MAPEX FALCON PEDALS

98 RHYTHM SUMMER 2011
EXCLUSIVE
EXCLUSIVE
THE FEEL OF THE
pedals is super-fast and the
action almost devoid of friction
PEDALS RETAIN
the same slim and elegantly
sculpted footboard
DIRECT DRIVE
really does feel like your foot
is connected to the pedal
DOUBLE PEDAL
is incredibly quiet (when
not connected to a drum)
MAPEX FALCON PEDALS
From £49.90 Mapex’s pedal is now available with the option of direct-drive, says Adam Jones
PRICES
Mapex Falcon
direct drive pedals:
P1000D single, £245;
P1000DTW double,
£475; AC1000D Direct
Drive conversion pack
(for existing Falcon
pedals), £49.90
DRIVE
Direct-drive
BEATER
Twin surfaces – plastic
and felt – with inter-
changeable weights
BASE PLATE
Solid metal with
grooved rubber
underlay and
retractable spikes
FEATURES
Hollow inox steel drive
shaft; talon hoop
clamp with offset ad-
justment; torque-free
spring mechanism;
interchangeable cams;
soft case included
CONTACT
Korg UK Ltd,
9 Newmarket Court,
Kingston, Milton
Keynes MK10 0AU
Tel: [phone]
Website: www.mapex.
co.uk
Email: mapex@korg.
co.uk
T
he arrival of Mapex’s Falcon pedals
last year raised the company’s
profi le at a stroke. Combining
innovative design with pro
specifi cations and user-friendliness, the
Falcons are now competing strongly at the
top end of the pedal market. Initially available
as a chain-drive pedal with an additional
strap-drive option, direct-drive single and
double Falcons have now been released.
Build
As well as being fi tted with the direct-drive
linkage, the new pedals are shipped with
both chain and strap-drive alternatives,
plus the two cams (glide and pursuit). Not to
leave out drummers who already own a
Falcon, Mapex is also making a direct-drive
conversion kit available as an add-on in its
own right. The provision of direct-drive has
not required any redesign of the Falcon’s
architecture; retro-fi tting the direct-drive
linkage to a chain-driven model takes only a
few minutes and requires no more than a
drum key. All other aspects of the pedals
remain the same, with the slim and elegantly
sculpted footboard providing a striking outline.
Hands On
Playing a spring-drive pedal you can sense
the physical link between the footboard and
the beater. Direct-drive is aptly named as it
really does seem like your foot is connected
straight to the beater – just a wiggle of the
toes is enough to swing it towards the head.
While the feel is super-fast and the action is
almost devoid of friction, getting the best
out of a direct-drive pedal requires both
discipline and controlled technique. It’s not
as forgiving to play as a spring-drive and
simply stamping on the footboard with all
your might won’t exploit the amazing speed
and smoothness on offer. The difference
between spring and direct drive is a bit like
hitting a punchbag while wearing boxing
gloves to then going bareknuckle – you can’t
beat the feel and closeness but a mistime
could leave you wincing in disbelief.
Both of the pedals responded to my
footwork instantly and executed everything
fl uidly and seamlessly. The double pedal felt
perfectly balanced, to the extent that it was
genuinely diffi cult to tell the two sides apart.
They were also incredibly quiet – when not
connected to a drum, the zen-like silence in
which they performed was at odds with their
frantic movement.
Verdict
Direct-drive pedals are defi nitely in vogue at
the moment. Behind the trend is the fact that
such pedals can offer a superior feel and
action over their spring-driven counterparts;
if you’ve got smooth technique then a
direct-drive pedal can feel as though it’s not
there. These Falcons are more expensive than
existing versions of the pedal, but the price
difference is roughly that of the direct-drive
conversion kit (twice in the case of the double
pedal with its two direct-drive linkages), which
explains the extra cost. This extra option
makes what is already a great pedal even
more desirable.
Rating ✪✪✪✪✪
Mapex’s pedal is now available with the option of direct-drive, says Adam Jones
fl uidly and seamlessly. The double pedal felt
RECOMMENDS
RHY193.gear_mapex.indd 98 7/13/11 4:24:44 PM