Bomber BD Beater?

Hey all,

Anybody got any experience with the Vater Bomber bass drum beater? I've got a gig coming up where I'm subbing in a little-old-man band called "The Sax Machine". They're basically an old swing-era saxophone section + rhythm section. I know that that bomber style beater is what they were using back in the day... Anybody know what I should expect to hear if I use it?

I'm using a 22" maple bass with an Evans EQ pad inside (until I get myself EMAD2), and I'm tuned right in the mid-range. Not real boomy, but not high and pingy, either. Nice and articulate.

/w

ps. I expect to be sight-reading their charts for "in the mood", "String of Pearls", and "Little Brown Jug". Fun!

Don't know about the bass drum beater, but those are some awesome songs. Have fun.

Bumpy?

WR,...

i've had the Vater Vintage Bomber Beater for a few months now. it kicks ass for exactly what you're getting yourself into.

it takes away any "modern" clicky attack, it seems to add more low-end, and it is perfect for feathering.

if you use a hard felt beater now, you may notice that the soft strokes are a bit quieter, so you'll have to adjust your hits, but for the style you'lll be fine.

just get one and see what you think. i'll be totally suprised if you aren't pleased with the results.

you may want to take the pad out of the BD, too. it'll help get the classic "dropping bombs" tone.

OK. stop reading. go get one. you can readpost more later.

i guess having the Search Function back in action would have helped answer this question.

Good songs - played them many times when I was younger

In the mood with 6 trumpet players was POWER....

So would this thing work for rock?

Unlikely. It's made to be like the old beaters from back in the 30s and 40s (I think) when the bass drum was played by "feathering". The idea was to feel the drum more than hear it.

I think not, but I'm not really sure. I think what I'm going to hear is a much more legato sound out of the drum. More long boomy sounds, rather than a punchy thump. Maybe. I'll probably pick this up and give it a try. If I get a chance, I'll make a recording.

/w

Originally posted by theFoot WR,... i've had the Vater Vintage Bomber Beater for a few months now. it kicks ass for exactly what you're getting yourself into. it takes away any "modern" clicky attack, it seems to add more low-end, and it is perfect for feathering. if you use a hard felt beater now, you may notice that the soft strokes are a bit quieter, so you'll have to adjust your hits, but for the style you'lll be fine. just get one and see what you think. i'll be totally suprised if you aren't pleased with the results. you may want to take the pad out of the BD, too. it'll help get the classic "dropping bombs" tone. OK. stop reading. go get one. you can readpost more later.

Completely agree with what theFoot said. The Bomber is great for feathering and "dropping bombs". The kick drum becomes more felt than heard, if that makes any sense at all. I think it will be perfect for the gig you are talking about. When I'm playing with a swing band I tend to tune up my kick a bit-not real tight, but a little tighter than I do for rock. I think the Bomber sounds great with the kick tuned up just a bit.

Definitely would not work for rock.

Well when you say "dropping bombs" i think rock.

I mean, imo Bonzo's kick was more felt than heard. Think Kashmere. Ever heard bonzo willy?

I've heard some pretty thumpin kicks from old videos of guys like buddy. WHABAM describes it. So i dunno, if you can feel it, then they'll still recognize it.

I agree with aqua....

The word "Bomber" sounds like Bonzo. And how can you "feel" the bass drum? I think I may understand. Is the bomber really, really light felt, or what?

What? Dude, man, I was covering bonzo when you were 6.

The bomb dropping metaphore is an old big band thing. Your aural imaginings are on the wrong track. It's very non-articulate. A long, legato boom.

/w

What is it with Americans and bombers anyway.

Peter

Sounds like you're going to tickle your bass drum to get the sounds you want...

Yes, and I'll probably say, "cootchy-coo!" while I do it.

/w

For the record, Bonzo was also using a huge bass drum with a direct-drive pedal, which means it didn't take a lot of effort/force behind that beater. And lets not forget the 3-mics in front of the bass head in the latter days.

Well no offense but, if you've never checked out copeland, then i figured it was safe to assume you've never checked out bonzo either.

yeah, there are references to drummers "dropping bombs" 30 years before before Bonzo started recording.

the articulation is definetly not there, compared to how we hear recorded bass drums today, but when you check out some big band recordings you defintely know when the drummer lays into the bass drum. i think the modern sound is really distinguished by a slappy attack sound. there's no way you will get that sound if you are playing a calf-skin head on a 32" bass drum with a felt beater and a mic 20' away.

feathering is the art of tapping the BD so it can barely be heard on it's own. this is where the drum is felt and not heard. the idea is to support and reinforce the bass player. again, modern recordings are different representation than that. often the mix reverses this. we are now used to hearing the BD pound out the beat, while the bass is a little under it.

sorry to be all serious, plaese continue with the tickling references.

I would say it's not a "modern" sound, and you will lose articulation and "cut" if playing in a loud live situation. not for metal.

BUT, I've played in an electric trio set-up, and it was quiet good. actually the guitarist won't stop talking about how good the BD sounded.

It was on a 20" Slingerland with a blanket inside, a really loose reso and a medium tight CS dot batter. It had a nice round "punch" without "clicky" or "slappy" attack, and very little boom.

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