"Ramble On" sound question

[DingerJunkie]

Hey all...

I've bee driving myself nuts with a question regarding a subtlety in Bonzo's work on "Ramble On," and I need some help. What I'm hearing may or may not even be John. From the beginning, and through each verse, there is an almost "slapping," semi-dead (resonance-wise) 16th pattern, and I can't figure out how to replicate it. It is too dark to be a stick strike to a shell or rim...it doesn't sound like playing a towel on a tom...attack almost sounds like quiet dead-finger strikes to a tumba, yet there is an immediate shift from that to stick strikes on the snare for the chorus lead-in, so it is not a wires-off snare either. Maybe under-filled leather mallets on a cajon...which nobody was using back then...

Is it something studio-wierd, like the sugar packets Aerosmith used as shakers for the beginning of "sweet emotion?" Has anyone come up with a live analogue that properly replicates this without sounding corny or overbearing on stage?

[foursticks]

Hahaha I remember trying to figure this out myself and driving myself nuts!

Here's what it is - sticks hitting the drum throne cushion.

I nearly kicked myself in the head when I found out.

[Jeff Almeyda]

On stage I would put a towel over a floor tom to replicate the effect.

[bonzolead]

Hahaha I remember trying to figure this out myself and driving myself nuts!

Here's what it is - sticks hitting the drum throne cushion.

I nearly kicked myself in the head when I found out.Great "foursticks" I always wondered that also,I always thought John was playing on his thighs with drumsticks with pants on of course LOL

I'll sleep better tonight LOL

Bonzolead

[PQleyR]

I always thought it was a conga or something. Shows how much attention I've been paying, doesn't it!

[maddrummr]

I heard that he played on top of a plastic garbage can lid.

[bermuda]

Had ti listen for myself, I was never that familiar with the details of that song.

I agree with the sticks on the vinyl seat pad... at least that's how I'd duplicate it.

But thigh slaps aren't too far off, used most notably on The Beatles' "I'm Looking Through You."

Bermuda

[foursticks]

No I have actually read it somewhere - I think it might have been his biography by his brother, I'm not sure, but I am definately sure that I've read it somewhere...

Unless my memory is trying to decieve me..

[Styx]

Hectic Bro.

I always thought it was a spoon being slapped between the thigh and hand. I guess you learn something new everyday. Thanks for the info.

[Mook]

He played with his hands on a Guitar case.

Thats' what it says in his book (Thunder of Drums) anyway & it sounds about right to me...

[DingerJunkie]

Well, Mook...if you're right, then he must have done something else live, and he must have over-dubbed himself, as he switches immediately from that pattern to a snare fill using sticks as a chorus lead-in.

Maybe this is a future question for his old drum-tech or recording engineer to clear up, but I always carried the thought in my head (out of respect) that Bonzo wouldn't have played patterns or drum compositons that required over-tracking himself like that.

[rabbitfoot]

its so funny how i've always noticed this sound but never thought about what it is.

[Mook]

They never played Ramble On live so he never had to worry about it...

[Creothcean]

I'm not pretending to be the know everything expert, but according to all my sources (and I have read A LOT) about zeppelin, he turned over a plastic trash can and hit the bottom of it.

[maddrummr]

Drum Throne cushion/seat pad-2
Towel over floor tom-1
Sticks on thighs-1
conga (or something)-1
plastic garbage can lid-2
slapping a spoon-1

wow thats a lot of different interpretations. Now thats an innovative drummer.

[drummernowlin]

This is too funny...the version I heard was, and I have tried this and it sounds closer than anything else, he played the 16th notes with his sticks on the sole of his SHOE!

Try it and you'll see. Plus, that would allow him to jump right into the main beat with relative ease.

Thoughts?!?!?

[Mook]

Why do you think John Bonham was reluctant to use overdubs? Never heard Whole Lotta Love? Jimmy Page & Robert Plant used plenty of tracks on Ramble On so why not Bonham!?

It actually has a quote in the book 'A Thunder of Drums' that he played it on a guitar case. I'm not pretending to be omni knowledgable but I'm pretty damn sure that's what it is.