Comments on: How Do I Sound Like John Bonham? http://blog.fixyourmix.com/2009/how-do-i-sound-like-john-bonham/ Production & songwriting analysis of pop, rap, & indie rock. Tue, 07 Feb 2012 06:20:25 -0800 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.3 By: Tracii http://blog.fixyourmix.com/2009/how-do-i-sound-like-john-bonham/comment-page-1/#comment-169753 Tracii Sun, 22 Jan 2012 03:29:56 +0000 http://blog.fixyourmix.com/?p=602#comment-169753 Really good description and direction in this article. I have read also that the tuning of the snare was as close as possible to the kick sound. Tuning , player, arrangement of instruments and two mics is almost the bottomlinr here but, the bottomline is John Bonham. Really good description and direction in this article. I have read also that the tuning of the snare was as close as possible to the kick sound. Tuning , player, arrangement of instruments and two mics is almost the bottomlinr here but, the bottomline is John Bonham.

]]> By: pat ratchet http://blog.fixyourmix.com/2009/how-do-i-sound-like-john-bonham/comment-page-1/#comment-103969 pat ratchet Mon, 18 Jul 2011 23:23:29 +0000 http://blog.fixyourmix.com/?p=602#comment-103969 All great points. I have heard before some confusion over Jeff Ocheltree's perspective. He worked with Bonham the second half of his career, when he would play the bombastic stainless steel kits, and the reliably unreliable Vistalites. And more importantly, he was generally responsible for Bonham's LIVE sound; Bonham himself when pressed would give credit to none other than Jimmy Page when it came to his sound on record! Obviously, Page highlighted Bonham's natural tendency for open tuning, etc. and the best engineers in the biz [Kramer, the Johns brothers, etc.] had a role. Page trailblazed the whole room sound, or at least recaptured it from the 50's, at a time not long after that close miking became the rage, making engineers jobs easier, and resulting in S#$%^ drum sounds! His approach was a truer reproduction of the kits natural BALANCE. But live and studio are simply two different beasts, and quite different to capture. On the other hand, alot is how you hit 'em! It was said if you put him ony type of kit, he always sounded like Bonham! All great points. I have heard before some confusion
over Jeff Ocheltree’s perspective. He worked with Bonham the second half of his career, when he would
play the bombastic stainless steel kits, and the
reliably unreliable Vistalites. And more importantly,
he was generally responsible for Bonham’s LIVE sound;
Bonham himself when pressed would give credit to
none other than Jimmy Page when it came to his sound
on record!

Obviously, Page highlighted Bonham’s natural
tendency for open tuning, etc. and the best engineers
in the biz [Kramer, the Johns brothers, etc.] had
a role. Page trailblazed the whole room sound, or at
least recaptured it from the 50′s, at a time not long after that close miking became the rage, making
engineers jobs easier, and resulting in S#$%^ drum sounds!
His approach was a truer reproduction of the kits
natural BALANCE. But live and studio are simply two different beasts, and quite different to capture.

On the other hand, alot is how you hit ‘em!
It was said if you put him ony type of kit, he always sounded like Bonham!

]]> By: John Henry Anonymous http://blog.fixyourmix.com/2009/how-do-i-sound-like-john-bonham/comment-page-1/#comment-68784 John Henry Anonymous Sat, 09 Apr 2011 21:01:40 +0000 http://blog.fixyourmix.com/?p=602#comment-68784 The Fox guy is absolutely correct. Don't forget those ghost notes guys! The Fox guy is absolutely correct. Don’t forget those ghost notes guys!

]]> By: BlackFox http://blog.fixyourmix.com/2009/how-do-i-sound-like-john-bonham/comment-page-1/#comment-23927 BlackFox Fri, 15 Oct 2010 17:05:32 +0000 http://blog.fixyourmix.com/?p=602#comment-23927 You guys just plain don't listen...Jeff Ocheltree says to tune your resonant side much higher than the batter, he says nothing about tuning everything "way up" just the resonant heads. You guys just plain don’t listen…Jeff Ocheltree says to tune your resonant side much higher than the batter, he says nothing about tuning everything “way up” just the resonant heads.

]]> By: DAnte http://blog.fixyourmix.com/2009/how-do-i-sound-like-john-bonham/comment-page-1/#comment-9724 DAnte Thu, 06 May 2010 21:26:20 +0000 http://blog.fixyourmix.com/?p=602#comment-9724 I saw the same Ochltree youtube. Was hard to believe tuning was 'way up' as he says. I think the big diff, as article says is the Bonham 26 inch kick, and thin ply no-hole heads. World of difference on kick drums... a larger drum tune dtight still has deep sound. Another blog I read (drum professor?), showed how the 'real deal' in the drum sound is all by tuning in the res head...batter is mostly for feel...and energy output (oh the physics!) I saw the same Ochltree youtube. Was hard to believe tuning was ‘way up’ as he says. I think the big diff, as article says is the Bonham 26 inch kick, and thin ply no-hole heads. World of difference on kick drums… a larger drum tune dtight still has deep sound. Another blog I read (drum professor?), showed how the ‘real deal’ in the drum sound is all by tuning in the res head…batter is mostly for feel…and energy output (oh the physics!)

]]> By: JB and Alex fan http://blog.fixyourmix.com/2009/how-do-i-sound-like-john-bonham/comment-page-1/#comment-8567 JB and Alex fan Wed, 07 Apr 2010 00:53:51 +0000 http://blog.fixyourmix.com/?p=602#comment-8567 kev: I get the confusion. Been playing 25 years, no lessons, learned to tune my drums to my satisfaction only in the last 2 years. It's like physics. The head absorbs energy on the strike, then releases that energy as it resonates. A tighter head can store more energy, thus releasing more. As this blog says, low frequencies take a lot of energy, so while strange to think about, a tighter head actually projects more low frequency, to a point. Remember, practicing alone removes the mix, so you hear the high freqs, but in the mix, the lows will make their presence felt by robbing power from the freqs around it. It's frustrating, but keep trying. I tune the res a third or fifth higher than batter on all drums but snare. That's closer for some muting. No tape, no muffles on anything but bass. And have someone else play your set while your across the room, or the band is playing also to hear the mix yourself, good luck! kev: I get the confusion. Been playing 25 years, no lessons, learned to tune my drums to my satisfaction only in the last 2 years. It’s like physics. The head absorbs energy on the strike, then releases that energy as it resonates. A tighter head can store more energy, thus releasing more. As this blog says, low frequencies take a lot of energy, so while strange to think about, a tighter head actually projects more low frequency, to a point. Remember, practicing alone removes the mix, so you hear the high freqs, but in the mix, the lows will make their presence felt by robbing power from the freqs around it. It’s frustrating, but keep trying. I tune the res a third or fifth higher than batter on all drums but snare. That’s closer for some muting. No tape, no muffles on anything but bass. And have someone else play your set while your across the room, or the band is playing also to hear the mix yourself, good luck!

]]> By: kev http://blog.fixyourmix.com/2009/how-do-i-sound-like-john-bonham/comment-page-1/#comment-8549 kev Tue, 06 Apr 2010 13:01:21 +0000 http://blog.fixyourmix.com/?p=602#comment-8549 Still quite puzzled though. The more Zeppelin I listen to the more I'm convinced he has it tuned low as you have said, it's just that the fella in the YT video is really annoying me because he's worked with Bonham and sounds so convincing! Still quite puzzled though. The more Zeppelin I listen to the more I’m convinced he has it tuned low as you have said, it’s just that the fella in the YT video is really annoying me because he’s worked with Bonham and sounds so convincing!

]]> By: JB and Alex fan http://blog.fixyourmix.com/2009/how-do-i-sound-like-john-bonham/comment-page-1/#comment-8364 JB and Alex fan Wed, 31 Mar 2010 22:27:25 +0000 http://blog.fixyourmix.com/?p=602#comment-8364 Follow up, I moved my set yesterday from facing across a room 10 ft wide, to the end, now facing along a 30 ft room. The bass drum and floor toms in particular, are much more resonant and "complete" sounding with the longer space. I use a white CS on the BD with a remo mufl ring on the batter and a 3" strip of felt on the res, with a 3" hole near the rim left over from rock club days. Coated CS reverse dot went on the snare last week. Love it! Follow up, I moved my set yesterday from facing across a room 10 ft wide, to the end, now facing along a 30 ft room. The bass drum and floor toms in particular, are much more resonant and “complete” sounding with the longer space. I use a white CS on the BD with a remo mufl ring on the batter and a 3″ strip of felt on the res, with a 3″ hole near the rim left over from rock club days. Coated CS reverse dot went on the snare last week. Love it!

]]> By: JB and Alex fan http://blog.fixyourmix.com/2009/how-do-i-sound-like-john-bonham/comment-page-1/#comment-8363 JB and Alex fan Wed, 31 Mar 2010 21:44:52 +0000 http://blog.fixyourmix.com/?p=602#comment-8363 @kev I saw that youtube video, I think, with Jeff Ochltree playing the green sparkle kit, right? I tried what he said. The high tuning on the BD works to add resonance and size, but giving the long, low frequencies a chance to develop and project the low sound your looking for. On the snare, I've got a good sound with high tuning, batter head slightly lower than res. side. It took a lot of trial and error, but I'm really happy with my sound right now. Good luck. Remember, if it sounds good to you, it sounds good! @kev I saw that youtube video, I think, with Jeff Ochltree playing the green sparkle kit, right? I tried what he said. The high tuning on the BD works to add resonance and size, but giving the long, low frequencies a chance to develop and project the low sound your looking for. On the snare, I’ve got a good sound with high tuning, batter head slightly lower than res. side. It took a lot of trial and error, but I’m really happy with my sound right now. Good luck. Remember, if it sounds good to you, it sounds good!

]]> By: kev http://blog.fixyourmix.com/2009/how-do-i-sound-like-john-bonham/comment-page-1/#comment-8343 kev Wed, 31 Mar 2010 10:44:45 +0000 http://blog.fixyourmix.com/?p=602#comment-8343 Hey, good article. I have been trying to get this sort of sound for a while. I have had the best results from very low tuning as you have said, and I have a Ludwig Black Beauty snare... However I watched a very confusing youtube video where he totally contradicts everything here, and he claims to have worked with Bonham and is playing his kit. See it here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AaFVUlV0rvI - he talks about tuning the snare "way up" - but when he hits it, it doesn't sound like it has been. Hey, good article. I have been trying to get this sort of sound for a while. I have had the best results from very low tuning as you have said, and I have a Ludwig Black Beauty snare… However I watched a very confusing youtube video where he totally contradicts everything here, and he claims to have worked with Bonham and is playing his kit. See it here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AaFVUlV0rvI – he talks about tuning the snare “way up” – but when he hits it, it doesn’t sound like it has been.

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