[78-L] Bass Drum on record

[David Sanderson]

On 1/19/2021 10:55 AM, Ron L'Herault wrote:
> 
> There's an interesting article by R. S. Baker in the Jan. 2021 edition of
> "The Syncopated Times,"  wondering about Bass Drums on records.   The author
> notes that very early records had great bass drums on them, and that they
> were well recorded but that the practice faded out.     She mentions one
> reason that I suspect is the main one, that of excessive wear from the large
> excursions of cutter and playback stylus due to the energy recorded by the
> drums.    I have some early Columbia 12" disks that have amazing drums,
> including bass drums recorded on them.  The disks sound spectacular and look
> shiny and well cared for.  I've got others, not so lucky in their care that
> do not sound great at all.

One of the things that happened, I think, was that the growth of jazz 
bands brought more complex drumming to the recordings, from drum kits 
rather than individual drums. The New Orleans drumming style also 
emphasized more subtle techniques, like the "press roll" the marching 
bands used. This must have been hard for acoustic recording to pick up. 
There's a couple of sides of Baby Dodds (Warren, Johnny's younger 
brother) demonstrating drum styles, I think late, from the 1940's. And 
note that there were a range of sounds drummers used, including wood 
blocks and striking the shell of the bass drum. I don't know if there's 
any documentation about this, but it seems like the move to electric 
recording must have been a relief for capturing some of this playing.


-- 
David Sanderson
East Waterford Maine
dwsanderson685 at roadrunner.com
http://www.dwsanderson.me