I have an early 60's swivomatic.
I am still trying to figure what is the purpose of the footboard sliding back and forth.
And my second question is the set screw to the left of the spring tower. It can move the cam forward/back while at the same time raising/lowering the pedal. What is the purpose of this adjustment.
I have an early 60's swivomatic.I am still trying to figure what is the purpose of the footboard sliding back and forth. And my second question is the set screw to the left of the spring tower. It can move the cam forward/back while at the same time raising/lowering the pedal. What is the purpose of this adjustment.
Ken!
Having played/gigged Rogers Swivo-Matic pedals for the past 17 years exclusively!, I can help with your query: Regarding the "sliding footboard", truthfully, I have never bothered with that adjustment as I have always left the pedal in it's default area .. meaning .. right in the middle of the adjustment, or sweet spot, as that keeps the strap and everything else in line. I suppose if one had a really long/big foot, you might want to back the pedal away from the front, but I have never had to bother with it! The other adjustment, the set screw to the left of the stroke adjustment/spring post, actually DOES have a purpose! The fact that the footboard goes higher and lower with this adjustment is just a by product of what the actual adjustment does, and that is:
It moves the angle and amount of stroke the beater has before it reaches the batter head. If you move it forward and back, you will see the beater get CLOSER or FURTHER away from the head. It's a personal kind of adjustment based on just where you LIKE the throw/stroke of the beater. Some like it further back, almost touching the top of their foot ... and others like it closer. Goes without saying that if it's too close, the stroke is very short and there is very little power. Hope this was of help!
Tommyp
Ken!Having played/gigged Rogers Swivo-Matic pedals for the past 17 years exclusively!, I can help with your query: Regarding the "sliding footboard", truthfully, I have never bothered with that adjustment as I have always left the pedal in it's default area .. meaning .. right in the middle of the adjustment, or sweet spot, as that keeps the strap and everything else in line. I suppose if one had a really long/big foot, you might want to back the pedal away from the front, but I have never had to bother with it! The other adjustment, the set screw to the left of the stroke adjustment/spring post, actually DOES have a purpose! The fact that the footboard goes higher and lower with this adjustment is just a by product of what the actual adjustment does, and that is:It moves the angle and amount of stroke the beater has before it reaches the batter head. If you move it forward and back, you will see the beater get CLOSER or FURTHER away from the head. It's a personal kind of adjustment based on just where you LIKE the throw/stroke of the beater. Some like it further back, almost touching the top of their foot ... and others like it closer. Goes without saying that if it's too close, the stroke is very short and there is very little power. Hope this was of help!Tommyp
Tommy thank you... Somebody posted the owners manual
[ame]http://www.cyberforms-sales.com/Rogers/Swivo_Pedal_1972.pdf[/ame]
The question I have is my pedal is exact as the illustration.
The manual is copyrighted 1972. Does that mean I have a pedal
built by CBS with the crappy bushings rather than the 23 needle bearings
Tommy thank you... Somebody posted the owners manualhttp://www.cyberforms-sales.com/Rogers/Swivo_Pedal_1972.pdfThe question I have is my pedal is exact as the illustration.The manual is copyrighted 1972. Does that mean I have a pedalbuilt by CBS with the crappy bushings rather than the 23 needle bearings
Ken!
You can see that I was pretty spot on about the stroke adjustment! :) Regarding the year of your pedal: You do NOT have a 1972 Swivo-Matic, as actually, your pedal isn't the same as the one in the manual! You have around a 1960 model .. because .. the Swivel Unit, which is the piece that connects the bottom rod on the footboard to the Swivo base, had THREE different designs over the years. Yours is the 1st generation design, and as such, one would think that you DO have the roller/needle bearings and not the later crappy sleeve bearing/bushing. The 2nd generation Swivel Unit came in around 1964 and stayed in place up through 1972, and I believe 'till 1974/75 which is when the 3rd generation Swivel Unit came in, and truth be told, THIS was the BEST one. I upgraded both my gigging Swivo/Matics with this Swivel Unit, and both those pedals are earlier and DO have the roller/needle bearings. SMOOTH as silk they are! All this said: I would think yours has the roller/needle bearings based on the build and your swivel unit/connector. Best way to know for sure? You will have to look! EASY to do! I take mine apart every couple of years to clean and re grease the bearings ... it's very simple. Have a look see, as that way, you will know for sure! I only say this as, not knowing where or how you bought this pedal, many times they can be "Franken-Swivo's", and assembled with parts from different years as they are pretty much interchangeable. :) Here's a pic of my Buddy Rich model Swivo-Matic .. although I play with and prefer the hinged footboard .. have a look at the upgraded Swivel Unit, as you can see it pretty well! :)
Tommyp
That's a great looking pedal you have.
I have the same mounting base on mine... no holes in it like I have seen others.
I see that your swivel connection is different..
Now you said yours was a 3rd generation or did you have an earlier swivo version and just switch out the swivel connection.
BTW, I have been playing SK pedals...very good reconditioned ones.
One looks like new... I also clean and re-grease... very easy.
I tried my swivomatic that I just bought on EBAY and really like the way it feels under my foot...plus the footboard angle adjustment is a big plus.
Although when I set my SK up I angle the mounting bracket a bit so it is flush on one side but slightly off on the other... It still stays on the bass drum and the beater hits pretty close to head on.
That's a great looking pedal you have.I have the same mounting base on mine... no holes in it like I have seen others.I see that your swivel connection is different..Now you said yours was a 3rd generation or did you have an earlier swivo version and just switch out the swivel connection.BTW, I have been playing SK pedals...very good reconditioned ones.One looks like new... I also clean and re-grease... very easy.I tried my swivomatic that I just bought on EBAY and really like the way it feels under my foot...plus the footboard angle adjustment is a big plus.Although when I set my SK up I angle the mounting bracket a bit so it is flush on one side but slightly off on the other... It still stays on the bass drum and the beater hits pretty close to head on.
Ken!
The Swivo-Matic pic I showed is my "Buddy Rich Model" in that this was the model he played all through his Rogers endorsement, and then with his Trixon/Vox endorsement, Fibes, and then Slingerland! Buddy was a HUGE fan of this pedal. I did upgrade the Swivel Unit on that one too as I was intending on playing/gigging it .. but .. I much preferred the hinged footboard model, so that one got relegated to my Buddy Rich collection of drums, sticks, pedals, etc. That said ...
... here are three pics of the Swivo-Matic I have actively gigged for the past 17 years .. soon to be 18 years! .. and like all of my "player models", it is upgraded. The Swivel Unit of course, the strap which is a nylon material as it does not stretch or break as leather eventually does! .. and usually in the middle of a gig! .. and the beater. I have DW beaters on all my pedals as this beater very closely replicates the Rogers "BlackJack" beaters that they pioneered when they came out with their Rogers Supreme version of the Swivo-Matic in/around 1976. I do have a Rogers Supreme in my collection, but never play/gig it. I always found it a tad over engineered and a bit bulky ... but that is of course a subjective comment! I just much prefer the earlier Swivo-Matic, and with the upgraded Swivel Unit and roller/needle bearings, have NEVER had a failure of any kind. Just SILKY SMOOTH action. I have Swivo mounting plates on all my sets, and they of course fit this pedal and it's back up. Interestingly, all those mounting plates are NOT the same, although at first glance they look it! You have to match the plate to the pedal as Rogers made slight changes here and there over the years.
I hear you on the venerable Ludwig Speed King! Probably one of the best known and most used pedals all time. I have seen some of the upgraded/reconditioned ones and they look like they would be great! ... and of course NO SQUEAKS! :)
Tommyp
TommyP,
I don't mean to hijack this thread, but I have a Supreme pedal with the huge footboard. My question is about the axle bearings...are they replaceable? They are needle-type, but only 17 instead of the 21 on the earlier Swivos. On mine, there is enough slop in the action that it makes a bit of a clunking sound when played. I have tried repacking the bearings with grease, and I even reversed the axle, which seemed to help a little. Are any parts interchangeable with the Swivo?
TommyP,I don't mean to hijack this thread, but I have a Supreme pedal with the huge footboard. My question is about the axle bearings...are they replaceable? They are needle-type, but only 17 instead of the 21 on the earlier Swivos. On mine, there is enough slop in the action that it makes a bit of a clunking sound when played. I have tried repacking the bearings with grease, and I even reversed the axle, which seemed to help a little. Are any parts interchangeable with the Swivo?
Most certainly! .. meaning .. you can get another set of fresh bearings that will fit, I would think! As to the 21 vs. 17 count on the bearings, I'm not sure? But ... perhaps there are sets of roller/needle bearings in this size with 21. It would take a bit of research, but easily done today what with the incredible search engines we have. After I read your post, I had a look at my Supreme, and also took it apart to check the bearings. Mine has ZERO slop, and is very smooth and quiet .. but .. I also think that has a lot to do with the "mileage" on the pedal itself. As to being interchangeable, I believe they are! The axle and housing certainly appears to be the same size as the earlier Swivo-Matics .. but .. finding an earlier Swivo with the bearings vs. sleeve/bushed might be tougher than finding a new set of bearings from some manufacturer or supplier. That all said, the Supreme is indeed, super smooth and quiet!, but as mentioned, for me personally ... too bulky. GREAT pedal though! Here are a couple pics I took of mine in case anyone would like to see how the Supreme looks compared to the Swivo-Matic. Also ... there is the OEM BlackJack reversible beater!
Tommyp
Most certainly! .. meaning .. you can get another set of fresh bearings that will fit, I would think! As to the 21 vs. 17 count on the bearings, I'm not sure? But ... perhaps there are sets of roller/needle bearings in this size with 21. It would take a bit of research, but easily done today what with the incredible search engines we have. After I read your post, I had a look at my Supreme, and also took it apart to check the bearings. Mine has ZERO slop, and is very smooth and quiet .. but .. I also think that has a lot to do with the "mileage" on the pedal itself. As to being interchangeable, I believe they are! The axle and housing certainly appears to be the same size as the earlier Swivo-Matics .. but .. finding an earlier Swivo with the bearings vs. sleeve/bushed might be tougher than finding a new set of bearings from some manufacturer or supplier. That all said, the Supreme is indeed, super smooth and quiet!, but as mentioned, for me personally ... too bulky. GREAT pedal though! Here are a couple pics I took of mine in case anyone would like to see how the Supreme looks compared to the Swivo-Matic. Also ... there is the OEM BlackJack reversible beater!Tommyp
Thanks for the input! Mine has the original BlackJack, too, but I'm sure it has more miles than yours. One thing that always bothered me about the pedal was the way the spring tension adjustment screw and wing nut would wobble a little. I cured this with another nut on the spring side (opposite of the wing nut on top), sort of the way most other pedals are. It also keeps the tension setting locked down.
T. I cured this with another nut on the spring side (opposite of the wing nut on top), sort of the way most other pedals are. It also keeps the tension setting locked down.
Tommy, I see the wing nut in the top of the spring and the washers underneath but I don't understand where there is another nut on the spring side that you are referring to. It isn't on the bottom of the spring mechanism.
So where is it?
Also, my beater cannot be centered on my bass drum... it is a bit off to the left. I have the hoop clamps as far to the right as possible until the bang into my bass drum claws.
