This is Awesome! Review of the Pedal Rogers RP100 Dyno-Matic

Hello everyone!
Today, I’ll be reviewing the Rogers drum pedal, the RP100 Dyno-Matic, which was launched in Japan in 2019.
Rogers is a historic American drum manufacturer that once went bankrupt in the 1980s, but made a comeback in 2017.
In this review, I’m going to take an honest and thorough look at the RP100 Dyno-Matic drum pedal. This pedal is what Rogers has poured its heart and soul into, covering both the pros and the cons.

SPEC

• Dyno-Matic
• Type: Single pedal
• Weight: Approx. 2.3 kg
• Beater: Felt/Plastic 2-way — Quick Flip Dual Surface Beater
• Drive System: Single chain
• Adjustable Features:
  - Pedal board angle
  - Beater angle
  - Spring tension
  - Chain angle
  - Post height
  - Toe stopper
• Comes with a dedicated carrying bag

LOOKS

Drum pedals are often hidden behind the bass drum from the audience’s view, but using a pedal with a design you really like can make you feel more attached to it, and that can seriously boost your motivation to practice. There’s nothing wrong with choosing gear based on looks!

The Dyno-Matic comes in silver. Its shape is quite unique—it’s chunky and rugged, giving off a very cool vibe.
The design is based on Rogers’ vintage pedals like the Supreme and Swiv-O-Matic, so it has a classic feel that vintage gear enthusiasts will really appreciate. If I were to compare it to an actor, I’d say it’s like Sylvester Stallone—tough and unmistakably bold.

The Rogers logo is featured in several places on the pedal, giving it a sense of detailed craftsmanship and pride in branding.

The inclusion of a tuning key is a really convenient touch.
The bottom of the pedal has non-slip rubber, which helps keep it stable during play.
The toe stopper is removable, allowing for more customization depending on your playing style.

The dedicated soft case comes with an embroidered Rogers logo and is well-built, offering solid protection.

On the back of the case, there’s a hook-like design that can be attached to the handle of a rolling suitcase. It’s a thoughtful feature for drummers carrying a lot of gear.
The pedal weighs about 2.3 kg, making it relatively light compared to many other drum pedals on the market.

Impressions from stepping on it

There’s a video of me actually playing, so please check it out.

Usable in all situations

The drum pedals I usually use are mainly the DW5000AD4 and the Ludwig Speed King (reissue).
I use the DW5000 when I want more bass drum volume in styles such as for rock, and the Ludwig Speed King for everything else.
As for the Rogers RP100 Dyno-Matic, the feel was simple and had a standard, comfortable action. Depending on how you adjust it, you can play anything from delicate, low-volume feathering to bold, loud playing. So, it feels like this one pedal is more than enough on its own!

Adjustability

My impression after trying out various adjustable parts is that, thanks to the number of adjustment options, it seems like you could replicate the feel of just about any pedal.
In fact, I tried adjusting the Rogers RP100 Dyno-Matic to match the frame height, footboard angle, and front-back position of the DW5000, and I ended up with a Rogers RP100 Dyno-Matic that felt almost exactly like a DW5000! Well, that makes sense, I suppose (laughs).
Therefore, even if you’re switching from another pedal with a unique feel to the Rogers RP100 Dyno-Matic, you can start by adjusting it to match your previous pedal’s settings, which makes the transition smooth and natural.
The fact that you can independently adjust the overall frame height, footboard angle, and even the footboard's position is amazing. I think this might be the real charm of this pedal. Playing around with the pedal settings and studying how different configurations affect your technique can really lead to improvement, so although at first glance it might look like a pedal for advanced players, I actually think it’s a great option for beginners too.

As for detailed adjustment methods, this article from Sound House explains it very clearly:
■ Episode 1: Rogers Pedal “RP100 Dyno-Matic” Feature Introduction & Setup Guide

Standard Pedal Feel

Although it offers various adjustment options, the basic feel when stepping on the pedal is fairly standard.
Also, since it’s a single-chain drive and unlike the DW5000, it doesn’t have an underplate that fixes it solidly in place, there’s a bit of play (a slight looseness). Because of that, in terms of sound as well, it doesn’t have the tight and choked tone characteristic of pedals with an underplate. Instead, you get a pleasantly resonant “boooom” kind of low end. I’d say it’s somewhat close to the Ludwig Speed King in that sense.
Moreover, although there’s no underplate, the bottom is equipped with anti-slip rubber, so compared to pedals like the Ludwig Speed King that have neither an underplate nor anti-slip features, the stability is quite high. I think this helps prevent the bass drum from sliding forward when playing on smaller diameter kick drums.

The Beater is Great

This beater allows you to switch the striking surface (felt or plastic) with just one touch by pressing down the spring-loaded beater head. This feature is extremely convenient.
The weight of this beater is about 91 grams. The standard beater for the DW5000 (SM101) weighs about 101 grams, so compared to the DW, it feels lighter, but among beaters in general, it’s on the slightly heavier side.
Pearl’s beater (B-200QB) weighs around 90 grams and the balance when playing felt similar to this one.

By the way, this beater (RP100B) is also sold separately, which is a nice bonus.

Packed with Excellent Features

There are many other unique and convenient features as well.

• The pedal can be attached to the bass drum hoop with just one touch.
• The spring tension adjustment screw is positioned facing upwards, making it easy to reach by hand.

Also, this pedal really takes care of all the little details.
It looks stylish and the functionality is outstanding. Truly wonderful.

Any drawbacks?

After all this praise, there is one drawback.
The groove running lengthwise on the footplate is surprisingly deep, so stepping on it barefoot or with socks can feel a bit uncomfortable.
Of course, this is not an issue when wearing shoes.

Also, many people might hesitate between this and the similarly styled TAMA HP50. If you can’t decide, just buy both!

To summarize

After all, it’s a case of “seeing is believing,” or rather, “hitting is believing.”
I want you to experience this Rogers pedal firsthand, with your eyes, ears, and body.

As a side note, please allow me to introduce my band as well.

Girls on the Run

A four-member folk-punk rock band from Takadanobaba, Tokyo.
We are known for sharp, piercing vocals and high-energy performances. To date, they have released two fully self-produced demo tapes and lyric videos, and in November 2020, they released their first EP.

Sugimoto (Vocals/Guitar, songwriter) previously performed with the band Brainstorming, which made it to the semi-finals of the Unidentified Festival 2018 held at Shibuya O-West. She moved from her hometown in Aomori Prefecture to Tokyo for university and formed Girls on the Run in 2019.
Our demo tracks “Unit Bath” and “Sanctuary” were both aired as ending themes on BeFM’s Yuraji! Hachinohe.

They were selected as the July winner for the RO JACK for COUNTDOWN JAPAN 20/21 competition, and in December, the songs won the overall audition, earning a spot at COUNTDOWN JAPAN 20/21.

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