DW SM101 Two-Way Bass Drum Beater, Felt and Plastic
The SM101 is the bass drum beater DW fits as standard on many of its pedals. What makes it special comes down to one move: loosen, turn it half a turn, tighten. The bass drum goes from round to punchy without anything else changing.
What sets it apart
- White felt side: round attack, with a sustained fundamental
- Heavy-duty plastic side: sharp click, more attack
- Beater weight supplied with the shaft
- Listed as compatible with all of the brand's pedals
- One accessory for two bass drum sounds
Two sounds in a single part
Felt flattens against the head and spreads the impact: the attack rounds off, the fundamental comes through, the note lasts a little longer. Plastic concentrates the same kick on a hard spot: the result is a focused click that cuts through a distorted guitar without turning anything up.
The choice is not just a matter of taste. An open bass drum tuned low gets slappy with plastic; a muffled drum played in a loud band disappears with felt. The right side is the one that makes up for what the tuning does not give you.
The beater weight, and what it shifts
The small weight supplied with the beater slides onto the shaft. Set high, near the head, it makes the end of the lever heavier: the stroke gains weight and the return slows down. Set low, near the axle, it is barely noticeable.
It is the cheapest adjustment for dialling in a pedal to your own foot, and the one to try before thinking about changing pedals.
Specifications
| Striking surfaces | White felt and heavy-duty plastic |
|---|---|
| Changing the sound | Half turn of the head on its shaft |
| Weight | Beater weight included |
| Listed compatibility | All of the brand's pedals |
What it is for
- Replacing the original beater on a DW pedal
- Switching from a round to a punchy sound depending on the set list
- A second beater kept in the pedal bag
- Tuning the stroke weight with the sliding weight
- A studio session comparing both surfaces on the same take
Compare with other manufacturers
At other manufacturers, the two-surface beater takes fairly different forms:
| Manufacturer | Comparable beater | What differs |
|---|---|---|
| Tama | Iron Cobra pedal beater | Shaft and mount designed for the Tama frame |
| Pearl | Eliminator beater with removable faces | Faces that come off, rather than a head you flip |
| Vic Firth | VicKick range | Single-surface beaters, chosen by material |
| Danmar | Felt and wood beaters | Specialist in the head alone, without a sliding weight |
Frequently asked questions
- Which side should I use for which style?
- Felt for a round low end and music where the bass drum holds down the foundation; plastic whenever the attack has to be heard through amplified instruments.
- Is the weight really included?
- Yes, the manufacturer states it in its product listing: the beater weight comes with the beater.
- Will this beater fit my pedal?
- The manufacturer lists it as compatible with all of its pedals. On another brand's pedal, the shaft diameter and the clamp are what decide.
- Does the hard side damage the head?
- It marks the head faster than felt, because it always hits the same spot with a small surface. An impact patch stuck where the beater strikes takes care of that.
Avis clients
Torn between a round low end and an attack that cuts through?
Aucun avis pour le moment. Soyez le premier à partager votre expérience après votre achat.