Prior to purchasing the TD-1KV, I did some research to see if Roland had improved the design of the foot pedals in its new TD-series entry-model; the TD-1KV. I couldn’t really find any information or clear photos of the inner working of the pedals.
On a recent trip to Japan, I visited a music store and got to see the pedals in person. To my surprise, the TD-1KV has two different pedals; a dedicated Hi-hat pedal, and a dedicated Bass pedal. Both share the same foot boards and bodies/casing, but the internals are slightly different.
The Hi-Hat pedal shares the same black rubber actuator as the higher-end FD-8 Hi-Hat pedal, and the HD-3. Issues can occur as this component becomes aged and dries out. It loses its flexibility over time and can become hard. This results in reduced pedal responsiveness for all Roland pedals that use it. There are various ‘fixes’ out on the internet, but the ultimate solutions is to phone Roland and get a replacement part ordered and fit it.
The Bass Drum pedal is a new design that uses a mesh-covered pad. This has no moving parts, other than the spring-loaded foot board. It appears to be a very good design for Roland and I much prefer it over the rubber actuator Roland has been using. Time will tell if the new design last for years or not.
Link: youtu.be/5jfkfyhI1W0
