Looking for a Gibraltar Linear Motion "Catapult" Bass Drum Pedal

[drumgadget]

Hello all -

Anyone out there have one of these contraptions sitting around? I'm curious to give the concept a try ..... but they were probably discontinued for a good reason! Open to good used condition, or even one needing repair of some sort.

Gotta live up to my moniker .......... !

drumgadget

 

[Rockin' Billy]

"gibraltar catapult linear motion pedal" Gear

Reverb is the marketplace for musicians to buy and sell used, vintage, and new music gear online. Welcome to the world’s largest music gear website.

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; )

 

[drumgadget]

"gibraltar catapult linear motion pedal" Gear

Reverb is the marketplace for musicians to buy and sell used, vintage, and new music gear online. Welcome to the world’s largest music gear website.

reverb.com

; )

Thanks, Rockin' Billy -

Yeah, I've seen this ...... and been tempted by it. But today, I actually got my hands (and foot!) on one down here in Tucson. Waaaay overpriced (list), but there it was in all its Brobdingnagian glory - I mean, the thing is effin' huge! The footboard is at least 4 - 5" longer than any pedal I've played, and the arm on the thing is by itself as tall as the center of a 20" bass drum head. That's without the beater stick installed ....... !

I think I'm going to make my own version, much smaller ....... I've got an electronic trigger pedal I made from scratch a few years back that might serve as a good basis for such an experiment. The idea still fascinates me ......

Mike

 

[mewing]

My two cents. I had one and didn't like it. Awkward motion. Sold it.

 

[drumgadget]

Thanks, mewing -

Out of curiosity - what size bass drum did you use it on? What was your major criticism? Just looking at the thing (no actual drum involved, just a cardboard box!), it seemed to me that the rebound might be a tad slow. The whole mechanism seemed to have too much mass and thus inertia ....

Mike

 

[EvEnStEvEn]

My two cents. I had one and didn't like it. Awkward motion. Sold it.

Same.
I tried to like it but the design and feel were both strange and there was a noticeable absence of power in the downstroke.
I was unable to execute even the simplest beats with the thing. An engineering marvel that just didn't translate well to the user, sadly an epic flop for Gibraltar.

 

[mewing]

Thanks, mewing -

Out of curiosity - what size bass drum did you use it on? What was your major criticism? Just looking at the thing (no actual drum involved, just a cardboard box!), it seemed to me that the rebound might be a tad slow. The whole mechanism seemed to have too much mass and thus inertia ....

Mike

I used it with 18" and 22" bass drums. I'm not that fast, but the pedal couldn't rebound as quickly as I could lift my foot, and the down stroke seemed heavy, then suddenly a hard thud. Not good for my mostly jazz playing!

 

[drumgadget]

Yikes!

I do believe I will steer clear ........ thanks!

M.

 

[Ickybaby]

Terrible pedal. I got one right after they came out because the literature looked good. No adjustment to alter the response. Very slow, unresponsive pedal. I sent an email to Gibraltar asking why they would make a pedal that had no adjustment capability. They responded that this pedal was designed to provide a specific feel. That-it-does; sluggish

 

[Treviso1]

Yikes!

I do believe I will steer clear ........ thanks!

M.

There's a new old stock one sitting at Huber & Breese Music in Fraser, MI. 586-294-3950

 

[Gunnellett]

I have one. Smooth as can be but the rebound isn't great even with the tension maxed out. I'm going to try a different spring.

 

[drumgadget]

I have one. Smooth as can be but the rebound isn't great even with the tension maxed out. I'm going to try a different spring.

I bet that ventilating that catapult arm with a bunch of lightening holes would reduce the inertia and speed up the action. Have to do this carefully so as not to weaken the thing; but hey, it looks seriously overbuilt.

M.

 

[Gunnellett]

I bet that ventilating that catapult arm with a bunch of lightening holes would reduce the inertia and speed up the action. Have to do this carefully so as not to weaken the thing; but hey, it looks seriously overbuilt.

M.

It is a solid very well built pedal for sure.

 

[phatsolid]

I have one, but haven't used it in ages. I thought it had a great feel for jazz but didn't have enough power for rock (and adding a heavier beater just slowed it down more). I agree a heftier spring would make it snappier. The biggest adjustment is how long the pedal board is and that alters how far away your bass drum sits... not great for BD-mounted toms.
- D.