DW Direct Drive Pedals

102
| JANUARY 2015 WWW.RHYTHMMAGAZINE.CO.UK
GEAR REVIEW
Build
Launched at NAMM 2014, the MDD
(Machined Direct Drive) pedal is currently
available in the single and double guise
reviewed here; a left-sided double has not
yet been slated for release. Something of a
departure from DW’s familiar pedal designs
– which though not short on innovations or
features can nonetheless be traced visually
back to the fi rm’s original 5000 series pedal
– the MDD looks more like the product of a
Formula One team. Its arrival is the
realisation of a three-year project which has
‘consumed the life’ of DW Production and
R&D head Rich Sikra. And not for nothing,
as the MDD is effectively a ground-up
redesign, sharing only around 10 percent of
components with existing DW pedals –
everything else is new.
Aluminium dominates the
construction, with some parts –
such as the direct drive cam –
being machined from solid
blocks; in fact it’s almost easier
to spot the components that
are made from other materials.
The pedal’s layout is relatively
conventional but has clearly
been designed with no little
panache. The two upright
posts have clean lines and
T
his pair of cutting edge pedals are
the fi rst products from DW’s new
MFG range. The hardware
equivalent of California Custom
Shop drums, DW MFG (an abbreviation of
DW Manufacturing) is intended to showcase
unashamedly high-end, US-made pedals and
hardware; if these fi rst fruits are anything to
go by then we have much to look forward to.
From £479 DW’s fi rst ever direct drive pedal has landed...
DW MFG
MDD PEDALS
WORDS: ADAM JONES
1
HIGHWOOD
MALLEUS PEDAL
We say: “It was
HighWood’s criteria
to create a
no-compromise, yet
cost-effective bass drum
pedal representing Brit
engineering at its very
best – mission
accomplished.”
CONSTRUCTION
Pedal is almost entirely
aluminium, with some
parts machined from
solid blocks
Also try…
feature cigar-shaped apertures along
with polished outer faces. Stowed inside
the right-hand post is the spring tensioning
mechanism which is operated by turning a
bolt with a drum key. Making adjustments
is not only comfortable (compared to
fi ghting with the equivalent knurled nut
held tight by the spring’s tension), but can
be done with an almost unprecedented
degree of accuracy.
Taking centre stage is the perforated
solid aluminium footboard which has been
anodised in a shade of gun metal and
2
TRICK PRO
1-V PEDAL
We say: “The
refreshingly easy
manner in which you
can set up and alter the
feel of the Pro 1-Vs
makes them of real
interest to anyone with
a pocket to cope with
the prices.”
RHY237.gear_mdd.indd 102 24/11/2014 12:37