Millenium PD-669 Stage Double Bass Pedal

TL:DR: Cheap, easy to setup, reliable and comes with a transport bag. Best double bass pedal that you can buy on a budget.! (just have a screwdriver handy in case a screw gets loose)

I bought this pedal in July of 2015, during that summer I started getting serious with my metal drumming and got interested in double bass techniques. I remember going crazy about those double bass parts in Metallica's "One". So I decided to order this pedal as a starting point. From there till now this has been the pedal that has stuck with me from my garage playing days to me joining a band, playing my first couple of gigs and recording my first EP. Is it perfect? No. But is it one a good entry point for aspiring double bass players? Hell yes!!!

Pros
-Ease of use: I remember the day I got it in the mail, I was a matter of minutes until the pedal was all setup in my beginners electronic drumkit. You just need to attach the rod that connects the main pedal to the slave pedal, place the beaters at your desired height (but not too low, which ill discuss in the cons section), adjust the tension and you're good to go!

-Stability: This a solid and stable pedal, you have 2 spikes and a full metal base in each of the pedals that assure that they won't go anywhere.

-Versatility: You can adjust the pedals the way you like it, for example: a few months ago I started playing in a rehearsal room with my band and the room's drumkit had the smallest hi-hat stand and the legs wouldn't allow me to place the double pedal under them, so I had to extend the slave pedal so that it was left of the hi-hat stand. I was pretty amazed at how much it would stretch. Another cool thing, is that you can attach a beater to the slave pedal and use it on a kit with 2 bass drums (it also has a clamp to attach to the second bass drum)

-Durability: The fact that I own this pedal for 3.5 years and I use it on a regular basis for long amounts of time and with serious abuse is a statement to the durability of this beast. I used it on 2 electronic kits with rubber pads and now on my acoustic kit. When I take it with me to my gigs and rehearsals I just disconnect the rod and throw it inside a gym bag and of it goes! I thought about upgrading my pedal, but since I'm always short on money for drumming, whenever I buy something for my kit I don't see the need to buy a new pedal because this one simply works how it's supposed to.

-Price: It's cheap!!!! And also comes with a transport bag!!! However I can't review the bag because I never used it. When I got this pedal I never had to take it out of my kit, so my mom used it as a bag for storing clothing and eventually lost it... You could've come in handy now a days.

Cons
-Loose screws: When you buy this pedal you'll find screws in your drum rug from time to time. Nothing that a screw drive won't fix, but it's a bit annoying after a while. Mine is already missing a support screw under the slave pedal, so if it isn't aligned (which it should be in order to have an ergonomic drum kit) the pedal can wobble a bit during playing. So have a screwdriver always handy.

-A bit squeaky: With time, and as the lubrication starts to wear off, the pedal can start squeaking a bit. Just apply some lubricant and that problem will be gone.

-The second beater holder has a bit of a design flaw: The second beater holder is held in place by a metal curve piece that can get in the way of the beater rod if it is placed too low. The only solution I see is to cut the beaters metal rod or to just place the beater at a higher position. If you're playing in a 22" bass drum it won't be a big problem, big in a 20" you'll need to place the beater above the center of the head to avoid this trouble (which will affect the sounds of the bass drum).

-Quality: It's a cheap product, so the finish sometimes isn't the best. After 3.5 years the black ink in the pedals has a faded a bit and one of the heads of the drum lugs that adjusts the beater horizontally has broken off (however, nothing that really affects the use of the pedal). Also, for some reason the beaters don't really line up when they are at a resting position, don't really know why, but it's something I can live with. Asides from some minor corrosion there's really nothing more that's wrong with it.

Conclusion: If you want a cheap, reliable and easy to use double bass pedal that will be at your side through your evolution as a drummer you should look no further and order this right now!

Ordered Millenium PD-669 Stage Double Bass Pedal as I was looking to try this type of pedal, for the price it is unbeatable, you can paid double for this pedal which are exactly the same from other stores. It seems a lot of stores just rebrand this pedal, but they are the same, Thomman are the cheapest.
Pedal looks well made and strong and feels fluid enough, I don't know how to use it properly as completely new to double bass pedals, and I won't be playing fast Metal music, so it quick enough for me, I had a loan of a DW9000 DB pedal and tested them side by side, of course the DW9000 is smoother and faster, BUT costs 14-15 times the price, But isn't even 5 times better, only time will tell if it stands up to use, but for me it is perfect to learn on. Well worth the money or even double the price. Well done Thomann.

Pros:

1. Price-Quality: One of the striking advantages of the Millenium PD-669 is its excellent value for money. This pedal provides a lot of features at an affordable price.

2. Adjustability and customization: Adjusting the angle, length and pressing force makes this gimbal flexible and customizable to the player's preference.

3. Durable: The gimbal is made of durable materials to ensure long life with active use.

4. Dual Bass Pedal System:The dual pedal system provides an opportunity for those who play two drums to unlock their potential in creating more complex rhythmic patterns.

Cons:

1. Weight: Some may feel that the PD-669 gimbal is a bit heavy to carry around, especially when adjusting the weight of the batteries.

2. A little noisy: In some cases, slight noises may occur when playing heavily. However, these are usually easily eliminated by adjustment.

Conclusion:

The Millenium PD-669 Stage Double Bass Pedal is a great choice for those looking for a reliable and affordable double bass pedal gimbal. This gimbal is great for players of varying skill levels, providing adjustability options and durability. Despite some downsides, the PD-669 provides excellent value for money. I recommend this gimbal to those who value functionality and reliability without excessive cost.

I brought this pedal not expecting much, wasn't expecting the best build quality and was thinking of buying an iron cobra after. However when it arrived how shocked i was! The only thing that needed doing was the tightening of a few bolts to make sure it don't fall apart. The beater are very good quality and the linkage bar moves smoothly. Great for positioning and is quite a fast pedal for the money. Great value for what I paid and will be using this pedal for a number of years. I have gigged this pedal and would not see any reason to carry a backup its a great bit of kit for what it is. Very nice footplates and a very strong pedal overall!