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Vintage Bass Drum Tuning

Posts: 218 Threads: 78

I've been listening to this record, specifically this tune, and wondering how to get a more pushy sound out of my rb 20". Any suggestions? I can get a more modern 18" sounding higher pitch or a lower 20" but I'm trying to get the punch that Philly gets here. Any ideas on how to achieve this? I have two Aquarian vintage heads with the pratt muffler installed. The punch has to be possible without modern heads like a power stroke. I'd appreciate your feedback. Thanks.

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzs1GY6aQ2Q"]Johnny Griffin Sextet 01 Stix' Trix - YouTube[/ame]

Posted on 9 years ago
#1
Posts: 1651 Threads: 215

Sounds like he is in the mid range. My guess is the front bass drum head didn't have a port and there likely wasn't any muffling inside the bass drum itself. I'd try just a straight up coated head like a Remo Ambassador or Emperor.

18 Kits & 40+ snares..
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- Jay
Posted on 9 years ago
#2
Posts: 545 Threads: 67

Hmmm, don't forget the sound of the bass drum was picked up by a microphone and processed, recorded, mastered. That's different by definion.

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Posted on 9 years ago
#3
Posts: 5240 Threads: 1231

I'll bet he used a coated ambassador on batter and resonant, with a felt strip on each side.

Posted on 9 years ago
#4
Posts: 40 Threads: 3

The sound has a rather short decay, it's not as boomy as an open 20" can be. Maybe some external muffling on the front head, like a blanket or drum bag hung over it.

Could be a dedicated bass drum mic, or the other mics , in front of the kit, picked up some bass drum, it seems very present in the mix.

The sound is similar to some Max Roach recordings with Clifford Brown to my ear. Not sure how they recorded those sides.

I got some similar from a 20", or 22" at times, using a blanket in front of the reso, with a coated ambassador and one felt strip on the batter side. medium tension.

Posted on 9 years ago
#5
Posts: 1163 Threads: 36

Could that even be a 22"?? It's very low sounding, or at least a 20" tuned very low indeed.

Anyway what a great record!

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Posted on 9 years ago
#6
Posts: 5240 Threads: 1231

From SebCo

The sound has a rather short decay, it's not as boomy as an open 20" can be. Maybe some external muffling on the front head, like a blanket or drum bag hung over it. Could be a dedicated bass drum mic, or the other mics , in front of the kit, picked up some bass drum, it seems very present in the mix.The sound is similar to some Max Roach recordings with Clifford Brown to my ear. Not sure how they recorded those sides.I got some similar from a 20", or 22" at times, using a blanket in front of the reso, with a coated ambassador and one felt strip on the batter side. medium tension.

This is not some pop band from the 70's, I doubt much was muffled. It sounds like the kit was recorded with a few overhead condenser mics and one on the kick, very natural sounding. The way he played the kick would also effect the sound, most of those jazz guys were not heavy hitters and were able to control the sound just by how they played and tuned the kit.

Posted on 9 years ago
#7
Posts: 1296 Threads: 208

It's a late 50's recording so calf heads are also a possibility...

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Posted on 9 years ago
#8
Posts: 40 Threads: 3

From johnnyringo

This is not some pop band from the 70's, I doubt much was muffled.

I didn't mean to imply that. That technique of muffling the bass drum was used even back then.

I agree it could be a 22", but since it sounds so much like the Max bass drum, I'd think 20".

Posted on 9 years ago
#9
Posts: 40 Threads: 3

Here's a pic of an example of that muffling technique. Admittedly not 50s, and not Philly Joe, but still jazz, source: http://www.alovesupremethebook.com/

[IMG]http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e358/musikdiplomat/elvinlovesupreme1.jpg[/IMG]

Posted on 9 years ago
#10
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