ABBEY ROAD 50s DRUMMER

Recreating the sound of an era is not just a question of EQ or effects. Only by using the instruments, the recording equipment and the techniques of the period is it possible to capture the distinctive sound.

The 50s saw rapidly advancing drum manufacturing and recording methods, allowing bolder-sounding kits with more bite. These kits could cut through a mix full of the new electrified instruments gaining popularity in the day.

This collection of drums provides the era’s finest specimens, including one of only 50 legendary Gladstone snares– considerd the ‘holy grail’ of snare drums. Dig deep into the rich history of modern music with pristine-sounding drums, recorded using modern techniques and premium microphones from Neumann and Shure. Or go vintage with channels recorded with period-accurate techniques, vintage RCA 44BX and AKG D12 microphones, and a valve tape machine.

A fresh set of brush articulations and 25 velocity layers with 4 round robins give these kits paramount authenticity and a sound like no other.

Kick: 20” Gretsch Cadillac Green Nitron kick – 1950s
Snare 1: 14” x 6.5” Gretsch Broadkaster snare – 1950s
Snare 2: 14” x 5” Leedy Broadway snare – 1920s
Snare 3: 14” x 4” Gretsch Max Roach snare – 1950s
Rack Tom: 12” Gretsch Cadillac Green Nitron tom tom – 1950s
Floor Tom: 14” Gretsch Cadillac Green Nitron tom tom – 1950s
Cymbals: Zildjian A & K– 1950s

Kick: 20” WFL kick – 1950s
Snare 1: 14” x 6.5” Gladstone snare – 1950s
Snare 2: 14” x 8” WFL snare – 1950s
Snare 3: 13” x 3” WFL snare – 1950s
Rack Tom 1: 12” WFL tom tom – 1950s
Rack Tom 2: 13” WFL tom tom – 1950s
Floor Tom: 16” WFL tom tom – 1950s
Cymbals: Zildjian A & K– 1950s

For this project a valve tape machine was used with original EMI tape from the decade. This machine is similar to the BTR (British Tape Machine) built in-house at Abbey Road Studios in the 1950s.

An ultra-rare REDD.17 recording console was used to capture the vintage channels for 50s DRUMMER. One of only four ever manufactured, this all-valve console first made an appearance at Abbey Road in 1957 and is still used at the studios today for special sessions.

Abbey Road's prized collection of vintage microphones features a large number of originals, spanning many decades. The microphones used on recording sessions today are often the very ones used by legendary artists throughout the studio’s long history.

ABBEY ROAD | 50s DRUMMER was recorded by Chris Bolster and executive produced by Mirek Stiles of Abbey Road Studios. Once again, drumming duties were performed by one of London’s top musicians, Paul Clarvis. Native Instruments Sound Designers Julian Laping and Sebastian Müller were on hand to oversee the sessions.