Bass Drum Heads for John Bonham/Brian Blade bass drum sound

Alex Wyler · 28th April 2007

Hello,

I have a 1970 Ludwig maple kit in sparkle finish.

The bass Drum is 22" X 14"

I am looking for recommendations for the "right" or "best" Bass Drum head combination to give me the vintage warm tones of drummers like Bonham and Brian Blade. I know that I want one of the Remo Fiberskyn 3 heads for the front resonant head with no hole cut in it because that will give me the warmest and thickest low end and sustain of a vintage drum tone I would think? Which of the three Fiberskyn 3 heads available is the best for this purpose?

Right now I am looking at the following:

Batter head (coated finish)

1. Remo Power Stroke 3
2. Remo Powersonic
3. Aquarian Super Kick 1

Resonant Head (fiberskyn 3)

1. Ambassador Fiberskyn 3
2. Diplomat Fiberskyn 3
3. Power Stroke 3 Fiberskyn 3

Anyone that has had a winning combination of heads, please share!

Thanks,

Alex

**toolskid** · 28th April 2007

Best combo...

Either Emperor or Ambassador batter (depending on your playing style) and Ambassador Reso - all coated - no hole in reso

job done....

Alex Wyler · 28th April 2007

What will the fiberskyn Ambassador do that the coated one will not an vice versa?

ToneBender67 · 28th April 2007

Alex

Sounds like you have a great kit!

The Bonham sound with a 22x14? Achievable. Zeppelin 1 was recorded with a 22, 13, 16 3 ply Ludwig kit, and it still sounds huge. If you really want the sound, drop the Superkick, Fiberskyn, and Powerstroke and all the other modern hoopla. I've tried it all, then realized everything he used is readily availabe for purchase, so why not use the same exact head combo? Makes sense if your trying to get a Bonham-ish sound.

Use a coated Emperor on the batter side, and a coated (or smooth white, a little brighter) Ambassador on the reso side. Allegedly, Bonham didn't use any muffling with his 22x14 kick (as he did sparingly with the 26x14's), but Zep 1 sounds a little too punchy to be a 22x14 wide open. Try one piece of felt, about 2 inches wide on the batter side (Bonham's preferred muffling method). A big factor in his sound is he tuned his reso heads higher then the batter side, a trick big band/jazz drums used for projection. He didn't have much low end pitch from his front head, but lots of sustain/projection. I would strongly suggest trying the tuning (it works), but it's not easy to dial in right off the bat. You may need a small amount of muffling for the front head. If so, try a small hand towel (wash cloth) rolled up inside. Place the towel where it just touches the head, just enough to take out the overtones, but still provide lots of projection.

Good luck

PS...A 22x14's pitch is going to be naturally higher then a 26x14, so start with a medium reso, low batter tuning (but not flappy). If you crank your heads exactly as Bonham did with the 26's, your 22x14 will sound like a biscuit tin!

orange · 28th April 2007

some more info from his drum tech here

John Bonham - Jeff Ocheltree

**toolskid** · 28th April 2007

GREAT advice!

the felt is REALLY important!

Quote:

Originally Posted by ToneBender67

Alex

Sounds like you have a great kit!

The Bonham sound with a 22x14? Achievable. Zeppelin 1 was recorded with a 22, 13, 16 3 ply Ludwig kit, and it still sounds huge. If you really want the sound, drop the Superkick, Fiberskyn, and Powerstroke and all the other modern hoopla. I've tried it all, then realized everything he used is readily availabe for purchase, so why not use the same exact head combo? Makes sense if your trying to get a Bonham-ish sound.

Use a coated Emperor on the batter side, and a coated (or smooth white, a little brighter) Ambassador on the reso side. Allegedly, Bonham didn't use any muffling with his 22x14 kick (as he did sparingly with the 26x14's), but Zep 1 sounds a little too punchy to be a 22x14 wide open. Try one piece of felt, about 2 inches wide on the batter side (Bonham's preferred muffling method). A big factor in his sound is he tuned his reso heads higher then the batter side, a trick big band/jazz drums used for projection. He didn't have much low end pitch from his front head, but lots of sustain/projection. I would strongly suggest trying the tuning (it works), but it's not easy to dial in right off the bat. You may need a small amount of muffling for the front head. If so, try a small hand towel (wash cloth) rolled up inside. Place the towel where it just touches the head, just enough to take out the overtones, but still provide lots of projection.

Good luck

PS...A 22x14's pitch is going to be naturally higher then a 26x14, so start with a medium reso, low batter tuning (but not flappy). If you crank your heads exactly as Bonham did with the 26's, your 22x14 will sound like a biscuit tin!

chrisso · 29th April 2007

All good tips from everyone.

I had to chuckle to myself though.
Surely you couldn't get two more different drummers than Blade and Bonham.

Jax · 29th April 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrisso

All good tips from everyone.

I had to chuckle to myself though.
Surely you couldn't get two more different drummers than Blade and Bonham.

Yeah, I thought Blade was a real soft-playing jazzer guy ... and not dead?

Btw, GREAT tips in this thread! I had wondered how Bonzo got his punchy kit sounds, but never I investigated. Good timing, too. I'll be playing a 70's Bonham sized kit on a recording in the near future, and now I know a good way to approximate that sound. Several of the songs call for it.

thumbsup

**toolskid** · 29th April 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrisso

All good tips from everyone.

I had to chuckle to myself though.
Surely you couldn't get two more different drummers than Blade and Bonham.

aint that the truth

ehe

brendondp · 29th April 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrisso

All good tips from everyone.

I had to chuckle to myself though.
Surely you couldn't get two more different drummers than Blade and Bonham.

I dunno...

Brian Blade plays only what the song needs; has amazing control over dynamics; gets great tone; plays propulsively and with groove; can pull out some sick combinations when needed...

Long lost brothers, surely.

Cheers,

bdp

brendondp · 2nd May 2007

One last thing...

I have my 26" Stopsign Badge Gretsch set up pretty much like described above - Smooth White Emporer for batter, Coated Ambassador on resonant - but I add one vital ingredient.

My Gretsch without any muffling, which is how I like it, is quite "PINK-y" from the attack of the beater on the head. Close miking it reveals a kinda nasty metallic odour which then needs subtractive EQ to get rid of. Live and unmiked it's not so noticeable.

So I use the old trick of a finely shredded newspaper laid inside the kick.

This removes the "PINK-y" sound, but doesn't muffle the heads, nor restrict the air movement inside the drum. It's like a mechanical EQ filter. I'm planning to use tissue paper next time for it's pine-fresh scentedness.

Cheers to you,

bdp

28th April 2007	#1
Alex Wyler Banned Joined: Aug 2006 Location: Toronto, LA & Alaska Posts: 334 Thread Starter	Bass Drum Heads for John Bonham/Brian Blade bass drum sound Hello, I have a 1970 Ludwig maple kit in sparkle finish. The bass Drum is 22" X 14" I am looking for recommendations for the "right" or "best" Bass Drum head combination to give me the vintage warm tones of drummers like Bonham and Brian Blade. I know that I want one of the Remo Fiberskyn 3 heads for the front resonant head with no hole cut in it because that will give me the warmest and thickest low end and sustain of a vintage drum tone I would think? Which of the three Fiberskyn 3 heads available is the best for this purpose? Right now I am looking at the following: Batter head (coated finish) 1. Remo Power Stroke 3 2. Remo Powersonic 3. Aquarian Super Kick 1 Resonant Head (fiberskyn 3) 1. Ambassador Fiberskyn 3 2. Diplomat Fiberskyn 3 3. Power Stroke 3 Fiberskyn 3 Anyone that has had a winning combination of heads, please share! Thanks, Alex

28th April 2007	#2
toolskid Moderator Joined: Jan 2004 Location: london Posts: 2,786	Best combo... Either Emperor or Ambassador batter (depending on your playing style) and Ambassador Reso - all coated - no hole in reso job done.... __________________ Emre Ramazanoglu http://www.emremusic.com the wise man can pick up a grain of sand and envision the whole universe. The fool, however, will just lie down on some seaweed and roll around until he's completely draped in it. Then he'll stand up and go "Hey, I'm vine man"

29th April 2007	#7
chrisso Gear Guru Joined: Oct 2002 Location: Oz Posts: 16,836	All good tips from everyone. I had to chuckle to myself though. Surely you couldn't get two more different drummers than Blade and Bonham. __________________ Chris Whitten

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28th April 2007	#4
ToneBender67 Gear nut Joined: Jan 2007 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 148	Alex Sounds like you have a great kit! The Bonham sound with a 22x14? Achievable. Zeppelin 1 was recorded with a 22, 13, 16 3 ply Ludwig kit, and it still sounds huge. If you really want the sound, drop the Superkick, Fiberskyn, and Powerstroke and all the other modern hoopla. I've tried it all, then realized everything he used is readily availabe for purchase, so why not use the same exact head combo? Makes sense if your trying to get a Bonham-ish sound. Use a coated Emperor on the batter side, and a coated (or smooth white, a little brighter) Ambassador on the reso side. Allegedly, Bonham didn't use any muffling with his 22x14 kick (as he did sparingly with the 26x14's), but Zep 1 sounds a little too punchy to be a 22x14 wide open. Try one piece of felt, about 2 inches wide on the batter side (Bonham's preferred muffling method). A big factor in his sound is he tuned his reso heads higher then the batter side, a trick big band/jazz drums used for projection. He didn't have much low end pitch from his front head, but lots of sustain/projection. I would strongly suggest trying the tuning (it works), but it's not easy to dial in right off the bat. You may need a small amount of muffling for the front head. If so, try a small hand towel (wash cloth) rolled up inside. Place the towel where it just touches the head, just enough to take out the overtones, but still provide lots of projection. Good luck PS...A 22x14's pitch is going to be naturally higher then a 26x14, so start with a medium reso, low batter tuning (but not flappy). If you crank your heads exactly as Bonham did with the 26's, your 22x14 will sound like a biscuit tin!

28th April 2007	#5
orange Lives for gear Joined: Jul 2004 Location: London Posts: 1,688	some more info from his drum tech here John Bonham - Jeff Ocheltree

2nd May 2007	#11
brendondp Lives for gear Joined: Jul 2004 Posts: 616	One last thing... I have my 26" Stopsign Badge Gretsch set up pretty much like described above - Smooth White Emporer for batter, Coated Ambassador on resonant - but I add one vital ingredient. My Gretsch without any muffling, which is how I like it, is quite "PINK-y" from the attack of the beater on the head. Close miking it reveals a kinda nasty metallic odour which then needs subtractive EQ to get rid of. Live and unmiked it's not so noticeable. So I use the old trick of a finely shredded newspaper laid inside the kick. This removes the "PINK-y" sound, but doesn't muffle the heads, nor restrict the air movement inside the drum. It's like a mechanical EQ filter. I'm planning to use tissue paper next time for it's pine-fresh scentedness. Cheers to you, bdp