Recreating the Reggae Drum Sound of Bob Marley & the Wailers | What's That Sound Ep.10

Bob Marley & the Wailers, including drummer Carlton Barrett, created some of the most iconic reggae tunes ever cut to record. With a tightly tuned snare, heavy dampening and some close mic'ing, how close did Jessica & Noam get to that iconic drum sound?

Engineered by Noam Wallenberg at Rax Trax Recording.

#bobmarley #carltonbarrett #thewailers #reggae #whatsthatsound

[joermnyc]

Snare is doing it’s best imitation of some timbales here.

[martynspooner]

It amazes me how you guys can work this stuff out. Really cool and really enjoyable, thanks a lot.

[spasevrp]

This is an interesting spin on this but to really recreate the sound would’ve been a ludwig supra 400, a pair of zildjian new beats with a small cloth inside in the between the cymbals, a ludwig 22 maple bass drum, and a couple ludwig maple concert toms.

[StEvEnBrUlE]

I wanna hear that snare in a grind/death metal context

[piggycity]

This series is currently my favorite Reverb videos.

[roddunne]

Was just listening to the Exodus album on the weekend and that drum sound is do different to before (e.g. 60s rock) and after (80s... umm everything :) ). You nailed that Exodus sound. Pairing that deadened bass drum sound with a bass (for some harmonics) is where the Wailers & their production got really tight & clever. Have to also wonder if Bob & Co. also benefited from the peak analogue gear in mid-70s that they were recording with.

[blackdogrover]

That was awesome. I am shocked. All these years and frankly I never knew I was listening to a traditional kit. I always believed it was some other percussion pieces, played mostly with bare hands. Incredible.

[FursAndMasksMusic]

That was so informative and concise. Thank you. This drum setup is so different to the typical rock/punk arrangement I'm used to, it's really eye-opening.

[RocknJazzer]

So it seems the running theme of all these retro drum sounds is towels

[jeremymosescurtis]

Would love to hear more detail on how and if you EQ or compress each mic on these drum sessions. Great content you all are coming up with. Moving forward, any of the Al Green/Al Jackson Jr (drums) would be interesting to hear about.

[gonecoyote]

would be nice to hear the drum sound in the mix with guitar and bass at the end

[maximiliangreiner]

These two are super cool and actually always look a bit stoned. I think you captured the sound perfectly!

[amakuaole]

Carlton's Barrett's snare had that Timbale sound! (Really high snare tuning).

[onelovemon]

This is what I needed to fill the gap of wonder I've always had about The Market sound that I have listened to my whole life. Thanks. How about the sounds of Stan Lynch on Heartbreakers songs?

[setarehworek]

Gotta work-on that hi hat pattern! It is the key to find and feel that reggae pattern! Other than that everything is spot on! 🙏🏽

[mattildahubbardo]

Awesome, i appreciate this video, great playing Jessica

[kcjoejoe]

I’d love to hear you try some Stuart Copeland drum sounds from the Police.

[sweetspotdrummer]

Carlton Barrett was a master on sound. On some live performances he also had a shammy cloth between the hi-hat cymbals. But you got it right: blanket or pillow in the bass drum, tape on toms. All gives a dry (or short) but distinctive sound. Nice fills drummie.

[Velhotedocarmo]

1:34 Loving the Isabella Logic Pro X Percussion Kit playing in the background

[CFChristian]

For what it's worth, 311 does a great job of stereo separation, where it feels like you're watching them live front and center.