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Scan-Beat
Pedals
Putting a New Foot Forward
(Modern Drummer - Sept. 2002)
Necessity, it's been said, is the mother of invention. I guess you
could call the Scan-Beat pedal the stepson of that process. Back
in 1966, drummer/inventor Soren Bloch came up with the idea of applying
to his over-worked foot the approach that most drummers were using
for their hands. Drummers use their wrists and fingers on the sticks.
Why should a drummer have to use his or her whole leg to play the
bass drum, when the ankle, foot, and toes could do the job just
as handily?
Soren
applied the theory of the drumstick pivot and control to bass drum
pedals by lining up the pivot point of the footboard with the ankle
(as opposed to under the heel). Voila. The Scan-Beat pedal
was born.
A
Different Design
A mere
glimpse at the Scan-Beat tells you that it's quite different
from any other pedal design. The front section of the pedal has
all the adjustments you'd expect from a professional pedal, plus
some I haven't seen before. The hoop clamp moves from side-to-side,
allowing for an offset hook-up. The clamping mechanism uses a single
locking lever with an adjustment that allows for different hoop
sizes. (You set it once by turning a thumb-screw.) The footboard
height, spring tension, and beater-stroke length are all independently
adjustable. Ball bearings at all pivot points help create an absolutely
silent action. Spurs on the sides of the pedal are mounted on the
same track that holds everything else, allowing them to be adjusted
back and forth.
Every
Scan-Beat pedal is custom-made near San Francisco, California. Most
of the components are machined from solid and extruded aluminum,
while the shafts and pedal supports are made from stainless steel.
The uprights on the pedals come in Blue/Turquoise Fade and Red-Hot
Flame anodized finishes. All the nuts and bolts are standard, so
your local hardware store can provide replacements if you need them.
All of the adjustments on the pedal are secured with Allen screws,
and Scan-Beat supplies a tool kit that provides all the necessary
wrenches on one unit. A custom-made carrying bag is included with
each pedal.
Setting
Up
Now
the fun starts. You loosen the screws holding the back posts, and
slide them so that they line up with the pivot point of your ankle.
A U-bracket underneath the footboard slides as well, to maintain
the proper angle. Once you set this and tighten everything down,
you're good to go. The upper attachment points are variable, so
you can keep the footboard off the floor, no matter how the rest
of the pedal is set.
Pedal
Performance
The
Scan-Beat definitely looks cool. But how does it feel? I
was honestly surprised at how light the unit felt under my foot.
Every motion that my foot made was translated directly into the
speed and impact of the beater. No effort was was wasted. The curious
thing is that all the action happens from the ankle down. Especially
when playing the double version of the pedal, it was eerie to play
quick, complex patterns and see my knees staying absolutely still.
However, I was able to get used to the feel of the pedal after a
relatively short break in period. And I felt like I was using fewer
muscles while achieving the same results.
There
is one drawback to the Scan-Beat design when it comes to the double-pedal
version. If you picture placing the slave side f the double pedal
next to a hi-hat, it's obvious that your left foot would not glide
easily from one footboard to the other. You'd have to lift your
foot up and over the supporting frame at the rear of the pedal.
(Soren has modified his pedals since this review was conducted to
lower the frame somewhat, but the situation still exists.)
Most
of what you've seen here is good news, though - especially if you
use your ankle more than your leg and doing so is becoming painful.
Such ergonomics don't come cheep, and the custom-machined nature
of the Scan-Beat also contributes to its hefty price tag. However,
if the demands of your gig are grueling, you may find the Scan-Beat
the answer to a prayer.
Something
For The Other Foot
Did
I mention that there is also a hi-hat version? Soren has adapted
the footboard assembly as a conversion add-on to an existing hi-hat
from a major manufacturer. The benefit the Scan-Beat system to the
hi-hat is that it creates a direct straight pull to the rod. I'm
told that the resulting feel is as smooth as glass. Having felt
the bass pedals, I have no doubt. At the moment, hi-hat are offered
on a special-order basis only.
Conclusion
The
Scan-Beat system is more than an innovation. I honestly think it
should be considered as a new instrument. It must be experienced
to be appreciated. Pedals are currently available direct from the
manufacturer, Scan-Bloc Trading & Mfg.
By
Chap Ostrander
Courtesy
of Modern Drummer
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