DW MFG MCD XF Single Bass Drum Pedal, Extended Footboard
The MCD XF is a chain-drive single bass drum pedal, machined from aluminum, whose footboard is longer than that of standard models. DW designed it for drummers who want more leverage and travel, while the footprint on the floor stays the same.
What sets it apart
- Extended footboard, for more leverage and travel
- Modified Contour heel that keeps the baseplate footprint
- Longer lever arm, so more force for the same push
- Extra surface for the slide technique
- Chain drive and lever cam, unchanged
- Aircraft-grade aluminum, made in the USA
What a longer board does for your foot
The footboard is a lever. The farther your foot's contact point is from the pivot, the more torque the same push produces on the beater. Moving forward on a longer board means hitting harder without pushing harder.
But it is not only about power. The slide technique starts from the heel, then slides the ball of the foot forward as the beater comes back down, to get two strokes from one motion. It needs room in front. On a short board, your foot runs out of travel at the exact moment it should still be moving forward.
Why the baseplate does not grow
Lengthening a footboard creates a practical problem: if the baseplate gets longer with it, the pedal eats into the space of the hi-hat stand and the throne. On a tight stage or a riser, that extra length costs you room.
DW got around the obstacle by redesigning the heel, shorter and more compact. The board gains its length toward the front while the footprint on the floor stays that of the standard model. The XF goes wherever the other one fit.
Same mechanism, different footboard
It is worth knowing what changes and what does not. The sprocketless cam and its lever, the vertical spring adjustment, the interlocking hinge and the hoop clamp are those of the standard version. Only two parts differ: the footboard, which is longer, and the heel, redesigned to take it.
That is reassuring if you are on the fence. Choosing the XF does not mean choosing another pedal, with a different feel to get used to. It is the same mechanism, with more surface in front of your foot.
Specifications
| Footboard | Extended footboard (XF) |
|---|---|
| Heel | Modified Contour heel |
| Floor footprint | Same as the standard-board model |
| Drive | Chain, sprocketless cam |
| Format | Single pedal |
| Material | Aircraft-grade aluminum |
What it is for
- Slide technique on the bass drum
- Drummers with large feet, cramped on a standard board
- Powerful playing, looking for torque without stiffening the spring
- Tight stages where the footprint on the floor must not grow
- Replacing a pedal whose board felt too short
Compare with other manufacturers
Manufacturers that also offer a long board, and how they get there:
| Manufacturer | Comparable model | What differs |
|---|---|---|
| Tama | Speed Cobra | Long board as standard, no short-board version |
| Pearl | Demon XR | Fixed length, a choice made at the design stage rather than at purchase |
| Yamaha | FP9500 9000 series | Single length, with adjustment focused on the footboard angle |
| Gibraltar | 9711 Series | Standard board, with no long version in the lineup |
Frequently asked questions
- Does the pedal take up more room on the floor?
- No. DW specifies a modified Contour heel, which allows a longer footboard without enlarging the footprint on the floor.
- What changes compared with the standard MCD?
- The footboard and the heel. The cam, spring, hinge and hoop clamp are identical.
- Do I have to play heel-up to benefit from it?
- Not necessarily, but that is where you feel the gain most: the slide technique needs length in front of the foot.
- Who is the XF version designed for?
- Drummers looking for extra leverage and travel: powerful playing, large feet, slide technique.
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