Cardboard box for Bass Drum. Anyone try it?

[brianb]

I seem to remember from that "Standing In the Shadows of Motown" documentary that they said they used a cardboard box for a bass drum.

I'm wondering if anyone's ever tried this. I'm not a drummer by any stretch of the imagination, but I've been playing highhat and snare and one cymbal with brushes for my mostly acoustic recordings for awhile, and am wanting to add a little thump to lock in with the bass.

I just ordered a cheap-ass kick pedal and am wondering what I can smack it with. An actual bass drum would be too expensive, too loud, etc. (I record in my apartment.) so i'm wondering if anyone's ever tried this.

If so what kind of box works best, how did you mic it etc.

Thanks.

Brian

[tommy]

Try it against an empty hard shell acoustic guitar case.

[stevebozz]

if you get a mic that can pick up low range, maybe a wide diaphragm condenser.. or a D112, you'd be surprised how bassy you could make hitting a box. go for it!

[Catoogie]

Actually I think Uriel Jones said it was an old beer case. You can probably still get something similar at a beer distributor, it's the kind of box/case that returnable beer bottles come in.

[standup]

Get a suitcase big enough for the pedal, the snare, and a snare stand. Set up the snare and rig something that'll put the kick pedal in contact with the suitcase.

[Dave Nutz]

i once recorded drums for a demo with a slightly broken sm57, a mousepad, some change and a fake wood desk.


confused yet?

[tonewoods]

I drive a '96 Ford Econoline (there's a miss-named vehicle!) van, and the engine cover just to the right of my gas-pedal foot makes the loveliest kick-drum sound when I thump it with the side of my foot...

Been meaning to sample that puppy for some time now...

[Brian Brock]

I've used and recorded a cardboard box pretty extensively. I found the best to be one that's about the size of a kick drum, with as thick as possible walls, like the outer box of some electronics gear. The main problem with it is that the beater goes through the wall every once in a while, and you have to get more and more tape and pieces of cardboard to patch it up. The other problem is that there's no bounce, so it can be harder to play than a normal kick drum.

I tried cutting a hole in it, like a "real" kick drum, but it made it sound much worse.

[Harry]

I just ordered a cheap-ass kick pedal and am wondering what I can smack it with.

Smack whatever the hell you want with it If it makes a sound you can record it.

I've played a lot of acoustic shows where the drummer used a little suitcase and it sounded just right.

[curtiswyant]

Get a suitcase big enough for the pedal, the snare, and a snare stand. Set up the snare and rig something that'll put the kick pedal in contact with the suitcase.

Word. A local band used a suitcase for the bass drum when they play acoustic/ coffee house type gigs.

[@?,*???&?]

Yes. Buddy Holly. But it was a box as a snare drum.

[Mix413]

[quote="Jeff Robinson"]Yes. Buddy Holly. But it was a box as a snare drum.[/quote]

I believe it was a Quaker Oaks cylindrical container on the Buddy Holly recording.

[joeysimms]

Yes. Buddy Holly. But it was a box as a snare drum.

I believe it was a Quaker Oaks cylindrical container on the Buddy Holly recording.

[lancebug]

I saw Doo Rag play a house party 10 or 12 years ago and as I recall the drummer used a pickle bucket and an old 16mm film can I almost think there was one piece of kit but its been too long. Anyway I remember it sounding fantastic. Anybody remember Doo Rag or Bob Log either one?

[Spark]

Bob Log

Thumbs up!