John Bonham Amber Vistalite drum sound trial # 2 Bruce McGregor

[drummerboy9551]

What recording equiptment did you use for this sound?

[beAllbugger]

My complements: not only does it sound true, your aim to recreate seems razor sharp. It'd probably be appreciated if your next video was a couple minutes longer though. Hammer along to a few different Zep tunes.

[acroman28]

@beAllbugger Thanks very much!, I plan on making more soon

[cnote05]

Kit sounded great brother!!!!

[427green]

Would you recommend purchasing one of these Bonham Vistalites?

[DCussen]

NICE WORK!

[jeremyw5]

Amazing sound man

[4ustrider]

too much ring

[kmariebox1]

Damn Bruce... A.D. Adams was right! You are freakin' awesome!

[crozzara]

Sounds huge! Great job man.



[acroman28]

What is a Bonzo siggy kit?

[427green]

@acroman28 Hey acroman! sounds like the sound mate, Awesome.

Im thinking of getting one my self. Have the green sparkle. Would you recomend the Vistalite? And hard to tune? cheers, Nice chops

[jakeyyvampiree]

How much would a bonzo siggy kit cost?

[sinclair61]

@juiceforjoe No I am too!

[speedoflite1]

wow, very well tuned!!! ...and his play does it justice

[acroman28]

@speedoflite1 Thanks Brotha!, rock on!

[THELIMDUDE]

THE SNARE SOUNDS FUCKING AWESOME!!! YOU MUST DO A TUTORIAL :O

[NateageIV]

I hear that kit is really riningy and anyoying without drum mics is this true or can you tune it to where it will sound awesome? its sounds great in the video!

[TheJJDrums]

Awesome. Major jealousy. What kind of hi hats?

[Tank35]

I live in mississippi.

[cmbull71]

I WANT THIS KIT! Sounds awesome man!! Like those triplets too!

[acroman28]

@cmbull71 Thank you cmbull, rock on man!

[Tank35]

You play drums very well man!! That sound is Bad Ass!!! Im hoping to get it right on my kit one day. Cheers!!!

[acroman28]

@Tank35 thanks Tank

[bumba220]

Ha!!!! Very sick, very cool, and great tune at the end, wanna hear more!

[acroman28]

@bumba220 thank you very much bumba

[squeezemylever5]

soo can i have your kit now? thx!!!!

[acroman28]

@squeezemylever5 Lol!, sure, come and git it!

[tamaplayer100]

Can U tell us how U got that incredible snare sound..tuning advice???lol

[acroman28]

@tamaplayer100 I can tell you, but then I'd have to kill you...lol!

[tamaplayer100]

@acroman28 lol!Hopefully It doesn't have to come to those terms hahaha...Incredible sound man John be proud to hear the sound u get from that kitXD

[Pepper2Jason]

Wow this sounds very alike. Awesome!

[acroman28]

@Pepper2Jason Thanks man!, Rock on!

[GrooveDrummin]

Sounds great!

[acroman28]

@GrooveDrummin Thanks, Nice playing!

[BittenMitten]

snare sounds siiiiiiiiick!!!!!!!!

[acroman28]

@BittenMitten Thanks man!, Rock on!

[acroman28]

@BittenMitten thanks man!

[Tank35]

Your drums sound really good man! How did you peg that Bonham sound? any tips? Thanks!!

[acroman28]

@Tank35 thank you tanks, where are you?, I might be able to help

[65Magnifico]

great sound! well done

[acroman28]

@65Magnifico thanks!

[Rockinnsk8inallday]

Nice I'm pretty sure the kick just sounds like that because it's mic'ed, but not that I care! beast playing too bro

[acroman28]

@Rockinnsk8inallday The Kick is mic'd in the same way Bonzo had it

[trapkit1]

Great sound and nicely done.

[Diatonic5th]

Spot on Bonham tuning... I love the sound of that kit!

[acroman28]

@Diatonic5th Thanks so much Diatonic Rock on!, Bruce

[SonorSonicFan]

That sounds great. Whatever you are doing, it is working.  Great job.

[acroman28]

@SonorSonicFan Many thanks to you Sonor!, Rock on!, Bruce

[klawrence738]

hell yea. sure sound good miked!

[acroman28]

@klawrence738 Thanks so much, Ya they do sound great mic'd

[jerywilliams]

Often imitatated, never duplicated. Great job, sounds great, keep the memory alive!

[check6ii]

YOU GOT IT ALL RIGHT! You nailed it

[acroman28]

@check6ii Hey, Thanks very much!. Rock on!, Bruce

[danakerman]

I think the snare sounds pretty good. Not sure about the kick though

[acroman28]

@danakerman 

[acroman28]

@danakerman I think the kick sounds pretty close if you have full range speakers connected to your pc

[yankeeredneck2]

@danakerman Kick sounds right to me..... What are you listening to it on?

[ragejg]

Darlene is on Coda.

What snare are you using? Great tone; nice job on getting the sound of this set together. :)

[acroman28]

@TheZeppelinlover No Problem, I got the cymbal mount at my local music store. I made a custom brace out of a small cymbal stand and clamp drum hardware.

[acroman28]

@TheZeppelinlover Thanks, Yes the toms are pitched up, and I imagine that if your not careful you can crack these drums, I've since put a brace support on my ride cymbal mount, and I set the bottom of my rack tom resting on top of the kick drum with a folded rag in between so the tom mount won't take all the weight putting stress on the kick drum. so far no cracks!, and I can play as hard as I want, hands and all...lol!

[chronic9292]

what song is that? is it from zeppelin?

[acroman28]

@chronic9292 Darling

[chronic9292]

@acroman28 by what band?

[acroman28]

@chronic9292 Led Zeppelin of course

[chronic9292]

@acroman28 hey lol sorry to keep bothering you about this song but i cant find it on the internet. what album is it on?

[bumba220]

@acroman28 Darlene

[acroman28]

@buddyrichjunier I'll have to disagree with you my friend

[BLITZKRIEGBOP84]

GOTTA AGREE...YOU NAILED THE TUNNING!!

[acroman28]

@BLITZKRIEGBOP84 ThanksBlitz I hope to post more soon. Rock on!, Bruce

[BLITZKRIEGBOP84]

@acroman28 YOU ARE VERY WELCOME....YOU PLAY GREAT TOO!!

[acroman28]

@BLITZKRIEGBOP84 Thanks are you a drummer too?

[BLITZKRIEGBOP84]

@acroman28 YEA..I HAVE A CLASSIC MAPLE WITH THE BONHAM SIZES IN SPARKLE GREEN..(I RECOVERED IT)..AND SIMILAR BONHAM CYMBAL SETUP...CEPT I HAVE A FEW MORE

[VegaWgn]

cant get any better tuned than this man...good job

[acroman28]

@VegaWgn Awesome dude, Thanks man!, Rock on!, Bruce

[Simto]

Great job man those drums sound great and your playing is awesome. I tried these drums once in the store i work in and they seem like they are very hard to control, most of the other clips of this kit on youtube always have a "bad" sound... too ringy and hollow sound, but yours is just tuned right, very powerful sounding

[acroman28]

@Simto Hey Thanks simto, ya it took me a long time to get the Bonzo sound going right. Rock on, Bruce

[HoldenMcG]

I would love to see some BMcG/JB "how to's" or lesson/song break downs..... That's the first time I've really been able to "hear" what JB was doing on Darlene.

[acroman28]

@HoldenMcG Wow!, Well I will certainly give it a shot, I'm almost ready to post more vids..Hope I don't dissapoint, Thanks HoldenMcG

[HoldenMcG]

Nice work Bruce... and great sound too!

[acroman28]

@HoldenMcG  Hey thanks, Rock on!, Bruce

[HoldenMcG]

@acroman28 Bruce,

I'm hooked on your sound!

Are you going to post more vids soon?

[acroman28]

@HoldenMcG thanks very much, yes im going to do more vids, very cool. Rock on! Bruce

[JustinPierce1226]

Hey i'd love to collaberate. I have been singing Robert Plant material since I could walk lol. I dont do the shitty tribute cover voices either. I go for the Darlene sounding voice :p. Check out my channel.

[acroman28]

@JustinPierce1226 Well, I found no vocals of you, just a dazed and confused sounding thing. you can send me a link of your vocals.

[JustinPierce1226]

@acroman28 Hey the video is still uploading lol. Sorry. I had much to do today. But it shall be up.

[acroman28]

@JustinPierce1226 Anytime, thanks, Bruce

[danielsoferman]

good job man

[mapatlanta]

Hi Bruce,

I am constantly refining the tuning of my Supraphonic,but have yet to get this close.I'm curious;how does your snare sound when you are seated compared to when standing in front of the kit? I also realize that the microphones and rim shots affect the tone as well...

Also,would you comment on the overall head tension and tightness of the snares?

Cheers,

Michael

[rene495]

badass... wanna collab someday?

[acroman28]

@rene495 Sure, anytime

[rene495]

@acroman28 alright, will pm you

[tokageroh1988]

that's a hell of a bonham sound!!

can you please make a tuning tutorial?

thanks a lot ;)

Davide

[acroman28]

@tokageroh1988 Yes thanks, I'd love to do that sometime soon

[tokageroh1988]

@acroman28 then, soon i'm gonna owe you a favor ;)

[acroman28]

@tokageroh1988 Very kind of you, but you won't owe me a favor.

Rock on!, Bruce

[acroman28]

yes Thanks Markus

[MarkusGronroos]

THANKS! nice drumming and cool to find another bonzo fan here on youtube (-:

[scott111193]

what snare wires are you using?

[acroman28]

@scott111193 Just the snares that came with the 402

[tonemeister3]

what song is that towards the end?

[Justdave15]

@tonemeister3 darlene - led zeppelin, its off the coda album!

[acroman28]

@Justdave15 yes Darlene...thanks Dave

[scott111193]

What heads have you got on your snare (402)?. New or old?

Sounds incredible!

[acroman28]

@scott111193 Thanks Scott, Ya it's an Ambassador on the bottom/Emperor on the batter side. they are old and broken in the way I like them. No having to retune like with new heads as they stretch out.

[TheMcbro]

Pleeaaassee make more videos.

[acroman28]

@TheMcbro Ya I will make more vids soon thx, Bruce

[TheMcbro]

Your drums sound more like Bonzo's than his tech, Jeff Ocheltree even got them to sound on his video "Trust Your Ears".

Bravo

[acroman28]

@TheMcbro Hey Mcbro thanks for the awesome compliment. It did take me a long time to get the sound right though.

[flicky76]

You are quite welcome. But seriously, YOUR drums, more than ANYONE I've ever heard, actually sound like Bonzo's. And your playing is exquisite. Excellent work. 

[acroman28]

@flicky76  Wow, I am Honered and very appreciative of your kind approval of my efforts in my tribube to my hero...Thanks again, and rock on!. Bruce

[flicky76]

@acroman28

Pleasure is all mine. I have a Bonzo set in blue from the early 70's. Any secrets? Tips? How best to capture that sound? I can hear that you've got your drums tuned pretty high; a secret many people seem to overlook, but yours sound spot on, and not too over-ringy. Just perfect!

[TheMcbro]

Flicky! Been a while since you've posted a solo, eh? I watch your vids man. I'm almost done with my home studio, I'm gonna be putting vids up as well!

[sinkinglamb1994]

you need to make more videos man!

[acroman28]

@sinkinglamb1994 Yes Thanks!, I plan to after I get my pool done

[flicky76]

Sweet solo, man! Love the sound!

[acroman28]

@flicky76 Thank you flicky

[chino9992]

how did you make the bass head logo

[acroman28]

@chino9992 I just used deadringers

[Poundcakes]

sounds awesome!

what kinda hi hats are those?

[acroman28]

@Poundcakes Hey fellow rocker thanks for the compliment. The Hi Hats are 15" 2002 soundedge

[acroman28]

@Poundcakes  Thanks Poundcakes

[Jord121995]

Most accurate bonham sound I have ever heard on the internet. Awsome. :D

[acroman28]

@Jord121995 Hi Jord, Thanks so much for you compliment,That goes such a long way with me, especially since it took me a long time to get the Bonham sound right!. Thanks again, Bruce

[fleetwoodbrawm]

WOW! LOVE IT! RIGHT ON THE MONEY!

[acroman28]

@fleetwoodbrawm Thankyou fleetwoodbrawm, I'm planning to put some more video's up soon. Thanks bud, Bruce

[acroman28]

Mine was $2,100.00 and worth every penny

[mattymofo22]

@acroman28 You should get the John Bonham 2002 set of cymbals, that would be the most authentic set up ever!

[Otby22]

I am lookng to buy a remodel vistalite kit from Ludwig but have no idea how much they would cost - anyone have any ideas?

[acroman28]

It's all a matter of prefrence, but no dampening for my bass drum except a felt strip.

Goodluck, Bruce

[xXxphakiexXx]

Does the bass drum need dampening because on wooden kits i put pillows in mine because it sounds really deep

[acroman28]

Yes I believe they are wood they are painted black with the amber sparkle inlay's

[AldridgeHalenFreak]

Hey McGregor.. Me again. Hey friend can you please tell me.. Are your Bass drum hoops plastic or wood? Im having mine replaced with Wooden Hoops from Ludwig. Yours are wood arn't they?

[proptopkus]

Sounds great...maybe just tune the rack slightly lower? Loved how "Darlene" came in out of nowhere...

[blackholesun2001]

that snare and the drums sound killer!

I just sold my vistalite Bonham set and am now regretting it...

when you practice do you mike up the drums and listen through a mixer and headphones? the miking is phenomenal.

can you shed some light on it? thanks

[acroman28]

Hey blackholesun, Thanks for the comps on my sound, Yes ofcourse I listen with headphones to dial in the mixer on ea. channel. Sorry to hear you had to sell your Zep kit. Bonzo lives thru us!. Rock on!, Bruce

[sticktrik]

Yeah Man!!!!! you got the sound to a T!!!!!!

The drums were recorded well! My Props go out to you bro!!!!!

[acroman28]

Thank you sticktrik, Rock on man!, Bruce

[AldridgeHalenFreak]

Request lines are now open....

;p)

I think I need some lights too! Looks like a fun atmosphere to groove to! Keep up the good work McGregor!!

[AldridgeHalenFreak]

Right. I will work at it. I have it sounding better already. One thing I really like about your set up is your tone and signal. And you play well too! Think maybe you could play that whole song for us or maybe something ..Like Wanton song or Ozone Baby..

[acroman28]

Many thanks Aldridge, I will post more of my playing sometime soon!. Thanks for your support and kind words. Rock it!, Bruce

[AldridgeHalenFreak]

McGregor....?

Im trying to tune my Vistalite. But seriously now...can you help me? Do you use a drum dial? If so what is the tension of the top N bottoms?

If no drum dial, how about the tension of tops N bottoms with your digits mate?

I have a dial but never use it on my Blue Sparkle wooden kit. I try to keep even tension. People say "Learn to tune" Their gonna ring. Ringing a bit I can live with but a great over tone that comes off off it like N afterburner?... NO.

What works for you?

[acroman28]

Hi Aldridge,

I have No drum dial, since you have the Ocheltree video you should know that the bottom heads are pitched way up higher than the batter heads. If you want that Bonham sound then you need to let those bad boys have a great overtone that comes off it like N afterburner..lol!. Rock it!, Bruce

[AldridgeHalenFreak]

Ok...One more subject if I may. The LM402 Snare is Aluminum based. Very light in weight. It is the snare that came with my Vistalite reissue. I am looking at a Ludwig Black Beauty Hand hammered LB417K. Brass based. In Ocheltree's video he mentions Bonzo always used a Superphonic Metal snare always! Well that throws that up in the air. The snare that came with it is nice sounding but some say the Brass Blk Beauty series are much better. Does anyone really know what Bonham really used?

[acroman28]

Hi Aldridge, Yes he used the 402 and understood the great dynamic sound of it "when tuned well" it had compared to the more dark and dull sounding Black Beauty. I have both snares myself and can concure this. if you listen to any the S.R.S. 1973" where Bonzo's using the 402, verses the concert at Earls Court 75" where I believe he's giving the Black Beauty a try "See if you can hear the difference. Rock it!, Bruce

[AldridgeHalenFreak]

Heeeey McGregor...

1.What do your Mic's go into from the Kit. You shared with us the Microphones you used and now do they run into a Mic Preamp or just into a Computer interface or into a Board and a PA..?

2. Do you use a Speed King on the foot? Im normally a Double Basser with my Maple Custom Absolute and I use Flying Dragon direct drives with separate bass drums. But I will use my Speed King here on this Vistalite.

I think Im really gonna like this kit!

[acroman28]

Hi Aldridge, the mics route to a Mackie mixer and then a camcorder. I used to use a speedking, then I went to the ghost pedal, right now I have a demon. Thanks.

Rock it!, Bruce

[chefcliffy]

Where did you get the outside bass drum head with the three rings?

[acroman28]

It's a remo ambassador head and then I painted and glued three rings on it. Thanks, Bruce

[AldridgeHalenFreak]

I think you have one of the best signals on your recording here. Great tone and you have the kit set up perfectly! What are U using for Microphones? When I watch this track my thought is don't stop.. Play more... ;p)

[acroman28]

Hey Thanks!, Ya I think the tuning is pretty close to Bonzo, I used Sennheiser 604 mics for the toms, a Sm57 for the snare, and two mics on the bass drum, a sure on the resonate side, and a dynamic on the batter side wired out of phase.

[AldridgeHalenFreak]

I was even thinking of maybe putting wooden hoops on the Amber vistalite's toms and after these Remo Black dot heads down the road maybe trying a set of those oil filled heads. "?"

[acroman28]

Ya, I just think Black dot sounds best with the vistalites. Rock it!

[AldridgeHalenFreak]

Very nice! I have this kit with Black Dot heads and my Paistes. But Ihave the kit in bags. I usually play my Yamaha Maple Custom Absolute kit but this Kit here is pretty amazing! I have kept mine! Oh yeah... You play very well! More! More! ;p()

[acroman28]

Thank you AldridgeHalenFreak, I have the stainless steel kit sitting somewhere around my house....lol. Rock on!, Bruce

[1gannuscio]

Sounds just like Bonham's. Nicely done bro. John would be proud...

[acroman28]

Thank you 1gannuscio, to say John would be proud makes it all worth it, so Thank you very much. Bruce

[chefcliffy]

I have the same kit, with the cymbal arm and 782-1 rail mount. i have nailed the sound but need mic's can you please tell me all of the recording equip amd mic's. Check out my kit, i send it as a response. great job, it rocks!!!!!!

[acroman28]

Hi chefcliffy, Yes awesome for you that you have the amber vistalite, you might want to go the extra step and get the Black dot heads, since you already have the rail mount, and ride rod. Thanks for the compliment on my sound, the mics I use are Sennheiser 604.

[bonhamfan98]

I think it would be fantastic if you posted your tuning secrets; you really do have the perfect Bonham sound!

[acroman28]

Thankyou very much Bonham fan, Yes I plan to do a video soon and give my take on the Bonzo sound. thanks for the compliment!.Rock on, Bruce

[493john]

you nailed it on the SRS sound. PERFECT! do you use any bass drum muffling? felt strips?

[acroman28]

Hey, Thanks John, It's great to hear from someone like you who know's the elusive sound that Bonzo had in the SRS. Yes I used 1 felt strip on the batter side, and the dead ringers on the other. Rock it!, Bruce

[yankeeredneck2]

Very nice sound.... I have the same kit and tune mine a bit less ringy but without any dampening... I can bring them up if I have to... Like I said, your sound is great!

[ledzepp43]

thats amazing. they sound just like bonhams did in the song remains the same. did you have the kit specially made got lucky and bought it or did it come piece by piece? awesome

[acroman28]

Hey Thanks ledzep!, Getting the SRS. sound was a goal of mine. this is a reissue Zep kit. I then added the rail conselette and ride cymbal mount.

[bonzoleum]

Great job on the sound of the drums!

[acroman28]

Hi bonzoleum, Thanks man! I did the best I could to get that sound, I really appreciate you kind words, do you play drums I assume?

[bonzoleum]

Yes-I have some videos up here on oft-misplayed Bonham beats & riffs!

Your bottom head is tuned higher than your top?

How are you mikng your drums for the vids? It sounds great!

T

[denster999]

hey man, what skins do you use on the resonant side of your toms?

[acroman28]

Remo Ambassador Just like Bonzo did. Thanks for the inquirey, Rock on!, Bruce

[acroman28]

Thank you poncho! Rock on!

[poncho2211]

sounds awesome

Thankyou very much Aspergian, I'm kinda new at the youtube thing but will be posting more drumming video's, as well as my Bonzo tuning secrets and my take on playing Bonham style. keep rock'n!.