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Carl Palmer 28x20 SS bassdrum Last viewed: 5 hours ago

Posts: 170 Threads: 107

Hey everyone,

The perfect situation would be asking Carl Palmer himself about this but because he's not around I wil ask you guys about it...:

I've been listening and looking to a couple of songs from ELP - Welcome back My friends to the show that never ends, and ELP - Live at the Olympic Stadium Montreal 1977.

At those gig's he plays his famous SS custom drum kit.

What I could see is that in 1974 (Brain Salad Surgery Tour), he uses Remo "CS Black dot heads" and "coated ambassadors" for his toms and floor toms (differs from drum size). For his 28x20 bass drum he uses a Remo coated ambassador (probably with a felt strip) for the batter side, and a mirror kind of drum head for the reso side with a big external tone control BD damper.

In 1977 he uses Remo "CS Black dot heads" on everything, also on bass drum (both sides), with a felt strip on both sides.

He also uses a Ludwig Speed King pedal.

Now my question is:

How does he get that "punchy" bass drum sound out of that huge 28x20 bass drum, with only a felt strip on both sides, and further no dampening at all.

Did he use a Wooden beater?

I know that Buddy rich used a wooden beater.

Eddie Kramer said in an interview that John Bonham also (especially when recording) used a wooden beater.

I have a 26x14 Ludwig Legacy Bass drum. I have always used a felt beater.

Does a wooden beater makes that much of a difference? Does it have a totally other "feel" than a felt beater? Would it affect speed or endurance (positive, negative?). Wil it add enoying bass drum "dribble-buzz"?, ...

PS: I never bury the beater, I always let my beater bounce, with a rounder tone. (It feels more relaxed)

Posted on 11 years ago
#1
Posts: 730 Threads: 61

I can't address the Carl Palmer aspects, but the beater certainly makes a difference. In the days of my youth, I used a wooden beater for massive attack with less effort. I now use felt for most work, although I recently bought one of those fluffy beaters for mellower applications. I haven't had a chance yet to try it in a rock context, but I like the way it feels.

We can get different sounds with different sticks and mallets; it follows that we can use different beaters to achieve different sounds. Your results may vary: Playing style, head choice, and tuning will also have an effect.

Al

9x Slingerland New Rock 50N 12-13-16-22 with 170 (Super S-O-M) holder
• 1979 Oak
• 1978 Blakrome + 6.5x14 TDR SD
• 1977 Black Diamond Pearl + 5x14 SD (gold badge, Rapid strainer)
• 1976 Black Cordova
• 1975 Silver Sparkle + 5x14 SD (Rapid strainer)
• 1974 Chrome + 5x14 COB TDR and 6.5x14 COW Zoomatic SDs
• 1973 Purple Sparkle
• 1973 Phantom (clear)
• 1971 Walnut (gold badges) + 5x14 TDR SD
1x Rogers Powertone Londoner V 12-13-16-22
• 1972 Butcher Block + 1979 big R Dynasonic SD
Posted on 11 years ago
#2
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