DW MFG MCD Single Bass Drum Pedal, Anodized Graphite
The MCD Graphite is a chain-drive single bass drum pedal, machined from aluminum and anodized dark grey. Anodizing is not painting: the colour lives in the metal itself, oxidized deep down and then dyed. So it does not chip under your sole, where a painted pedal shows its first scars after a single season.
What sets it apart
- Graphite finish obtained by dyed anodizing, not paint
- Hardened surface exactly where your shoe rubs
- Same mechanism as the polished version: only the colour changes
- Sprocketless cam, lever-operated
- Patented Tri-Pivot clamp on the bass drum hoop
- Matches other MFG pieces in the same finish
What an anodized finish really is
Painting a metal means adding a material on top. Anodizing means turning the metal's surface into hard oxide, then working the dye into the pores of that layer before sealing it. There is nothing to peel off: the colour is part of the piece.
On a pedal, that distinction stops being theoretical after a few dozen gigs. The footboard takes the rub of a sole hundreds of times a night. A coating laid on top eventually wears off at the edges; an oxide layer wears too, but it wears evenly and leaves no chips.
Why dark grey rather than polished
On stage, polished aluminum reflects everything aimed at it. A low light, a camera at the wrong angle, and the pedal becomes a bright spot in the frame, right at floor level.
Graphite absorbs those reflections. It also matches the dominant colour of most recent hardware, which avoids the odd-one-out look when the pedal is the only shiny thing in an all-dark setup.
The colour changes nothing mechanical
This needs saying plainly, because the price gap between finishes sometimes suggests otherwise: the footboard travel, the cam curve, the spring range and the clamp geometry are exactly those of the polished version.
The extra cost pays for a longer surface treatment, not for different mechanics. If you choose by feel, you can take whichever colour you like without compromise.
Specifications
| Finish | Graphite, dyed anodized aluminum |
|---|---|
| Drive | Chain with sprocketless cam |
| Configuration | Single pedal |
| Clamp | Tri-Pivot clamp, US patent 9240169 |
| Beater | Control, adjustable mass and impact |
| Hinge | Interlocking Delta, US patent 9472174 |
| Machining | Aircraft-grade aluminum |
What it is for
- All-black hardware setups
- Filmed sets where chrome creates bright spots
- Touring, where footboard wear shows quickly
- Drummers who already own an MFG Graphite hi-hat stand
- Clubs with low, angled stage lighting
Compare with other manufacturers
The surface treatments other manufacturers use on their high-end pedals:
| Manufacturer | Comparable model | What differs |
|---|---|---|
| Tama | Speed Cobra 910 Black | Blackened finish on mostly cast rather than machined parts |
| Pearl | Demon Drive black | Coating applied over a body of mixed steel and alloy |
| Yamaha | FP9500 9000 series | Offered mainly in chrome, narrower range of colours |
| Mapex | Falcon | Black and brass contrast used as a visual signature |
Frequently asked questions
- Is the Graphite finish more fragile than chrome?
- No. The anodized layer is a hardened oxidation of the metal; it scratches less easily than chrome plating and has no edge for chipping to start from.
- Does it play differently from the polished version?
- No. Cam, spring, hinge and clamp are identical. Only the surface treatment changes.
- Can the colour rub off on my shoe?
- No. The dye is sealed into the oxide layer and does not migrate.
- Is the same finish available on the hi-hat stand?
- Yes. The four anodized colours of the MFG line also cover the direct-drive hi-hat stands.
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