With my Camco bop kit I use a mix. WFL snare stand(flat based) and WFL hi hat. For cymbal stands (3) I use newer Ludwig flat based.(3lbs each!). Weight is the primary consideration as I play out alot and I'm an old geezer.

I used a "squeak" king for years and then I got a dw 9000. Woa, that baby is smooooth.

[COLOR="SeaGreen"]...floweryeah...exactly a case in point....[/COLOR]

Man, I just have a hard time with beaters that aren't round and I like my tom mounted on the bass drum and not on a stand. I can't help it Hmmmm

Anyway, I was trying to get the best of both worlds and I looking at some "modern vintage" pieces and bought this ludwig stand for 40 bucks:

ludwig-lt126cs-flat-base-lightweight-cymbal-stand pretty chintzy though, but it is working for now with my lightest, smallest crash.

But I did notice these Japanese CANOPUS products. They talk a good game in the marketing material (don't they all) and wondered if anybody had tried them. The snare stand, flat based cymbal stand and snares caught my eye...

i agree with that cause i have an 80's Pearl double pedal i have had to refurbish 3 times already!!! and it seriously needs a new drive shaft but i dont kno where to get one other than ebayStorm Trooper

All vintage with my '66 Gretsch round badge kit - but I use Ludwig #1400 series flat-base cymbal stands, a WFL flat base snare stand, a late '60s Gretsch "Monster" hi-hat, and either a Speed King or a Camco pedal.

I won't bother with vintage Gretsch flat-base stands because, 1, they're plain awful, and 2, they're plain overly-expensive - especially on those very rare occasions when they're in less-than-garbage condition. The old Luddy #1400 series is available, affordable, and reliable.

On my '04 Gretsch USA Custom set, I use slightly more modern hardware, but nothing double-braced, and nothing massive or huge.

Those of you who like the ol' Speed King ought to try out either a vintage Camco 5000 or Gretsch Floating Action pedal - they're actually the exact same pedal. Fast, smooth, powerful, and quiet.

The early model DW-5000 is essentially the same old pedal, retooled. Tama made one too - we call it the Tamco pedal - Tama's version of the Camco 5000 design. Some players like a chain drive. I prefer strap drive anytime.

I have the 5000 chain drive and the 9000 strap. I go back and forth between them. Funny the similarity between the 5000 and the speed king, when I first got the dw I thought it was very similar to the Ludwig but yeah, no squeak.

This is an interesting discussion. I've been playing my '69 Ludwigs for over 30 years now in a wide range of musical styles. The original hardware seemed pretty flimsy to me, and some of it had already begun to corrode (never having been stored anywhere you'd consider damp). I upgraded the HH and cymbal stands to medium weight Pearl versions as soon as I could afford to. I prefer the added stability and don't mind (yet!) the additional weight. I still use the original flat snare stand, however, and I've stayed with my Speed King. I typically play it with my my toe and never touch my heal to the pedal. I like that I can adjust it's effective resistance simply by moving my toe up or down the pedal. Yea, it squeaks a bit, but a little lube usually clears that up. I've been temped to upgrade, but haven't yet played a bass pedal a like better. Just my $0.02.

I agree 100% with you about the SpeedKing. It's one of the perfect things in life as far as I'm concerned. I learned to play heel-down because that's what was taught at the time and that's what the SpeedKing can facilitate the best, in my opinion. I do use a DW5000 on my gigging rig because it has a footplate that works better with my bass drum cradle, but for pure pleasure, it's the SK all the way!