DW 6000 Turbo Bass Drum Pedal

• Single-chain Turbo drive
• Curved-rod frame shared by the whole series
• Bearing-mounted spring rocker
• Delta ball-bearing hinge, U.S. patent 5431081
• Adjustable dual hoop clamp
• Concentric cam: a constant ratio from start to finish of the stroke

DW describes its Turbo drive as a concentric drive. In practice, the cam is round and turns around its own centre: the ratio between the footboard going down and the beater coming up stays the same from the first degree of the stroke to the last.

The series' other chain drive, the Accelerator, is described the other way around, as eccentric: it starts smooth and speeds up toward the head. Choosing between the two is therefore not a question of rank in the lineup or of durability. It is a question of response, and response is judged with your foot.

The right method is old and it works: put your foot on both, without adjusting anything, and see which one needs less correcting. A cam that suits you shows itself because you stop thinking about the pedal after two minutes.

If you cannot try them, the useful criterion is style. A constant response, which the round cam guarantees, serves fast, light playing; a curve that speeds up at the end of the stroke serves heavy, spaced-out strokes. That is a tendency of use, not a rule.

The curved rod sets the pedal low and keeps it light. The Delta hinge holds the footboard in a single plane thanks to its bearings. The rocker lets the spring follow the stroke instead of twisting. The dual clamp adapts to different hoops.

In other words: whatever cam you choose, the pedal you buy is the same pedal. That is good news, because it narrows the decision down to one parameter instead of three.

• Drummers who prefer an even response over the whole stroke
• Fast, light playing with closely spaced strokes
• Flat-base hardware, which the frame matches
• A second pedal set up with a different cam, for comparison
• A studio kit where you want several feels on hand

The cam question comes up everywhere. Here is how other manufacturers answer it:

What exactly is the difference between Turbo and Accelerator?

The cam. DW calls the Turbo concentric, with a round cam and a constant ratio over the whole stroke, and the Accelerator eccentric, which speeds up toward the end of the motion. The frame, hinge, rocker and clamp are identical.

Can I change the cam after buying the pedal?

In this series, the profile is set by the product code. That is why DW sells three separate versions.

How do I know which one suits me without trying it?

Your playing style is the best clue: an even response for fast, light playing, a curve that speeds up for heavy strokes.

Is the frame the same as on the other versions?

Yes: the same curved-rod frame, the same patented Delta hinge, the same bearing-mounted rocker, the same dual clamp.