Roland FD-8 Hi-Hat Control Pedal

Designed to provide you with a smoother transition between open and closed positions, this electronic Hi-Hat Control Pedal produces a very realistic sound.

Overall User Ratings (based on 8 ratings)
  • Overall:
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Sound:
    2.5 out of 5 stars
  • Features:
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Ease of Use:
    3.5 out of 5 stars
  • Quality:
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Value:
    2.5 out of 5 stars
  • Manufacturer Support:
    3 out of 5 stars
  • The Wow Factor:
    3.5 out of 5 stars
Overall: 3 out of 5 stars
(8) (see rating details)
Submitted October 6, 2007 by a customer from aol.com

"Good pedal, bad brain!"

Overall: 4 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
I will be buying an upgrade set (I have a TD6V and will be buying a 12 and using existing equipment to beef up the 12). If I did have a pedal failure, I would replace it with this model.
Sound
Sound is realistic, except barely audible when you just press the pedal. I thought it was my setup, but seems like it's a flaw in the Roland brain. Unable to increase volume of closing hi-hat.
Features
no features
Ease of Use
Has good feel. Only complaint is the lack of volume on pedal alone. Problem would have to be in the brain, not the pedal.
Quality
I've had it a while. It takes a lot of punishment, but works good as new.
Value
Fair price for a good pedal
Manufacturer Support
no support requested
The Wow Factor
I love my Roland equipment. Only flaw is the hi-hat down sound...

Musical Background:

lifetime hobbyist

Musical Style:

oldie rock
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Submitted April 21, 2017 by Todd Dilbeck in Carthage, MO

"Super Product !!"

Overall: 5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
Verified Customer zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
I have a Roland TD-25kv drum set. I tried the FD-9 pedal but it forces your ankle upward to much and with way to little travel. Also some other technical problems. BUT then I got this FD-8 and it works and FEELS Super. No sound issues with my set. Couldn't be happier with the FD-8 !! Thanks zZounds !!!

Musical Background:

Retired Professional Rock Percussionist

Musical Style:

Rock
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Submitted February 8, 2006 by a customer from att.net

"Not recommended"

Overall: 2 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
Overall Roland FD-8 should be recalled and replacement should be offered to owners with defective one.
Sound
I experienced problem with low volume with this hi hat pedal using a Roland TD-3. Even when set to max you could barely hear it when playing. Several other owners also experienced this problem.
Features
Control pedal felt very much like an acoustic hi hat.
Quality
Roalnd could have done better.
Value
For over $100 to purchase it does not sound very convincing.
Manufacturer Support
Roland support does not recognized that there is a problem with this hi hat control pedal where other owners had also called with the same proble,
The Wow Factor
Looks good if it works.

Musical Background:

non-professional musician

Musical Style:

rock, jazz, classical
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Submitted June 26, 2006 by a customer from yahoo.co.uk

"Rolands Defective FD8 HihatPedal!"

Overall: 1 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
I am going to check out a Harts hihat epdal but this is going back or...
Sound
The pedal retriggers closed hiaht sounds even when going through the manual settings. It is not refined enough to be labeled 'realsitic'
Ease of Use
I have experienced the same low volume even when set to max as other people have also experienced. Again the other chap who has mentioned this in a review above is bang on. ROLAND WILL NOT ACCEPT THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM!!! If many people are saying this then they should have the damn decency to admit it let alone address it!
Quality
Roland have let a duff pedal on the market, probably becuase they were working so hard on perfecting the costlier model. Roland should be ashamed of themselves for this.
Value
If it does not work smoothly then.....
Manufacturer Support
They just will not recognise that there is a problem despite so many peole complaining with the same problems!
The Wow Factor
It looks ok.

Musical Background:

Drummer

Musical Style:

Jazz Funk
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Submitted September 14, 2009

"Fix for Roland FD8"

Overall: 3 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
Sound
Gets a low score because of what appears to be a design flaw (as noted by others). But I have found there seems to be a fix http://www.vdrums.com/forum/showthread.php?p=275659 that involves applying some grease.
Ease of Use
Relatively low score for the same reason above
Quality
Have had it for a year and haven't had a problem.
Manufacturer Support
Haven't had any problems to need support.
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