What drums did Bonham use?

[bonzolead]

I'm one of the biggest Bonzo fans out there but I was wondering if Bonham used his Vistalite kit or Maple kit in the studio for Physical Graffiti I know he used the Vistalites on tour but what did he use in the studio.reply's will be much appreciated.

Keep Swatting,
Bonzolead

[sharky 007]

He used a maple green sparkle kit in the studio for which albums i'm not sure.

[bonzolead]

He used a maple green sparkle kit in the studio for which albums i'm not sure.
yes I think he used the green kit on Led Zep. III & IV and he used the clear maple kit on Led Zep. I & II.i'm just not sure about houses of the holy on up. thanks for the reply though.

Bonzolead

[JoeyWaters]

According to his drum tech, Jeff Ocheltree, Bonham never used the Vistalites in the studio. that would only leave the maple, or maybe in the later years he used the stainless steel kit. That I don't know.

[harryconway]

Regardless of finish, clear maple or green sparkle, he recorded with 3ply Ludwig shells. That's what I've always been led to believe.

[Class A Drummer]

Check out Bonzo's page. There is a great video explanation about his set and tuning and stuff.

[bonzolead]

According to his drum tech, Jeff Ocheltree, Bonham never used the Vistalites in the studio. that would only leave the maple, or maybe in the later years he used the stainless steel kit. That I don't know.correct me if i'm wrong but the stainless kit was a stainless wrap around the wood shells.

Bonzolead

[sharky 007]

correct me if i'm wrong but the stainless kit was a stainless wrap around the wood shells.

Bonzolead

Yes it's wrapped around maple shells.

[JoeyWaters]

Thats odd, the new Ludwig Stainless kits are advertised as "100% stainless steel shells". I wonder if the new kits are different in this way?

[bonzolead]

Thats odd, the new Ludwig Stainless kits are advertised as "100% stainless steel shells". I wonder if the new kits are different in this way?
yes I do believe they are since Ron Dunnett designed the shells.His snare drums speak for themselves.

[sharky 007]

Thats odd, the new Ludwig Stainless kits are advertised as "100% stainless steel shells". I wonder if the new kits are different in this way?

Sorry I stand corrected.

[harryconway]

correct me if i'm wrong but the stainless kit was a stainless wrap around the wood shells.

Bonzolead
Every vintage Ludwig stainless kit and/or drum I've ever seen from the 70's was a stainless shell. Only. No wood involved. Perhaps the chrome-o-wood shell is being confused here with the stainless shell. Chrome-o-wood was a metal wrapped and riveted to a wood shell. Dangerous and a pain to de-wrap.

[bonzolead]

Every vintage Ludwig stainless kit and/or drum I've ever seen from the 70's was a stainless shell. Only. No wood involved. Perhaps the chrome-o-wood shell is being confused here with the stainless shell. Chrome-o-wood was a metal wrapped and riveted to a wood shell. Dangerous and a pain to de-wrap.So was the Knebworth kit(1980) 100% stainless shells?

Bonzolead

[sharky 007]

There still making this kit,but in limited numbers.


http://www.ludwig-drums.com/content/product_detail.php?item=L8264LMSS&css=

[BoxcarDrummer182]

maple drums, on 1 and 2, he used a ludwig maple 14x12, 16x16, 16x18, 26x16, and a 14x6.5 supra-phonic snare. 3, 4, and everything else, green sparkles. everything the same. except 14x10 rack.

[harryconway]

So was the Knebworth kit(1980) 100% stainless shells?

Bonzolead
Yes. Info. here http://www.answers.com/topic/john-bonham on all John Bonham kits, studio and tour.

[bonzolead]

Yes. Info. here http://www.answers.com/topic/john-bonham on all John Bonham kits, studio and tour.Great Info. thanks a million,

Bonzolead

[pdp 9091]

On zeppelin 1 and 2 he used his clear maple kit and then once it was time to record 3 he got the green sparkle and used that for the rest of the album. and yes the stainless steel kit used from 77-80 was 100% stainless steel (sometimes even was played with a 15 inch rack!!! 18 floor tom and a 20 inch floor tom!!!!)

[sharky 007]

Yes. Info. here http://www.answers.com/topic/john-bonham on all John Bonham kits, studio and tour.

It said that he used a snare stand for his tom,but i've seen pic's of him using a rail mount on some kits?

[harryconway]

(sometimes even was played with a 15 inch rack!!! 18 floor tom and a 20 inch floor tom!!!!)
The 18" and 20" may or may not be true. http://www.ludwigdrummer.com/ludwig_artists_page.htm about the stainless
"This kit was used until Led Zeppelin's last ever performance, Monday
July 7 1980 Berlin Germany. An interesting feature about this kit was that it had Mach Lugs (long lugs) on the 12"x15" tom. Also I heard he used 18"& 20" floor toms but the floor toms were the same depth so they must have been 16" & 18"."

[harryconway]

It said that he used a snare stand for his tom,but i've seen pic's of him using a rail mount on some kits?

Yes, just because someone makes a list of equipment doesn't mean every single fact is true and/or detail is correct. What fun would that be. Also look here. http://www.ludwigdrummer.com/ludwig_artists_page.htm This said about his clear maple kit. "When John first got this kit he used both bass drum's in rehearsal and for a couple of shows, he soon got rid of it because his fellow band members said he was drowning them out! The tom was at first placed on a Ludwig Atlas snare stand but later he added a ‘Roger's Swivo-matic’ tom mount while still keeping the snare stand there."

[pcmckay]

It said that he used a snare stand for his tom,but i've seen pic's of him using a rail mount on some kits?

This is the big misconception about Bonham's set up. The only kit he used a snare stand for the tom was the clear maple kit. All of the rest of the kits the tom was mounted to the bass drum either with the rail system, or the standard tom mount on the stainless steel kit. And yes the stainless steel kit was 100% steel shells, if I'm not mistaken he was the first Ludwig endorser to use the stainless steel kit. Also on Zep I he recorded on a set of Slingerland's in the black diamond finish. When it was time to record Zep II he was already a Ludwig endorser thanks to Carmine Appice. He then was using the clear maple kit. After that he got the maple green sparkle kit which he stated was his favorite kit. From Zep IV on until his death he recorded with the green sparkle kit. He never recorded with the Vistalites or the stainless steel kits except live recordings. Also some people have said that he only used the green sparkle kit in the studio, that is false. He used it in the studio for Zep IV and also the tour to support that album.