Funk with a Bonham Set?

SgtThump

SgtThump

Platinum Member
Sold off a bunch of stuff except for my Ludwig classic maple Bonham set. Planned to head back over to guitar land for a bit, then landed this funk gig on drums with some GREAT players.

I've ALWAYS wanted to play funk, so I'm super excited! It's a modern original band, but their songs are somewhat reminiscent of The Meters, Herbie Hancock, etc... It's not rock funk.

Anyway, the common things I've read is to get a 20" bass drum for a nice tight sound that's not too overpowering and basically muffle all drums and when I listen to old school funk, that's what I hear too.

Curious what you think about me using my Bonham set, just all muffled up? I think it may be TOO big sounding and overpowering. Opinions?

Id only use the 26/14/16 setup with Paiste Dark Energy cymbals.
 
Tommy_D said:
Sure, go for it. Break the rules and do your own thing. It may sound good, it may not, but you will never know unless you try.
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Thanks. I should point out that I realize it's cool to do your own thing, there are no rules, you can play any style on any kit, it's all about technique, etc... :)

Just milling this over in my mind and am curious to hear opinions.

I actually tune drums open and big sounding, so the muffled thing isn't me preference. But I want a somewhat authentic sound and I'm thinking a 26" bass drum, even muffled, may not get it.
 
You never held back from buying before....I suggest you get yourself a 20 bass drum, or 12-14-20 setup. With your great snares and cymbals you'll be all good to go.
Personally I don't think a 14-16-26 suits a funk band that well.
 
Doooooo eeeeet...

Look at this like an opportunity for growth. Maybe try tuning the bass drum up into the Jazz range and practice getting some light tones out of it and laying into it when you need some whack.
 
I would just rock your kit as is. F@€k conventions. I play funk on my 14,18,26 all the time. Just adjust your touch on the kit. For a lot of stuff you don't want to be slamming the drums anyway. A huge, bassy kick sound isn't going to offend anyone in the funk world. Bass In Your Face!
 
SgtThump said:
Thanks. I should point out that I realize it's cool to do your own thing, there are no rules, you can play any style on any kit, it's all about technique, etc... :)

Just milling this over in my mind and am curious to hear opinions.

I actually tune drums open and big sounding, so the muffled thing isn't me preference. But I want a somewhat authentic sound and I'm thinking a 26" bass drum, even muffled, may not get it.
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I get this. I like to change my set up to suit a style more or most appropriately. I don't hear the hyper muffled thing for funk, but I do hear the 8" 10" tom.
 
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You know, JR Robinson used a 26" bass drum in his days with Rufus and for all those recording sessions he did for Quincy Jones. It's not the drums, you know.
 
Matt Bo Eder said:
You know, JR Robinson used a 26" bass drum in his days with Rufus and for all those recording sessions he did for Quincy Jones. It's not the drums, you know.
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I was hoping to get to hear a 26 in use in this style. I'll go search around YouTube for some tunes, but feel free to let me know your suggestions!
 
opentune said:
You never held back from buying before....I suggest you get yourself a 20 bass drum, or 12-14-20 setup. With your great snares and cymbals you'll be all good to go.
Personally I don't think a 14-16-26 suits a funk band that well.
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I'd go with this ^^^^. (Yes, I'm an enabler too - ha ha).

Sure, you can crank up what you've got and give it a go,
but from what I've seen of your postings, I'd say you like to get new stuff, and can afford it.

A funk gig provides the perfect reason to fill out your set with a few matching pieces, so it's well suited for anything.

I forget exactly what all your set consists of now, but I think a 20" bass drum,
and maybe a couple of smaller toms would greatly reduce the amount of work you'd have to do to get the sounds you're looking for.
 
A few options im considering:

- Ordering a 20" ludwig bass drum that matches my set and using the 14" and 16" toms with it
- Buying a new Yamaha Stage Custom in 20/10/12/14 and set it up specifically for this gig
- using what i have and worry more about the playing

The guys in this band are better than me. This is s little above my league. I love that, because ill come out of this a much better drummer. But i tend to love gear and overthink things in general. Lol
 
SgtThump said:
I was hoping to get to hear a 26 in use in this style. I'll go search around YouTube for some tunes, but feel free to let me know your suggestions!
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For that matter, I think he used a Yamaha kit with a 26" bass drum for Steve Winwood's High Life album from the 80s too.

And even Andy Newmark used a 24" bass drum alot - not sure if this was when he was with Sly and the Family Stone, but he was definitely into the bigger by the 80s too.

I think if you dampen down any bass drum and stick a mic in it, it will sound nice and tight for funk music. Many people counter with "why have such a huge bass drum if you're gonna stuff a pillow in it anyway?", but in your case, you're making it work for your situation. So a hole in the front head and pillow would be fine. Having a 26" doesn't mean it has to be wide open like Bonham all the time. You can make it work without purchasing anything new.
 
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I think the 26" will work nicely. One of my instructors plays/played a 24" Maryland custom bass drum and it sounds great for funk, or really most anything.
 
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I say you're much better off playing funk with a 26" bass drum than playing Zeppelin covers with an 18". I think it will work great!
 
OK - on the conservative side, it sounds like you just got the gig, and are probably not sure if it will pan out.
Maybe you should give your big bass drum a try.

If the band doesn't work out for you, and you've bought another bass drum or whole kit for it, will you be OK with keeping the extra drums?

IMO, a matching 20" bass for your Ludwigs would be a mighty fine thing to have around in any scenario.
On the practical side though, you could probably get a whole Stage Custom kit for less money.
Which would you rather have.
 
Chuck a pillow in the bass drum and pick up an add on 10" tom for a 10/14 tom setup.
 
Matt Bo Eder said:
For that matter, I think he used a Yamaha kit with a 26" bass drum for Steve Linwood's High Life album from the 80s too.

And even Andy Newmark used a 24" bass drum alot - not sure if this was when he was with Sly and the Family Stone, but he was definitely into the bigger by the 80s too.

I think if you dampen down any bass drum and stick a mic in it, it will sound nice and tight for funk music. Many people counter with "why have such a huge bass drum if you're gonna stuff a pillow in it anyway?", but in your case, you're making it work for your situation. So a hole in the front head and pillow would be fine. Having a 26" doesn't mean it has to be wide open like Bonham all the time. You can make it work without purchasing anything new.
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Bo and I have an arrangement where I have to quote him once every week minimum. (It was a stipulation in the agreement we had when he got me NAMM tickets last year. I have another year on this current agreement)

He's right on here. I'm picturing foam around the inside circumference of the drum.
 
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