I have certain sounds I use as a baseline when I'm tuning before a gig. Obviously the gig will dictate the sound I'm shooting for.
I'm listening to Dave Brubeck's Time Out album right now. I'm loving Joe Morello's tones... Especially his snare.
Other times it's different. I've always loved John Densmore's drum and cymbal sounds on "The End".
What are the tones that inspire you?
Well, I love all kinds of drummers/drum sounds, some of which being Bonham and Alex Van Halen's sounds, and of course all the bebop and hard bop guys sound fantastic. But when I hear the Motown stuff I just think, "that's how a drum set is supposed to sound." It's probably because one of my first musical memories is of my mom playing 'Stop in the Name of Love' and 'You Cant Hurry Love' over and over again when I was a kid.
Listen to the intro of any Four Tops or Diana Ross and the Supremes song, you'll hear what I mean.
Also, the surf band drummers of the 60s had some great sounds going on as well.
Listen to the intro of any Four Tops or Diana Ross and the Supremes song, you'll hear what I mean.
Also, the surf band drummers of the 60s had some great sounds going on as well.[/quote]
+1000
Cheers,BigE
Isn't it interesting that most of the "reference" sounds we consider to be the ideals are associated with old recording techniques, old playback formats (vinyl, tape), vintage instruments and done by drummers from the old days?
Yes, but then again, this is a vintage drum forum. If this were a heavy metal drum forum, the ideals would obviously be pretty different.
But, yeah, when I got a set of Pearl Exports a long time ago it didn't take me too long to figure out that they weren't going to be able to get me close to the sound I was going for.
Yes, but then again, this is a vintage drum forum. If this were a heavy metal drum forum, the ideals would obviously be pretty different.But, yeah, when I got a set of Pearl Exports a long time ago it didn't take me too long to figure out that they weren't going to be able to get me close to the sound I was going for.
I listen to a lot of old stuff... (watching a Wes Montgomery DVD as I type this) but I also do metal and newer stuff--I play in a Motley Crue tribute band...
So I get it from all perspectives. For loud rock, for example, I'm inspired not by the drum sounds of 80's rock, but by the perception of how they sounded. They really didn't sound huge, they just had WAY too much reverb and processing on them. I try to get a huge sound though, just through tuning, head selection and the size of my drums (Exhibit A: My 36" kick drum).
But yeah, for REAL drum sounds...they nailed it 40yrs ago. I don't understand why new recordings just don't capture it anymore. Maybe it's because the musicians just don't have great tone to begin with.
The Motown was a great example. Benny Benjamin, Richard "Pistol" Allen and Uriel Jones were most definitely "The Men". Clapping Happy2
I try to get a huge sound though, just through tuning, head selection and the size of my drums (Exhibit A: My 36" kick drum).
Ahem ... pardon me? A 36" kick drum?! For real?? I'd love to see a pic. Wow!
You"al have nailed it again when it comes to tuning . I have always been of the opinion that a drummer can get too technical trying for that perfect pitch. Again,IMHO You should know how your musical instrument (drums) makes the band/genre sound as good as they can. A lot of people underestimate experience, and thats a shame.
The vintage drummer usually has "been there done that" as the music evolved thru the years and most of the time they never changed the methods they used to tune drums. But,most importantly they stuck with their vintage drums that never had to evolve with the music because they always had the tones that are still needed. The new heavy ply drums supplied a precieved need but now I see some companies trying to recapture the earlier sounds (60,70s). Don't take me wrong, there will always be a place for the heavier sounds but they will always,and I mean always, have to share the music with that good old VINTAGE sound
The most eye opening experience I have had is trying to tune my sons 6 ply Ludwigs to sound like my vintage Ludwigs.It cannot be done they always sounded lower and not as crisp as my vintage Luddies.
Anyway thats my opinion,two cents,and I have always loved Motown music, always perfect timing and always innovative.
Tom
Ahem ... pardon me? A 36" kick drum?! For real?? I'd love to see a pic. Wow!
x-mas3
Edit: I need to snap some new pics. I cut my rack legs down to 1/2 size to conserve weight (I just raised the booms to compensate) and racked the toms...
[img]http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4050/4585459810_b170de45f5.jpg[/img]
...But yeah, for REAL drum sounds...they nailed it 40yrs ago. I don't understand why new recordings just don't capture it anymore. Maybe it's because the musicians just don't have great tone to begin with...
It's not the fault of the muscians in my opinion but the producers and engineers. I just wish more muscians would stand against all the over-processing.
For a truly great sound I will always refer people to the Rich vs. Roach recordings. It is in stereo but way before all the common multitracking and over-processing of today. The 45+ year sound is lush exspansive and a pure joy to listen to (and what a great source for Roach dive-bombing triplets that seemed to take the rock world a few years later).
Inspiring sounds: Led Zep II, EJ's Honkey Chateau, anything with Simon Phillips
