Behind the scenes of Simmons acoustic drum kits
We’ve put our depth of knowledge and love for sound into our acoustic drum kits. Using a wide variety of drums and techniques, we captured tones ranging from warm and lush to big and brash. See and hear each kit Simmons used to create our expansive library of sounds.
MODERN MAPLE KIT (DW MAPLE)
We used some great drums to capture the essence of a modern maple kit. Maple kits are the most versatile drum kits around and used by many professional drummers for all kinds of music styles.
Known for their warmth, sustain, resonance, high mid-range and low-end punch, this kit sounds great for most applications. Many drummers describe maple as having a warmer tone.
HEAR THE MODERN MAPLE KIT
URBAN MAPLE KIT (DW MAPLE)
The same kit was also recorded with different microphones, with muting, tricked out heads and a piccolo side snare along with studio gobos and a curtain to deaden the sound to create a more urban style kit.
HEAR THE URBAN MAPLE KIT
OAK KIT (DW MAPLE)
The oak kit had a much quicker attack and quick decay than the maple kit, yet there was plenty of warm tone coming from the shells.
Oak kits offer different characteristics in tone and timbre than maple.
HEAR THE OAK KIT
CLASSIC MAPLE (LUDWIG OYSTER)
Everyone knows these kits. They normally come in a 4-piece configuration dating back to the ‘60s and used by players for early rock and pop songs as well as psychedelic classics.
The 3 ply shells have a warm tone with a smooth, even sustain. The kick is a bit thumpier than modern maple kits giving it more a low-mid presence that has unmistakable familiarity.
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RINGO KIT (LUDWIG OYSTER)
To get another characteristic sound with this kit we muted down the drums with tea towels and used some vintage mics and compressors to get the classic sound used in the studio for many albums in the ‘60s. Notably around Abbey Road in London.
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STUDIO BIRCH CUSTOM (YAMAHA)
These kits were big in tracks from the ‘70s and ‘80s. Very often drummers would put pinstripe heads on the drums to maximize the tonal range for a round and deep tone with lots of projection.
Birch drums are known for their quick attack volume and bright sound and can be used for many types of applications with a wide variety of drum sizes and configurations.
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90S BIRCH CUSTOM (YAMAHA)
We also got the ‘90s big kit sound by combining several kick drum shells together to create a “drum tunnel” and running the sound through a sub mic.
The sound was so big in the control room that the walls shook!
HEAR THE 90S BIRCH CUSTOM
BUBINGA (TAMA STARCLASSIC)
Known for their exotic wood shells bubinga drums are known for their aggressive attack, full deep, dark tone with powerful resonance and rich sustain.
Many drummers love the punchy, lush, natural tone of bubinga.
HEAR THE BUBINGA (TAMA STARCLASSIC)
STAINLESS STEEL (LUDWIG)
These kits are fairly esoteric due to their lack to subtlety. Known for being loud and proud.
Most drummers use these drums to be noticed and can be found on classic prog rock and heavy metal songs.
These are great kits to experiment for something different in tone, volume and presence in your songs.
HEAR THE STAINLESS STEEL (LUDWIG)
ACRYLIC (LUDWIG VISTALITE)
These kits are notorious for their big sound and strong attack. These have a hard sound with very little resonance.
This kit has a particularly large kick drum (24″). It has a big, boomy sound that recaptures the bottom end of many classic ‘70s tracks.
HEAR THE ACRYLIC (LUDWIG VISTALITE)
VINTAGE JAZZ KIT (GRETSCH ROUND BADGE)
This kit from the ‘50s has a gorgeous sound reminiscent of many jazz drummers.
The super-warm tone and resonant gum-maple shells has a complex tone and timbre that compliments your playing.
HEAR THE VINTAGE JAZZ KIT
MAHOGANY (TAMA STAR)
A unique kit with a bright and dry tone compared to maple.
Mahogany is known for its low-end punch. With less projection than birch or maple you get the trade off with a warmer and softer tone.
This kit has a nice warm responsiveness with enhanced resonance that it brings to the forefront when playing funk or rock tunes.
HEAR THE MAHOGANY (TAMA STAR)
Snares
Most drummers have more than one snare for sonic versatility. The material, size and head can completely affect the characteristic of a snare drum.
We sought out a wide collection of classic snares in various sizes as well as shell types. We also sampled the snares with sticks, brushes in various zones to capture the nuance of its sound.
Cymbals
The complex timbre of various cymbals plus the brand, size and thickness of all the cymbal types can seem endless for hi-hats, crashes and rides.
We sought the major brands of cymbals and recorded them as sets for consistency. We also grabbed china cymbals, rivet cymbals, and plenty of splashes to round out the sound set to cover most drummers needs.
Snares
Most drummers have more than one snare for sonic versatility. The material, size and head can completely affect the characteristic of a snare drum.
We sought out a wide collection of classic snares in various sizes as well as shell types. We also sampled the snares with sticks, brushes in various zones to capture the nuance of its sound.
Cymbals
The complex timbre of various cymbals plus the brand, size and thickness of all the cymbal types can seem endless for hi-hats, crashes and rides.
We sought the major brands of cymbals and recorded them as sets for consistency. We also grabbed china cymbals, rivet cymbals, and plenty of splashes to round out the sound set to cover most drummers needs.
The Simmons Sounds Overview
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