DW SM020 Bass Drum Pedal Spring with Felt Damper
The SM020 is the return spring for a DW bass drum pedal, supplied with its felt. That small cylinder slipped inside the coil is not a finishing touch: it is what keeps the spring from singing on every return, and it is the piece that falls out the first time you take the pedal apart.
What sets it apart
- Replacement return spring, felt damper included
- Restores the tension the spring had when new
- Damps the metallic ring that follows every note
- Brings the tension adjuster back to the middle of its useful range
- Chrome finish
A spring wears out, and the pedal lies about its setting
The return spring works on every stroke. After a few hundred hours, it gives back less than it did at first: to get the same feel under your foot, you have to crank the adjuster higher, and the top of the stroke goes soft.
The telltale sign is a setting that drifts. If the pedal asks for one more notch every month, it is not your foot that has changed. A new spring brings the adjuster back to the middle of its range, where it still has room in both directions.
The felt, the penny part that keeps it quiet
Without felt, a pedal spring rings. You do not hear it in rehearsal; you hear it in the studio, as a faint squeal attached to every kick drum hit, one that survives EQ because it sits in the same range as the attack.
It is also the easiest part to lose: it drops out as soon as you unhook the spring to pack up. This model comes with its own, which saves you from trading a tired but silent spring for a fresh but noisy one.
Specifications
| Part | Replacement cam spring, sold individually |
|---|---|
| Supplied with | Felt damper |
| Intended for | DW bass drum pedals |
| Finish | Chrome |
What it is for
- Renewing the spring on a worn pedal
- Eliminating a squeal picked up by the kick drum mic
- Servicing a studio pedal before a session
- A spare to keep in the pedal bag
- An emergency fix after a spring breaks during a show
Compare with other manufacturers
Each manufacturer sells its pedal spring in its own version:
| Manufacturer | Comparable part | What differs |
|---|---|---|
| Tama | Iron Cobra return spring | Free length and hook specific to the Tama frame |
| Pearl | Eliminator return spring | Works with the Pearl interchangeable cam system |
| Sonor | Giant Step pedal spring | Mounting and damping specific to the Sonor range |
| Gibraltar | Universal pedal spring | Sold without a dedicated felt in most versions |
Frequently asked questions
- Will this spring fit my pedal?
- The manufacturer lists it as a replacement cam spring for its bass drum pedals, without a series-by-series list. Check the series marked on the baseplate before ordering.
- What is the felt for, exactly?
- It fills the inside of the coil and keeps the metal from vibrating freely. Without it, the spring produces a squeal that the kick drum mic picks up very well.
- How often should I replace it?
- The manufacturer does not give an interval. In practice, you change it when the tension setting drifts on its own or when the top of the stroke goes soft.
- Should I replace both springs on a double pedal?
- Both springs are the same age and have the same wear. Replacing them together keeps both feet identical, which is the whole point of a double pedal.
Avis clients
Is your tension adjuster going up a notch every month?
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