DW MFG MCD Single Bass Drum Pedal, Anodized Gun Metal
The MCD Gun Metal is a chain-drive single bass drum pedal, machined from aluminum and anodized smoky grey. That matte grey does not bounce back the stage lights, which matters on a filmed stage or in a pit. Underneath, it is the vertical spring adjustment that does the real work, and it deserves ten minutes of your time, once and for all.
What sets it apart
- Gun Metal colour, the most neutral of the four MFG anodized finishes
- Spring tension adjustable on a vertical axis, known as V.E.R.T.
- Tension set by turning a single hex screw
- Interlocking Delta hinge under the footboard
- Perforated solid aluminum footboard
- Lever-operated chain cam
Adjusting a spring vertically rather than by turning a knob
On a conventional pedal, you set the tension by screwing or unscrewing a knob that stretches an angled spring. The spring then changes length and angle at the same time, so the feel of the stroke does not respond in a linear way to what you do.
The V.E.R.T. adjustment works vertically: DW specifies a tension you set by turning a single hex screw. The spring no longer changes angle as it changes length, so the progression stays even from one end of the range to the other, and only one parameter moves at a time.
The grey nobody notices
On video shoots, in houses of worship, in a theatre pit, the rule is the same: the instrument should be heard and not seen. Polished metal reflects light sources, and deep black punches a hole in the picture when the background is light.
Gun Metal sits between the two. It has the density of a medium grey, produces no glare and does not stain the frame. It is the choice of drummers for whom the best hardware is the kind nobody talks about.
Find your tension, then forget it
Too little tension lets the beater drag against the head and chokes the sound; too much and it kicks your foot back and tires your thigh over a long gig. You find the right point by playing eight bars at real tempo, not by pressing on the footboard by hand at rest.
Once found, that point only needs to be found again. That is where vertical adjustment helps: one screw to reset, one parameter that moves, instead of a spring that changes angle and length at once.
Specifications
| Finish | Anodized Gun Metal |
|---|---|
| Spring | Vertically adjusted tension, V.E.R.T. system |
| Drive | Chain on a sprocketless cam |
| Format | Single pedal |
| Footboard | Perforated aluminum, contoured heel |
| Origin | Made in the USA |
What it is for
- Video recording and live streaming
- Houses of worship and rooms with careful lighting
- Orchestra pits and musical theatre
- Drummers who note their settings and want to find them again
- Hardware setups that are mostly grey
Compare with other manufacturers
How other manufacturers handle tension adjustment on their high-end pedals:
| Manufacturer | Comparable model | What differs |
|---|---|---|
| Yamaha | FP9500C | Conventional angled spring, set with a knob and lock nut |
| Tama | Speed Cobra 910 | Notched knob, adjusted in clicks rather than vertically |
| Pearl | Eliminator Redline | Cam changes through interchangeable sets instead of a lever |
| Mapex | Falcon | Separate spring and stop adjustments, more parameters to keep track of |
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need a tool to adjust the tension?
- Yes, a hex key. DW specifies tension that is set by turning a single screw, vertically.
- Is Gun Metal lighter or darker than Graphite?
- Lighter and more neutral. Graphite leans toward black, while Gun Metal stays a medium grey.
- How long does it take to find the right tension?
- A few eight-bar passes at gig tempo are usually enough. Setting it by hand with the pedal at rest is misleading.
- Is this adjustment also on the hi-hat stands?
- Yes, the same vertical principle is used on the line's direct-drive hi-hat stands.
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