bolt. It hasn’t broken since.
SUMMARY: For $100, the DW 7000 single is the best pedal out there, but if you get one make sure to do the tempered-bolt mod.
The Steve Goold Blog 
8 comments
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August 20, 2008 at 7:50 pm
Bill R
I’ll echo your sentiments on the 7000.
The first drumkit I bought (way back in 1993) came with a Camco single chain pedal. Well, these being the heydays of Metallica, Anthrax, and the like I put the camco on the shelf after a couple of months and saved up my money for a DW 5002 double pedal. Oh yeah. Double bass heaven. Hours spent practicing “One” downstairs.
That pedal served me well for years, often using just the main pedal rather than double. Only thing that broke was the hinge at the base of the pedal.
Then when a friend was leaving guitar center after working there for a number of years, he got me a discount on a new 5002 double pedal. Mmmm. Dual chain, delta bearing, mondo adjustable, super duper, blah, blah, stackable heel plates, whatever.
Around this time I was also not really using the double pedal anymore. Not really playing in projects that needed it.
One day I was recording and the trusty DW double wasn’t “feeling” right. So I went down to my basement, grabbed the Camco and put it in place. It just felt right. Can’t really explain it.
Since then, I’ve sold my two double pedals and have been using my Camco exclusively. Except for a practice kit which has an old 5000 single.
So there’s a long story… Not sure exactly where I was going with that. But yeah, I dig the DWs over the Iron Cobra hands down. But today I’ll give the nod to my trusty Camco.
BR
August 20, 2008 at 10:52 pm
stevegoold
Camco was the predecessor to DW. The Drum Workshop people bought Camco in 1977 and they adopted the design for those Cacmo kick pedals as the first 5000 series pedals from the 80’s.
August 21, 2008 at 3:28 am
Bill R
Right. Sort of. Camco drums were bought by DW. Or became DW essentially. But Camco hardware rights were sold to Tama. Tama actually still makes Camco kick pedals, I do believe.
Someday I’d LOOOVE to own a set of Oaklawn era Camco drums. While DW bought them, they fall short of the original Camco drums. Just my humble opinion.
BR
August 21, 2008 at 4:44 am
stevegoold
Oooh, that’s interesting about the Tama hardware thing. I never knew that part.
Man, I don’t know what I was thinking trying to tell you about drum history. You always know way more about that crap than me. Oh and btw… you are now officially the most-commented reader of the Goold blog. You can claim your prize at our next hang, which should really be sooner rather than later.
August 21, 2008 at 11:15 am
Bill R
It’s nothing to brag about man. Perhaps I’ve just become the Cliff Clavin of the Steve Goold blog. Yikes! Trivia about drums means nothing if you can’t play them.
Hey, I’ve learned boatloads from you, my friend. I’m a much smarter drummer in my playing than I used to be. Thanks for that.
Yes, we’ll have to get together again sometime. Summer has flown by way too fast.
September 3, 2008 at 4:44 am
Tomato
The problem that I have with the 7000 model is with the action speed. When I’m jamming, really really hard and I want to hit my bass drum really really hard….the action speed is about 4 decimeters too slow and inconsistent. Do you know what I mean? I’m sure you have this problem. Also, I wish that they came in bigger sizes. I think it would look really neat if the pedal were 4 feet long. Just one big long silvery pedal to use for jammin’.
September 3, 2008 at 5:03 am
stevegoold
I absolutely agree with everything Tomato said.
February 4, 2014 at 4:30 am
Benjamin
We have a 7000 series pedal on our church kit.I have not had the footboard bolt problem,but i`m not particularly hard on a pedal either.I like the 7000.Its a good solid pedal with sturdy posts and frame.