DW DWSM110XL Control XL Bass Drum Beater, 8.15 in Shaft
The Control XL is an adjustable bass drum beater with a long shaft: 8.15 inches, oversized square faces in wood or felt, and four removable weights that take it from 80 to 120 grams. The manufacturer credits it with more throw and more power, and faces that give more volume and attack.
What sets it apart
- 8.15 in shaft: more throw and more power, according to the manufacturer
- Oversized square faces, in wood or felt
- 120 g fully loaded, 80 g empty
- Four removable 10 g weights
- Designed with studio drummer John “J.R.” Robinson
What a longer shaft gives you, and what it costs
A longer shaft moves the head farther from the axle. The same footboard motion then sends the head along a longer path, and it reaches the drum with more momentum. On a large-diameter bass drum, it is also what lets you aim for the centre of the head rather than the lower, more muffled zone.
The trade-off is mechanical: the spring has more to bring back, and the tension setting goes up a notch. A pedal set up light needs a quick readjustment right after installation.
Square faces, and why square
A round face touches the head in a circle; an oversized square face lays down a wider flat area and increases the contact surface at the same height. The result is volume and a more decisive attack, which is exactly the brief for a studio beater played hard.
The two materials split the rest of the job: wood gives a dry click, felt keeps some body. The faces swap on the same body, without changing the shaft.
Specifications
| Shaft length | 8.15 in |
|---|---|
| Available faces | Square and oversized, wood or felt |
| Loaded weight | 120 g |
| Empty weight | 80 g |
| Weights supplied | Four at 10 g |
| Design | With John “J.R.” Robinson |
What it is for
- Large-diameter bass drums, struck in the centre of the head
- Studio work where the drum's acoustic volume has to carry
- Drummers who find their beater's throw too short
- A very decisive attack, with the wood face installed
- Replacing a standard beater on a well-adjusted pedal
Compare with other manufacturers
Long beaters and large striking surfaces from other manufacturers:
| Manufacturer | Comparable beater | What differs |
|---|---|---|
| Danmar | Large-format beaters | Larger surface through head size, not shaft length |
| Vic Firth | Large-format VicKick | Shaft length not offered as a variable |
| Pearl | Eliminator beater with removable faces | Round faces, standard-length shaft |
| Tama | Iron Cobra pedal beater | A single shaft length across the range |
Frequently asked questions
- How is it different from the standard version?
- The 8.15 in shaft and the oversized square faces. Fully loaded, it weighs 120 grams versus 104 for the standard version.
- Do I need to adjust the spring tension?
- Usually, yes. A head carried farther from the axle asks more of the spring: reset the tension once the beater is installed.
- How many weights are included?
- Four 10 gram weights, which take the assembly from 80 to 120 grams depending on what you install.
- Do I need to readjust the beater height?
- Yes. An 8.15 in shaft moves the contact point: check that the face lands in the centre of the head before adjusting anything else.
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