Gary Chester's Drum Setup

Scott K Fish

Scott K Fish

Silver Member
Gary Chester's Drum Setup

SKF NOTE: On May 22, 2015 I posted two pages of photos of Gary Chester at a studio recording session from a book Gary co-wrote with Charles "Charley" Perry called, "The Popular Rock Drummer."

These two pages from the same book are of historical interest. Example, Gary tunes his bass drum, in part, by filling inside the drum halfway with "rolled balls of newspaper."

152005_garychester_buddy_0001.jpg


152005_garychester_buddy_0002.jpg


Scott K Fish Blog: Life Beyond the Cymbals
 
Alrighty then.

Bass drum- Half filled with rolled balls of newspaper. I'll have to try that one.

Snare drum- 4 Bandaids equally around the shell on the inside.
 
I can't say I liked the sound of his kit on his video... the toms didn't really lend themselves to the percussive nature of what he was teaching. Tuned too high and ringy.
 
Filling the bass drum with stuff was a thing back in the day. I read Carmine Appice filled his bass drum with newspaper, and Bonham followed suit, until his tech one day forgot to put the newspaper back in before a show ;)

How that translated to a single head with a pillow, no one will ever know.
 
Matt Bo Eder -

Exactly right. Bass drums half-filled with newspaper balls, car keys used to create sizzle cymbals - this was all standard drum fare at one time.

Best,
skf
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top