My Bonham kit is all mic'd up !

Techniques for getting your tone to tape.

Moderators: VelvetGeorge, BUG

User avatar
rgorke
Senior Member
Posts: 4509
Joined: Fri Feb 08, 2008 11:37 am
Just the numbers in order: 13492
Location: Drought Ravaged SoCal

Re: My Bonham kit is all mic'd up !

Post by rgorke » Fri Oct 24, 2014 1:40 pm

So, what makes a "Bonham kit" a "Bonham kit"? Is it the sizes? different materials? The green sparkles? Knowing nothing about drums, do different drum components matter like amps?
"If you make a mistake, do it twice and smile and let people think you meant it." Jan Van Halen.

User avatar
VelvetGeorge
Site Owner
Posts: 7233
Joined: Tue Oct 14, 2003 5:12 pm
Just the numbers in order: 13492
Location: The Murder Mitten
Contact:

Re: My Bonham kit is all mic'd up !

Post by VelvetGeorge » Fri Oct 24, 2014 2:08 pm

Sounds awesome! More clips!!!

george
Check out Plexi Replicas for my personal amp builds...
Image

User avatar
chrisom
Senior Member
Posts: 1351
Joined: Tue Jul 20, 2010 9:04 pm
Just the numbers in order: 7
Location: A Free Republic?

Re: My Bonham kit is all mic'd up !

Post by chrisom » Fri Oct 24, 2014 3:08 pm

:thumbsup: :rock: :drummer: :listen: :rockon:

User avatar
garbeaj
Senior Member
Posts: 3020
Joined: Mon Dec 27, 2010 12:58 pm
Just the numbers in order: 13492
Location: Houston, TX

Re: My Bonham kit is all mic'd up !

Post by garbeaj » Sat Oct 25, 2014 8:35 pm

Sounds fantastic...now if you can just get a vintage Binson Echorec :scratch:

User avatar
JimiJames
Senior Member
Posts: 3550
Joined: Fri Dec 23, 2005 6:32 pm
Just the numbers in order: 13492
Location: Chicago
Contact:

Re: My Bonham kit is all mic'd up !

Post by JimiJames » Mon Oct 27, 2014 10:19 am

Thanks guys ! :toast:
I'll post more as it comes along !

yeayea, You can never have enough anolog echo ! I should set up the Roland RE-201 Space Echo & hear how that would sound in the room !
I'm currently using both Strymon's with expression pedal & favorite switches and a Maxon 999 on my Battlestation pedalboard.
I need to resource a new tape and then give it a spin.
RIP Mark Abrahamian-rockstah -classmate/roommate
RIP Ben Wise -StuntDouble- comrade-in-arms

__________________________________________
Build'sClip'sVid's

User avatar
JimiJames
Senior Member
Posts: 3550
Joined: Fri Dec 23, 2005 6:32 pm
Just the numbers in order: 13492
Location: Chicago
Contact:

Re: My Bonham kit is all mic'd up !

Post by JimiJames » Mon Oct 27, 2014 10:49 am

rgorke wrote:So, what makes a "Bonham kit" a "Bonham kit"? Is it the sizes? different materials? The green sparkles? Knowing nothing about drums, do different drum components matter like amps?
*ImageImage

That's it Roger, green sparklies in the studio and he likes his Plexi's too ;-)
This is Ludwig's import kit and not U.S.A.
Here is a YouTube of drum tech Jeff Ocheltree describing John Bonham's kit that was used in the studio. Tuned up with mic placement and all. A great and informative video of Jeff sharing how he captured one of the most coveted drum sounds ever recorded.
He shows and talks in full details of how he achieved this as well as details about how Bonham pitched his drums and type of drum heads he used.

I learned how to tune drums at M.I. with a bud on the P.I.T. side of the hall, so dialing them in by ear was as easy as tuning a guitar, umm... but a lot longer.
I used a Vater Bomber beater for the kick. (fuzzy ball) Huge warm tone together with the felt strips. After the sheep skin covering wore out several times (expensive), I completely removed the material to reveal a cork core. By trial & error I found this to have the best feel & tone. The trick for me was to find a beater that is long enough to hit the center of the 26" kick without being soo top heavy. The kick also floats; never rests on the ground, letting the drum resonate.

I have the Ludwig cowbell which is not mounted yet, and absolutely dig the "ching-ring" (tambourine) on the hi-hat. I use a similar one, but wouldn't mind acquiring an original to complete the kit's mojo. I'd like to try the newer double row LP-Latin Percussion (ballistic plastic type) made so you can hit & play just on the ring. Not as fragile, and have already broken off some of the mini cymbals... ain't Jazz ya' know...

All the cymbals are the same Paiste spec that he used and I have "modernized" the kit with a 10" Splash and a Pang/China, which I obtained from former KISS drummer - the late Eric Carr. Bringing the kit up-to-speed; a drummer friend suggested to cut a 3" - 4" port to move the air a little quicker for utilizing the double bass pedal. He also recommended placing a double beater pad on the kick drum which tightens things up. (Couple years ago I found out that's how Heavy Metal drummers get that "click" sound in the double bass as the use a metal pad. I always thought that was done in post production ? )

I wouldn't know who my Bass player would be, but Drummer of choice from day-one has always been Bonzo. Obviously would sound nothing like Led Zeppelin, but what core !
Mix in a little Cozy Powell and *Carmine Appice and I think that would make up my style.

I've been at it for the past several years out of necessity. I had this kit set up in the livingroom for the past several years, and when we moved from our old jamspot Bottom Rung Records that had a little 18" Mapex blues kit, it was a great opportunity to bring this monster set over !

Love listening to these guys do their business:
Neil Peart
Terry Bozio
Bill Bruford
Jeff Picaro
Stewart Copeland (on hi-hat)
Bernard Purdie (on hh/snare/kick)
Joakim Sjöberg's caveman style drumming from Freak Kitchen's Appetizer CD. An animal, but not like this guy with neanderthal mentality ?! http://youtu.be/TYtUYw3t0wA

User avatar
JimiJames
Senior Member
Posts: 3550
Joined: Fri Dec 23, 2005 6:32 pm
Just the numbers in order: 13492
Location: Chicago
Contact:

Re: My Bonham kit is all mic'd up !

Post by JimiJames » Tue Nov 18, 2014 1:47 pm

New aresenal ! The double whammy !

Image

More new additions !

ImageImage

ice-cold beer ! :toast: :toast:
Image

Needed another "guest" hanger too.
Image

These are always great for the room look !

Image
Image
RIP Mark Abrahamian-rockstah -classmate/roommate
RIP Ben Wise -StuntDouble- comrade-in-arms

__________________________________________
Build'sClip'sVid's

User avatar
JimiJames
Senior Member
Posts: 3550
Joined: Fri Dec 23, 2005 6:32 pm
Just the numbers in order: 13492
Location: Chicago
Contact:

Re: My Bonham kit is all mic'd up !

Post by JimiJames » Mon Nov 24, 2014 6:31 am

Multi-record label Blues drummer Tino Cortes
made some time and graced our humble studio. Tino is one of the most recorded Blues drummers in Chicago and has received numerous awards for his contributions to the Blues community and world as he tours overseas with other Blues Acts.
Not surprising; he was Buddy Guy's drummer in the '90's ! :drummer:
He gave me some huge tips. 8) Said the kit sounded great too, but was too big ? :lol:
Bonham was a big early influence on this 63 year old Army Vietnam Veteran, as well as Bill Bruford. His practice regiment is pretty serious as he has a similar type room in his house.
He warms up the kit here with some beats & fills the blends right into Zep's Dancin' Days.
His meter is insane. He's on it !




Thank You Tino !

Image

User avatar
rgorke
Senior Member
Posts: 4509
Joined: Fri Feb 08, 2008 11:37 am
Just the numbers in order: 13492
Location: Drought Ravaged SoCal

Re: My Bonham kit is all mic'd up !

Post by rgorke » Mon Nov 24, 2014 9:35 pm

Super duper cool!!! How did you get him to come by?
"If you make a mistake, do it twice and smile and let people think you meant it." Jan Van Halen.

User avatar
garbeaj
Senior Member
Posts: 3020
Joined: Mon Dec 27, 2010 12:58 pm
Just the numbers in order: 13492
Location: Houston, TX

Re: My Bonham kit is all mic'd up !

Post by garbeaj » Tue Nov 25, 2014 8:21 am

It is Chicago, that's how!

User avatar
JimiJames
Senior Member
Posts: 3550
Joined: Fri Dec 23, 2005 6:32 pm
Just the numbers in order: 13492
Location: Chicago
Contact:

Re: My Bonham kit is all mic'd up !

Post by JimiJames » Tue Nov 25, 2014 10:02 pm

Tino was generous enough to also offer up a pair of rubber tipped practice drum sticks out of his bag. I was surprised they made these in stick form opposed to the straight (xylophone?) type.
Seems to be a better option to the stick/pad. Convenient for most any surface, most any where, most any time.

Image Image

User avatar
JimiJames
Senior Member
Posts: 3550
Joined: Fri Dec 23, 2005 6:32 pm
Just the numbers in order: 13492
Location: Chicago
Contact:

Re: My Bonham kit is all mic'd up !

Post by JimiJames » Tue Nov 25, 2014 10:06 pm

garbeaj wrote:
rgorke wrote:Super duper cool!!! How did you get him to come by?
It is Chicago, that's how!
Right you are, my man ...and some shots from fourteen years ago, nearly to the day !

Playing with the house band here.

Image
Image
Image
Image
Image

User avatar
JimiJames
Senior Member
Posts: 3550
Joined: Fri Dec 23, 2005 6:32 pm
Just the numbers in order: 13492
Location: Chicago
Contact:

Re: My Bonham kit is all mic'd up !

Post by JimiJames » Sat Dec 06, 2014 8:50 am

.

Check this out !
Too cold to go on right away so I took some pic's while it defrosts & acclimates to the room.

Is this not just insane ?!

Image

ImageImage

User avatar
garbeaj
Senior Member
Posts: 3020
Joined: Mon Dec 27, 2010 12:58 pm
Just the numbers in order: 13492
Location: Houston, TX

Re: My Bonham kit is all mic'd up !

Post by garbeaj » Sat Dec 06, 2014 11:27 am

Righteous!

User avatar
Strat78
Senior Member
Posts: 3093
Joined: Fri Aug 03, 2007 12:38 pm
Just the numbers in order: 13492
Location: though I'm standing still, I'm in a moving place.

Re: My Bonham kit is all mic'd up !

Post by Strat78 » Mon Dec 08, 2014 10:04 am

Looks like heaven to me. My marriage would be over if I had a hideout like that, I wouldn't even know she left! :lol:

Post Reply