Proline PSS10 Universal Metal Sustain Pedal With Polarity Switch

Most Liked Negative Review

Metal doesn't deserve to be this cheap.

I've had a pedal like it before, I think from Yamaha, but the Proline didn't meet my expectations. Pretty early on, it started acting closed or open no matter what I did with my foot. I don't think it was getting stuck physically, but it was functionally the same effect. The guy I was rehearsing with had the idea of taping it to the floor, because it was sliding around. So: I took off the bottom piece of rubber, to get a smooth surface to adhere to, and it stayed in place fine. It was really only supposed to be a temporary fix, so I took off the tape and tried getting the rubber back on. Well, it wouldn't go in. There's probably a special tool you'd need, and it just ended up getting stab marks from where I tried poking the pegs into the holes. One of its saving graces is that it wasn't as much of a screecher as my old piece of plastic was. I really did want the Proline to work, because I bought it specifically to travel with; and I did like how it looked before I disassembled the rubber, but I ended up replacing it with a Proline at a minimally higher price point. It looks like a small upgrade until you put the pedal to the metal. I've actually heard of a pre-modern composer who preferred practicing without a pedal. I guess the idea was that practicing sustain with your hands would sound better or something. It actually helps reduce cutoffs with low-polyphony keyboards, from what I've seen. I guess you could invert the Proline's polarity, practicing sustain with hands and feet at the same time. Or you could just practice with it unplugged. Of course: I bought it specifically for rehearsals, so my standards were higher. It actuates quietly enough, and it was the right size for travelling with; but it doesn't function correctly anymore, and it's not repairable. And if the metal meant it would outlast more than just a couple hundred chord changes, then maybe I'd be fine with its weight, but there's probably better value in plastic if you're stuck at this price point. And of course, Yamaha has been so reliable for me.