[78-L] Bass Drum on record

[Tim Huskisson]

If the problem with recording bass drums was fundamentally about  low
frequencies disturbing the cutting styli, I'd assume that early Electric
recording would have been far more problematic than Acoustic recording.
There were no compressors/limiters in those days and bass frequency 'spikes'
picked-up by a sensitive microphone - that had to faithfully reproduce lo
and hi frequencies at soft and loud volumes - would have presented major new
challenges for recording engineers.  
Though drum 'kits' were available by the late teens, my belief is that
drummers still considered themselves as 'percussionists'. They weren't there
to 'drive a rhythm section' - even though the New Orleans style revivalist
bands of the 1940's give this impression. THAT concept didn't really catch
on until the Swing era. It IS true however, that intricate drumming was an
actual feature of Ragtime and Rag-a-Jazz band performances. Not so, when the
smoother sounds of arranged dance music became the fashion.
Tim Huskisson
  



-----Original Message-----
From: 78-l-bounces at klickitat.78online.com
[mailto:78-l-bounces at klickitat.78online.com] On Behalf Of David Sanderson
Sent: 19 January 2021 16:31
To: 78-L Mail List
Subject: Re: [78-L] Bass Drum on record


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
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