Drum Workshop DW 5002 Review: Accelerator Double Bass Pedal

Who Should Buy It

Key Specifications

Overview

The Drum Workshop DW 5002, model DWCP5002AD4, is a double bass drum pedal in DW's Accelerator family, built around a Dual-Chain Accelerator Sprocket. It is drum kit hardware, a mechanical pedal that operates twin bass drum beaters, rather than a hand played percussion instrument, and this review treats it plainly as that kind of product.

DW backs three named mechanisms here with listed US patents: the Tri-Pivot Toe Clamp, patent number 8330032; the Delta II Ball Bearing Hinge, patent number 5431081; and the Universal Assembly with Memory Lock, patent number 5396826. A Non-Skid Rubber Pad is also named as a built in feature.

Drum Workshop is widely regarded as the reference brand for double bass drum pedals, and the 5002 Accelerator sits in its mid tier lineup, below the flagship 5000 and 9000 series but above DW's most basic single chain designs. That positioning matters for expectations: buyers should look for features consistent with a mid tier chain pedal rather than DW's most premium materials.

Sound and Tone

A double bass drum pedal has no sound of its own. Its only effect on tone runs through the beater striking the head and the speed and consistency of the stroke that the drive mechanism produces, so this category is judged on that indirect basis rather than as an instrument's inherent voice.

The Dual-Chain Accelerator Sprocket is DW's named drive geometry for this pedal, and sprocket shape generally determines how beater speed builds through the stroke; an accelerating sprocket profile typically front loads speed early in the stroke for a punchier initial attack. That front loaded speed is part of why Accelerator branded DW pedals have a reputation for a quick, aggressive feel.

Beater material and shape for the 5002 are not stated in this listing, which is a meaningful gap for tone, since beater hardness and head profile usually affect the character of a bass drum strike as much as or more than the drive mechanism feeding it.

Build and Materials

The Dual-Chain Accelerator Sprocket, Tri-Pivot Toe Clamp, Delta II Ball Bearing Hinge and Universal Assembly with Memory Lock are the four named mechanisms in this pedal, with three of them backed by specific US patents, which is unusually well documented compared with other pedals in this packet.

The Delta II Ball Bearing Hinge is specifically engineered for smooth rotation and reduced friction between the footboard and the drive, and a ball bearing hinge generally lasts longer under heavy use than a simple pivot bushing, which matters for a pedal expected to survive years of regular practice and gigging.

What is not published is weight, overall dimensions, chain material or footboard material, so a buyer cannot verify exact build specifications beyond the four named, patent protected mechanisms. The Non-Skid Rubber Pad is confirmed as built in, which should help keep the pedal from sliding on hard flooring.

Playability and Technique

Playability is the category most directly shaped by this pedal's mechanisms, since the Dual-Chain Accelerator Sprocket, the hinge and the toe clamp all interact directly with a player's foot technique rather than with any resonant body.

The Tri-Pivot Toe Clamp is designed to secure the pedal to a range of bass drum hoop shapes and thicknesses, which should reduce pedal creep during hard, fast playing compared with a single point clamp design, and it should also make switching the pedal between different bass drums faster.

The Universal Assembly with Memory Lock lets a player mark a preferred footboard angle and spring position and return to it after breaking the pedal down, which particularly benefits gigging drummers who set up and tear down on different stages regularly.

• Dual-Chain Accelerator Sprocket for stroke speed
• Tri-Pivot Toe Clamp secures to varied hoop shapes
• Delta II Ball Bearing Hinge for smooth, low friction rotation
• Universal Assembly with Memory Lock preserves settings
• Non-Skid Rubber Pad resists sliding

Versatility and Styles

The Accelerator sprocket's fast feel suits rock, metal and other styles that call for quick, continuous double bass patterns, while the adjustable toe clamp and memory lock make it practical to reconfigure for a different drummer or a different kit setup. A worship or jazz drummer who prefers a softer, more controlled stroke can still use the pedal, simply by backing off spring tension and choosing a softer beater face.

DW's own catalog spans single chain, dual chain and direct drive pedals, and the 5002's Dual-Chain Accelerator geometry positions it as a faster feeling option within that range, though the listing does not provide the detailed geometry data that would let a buyer verify exactly how it compares with DW's own flagship tiers.

As a double pedal, it is built specifically for drummers who need two beaters from one footboard; it offers nothing to a single pedal player regardless of how well its named mechanisms perform.

Portability and Care

No weight or case information is published for the 5002, which makes transport planning harder than it would be with a fully specified listing. Double bass pedals in general are heavier and bulkier than single pedals because of the second, slave side pedal and its connecting hardware, and a chain driven linkage adds a bit more bulk than a belt system would.

The Universal Assembly with Memory Lock is directly useful for portability, since it lets a touring or gigging drummer restore a known setup quickly after transport rather than re-adjusting from scratch at every venue.

Chain drive pedals in general benefit from periodic lubrication and inspection of the Dual-Chain Accelerator Sprocket for wear, and the Delta II Ball Bearing Hinge should need less frequent attention than a simple bushing hinge, though the listing gives no specific maintenance schedule.

Setup and Daily Use

Setup starts with the Tri-Pivot Toe Clamp, which secures the pedal to the bass drum hoop, followed by connecting the slave pedal and matching chain tension and footboard angle on both sides using the memory lock system. Taking a little extra time on this first pass pays off every time the pedal is set up afterward.

Because the memory lock preserves settings, daily use after the first setup session should be fast, with a drummer able to return the pedal to a saved position rather than re-adjusting the Dual-Chain Accelerator Sprocket's tension each time it is unpacked.

New owners typically spend their first session tuning the Delta II Ball Bearing Hinge's feel alongside spring tension to find a comfortable stroke, then rely on the memory lock to preserve that setup going forward.

Who Should Buy It

This pedal suits double bass drummers who want DW's recognized Accelerator feel and a patent protected toe clamp, hinge and memory lock system, without paying for DW's flagship 5000 or 9000 series tier, which keeps the purchase at a mid-range rather than a premium price point.

It particularly suits gigging drummers who value the memory lock's ability to restore a known setup quickly after transport, and who play styles that reward the Accelerator sprocket's fast feeling stroke.

It is a poor fit for a shopper who actually wanted a hand played percussion instrument, since this is drum kit hardware with no sound producing body of its own, and it will not serve as a substitute for an instrument like a conga or cajon.

Alternatives Worth Considering

Drummers who want DW's absolute flagship feel should compare the 5002 against DW's 5000 and 9000 series pedals, which generally add more refined materials and drive options at a higher price point.

Buyers who specifically prefer belt or direct drive over chain drive should compare pedals built around those mechanisms instead, since the Dual-Chain Accelerator Sprocket here is a chain based design.

Anyone whose real interest is a hand played percussion instrument rather than drum kit hardware should look toward congas, cajons or djembes, since a bass drum pedal cannot substitute for that kind of playing experience.

Verdict

Judged as drum kit hardware rather than a hand played percussion instrument, the Drum Workshop DW 5002 is a well documented double bass pedal for its tier, naming four distinct mechanisms, three of them backed by listed patents.

Weight, chain material and overall dimensions remain unpublished, which keeps this from a top tier score even with DW's strong reputation and detailed mechanism names, since the published listing data itself is still incomplete.

For a drummer who wants DW's Accelerator feel, a secure toe clamp and the convenience of a memory lock system at a mid-range price, this is a sound choice. For a shopper looking for a percussion instrument to play by hand, it is simply the wrong category of product.

Strengths and Limitations

Alternatives to Consider

Yamaha Grade Direct Drive Double

Experienced drummers who want a fast, precise double pedal with every adjustment on hand and repeatable settings across kits.

Read the Yamaha Grade Direct Drive Double review →

Roland Mood Pan MN-10

Anyone who wants the sound of a handpan or tongue drum with the freedom to change scales, play quietly through headphones and record over USB.

Read the Roland Mood Pan MN-10 review →

Yamaha Total Percussion 285

A beginning percussion student who needs bells and a practice pad for school band in one portable package.

Read the Yamaha Total Percussion 285 review →

Questions Buyers Ask