Charlie Watts: What type of drums did he play in the early 70's?

Quint · 16th July 2008

I'm sure somebody on here should know this. I've been looking but I've been having a hard time finding this out. Anyone know? I love the way his drums sound on "Sticky Fingers" and "Exile on Main St.". Especially on "Can You Hear Me Knocking" and "Tumbling Dice", respectively.

In a somewhat related, but not entirely on topic, point, I also always loved the drum sounds on the Faces "Ooh La La" album.

RoundBadge · 17th July 2008

Most likely Gretsch.looked like he used Ludwig supra snares at times too
remember the sound was also the way Charlie hit em,Andy Johns,Jimmy Miller, hitting tape,etc,etc.

..

Quint · 17th July 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by RoundBadge

Most likely Gretsch.looked like he used Ludwig supra snares at times too
remember the sound was also the way Charlie hit em,Andy Johns,Jimmy Miller, hitting tape,etc,etc.

..

Yeah, it'd be nice if it was that simple though. Actually, I quite like the Johns method of recording drums so that certainly would help. And hey, I like tape too so maybe a good set of Gretsch's would go a long way. I'll have to wait and see.

gwailoh · 26th January 2009

Very probably vintage Gretsch. I remember Watts quoted saying he likes old drums, particularly old Gretsch's.

The comment about the sound being Watts himself is very apt. Think about "Happy" on Exile, which is Jimmy Miller playing Watts' kit. Same drums, same room, same mics. Sounds nothing like the other tracks.

chrisso · 28th January 2009

Gretsch - 100%

Chunkaway · 28th January 2009

At about 1:30 into the video you can clearly see the drums are Gretsch.

I know Charile also used some Ludwig kits in the 1970s. Somewhere there is footage of a New Year's Eve gig where he is playing a Ludwig kit. I think he has been pretty much a Gretsch man for close to 40 years.

YouTube - Rolling Stones - Bitch (Live 1973)

drumzealot · 4th February 2009

KaBoom drums by Cannon. The only tubs CW will even look at.

gwailoh · 5th February 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by drumzealot

KaBoom drums by Cannon. The only tubs CW will even look at.

What's your source for this info? Just curious.

Grumblefoot · 5th February 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by gwailoh

What's your source for this info? Just curious.

He is f'in with you.

Cannon KaBoom Mini Drum Set and more Acoustic Drum Sets at GuitarCenter.com.

drumzealot · 6th February 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by gwailoh

What's your source for this info? Just curious.

I am he.

OK not really.

gwailoh · 6th February 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grumblefoot

He is f'in with you.

Cannon KaBoom Mini Drum Set and more Acoustic Drum Sets at GuitarCenter.com.

The snare drum on "Street Fighting Man" really was a kid's practice drum. I remember Watts saying it was a portable suitcase-style practice set made in the '40s, with a snare drum about the size of a tambourine. I thought the KaBoom reference might have been going somewhere similar!

Garyincanada · 29th December 2009

He's been using 56 or 57 Gretsch drums for some time now - since the early 70's. He uses a DW snare with that Gretsch kit - maybe other snares too??

Charlie Watts interview......What kind of drums do you use?
"1956 or 57 Gretsch Round Badge.........important for those who collect them"
YouTube - Charlies Drums

Jax · 29th December 2009

Great clip. Someone should tell Charlie to turn the Chinas over if he wants them to last longer.

16th July 2008	#1
Quint Lives for gear Joined: Apr 2008 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 1,797 Thread Starter 1 Review written	Charlie Watts: What type of drums did he play in the early 70's? I'm sure somebody on here should know this. I've been looking but I've been having a hard time finding this out. Anyone know? I love the way his drums sound on "Sticky Fingers" and "Exile on Main St.". Especially on "Can You Hear Me Knocking" and "Tumbling Dice", respectively. In a somewhat related, but not entirely on topic, point, I also always loved the drum sounds on the Faces "Ooh La La" album.

26th January 2009	#4
gwailoh Lives for gear Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 812	Very probably vintage Gretsch. I remember Watts quoted saying he likes old drums, particularly old Gretsch's. The comment about the sound being Watts himself is very apt. Think about "Happy" on Exile, which is Jimmy Miller playing Watts' kit. Same drums, same room, same mics. Sounds nothing like the other tracks. __________________ "Go back and re-mix your fav test mix making sure that at every place in all chains (including between all plug-ins) level never gets bigger than -6dBr. Make sure your final output also never peaks beyond -6dBr. Now do the comparison between this ITB mix and a similar OTB mix. You might have a big surprise." - Paul Frindle

29th December 2009	#12
Garyincanada Gear Head Joined: Aug 2009 Location: VANCOUVER ISLAND BC CANADA Posts: 35	He's been using 56 or 57 Gretsch drums for some time now - since the early 70's. He uses a DW snare with that Gretsch kit - maybe other snares too?? Charlie Watts interview......What kind of drums do you use? "1956 or 57 Gretsch Round Badge.........important for those who collect them" YouTube - Charlies Drums __________________

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17th July 2008	#2
RoundBadge Lives for gear Joined: May 2004 Location: Los Angeles ,Ca. Posts: 8,853	Most likely Gretsch.looked like he used Ludwig supra snares at times too remember the sound was also the way Charlie hit em,Andy Johns,Jimmy Miller, hitting tape,etc,etc. ..

28th January 2009	#5
chrisso Gear Guru Joined: Oct 2002 Location: Oz Posts: 16,836	Gretsch - 100%

28th January 2009	#6
Chunkaway Gear nut Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 87	At about 1:30 into the video you can clearly see the drums are Gretsch. I know Charile also used some Ludwig kits in the 1970s. Somewhere there is footage of a New Year's Eve gig where he is playing a Ludwig kit. I think he has been pretty much a Gretsch man for close to 40 years. YouTube - Rolling Stones - Bitch (Live 1973)

4th February 2009	#7
drumzealot Lives for gear Joined: Mar 2005 Posts: 834	KaBoom drums by Cannon. The only tubs CW will even look at.

29th December 2009	#13
Jax Lives for gear Joined: Jul 2002 Location: San Francisco Posts: 4,779	Great clip. Someone should tell Charlie to turn the Chinas over if he wants them to last longer.