After spending 21+ days researching and testing various budget bass drum pedals, I think that the Gibraltar 6711S Dual Chain Single Bass Drum Pedal gives you the best bang for your buck.
Gibraltar 6711S Dual Chain Single Bass Drum Pedal
It offers the best bang for your buck and offers the best response, durability and playing experience for a single bass drum pedal at its price point. I explain our choice in greater detail in a later part of this article as well. (click here to skip to it now)
Please do note that due to the budget and price point, you’ll notice that the pedals in this guide are mostly entry level single drum pedals.
But first, let’s start with our pick of the top budget bass drum pedals:
Top Budget Single Bass Drum Pedals
| Single Bass Drum Pedal | Pedal Drive | Smoothness | Cam Action | Playing Feel | Build Quality | Ease of Maintenance | Overall Verdict | Price Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Gibraltar 6711S Dual Chain Single Bass Drum Pedal | Double Chain Drive | **** | Offset | **** | ***** | *** | A top quality pedal, for economical price. | Below $100 |
Tama HP30 Stage Master Single Bass Drum Pedal | Single Chain Drive | **** | Offset | *** | **** | ** | Another good quality pedal that you can get on a tight budget. | Below $100 |
ddrum RXP RX Series Single Bass Drum Pedal | Single Chain Drive | *** | Offset | ** | *** | ** | It does what it needs to, without breaking. | Below $100 |
Alesis V2 DMPedal | Single Chain Drive | ** | Offset | * | ** | ** | If you are really tight on budget but still need a pedal, this is it. | $50 and below |
p.s. this guide was first published in 2019 and has been updated for 2023.
Continue reading to learn more, here’s a quick table of what you’ll learn in this guide. Click on your section of interest to skip right to it:
- Best Budget Single Bass Drum Pedal Below $100
- Best Budget Single Bass Drum Pedal Below $50
- Budget Bass Drum Pedal Reviews:
- Our Criteria for Selecting the Best Budget Bass Drum Pedal
- How to choose a bass drum pedal? (for clueless drummers)
A Note on ‘Budget’
Before I go on ahead, let’s define ‘budget’.
Why? Because my understanding of ‘budget’ will be very different from that of someone like Ringo Starr’s.
For this article, I focused on the best budget bass drum pedals coming in at below $100.
Why $100?
The average price of a budget bass drum pedal is about $100.
Truth be told, if you’re looking for something even cheaper, I would suggest sticking with the bass drum pedal that you’re currently using for now.
But if your pedal is broken and you have a super tight budget, I’ve included one model in our cheap bass drum pedal below $50 section. It is difficult to find many pedals that could fit into that tighter budget.
Now that we are on the same wavelength in terms of budget, let’s get right into it!
Best Budget Single Bass Drum Pedal
As mentioned above, our pick of the best budget bass drum pedal is the Gibraltar 6711S Dual Chain Single Bass Drum Pedal.
Gibraltar 6711S Dual Chain Single Bass Drum Pedal
Guys, this is a steal. For under $100, you’re getting a double chained bass drum pedal built with sturdy material. Gibraltar was listing this as a discount, but based on the comments it seems that this discount has been on for a while. Regardless, if it is still being offered below $100 here, you should grab it at a steal.
Anyway, here’s:
Why the Gibraltar 6711S Dual Chain Single Bass Drum Pedal?
1 – Durability & Build Quality
Of the pedals I have considered in the article, the Gibraltar 6711S Dual Chain single bass drum pedal has the best durability and build quality – it features a steel base (instead of cheap plastic or aluminium that’s common of pedals below $100), comes with a double chain and even the pedal itself is well made.
I did a double take when I saw the price. And I know, I might sound a little too excited here, but I think this is a deal of a lifetime. This is agreeable even among real users, as seen from reviews.
Although the pedal won’t last you a lifetime, you can expect it to last for at least 10 years, depending on your usage and how you maintain it.
And hopefully by then, your drumming would have improved and you would probably be ready to get a pro grade pedal, or a double bass pedal.
2 – Playing Experience
At its price point, many users agree that the Gibraltar 6711S Pedal’s playing experience is on par with pedals of the $200-$300 range, and this says alot about the 6711S. I would agree that it provides a smooth playing experience that doesn’t seem to falter even when you go at the bass drum fast.
As the only double chain bass drum pedal on this list, the Gibraltar 6711S dual chain pedal provides the most stability and durability.
That said, the stability doesn’t affect its speed. You’ll very well be able to train your double beat kicks on the pedal with no issues at all.
3 – Price Point
Well, if you’ve read till here, you’ll know that I think that this is most definitely a steal below $100. Most pedals of the similar build would cost you about $200-$300.
You can read more reviews and experiences from real users here.
Best Cheap Single Bass Drum Pedal below $50
If your purse strings are tight, consider the Alesis V2 DMPedal Single Bass Drum Pedal.
Okay before we proceed any further, here’s a disclaimer!
I did not test all the bass drum pedals in this category, simply because most of them failed to hit our requirements before I had the chance to actually test them.
The only one that passed our criteria is the Alesis V2 DMPedal Single Bass Drum Pedal.
Previously, the CODA DH-208 was the only one that made this category, however it has sold out since. The Alesis V2 DMPedal is a great alternative below $50, however it is selling out fast as well. You can check the latest price & availability here.
Although I’d urge you to increase your budget for a single bass drum pedal, here’s why the Alesis V2 DMPedal made it into this list:
Why the Alesis V2 Bass Drum Pedal?
1 – Price
Let’s face it, it’s cheap and functional.
If you need a single bass drum pedal that works in the short term, this is your go-to option.
2 – Good performance for something below $50
With bass drum pedals going for $50 and below, you’re really taking a risk.
A bass drum pedal is exposed to the full strength of a drummer during every drumming session, along with a high amount of vibration and frequency of movement.
It should ideally be made of sturdy material, which can be difficult to produce at such low prices.
Hence, if you want a pedal for less than $50, do keep in mind that you’ll be getting a pedal that is flimsy and less likely to last.
The Alesis V2 DMPedal seems to exceed this expectation, there were good reviews across multiple forums.
And the best part is that it is a budget bass drum pedal that can be used on both acoustic and electronic drum kits.
3 – You can go relatively fast on this
Yes, speed is key when choosing a pedal…on top of its durability.
And you can go relatively fast on the Alesis V2 DMPedal, although you might need to be prepared to deal with the noise from the pedal.
But hey, it’s cheap and it works, so what more can you ask for at this price point right?
Budget Bass Drum Pedal Reviews
In this section, I review each of the budget bass drum pedals that made it onto my list, you can find the summary of the pedals in the table above. (click to skip back to it)
This will give you an idea of our selection and thought process which may come in handy when you are choosing between pedals.
Gibraltar 6711S Dual Chain Single Bass Drum Pedal Review
- Pedal Drive: Single Chain Drive
- Cam Action: Offset
- Smoothness: ****
- Playing Feel: ****
- Build Quality: *****
- Ease of Maintenance: ***
- Overall Verdict: A top quality pedal, for economical price.
Gibraltar 6711S Dual Chain Single Bass Drum Pedal
A top quality bass drum pedal at an affordable price.
Gibraltar has been producing drum hardware since 1993 and is one of the trusted brands in the drumming industry. They were bought over by Drum Workshop which is a longstanding drumming brand behind the well known DW drums and Pacific Drums and Percussion (PDP) brands.
The Gibraltar 6711S single bass drum pedal is plays smooth and is very sturdy which definitely helps if you want to play fast. (There were users who complained of QC issues, however these were few and far between.)
Here’s their official product video that gives you an introduction to the moving parts:
You can easily make adjustments to the pedal from the tension to the pedal height, making the 6711S a versatile option for a wide range of drummers.
I also like that Gibraltar have included a drum key clip at the base for easy storage of your drum key (which is also included) while you play. This is particularly useful if you’re gigging and don’t own a stick bag, or don’t like the feeling of the drum key sticking into your thighs (common issue if you have it in your pocket) as you play.
If you’re looking for a budget drum pedal that will last, this is your bet.
Or, if you’re a beginner drummer who wants an upgrade from your stock drum pedal, this is definitely a great option too. (Of course, if you have a bigger budget, you could take a look at better options that are >$100)
You can read more reviews and experiences from real users here.
Our thoughts:
I loved the Gibraltar 6711S Dual Chain Single Bass Drum Pedal for its great build quality and value. If you’re a drummer looking for a good bass drum pedal on a budget, this is one that you should consider.
Many users have compared it with the top range pedals from DW and have found little differences, so you’d truly be getting a great deal with this pedal.
Unfortunately, you should take note of the beater issue, as mentioned above.
Tama HP30 Stage Master Single Bass Drum Pedal Review
- Pedal Drive: Single Chain Drive
- Cam Action: Offset
- Smoothness: ****
- Playing Feel: ***
- Build Quality: ****
- Ease of Maintenance: **
- Overall Verdict: Another good quality pedal that you can get on a tight budget.
The Tama HP30 Stage Master is another option that you might want to consider.
It features the same offset cam design that is used in Tama’s signature Iron Cobra Power Glide pedal too.
On top of the cam design, the spring tension adjustment on the HP30 stage master is also inspired by the Iron Cobra’s “spring tight” design.
According to Tama, traditional twisting springs will reduce pedal smoothness, it’s Spring Tight design features a crescent shaped spring tension rod that helps retain smoothness and power transmission.
Another unique feature of the Tama HP30 Stage Master is the ability to adjust the beater angle and footboard angle. This is not common in pedals of this price range.
Here’s a summary of the Tama HP30 Stagemaster’s features:
Our thoughts:
The Tama HP30 Stagemaster is another value for money pedal, especially for new drummers or drummers who want a relatively good pedal on a tight budget.
The key reasons it lost out the the Gibraltar 6711S were that its built is less sturdy and flimsier (which is common for pedals below $100), and it has relatively lesser support documentation online.
It appears to be a less popular option and many smaller music shops may not carry it.
Hence, if you need a reliable pedal or want after sales support, you’d be better of purchasing this from a local store if they promise to provide after-sales care.
ddrum RXP RX Series Single Bass Drum Pedal Review
- Pedal Drive: Single Chain Drive
- Cam Action: Offset
- Smoothness: ***
- Playing Feel: **
- Build Quality: ***
- Ease of Maintenance: **
- Overall Verdict: It does what it needs to, without breaking
The ddrum RXP Single Bass Drum Pedal is a chain driven bass drum pedal that is relatively easy to install.
However, there is almost no documentation, even on their website. This is not much of a big deal, until the day that the pedal fails to work.
Hence, we’d prefer to get a pedal with proper documentation or manual.
The build quality also feels more flimsy compared to the Gibraltar 6711S and Tama HP30. And that’s not just my opinion, other users have also given feedback that on top of feeling flimsy, it doesn’t seem to last with heavy use.
Hence, if you plan to be drumming daily, or happen to be a heavy kicker, you might want to consider another pedal.
However, if you are planning to use it less frequently, the ddrum RXP single bass drum pedal is an affordable bass pedal.
Alternatively, if you are looking for a budget bass drum pedal for your electronic drum kit, it makes a great option due to the beater on the RXP single bass drum pedal.
Our thoughts:
Overall, the ddrum RXP Single bass pedal functions well, but it didn’t really leave an impression.
At a similar price point, you might want to consider the Tama HP30 instead.
Alesis V2 DMPedal Bass Drum Pedal Review
- Pedal Drive: Single Chain Drive
- Cam Action: Offset
- Smoothness: **
- Playing Feel: *
- Build Quality: **
- Ease of Maintenance: **
- Overall Verdict: If you are tight on budget but still need a pedal, this is it.
“Why spend $100 for a pedal when you can get something cheaper?” – if that is your belief and durability isn’t an important factor on your list, the Alesis V2 DMPedal is an excellent choice.
But be forewarned, you are getting what you paid for.
It is lightweight and relatively less sturdy when compared to the rest of the pedals on this list.
As you can see in the image below, there is no base on the V2 DMPedal, instead, there’s a light metal piece that supports it:
You may need to apply velcro or a rubber base to keep the pedal from sliding while you’re drumming.
Our thoughts:
Only consider this if you are very tight on budget, or if you’re getting this for a junior drum kit that may not be used too often or for decades.
Otherwise, you might be better off looking for second hand bass pedals at a discount, or save up a little more to get the Gibraltar 6711S single bass drum pedal instead.
My criteria for selecting the best budget bass drum pedal
The single bass drum pedal market is huge. You’ll be spoiled for choice when shopping for these.
This article was written with the aim to help you narrow down your options fast by doing the bulk of the research for you.
Our research process consist of three main portions;
- Product Features: I look at the pedal’s specifications, features and selling points and compare across our selection to give you the best budget bass drum pedals.
- Reviews – I then read all the user reviews that I can get my hands on, this helps us to determine if the pedal is really as good as what its manufacturer says.
- Sound demo & Test – I look out for sound demos and tests of the actual product, to determine if the product really works well for a drummer.
Most of the budget bass drum pedals will be eliminated in steps 1 and 2.
I asked these questions during my research process;
- Price: Does it fit the $100 budget?
- Positive vs Negative Reviews: On top of reading the reviews, I also look out for common and unique complains. Common complains that are spotted across all reviews will give us an idea of the downside to the product. Unique complains tend to highlight issues that only happen to 1 or 2 units of the product, but if the consequence of such complains are too serious, I will avoid the product. For example, if the belt or chain of a drum pedal breaks and injures someone, I will avoid that product, even if it has only happened once.
- Playing Requirements: I look out for the playing experience of the pedal. I ask; Does the pedal do what it is supposed to do? Does it provide a smooth drumming experience? How fast does it allow the drummer to go?
How to choose a bass drum pedal? (for clueless drummers)
If you’re selecting a bass drum pedal for the first time and need some guidelines, read our guide to “How to choose a Bass Drum Pedal“.
You’ll learn about the basics of how a drum pedal works as well as the key components of a drum pedal that affects your playing experience.
I also cover the four main things to look out for when choosing a bass drum pedal, in greater detail.
These are the very same criteria that have been included in our research process.
Conclusion
Our pick for the best budget bass drum pedal is the Gibraltar 6711S Dual Chain single bass drum pedal.
I hope that this article has helped you to speed up your research process and come to an easier conclusion for a budget drum pedal that suits your needs.
Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.
