The BEST BASS DRUM PEDAL EVER? | TAMA Iron Cobra Bass Drum Pedal
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_______________ 20 Years. 10,000 Hours. 1 Pedal. | TAMA Iron Cobra Bass Drum Pedal
Check out this pedal here: imp.i114863.ne...
If there is any piece of gear that I get sentimental about, it's my TAMA Iron Cobra Bass Drum Pedal. I have had it for 20 years now, it has OVER 10,000 hours of hard gigging/touring/practice time on it, and it has never let me down. It's just a work horse of a bass drum pedal.
It's one thing for a set of drums to last this long. Or a cymbal that is well cared for.
It's something completely different to have a piece of gear last that long that has so many moving parts, that stays on the floor, is thrown in and out of cars/venues/studios, and is literally kicked full time. With the exception of making a few minor tune ups (and I mean extremely minor...tightening a couple of bolts and I believe I remember replacing a cam once) it has worked without fail.
So no, this is not a sales pitch. This is not a "you're just posting this video because you're a TAMA artist" type of thing. I get zero out of this.
This pedal is THE REASON that I wanted to work with TAMA.
I am now using the newer version of the Iron Cobra bass drum pedal with the Power Slide cam and loving the improvements.
I can say with all honesty, passion, and truth...if you are looking for a bass drum pedal that will last a lifetime and give you little to no problems, this is the one.
Leave a comment below and let me know your thoughts!
___
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Cymbal Setup From Left To Right:
All Zildjian
Hats:
16" EFX Crash on top
16" K Light Top Hat on bottom
18" Kerope Crash
22" K Custom Dark Complex Ride
22" Renaissance Ride
Drums:
Tama Starclassic Bubinga with Tiger Wood finish
Sticks:
Vic Firth 5A
Drumheads:
Aquarian
Classic Clear on toms and snare resonant
Response 2 on toms batter
Hi-Velocity on snare batter
Regularor (Ebony) on kick resonant
Super Kick 10 on kick batter
Alclair In Ear Monitors #StephenTaylor #BestDrumLessons
I've always felt that Tama is like the Toyota of drum hard ware. Some other brands might give you more speed or whatever, but Tama never breaks down.
Viktor Kannisto funny you say that, I got it, hates the feel, then I broke (:
There's a good reason why we prefer good ol' Japanese made material and this is no exception! ^_^
Have a Tama hi-hat. Always hated it and breaks frequently.
Ruby Tuesday
That’s because Tama isn’t a cymbal company. It’s like if Toyota made tyres for their cars, they wouldn’t be the best because Toyota isn’t a tyre company.
well dude, Tama has the speed all other pedals have. they Never break down like you say, they are capable to be as fast as the drummer can play and the lowest cost compared to Czarcie, axis, Dem-Drive (other brands high end products).
.
i can say Tama has 3 ways win
This is the best love story in 2018.
IAm Megatron I’ve been with this pedal longer than I’ve been married lol
haha, see? it all ads up to the love story:) honestly, after this video i am gonna gravitate towards this pedal way more. because im struggling with my pedals all the time. im a big guy, tall and heavy MF so.. i when i sit down on my normal looking human drummer friends kits, those pedals just.. are too loose. and mine is just shitty no matter what i do to it. sooo.. i better get me something like cobra.
I feel ya...I'm 6'1" and 230 lbs
yeah, dude.. Im 6.4 and a liiittle heavier than you, haha. but you are a buff guy, dude. Me, im just tall. gonna go to the gym and get me some of that buffness x) have a great day, man. See ya in the next video.
Better than twilight's
i just got my first one. i never thought a piece of hardware would help me improve as a player almost instantaneously.
I've had my Iron Cobra since I was 17. I'm 41... The only thing I've replaced is the beater and that was 2 years ago. Amazing
Chris Chiara , i bought my iron cobras at 16, I’m now 32 and I just replaced the beaters about two weeks ago. 😂
Amazing pedals.
@@jessereyna9274 are iron cobras worth it?
Alternatehistorymapper 420 absolutely worth the money.
@@se-ku3op If they hold for over 20 years without having to change anything they are definitely worth it:) Even their cheapest iron cobra(Hp200) has a great feel and good quality. Im buying their Hp600 which seems very nice
Frank Burdo How do you figure? That’s a weird blanket generalization to make. I have several beaters that will easily go 20 yrs and more... A beater would only be destroyed by hitting a surface harder than itself. That really only applies to the ‘soft’ felt type beaters. Possibly a cheaper shaft could fail, but a good beater has a quality shaft embedded in the head. I usually use a maple beater, and it will still be going strong after the pedal falls apart! What could possibly wear down a good rugged beater? Playing into a cheese grater? A saw blade? Idk.
I make custom beaters of hardwood, if they don’t last 20 years, I’m doing something wrong. I have beaters from Vic Firth, Pro Mark, Vater, that look perfect with 1000’s of hours on them. You sir, must be a beater beater. They have support groups for that.
That's awesome Stephen! I'm still using the Speedking (67') that my uncle gave me in 1987! It was already 20yrs old, I have stripped it once and recapped and greased it (a couple times) still on original bearings!! That and my old faithful Camco Hi-hat stand would be mine. Great story man!
Check out this pedal here: imp.i114863.net/K1Qoe
If there is any piece of gear that I get sentimental about, it's my TAMA Iron Cobra Bass Drum Pedal. I have had it for 20 years now, it has OVER 10,000 hours of hard gigging/touring/practice time on it, and it has never let me down. It's just a work horse of a bass drum pedal.
It's one thing for a set of drums to last this long. Or a cymbal that is well cared for.
It's something completely different to have a piece of gear last that long that has so many moving parts, that stays on the floor, is thrown in and out of cars/venues/studios, and is literally kicked full time. With the exception of making a few minor tune ups (and I mean extremely minor...tightening a couple of bolts and I believe I remember replacing a cam once) it has worked without fail.
So no, this is not a sales pitch. This is not a "you're just posting this video because you're a TAMA artist" type of thing. I get zero out of this.
This pedal is THE REASON that I wanted to work with TAMA.
I am now using the newer version of the Iron Cobra bass drum pedal with the Power Slide cam and loving the improvements.
I can say with all honesty, passion, and truth...if you are looking for a bass drum pedal that will last a lifetime and give you little to no problems, this is the one.
Leave a comment below and let me know your thoughts!
Stephen Taylor i kno what you mean i have my bass pedal from my first drum set it was a Ludwig I'm 47 I got it when I was 12 and it's not even change Riven it's a leather strap but I can play better with it than I can play with any double bass pedal God I'm a dinosaur LOL
Love it!
I have in my church what it seems to be a 80s TAMA bass drum pedal. It's like a generic one, it doesn't have any cool design, it's just the pedal. Man, it's one of the best bass drum pedals I've ever used. I've used Axis, DW 5000, even the Iron Cobras, and this vintage pedal is awesome. It's fast and really light, I love it!
Stephen Taylor I used the Iron Corba double pedal for years. Upgraded to a Speed Corba single pedal about 4 years ago. Replaced the of the SC with the beater from the IC. The stock beater on the PC made dents in the head.
Absolutely in love with this pedal (I have the single one in the newest version). They made several improves, it's rock solid and super stable. Tama (at least for me) it's the dreamed hardware. I'm very happy to see you working with such a great brand, you deserve it. Greetings from Argentina!
As a owner of 2 Tama kits 97 Rockstar, 2002 starclassic performer, they are by far the best drums on the planet imo… always checking their website to keep up with the new innovations Tama are coming up with!!!!
Joe Plem Keep watching for the new kit they’re sending me. There’s some fun stuff on it ;^)
Tama hardware is outstanding! Most drum manufacturers build good sounding drums nowadays, but the hardware makes the biggest difference for me.
My first pedal was a Tama Camco double pedal and over the years I tried many different pedals from Yamaha, Pearl, Mapex, but eventually I got back to Tama, almost 7 years ago. The Iron Cobra simply is a reliable work horse. I also really like the Speed Cobra and it feels better in certain situations, but if I would have to chose one pedal, it would be the IC for sure.
My first double pedal was a cheap PDP which I broke after a couple of years. Served its purpose, but upgraded to an Iron Cobra 600 double pedal and immediately felt a huge difference. At the beginning of covid lockdowns, I bought a Speed Cobra 910 double pedal and it literally bends to my will… even the drive shaft bent… but quickly replaced it with a Trick drive shaft and I can’t imagine going back.
I own a single pedal Iron Cobra. It’s an amazingly smooth pedal. Quiet and effortless to play. I’m not a Tama guy. But they make an affordable incredible bass drum pedal. No. 1 in my book.
Nice review! Do you have any idea where I might find a foot and ankle that’ll last 10,000 hours?
Lol
Toes R Us would be your best bet ,lol.
😂
I've had my DW 5000 since 1992. Replaced hinges, springs, and beaters... everything else is still solid.
Seven years with my Iron Cobra Double pedal and I wouldn't trade it for anything. Low maintenance and incredibly well-constructed!
I’ve played Tama for 29 years. I moved away once or twice but I always came home. TAMA rules the roost for me 🤘🏻
I have been using the same Camco by Tama pedals for so long. I've forgotten how many years. 30 plus yrs. and countless gigs. They have never had one issue...
I have one as well. I bought it as a back up to my old 1962 speed king back in the late 60’s. The speed king’s metal direct drive strap ? Finally broke years ago and the Camco by Tama is still cooking along though I have several new pedals that I have purchased recently. A Ludwig Speed Flyer and I gave a direct drive Pearl Speed Demon on the way.
I used an Iron Cobra 2nd gen for 12 years. Always worked perfectly, just like day one. After 4 years of playing a Pearl Demonator, I am going back to Tama with the Speed Cobra. Thanks for a great video!
I totally agree with you, Tama has always been a workhorse for me for years.
Glad to hear you've had the same experience
I had a first gen Iron Cobra single pedal, good, not great. I bought a 2nd gen Cobra strap drive double pedal ( rarely used the slave side though) and used that for YEARS! Fantastic, solid and bullet proof! Before ALL the Cobra pedals I was a Tama Camco guy. I still have ‘em and actually switched back to the Camco a year, or so, ago. The heel plate isn’t as tall as the Cobra. Simple, smooth and fast! Tama.... best pedals, period!!
I bought a 2nd Gen Iron Cobra strap drive single pedal sometime in the early 2000s. You don't see too many people using them, but it's got a nice, light feel to it. I use mine for Jazz. I also have a Speed Cobra. Great pedal. Period.
I still use the Same Iron Cobra my Dad bought me for Christmas like 18ish years ago😊 no plans of buying a new one!
Just bought one yesterday and it was one of the smoothest playing pedals I've ever touched and Is almost scary strong from what I can tell of the metals they use
I agree, I've had pearls, dws, axis you name it and I always come back to the iron cobra...simply the best.
Have a DW 5OOO Double pedal. I have used it for almost 31years! The teeth on the sprockets are worn down almost smooth, Funny as hell! Used it in studios, Live work and More bands than can remember. All they had then was a single chain. The thing still functions. The Cobra is a very durable pedal also. ( but why the snake thing, Hate snakes!) ROCK THAT THING ANOTHER TWENTY STEPHEN!!!!!!!!!!
dragocat1 I love that you’ve gotten that much use out of that DW!
Hi, just wanted to drop a thanks. I don't log in or comment frequently, but there's next to no info on figuring out how old any Tama gear is with few exceptions, and Iron Cobras aren't one lol. I was able to figure out my doubles are second gen 900s because of this video. I picked them up for 100$ in 2012 from a friend because the primary beater clamp had broken... someone had overtightened it, not a defect... and I needed double pedals. Being a handy guy I replaced the adjustable setup with a stationary clamp, and I was off to the races. The driveshaft finally started creaking and having too much play after 8+ years of use. I replaced it with an aftermarket Trick Drums driveshaft (I HIGHLY RECOMMEND FOR TAMA DOUBLE PEDAL PLAYERS!), and they came back to life, better than new! No joke, they are absolutely tanks, and aside from the usual marks you see on pedals this old, they are functionally flawless to this day. The driveshaft is the only replacement I ever had to make, it's still even rocking the original springs, which have no problem either. Keep 'em cleanish, I think Iron Cobras are probably infinite?
I only just recently just started looking to change them out because I grew a preference for longboards after playing a friend's Axis pair, and while both Speed Cobras and the new Dyna-Syncs are great (I'd put the Dyna-Sync over the Axis AL2 I played, by a long shot), I wanted to try Trick out because of that driveshaft replacement, and it blew away every pedal I've ever touched in about 10 seconds. The Iron Cobras have become my backups, despite it, I'd still recommend Iron Cobras to anyone if they aren't ready to drop 1k on a pair of pedals, and would keep playing them if Trick never existed. They're almost immune to human error..... like I have no clue how someone busted that beater clamp? Was it Hercules? Idk lol. Big thanks for the breakdown on generations though.
Love my Ludwig Speed King ! I've sampled every pedal out there and havent changed from it . Dual compression springs, awesome ball bearings and cam set-up...just dial in your bottom screw adjustments for your preference, and power float into heaven !
Tama all the way man! Saw a review of many pedals that were way more expensive but just didnt have the features and performance of Tama's more affordable offerings. Gettin me a cobra baby!
You won't regret it. I've had mine since the 20th century
i am using speed cobra..... but i envy your love story dude.
20 years with that, that is SOLID
Using a second gen iron cobra and I love it 🙌 same experience as yourself - never broken down on me, battered on a daily basis, thrown in and out of cars, trucks & vans & just works 👍
100% drummer proof pedal 😂
Have my Speed cobra for over 5 years now and it never let me down. The Iron Cobra was never my thing but Tama is.
I learned on the Iron Cobra 21 years ago and I’m still playing it. It’s been to a lot of places-good, bad, and ugly. Never lets me down. Tried a DW 7000 for a little while but went back to the Iron Cobra pretty quick.
same with my dw 5000 turbo, got it new in @1994 or 1995, it has seen more hours than i care to try to figure out! i just last year changed all of the bearings in it for 1st time ever, i added the delta bearing hinge @10 years ago. i swapped the beater hub out to the new style last year when i did the bearings, so now i have the memory locks for beaters for faster swaps. i also added the canopus speed star on the spring rocker hub. pedal is still smooth as ever, i will never get rid of it. just ordered a 9000 single with extended footboard and 9000 3 leg hihat with extended footboard yesterday, figure it was time i got them, i have big feet.
Literally just bought a used one and still works like new.
What a great investment! I'll get one when my DW pedal gives up. I've had my Paiste 2002 - 22 inch ride cymbal for 32 years. It's like family to me.
I have a Zildjian K ride and hats that are actually older than this pedal. I love aged gear!
Haha, I have Sabian Solar (very cheap and bad cymbal series) 20" ride. It started to crack after about 8 month. To be honest, I'm some kind of hardhitter and I used it as a crash... But come on!
I have been playing for going on 25 years and have played on all the major brands drums, but nothing to me compares to tama, I have close to 20 years on a single pedal iron cobra & love it only thing I have done is changed the beater heads other than that she has always preformed amazing!!!
Mine is 2 generation 1998 never failed once if you oil it and good care and love it will last a lifetime👏👏👏🥁🥁🇨🇦🇨🇦
I have recently converted to the same Iron Cobra model from a Ludwig Atlas Pro bass drum pedal that I really wanted to work with my 24" Ludwig Keystone Bass drum, but it just didn't. It gives me great confidence that you've had 20 years of serious work with your Iron Cobra pedal. Great channel btw!
I have also had a pair of cobras " think mine are maybe gen 3? " since early 2000s and the hi hat stand. Those things are seriously long lasting. I have never done ANY maintenance other than changing beaters and springs.
Yeah dude, I've got 2 single Iron Cobra pedals and also a double pedal that I purchased around 2003-2004 and I'm still using them!
I just purchased the Iron Cobra 900 Double Pedal. By far one of the best drum pedals I've ever played, and I've been playing for 50 years now. I have been using an older, Tama Iron Cobra for the past 20 years, and it is still going. But this new 3rd generation pedal is just amazing. Look forward to playing my next gig with this along for the ride.
Love Tama pedals. I played the speed 900 double for 13 years ish but I bought it impulsively. I’m not a metal drummer per say and avoid using the double but like to have it. Just ordered the Iron 900, can’t wait. I think I’ll try those big boomy beaters.
I own the Pearl Eliminators in addition with a Special Edition Chrome Iron Cobra. The Pearl's are great and I understand why people like them. But the Cobra has that fluid response that i feel connected to. The Chrome Cobras were made in limited numbers. I retired it because it's collectable. Now I have a Speed Cobra. If it's anything like the IC, I can't see buying another pedal in the foreseeable future. I leave the Eliminators on my practice kit.
My first IC 900 flexi glide is on the way and arriving today. Found one on the 'bay for cheap. I use a Tama flexi flyer strap drive pedal from the early 80s, came with my first set. I loved it right away and found it to be responsive and very comfortable to play. I'd try other pedals and they all felt stiff and slow. No issues after 40 years of stomping the shit out of it, an excellent piece of machinery. The original felt beater wore so it's not round anymore, but still usable. I think I replaced the spring once or twice, and a bunch of straps. The bearings might as well be lubed with butter, so smooth... The flexi flyer was based on the Camco with the legendary floating action. Titan hardware... more good stuff. The hat stand is so heavy that you almost need two hands to nudge it over. That was Tama 40 years ago, and their products are still solid today. We all know their drums sound awful though. I'm joking.
Yes! My Iron Cobra 900 double pedal looks just like your old one and is now over 25 years old.. I still use it! In fact I just cleaned it for the first time not too long ago, lubed it up just to get a couple squeeks out while playing on my practice pad kit but it still works and feels great, like the day I got it. Super smooth and natural feeling.
I’d like to get a new one, even looking at the Speed Cobra but most of the features found on it can be found on the new Iron Cobra so idk.
I actually just got a second double pedal.. a 50th anniversary Carbon DW5000. It’s also very nice and looks amazing. I e always been a practitioner as well but as of the past few years I’ve been splurging a bit and checking out new products.
Great video, man.
I've only got the humble budget IRON COBRA 200 pedal, but have to agree with Stephen that it's awesome. My kit (a second-hand Pearl EX Fusion 6-piece) came with a strap-driven Pearl pedal that wasn't very good. I quickly replaced it with the Cobra 200. At some point I decided that I wanted to learn double pedal so picked up a Sonor on eBay. It was good. But like so many other beginner mistakes I was learning to run before I could walk, so switched back to the Iron Cobra. The action is brilliant. I realised I'd been struggling getting nice crisp doubles on the Sonor, but they just pop off the Cobra almost effortlessly. It's such a solid pedal!
got the 1st gen in 93, and my second gen in 2K, and that's all i have used since. tried an eliminator as well and now i have it as a spare....that's never needed to be used. let somebody sit in on a gig once and they broke the beater shaft and, like you, i used the other one to do our set.
great pedal, and i'm glad to hear i'm not alone in falling in love with a quality piece of gear that ends up being "all you ever need". kinda like Brian May and his Red Special, lol. thanks for the awesome vid :-)
I’ve had mine for 13 years now. Was oiling up all the moving parts. Most solid and reliable pedal I’ve ever used. Some people don’t like the weight, but honestly I feel like the weight gives me more control. I hate playing on Yamaha or pearl pedals.
I’ve always played iron cobras (mostly) bought the new speed cobra 910 a few years ago and I’m hooked. I’ll probably never buy or need another pedal. They’re AWESOME!
Got mine in 2002/2003 era. It has been nothing but perfect for me. Love my Iron Cobra Rolling Glide double pedal
I think Tama has the best hardware - period!
I LOVE my Pearl Demon Drive. Will never go back to a chain drive. Also will never go back to the ball joint drive shaft for a double pedal. All of them have failed me. The U-joint is where its at when it comes to both feet feeling the same. Wouldve considered a Tama pedal if they were more innovative. But they have a very small selection thats only for certain drummers imo. My Demon Drive plays exactly how I want it to and I can switch it from a short board to a long board. Have had it for a while now and I dont plan on switching anytime soon.
I have Demon drive too and that thing is pure garbage..Eliminator is great pedal but Iron Cobra are the best :)
@WhoDarestheMAN gamer FOR ME yes because Eliminator have lighter feeling (i had both pedals) BUT the best pedals are cobras. Now i have single speedcobra and double iron cobra..i sold the eliminator and demon and never look back since. TAMA is no1 in everything believe me! Greetings to you and thanks for the comliment
Duuuude, back in my day axis pedals were all the rage in metal, but I’d rather play hertas on chain drive all day. Direct drive makes for Harder dynamic control. Way too responsive to get into a laid back pocket
I agree with your thumbnail, my double Iron Cobra is also about 20 years old and still works just fine. I did a bearing replacement using cheap skateboard bearings and it's like new again, although it worked just fine without the new bearings anyway.
I totally agree with you TAMA IRON COBRAS are awesome pedals. The only reason that you see so many people playing DW pedals is they never tried a Tama Iron Cobra pedal lol.
I had the very same Iron Cobra PowerGlide twins, and I loved that pedal!!! It was faithful for many MANY years, and really I only got rid of it because a new DW-9002 was dropped in my lap for $300. I have to say, I’m not completely impressed with that DW, though I haven’t had much time to play around with its adjustments either. As you said, Stephen, those Cobras are just right, right out of the box!!! With that, I have bought 2 new single PowerGlides to use on my practice pads and I love those more than the twin Iron Cobra I had!!!
Absolutely...I have the utmost respect for the iron cobra. My drummer has played one for a similar length of time and it’s been just about perfect.
I’ve had the same experience with my old school eliminator. I bought it about 15 years ago...I’ve put uncountable hours on it between practice, gigging and teaching. The only thing ive had to replace is the chain. I know some guys like to switch it up and try new gear out all the time...but there’s something to be said for a pedal/ride/snare that never lets you down.
Tama is the only way to go! The engineering that goes into their products is incredible. I started out with Tama & quickly became a Tama purist. They must be keeping their R&D (research & development) department extremely busy with all of the continual innovations that they produce.
I have a King Cobra single pedal & the Speed Cobra double pedal. Like you, I haven't found the need to learn to use the double pedal as much as I originally thought, but still keep it on my personal kit. It's kind of an expensive way to keep a second beater on hand, but I don't mind. Tama rocks!
I totally I agree with you! I have mine for about 20 years and it is still fantastic!
I had an IC double, probably around 2006 or so. I had played a few other peoples' and loved them, so I got one. The linkage shaft degraded quickly so I gave up and sold it with a kit because it was convenient. A few other guys I played shows with had the same problem. I like Tama, and I like their hardware. Finally buying an IC was kind of a "never meet your heroes" moment for me. It's still the only double chain pedal I like (that I've tried) and wouldn't be a problem if I had singles, but I went back to direct drives after that.
I'm a DW5000 and PDP B.O.A. fan but do have an iron cobra aswell. They're a bulletproof pedal and always so easy and natural feeling to play.
Bought mine around 2001 and it’s still going strong! Probably about the same amount of hours on mine! I absolutely love it! Mine’s the single pedal version, and I think I just switched to the second original factory beater that came with it about a year or two ago. It’s an absolute workhorse!! I also don’t think I’ve had to adjust it once since I bought it. My main two kits have DW 5000s on them (house kits) and I’d rather have my Iron Cobra on it if it were more convenient. I’ve done my best to tune the 5000s to feel like the Iron Cobra!
I have Tama ironcobra from 1997 single pedal, Tama double peda chrome version, 905 hi-hat stand, signature snare drum David Silveria, birch art wood snare, boom cymbal stand and chair-everything works
That's awesome man. I've had my iron cobra for about 10 years now. Its rusty and neglected but it never stops working. The guys at tama know what their doing, they sell you a great pedal and then you know their drums are good. I play tama drums now just cos the pedal impressed me
I have an HP900FTW... can't go wrong with Tama!
TAMAは日本の誇りですね。
私も先日20年選手のアイアンコブラを代理で中古購入して生徒に渡しました。実にしっかりした作りで驚きました。
dw5000なども使ったことがありますが精度の高さなどは完全にTAMAが優っていると感じます。
My replacement for a double pedal I got with my PDP kit had to meet my needs: smooth, efficient, quiet action and allow drive with finesse. Like you, I found a single pedal met my playing needs and chose the Rolling Glide on a ‘900. Straight out the box there were easy-accessible, minor adjustments to get it playing and the main thing, help my drumming progress. Price point wasn’t going to break the bank either, and a lil carry case with additional tools to the clip on drum key was also where other leaders in the field forget their customers. Another tip for those who don’t really know what pedal to choose is try before you buy, at least you get a sense of whether the mechanics of the pedal are working with you, or not.
All my current drum hardware I use is Tama. Tama Pedals, Tama stands, Tama Clamps, Tama Drums, Tama throne, TAMA FOR LIFE
I have the same pedal, just left footed. I bought it Sam Ash in NY around 2003 for $300.00. The only things that broke were the snap latches on the plastic case and the allen wrench part of the drum key that comes with it. I still use the original beaters which have almost completely worn down all of the felt right to the plastic. It's a beast! Lots of gigs, recording and rehearsal hours on it and left on it!
I love stories like this that all musicians of any instrument can relate to. I have a Mapex bass drum pedal that I bought in 2002 when I was 15 and have used basically every day since then.
I also have a Mapex pedal - falcon series MK1, which I bought 2012. I use it every day - from practice to gigs and never caused me any troubles.
I bought my DW 5000 double pedals in 91. Play all the time. Still work great. Single chain. Just a tiny bit of play in connecting rod. May replace that and heal bearings.
I have to say Tama pedals never failed me... My first real pedal was a Tama Camco from the 80s... ( I think) came with the used Granstar kit I bought. Tried the DW5000, it was ok but then I cough inherited a 2nd gen Iron Cobra and I used it for about ten years. Now I switch between it and my Duallist pedal(yeah I just like the mechanics of the thing, what can I say!
DW is generic garbage.
Tama is much better
I bought my Tama Starclassic in 1997 I think, and it had the original style Iron Cobra. (I still have it!) I upgraded to the second generation Flexy Flyer strap drive. It's STILL my main pedal. I've flirted with others, trying to find something that feels better. Tried a DW 5000, a Pearl Eliminator, a Gibraltar, and even an Axis. I keep coming back to my strap drive IC. All I want is a pedal that does what my foot does. I don't need to develop a technique around my pedal; just follow my foot. My strap drive IC, with spring JUST BARELY tightened, gives me that feel. I too use a different beater, and I like the heavier feel. And the only thing I ever replaced was the pins that hold the strap on. One of them started to squeak, and it took me FOR-EVER to find where the squeak was coming from. Other than that, rock solid.
Those mysterious squeaks and noises can be a pain to track down on a pedal
I got my power Glide 900s off damny walker. they have made all the intronaut albums and went on tour tool when they opened. I bought them in 2013. it's 2021 came off a old 600... they are absolutely the best pedals ever. I just upgraded to a speed cobra. absolutely love em.
I am loyal to TAMA because Tama has always been loyal to me! Cheers Stephen! ♫♪♫
I bought the 3r gen yesterday, because i was sure it was a great upgrade for my stock pedal. This vid game me extra boost i made the right choice. Gonna focus on my slide tech and get it up to speed!!!
I'm a beginner and i bought Iron Cobra 200 Yesterday..hope it'll take me to next level
Remember to experiment with settings so you find something that suits your best! Good luck.
I really like that pedal aswell. I also play at church and when i visit other congregations that dont have an iron cobra pedal, it throws off my playing a bit. Was thinking of getting a higger quality or priced pedal but after seeing this ill just stick with it
I tried cheating on my Iron Cobras with some Pearl Eliminators a couple years ago, but it didn't work out. I broke up with the Pearls.
If your Iron Cobra's in good shape, I say stick with em. Maybe just buy some new springs. I did and it freshened mine right up
Im really happy with my 310 Speed Cobra dbl. Fits my large feet and very fast. I added the Cobra Coils which improved the feel to me. But it still feels pretty good without them too.
Hey Stephen, cool video bro. Those pedals are very solid. A budy of mine has one. Second gen double. The thing just works!!!
Thanks bro, i use a dw5000 myself. The iron cobra is my second choice.
I had a Tama Titan chain drive in the 80's. Never let me down. I have an Iron Cobra today.
Tama titan was the best, that hardware was insanely well made.
I have had My Tama Starclassic Maple Double Bass kit for 19 year's now and I agree Stephen I however Bought two dw Pedals 5000 Pedals I wasn't happy after noticing that the pedals wouldn't clamp down properly so I used them from 2000 until 2017 then I bought a Speed King Bass drum pedal one of those vintage pedals it is way superior to the dw. All my hardware is Tama double braced hardware. Just had to replace my spring's on my Iron cobra Hihat stand the Spring's completely Shredded in four places and the rubber attachment was completely Shredded. I however was able to fix it which is a Blessing because it was a Hihat stand from 1999 it was a Top of the line hihat Pedal. I love Tama they Make Amazing Products I loaded my double bass kit in My Toyota Celica Supra 1982 83. To many Gigs.which is a Six Piece kit and all the toms are huge 12×13 13×14 18×17 24x18 x 2. 14x8 Superstar Tama vintage maple Drum.
Tama pedal is the GOAT pedal.
I love it
Tama is the best period!!
I too purchased my IRON COBRA double pedal when I was 18 and 20 years later it’s still kicking (pun intended 😁). I’ve never had to use another.
I’m like you, in that, I’ve got over 10,000 hours in my original iron cobra. I bought my first one around 2000... fantastic pedals, still use them!
Never had the pleasure of abusing the Iron Cobra, but I'm a TAMA guy myself, so I use the Speed Cobras and I love em.
Great video. I have the same pedal. I have played it for 22 years and have done almost no maintenance on it (other than changing the beater). It feels as smooth as it did the day I got it. I have no plans to buy another...
they are great pedals. ive switched but i used tama for 15 years. love em.
I had a Ludwig Speed King that I absolutely loved, back in the day. Fast and excellent feathering ability. Broke it in half and the frame flew forward and right through the skin during a punk gig 40 or so years ago. Turned the bass drum around and literally kicked it for the rest of the night. I have used a Yamaha, direct drive, Flying Dragon for about 30 years now. Have a single and a double set up and never use the double, I too was going to learn it some day.
classixdrummer those speed Kings are super reliable pedals
Stephen Taylor - I admit I almost bought one a few years ago. Old Dad syndrome now, can’t spend money unless I need to.
Great video Stevo! Its almost like you read my mind creating this vlog!
I too bought my gen 2 Iron Cobra back in '98, also a Iron Cobra hi-hat and they are both STILL going very strong after years of abuse! I've given the pedal a clean/service a couple of times in the 20 years I've had it and that really is it - brilliant. My only gripe about the pedal is the same as yours - the beater. I replaced the original beater with the exact same and it actually wore down dramatically on one side within 2/3 months! Thinking I'd just got a duff one, I replaced it again with the same Tama beater and although this one hasn't been as bad, it will need replacing again pretty soon, probably get 6 months out of it - very poor. My dep has an Iron cobra too and uses a 3rd party round felt beater like yours. I've tried it and it feels great so i'll be ordering one of them.
@Stephen Taylor I also got one of these when they first came out, funny enough I ended up pulling the P900 cam off of my previous gen one and putting it on the newer IC (The older model I have was made right before this version came out). The balance had never felt right to me on either pedal, but after swapping the cam on the newer one and replacing the spring with the Tama heavy spring it did WONDERS for my stroke work with my foot and finally gave me the balance between power and speed I had been looking for.
If you have two Iron Cobras and know how to fiddle with them give it a try!
Edit: I should add, that putting a heavier cam on the pedal did not affect the speed or springiness of it at all, the wider shaft assembly and longer footboard do a lot more than people think for the speed of the pedal. Putting the longer footboard on an older model with the narrower base plate (Some drilling required) will have the same effect just not on as dramatic of a level
Thanks Stephen. I buying drums again and go back to what I played 20 years ago - Tama. This video was a good confirmation. Back then I had a Camco pedal. Bet the Iron Cobra will be perfect, especially one of the more expensive ones, the 600 or the 900 series. Thanks again.
Still playing my old 1983 TAMA strap peddle that came with my Swingstars. Many gigs and band practice. Got it on a 7 piece Superstar Classic now. Also have a 85 TAMA chain drive but I like the strap.
I heard the Cobra was easy to covert to strap. Used the chain drive on my left foot for all those years. Just had to buy the Superstars last month because the lugs started popping off on my old set. That shell pack upgrade sounds great. Hoops are lighter, go figure. But all in all I'm very happy with it so far. But I am thinking about a double beater for the kit. Do you know what I need to covert it to strap?
I still have that same pedal, and probably bought it around the same time too (late 90s). It is indestructible!
I used to have a Premier bass pedal in the 80'. Great quality product.
I play a Premier 252 direct drive that I personally restored a couple of years ago. Probably late 70's, early 80's. Built like a tank. Beautiful feel and balance, very adjustable too. I love it.
Great video Stephen and I’m exactly the same. I have a limited edition First edition pedal ( all chrome ) never failed me over 20+ years and thousands of hours of use. It’s the Toyota Hilux of pedals - unbeatable and unbreakable and still as smooth as silk.
I play an old Tama Camco pedal the thing is awesome. I have tried newer stuff but i just like the way the old pedal feels.
I have a DW 9000 I love it BUT before that always had my tama iron cobra they were awesome.
Great video, I love your product videos. They always feel honest/genuine.
I have to agree that TAMA just outshine everyone when it comes to hardware. I have an old TAMA hi-hat stand which I've had for the full 9 years I've been drumming. The first acoustic kit I bought myself was a used TAMA Rockstar, I have since changed to Gretsch but I find that the TAMA seemed to hold it's tuning far better. I kind of wish I had the room to set up both kits, the nice thing is that they're totally different sized kits so I have an excuse to have both but I'm usually too lazy to change my room around so I take the TAMA on gigs (on the rare occasion I need more than breakables). When I eventually break and am financially comfortable enough to justify it, I plan to get a high end TAMA kit, if not Yamaha since they have a good rep and the few I've had good experiences with them. The pricing of TAMA products is never ridiculous either which is nice. Around £160 for this new Iron Cobra, I recently spent just less than that on a Vector G1 which I considered "great for the price" but wish I held out now.
Honesty is what I'm goin' for with these...glad that's coming through
Used to have a dw 9000 double pedal and just never truely felt comfortable with it and messed around with all the settings and never could quite get it right, also had 4 different parts break on the dw 9000 and had to send it in each time a part broke and wait about a month for each time which was basically 4 months total of waiting without a pedal while dw was fixing the things that broke and misfunctioned. I then bought a Tama speed cobra double to use as a backup Incase it happened again for much cheaper as well and right outta the box I knew this was the pedal for me. All I needed to do with raise the beater height all the way and then tweak the spring tension then that’s it. It’s the perfect pedal for me. The feel smoothness power finesse and throw on Tama pedals are unmatched. I’ve noticed with Tama pedals they just have more throw than any other pedal and just feels so much better for me. Also cheaper than a lot of other pedals out there. Gonna sell the dw 9000 and buy a Tama iron cobra double as my backup now and to have a regular size footboard alongside my Tama speed cobras. Tama all day!!! The new generation cobra pedals are unbeatable.
Andy Ham Totally Agree. The updates they’ve made are killer.
I've been using a DW 5000 double pedal that my dad had since before i was born, now im doing swivels on pretty high tempos with it
Really love mine. all 3 of them. 2 singles and 1 double. The only issue i had with them was the central bearing in the double pedal that was worn out/mishandled (bought it second hand) Fixed that right up with new bearings. The 2 singles (also bought second hand in 2012) is in need of a new chain as they are getting slightly rusty. but everything else is just like new. These are the main pieces of my kit. wouldn't ever change them out for anything else
I have Iron Cobra double bass pedals that I purchased new in 2003 on a 1981 Tama Imperialstar. I also have the Iron Cobra hi-hat stand to match that I purchased at the same time. They are rock solid and smooth as the day I bought them. I don't have as many hours on my set as you do, but I'm in the thousands of hours for sure. I'm in Metairie btw. I know if you played Bourbon Street that you know where "I'm at."