What drums did Gene Krupa use on Sing Sing Sing?

Gene Krupa played a Slingerland Radio King drum kit on the famous recording of "Sing, Sing, Sing." The Radio King was Slingerland's flagship model and became synonymous with the big band era sound.

How to get Gene Krupa's drum sound from Sing Sing Sing?

Focus on dampening your drums for a tight, controlled sound, use a ribbon microphone placed at a distance to capture room ambience, and consider calfskin or calfskin-style heads. The key is achieving clear articulation without excessive sustain.

What microphone was used to record Sing Sing Sing drums?

The drums were likely recorded with an RCA 44 ribbon microphone, which was the industry standard for studio recording in the late 1930s. This microphone contributed to the warm, smooth character of the drum sound.

Why do 1930s drums sound so different from modern recordings?

The tight, controlled sound comes from heavy dampening techniques, calfskin heads, and single-microphone recording that captured more room ambience. Close-miking and multi-track recording hadn't been developed yet, creating a very different aesthetic.

What recording techniques were used for big band drums in the 1930s?

Drums were typically recorded with a single ribbon microphone placed at a distance to capture the full kit and room acoustics. Heavy dampening with felt strips or towels was common to control sustain and prevent the drums from overpowering the band in the mix.

drums from "sing, sing, sing (with a swing)" by benny goodman

sing, sing, sing (with a swing)

benny goodman

drums

AI generatedv1.0

Tone Profile

Classic big band swing drums, characterized by a tight, controlled sound with a focus on the ride cymbal and a lively snare drum.

Gear

Slingerland Radio Kinginstrument: Reverb$105 Sweetwater
RCA 44microphone: Reverb$950 Sweetwater

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The Story

Gene Krupa's iconic drum sound on "Sing, Sing, Sing" was recorded using a Slingerland Radio King drum kit with an RCA 44 ribbon microphone in the late 1930s. The drums were deliberately dampened to achieve a tight, controlled sound typical of big band recordings of that era, with minimal close-miking allowing the natural room ambience to contribute to the overall tone.

Production Credits

Producer: John Hammond

Engineer: Unknown

Recorded at: Unknown

Signal Chain

Instrument: Slingerland Radio King

Microphone: RCA 44

Recreation Tips

Use a vintage-style drum kit with calfskin heads for an authentic sound.
Experiment with dampening techniques, such as using tea towels or felt strips on the drums.
Focus on the ride cymbal pattern, ensuring it's clear and consistent.
Use a ribbon microphone to capture the warm and vintage tone.
Consider recording in a large room to capture natural ambience.

Original Gear

Slingerland Radio King(drums)
RCA 44(mic)

Substitutions & Recommendations

Gretsch Brooklyn Series$800-$1200

Alternative to: Slingerland Radio King drum kit

Vintage-inspired shells with warm tone characteristics similar to classic Radio Kings, great for authentic big band sounds

Reverb Sweetwater

Remo Fiberskyn 3 heads$15-$25

Alternative to: Calfskin drum heads

Synthetic heads that mimic the warm, controlled tone of vintage calfskin without the tuning instability

Reverb Sweetwater

Golden Age Project R1 MkIII$200-$250

Alternative to: RCA 44 ribbon microphone

Affordable ribbon mic that captures the warm, vintage character essential for authentic 1930s drum sound

Reverb Sweetwater

Royer R-121$1300-$1500

Alternative to: RCA 44 ribbon microphone

Premium ribbon microphone that delivers the smooth, natural tone reminiscent of classic RCA ribbon mics

Reverb Sweetwater

Waves Abbey Road Vinyl plugin$30-$50

Alternative to: 1930s studio acoustics and recording chain

Adds vintage recording characteristics and the compressed, warm sound typical of 1930s recordings

TONEDB...

sing, sing, sing (with a swing)

Tone Profile

Gear

The Story

Production Credits

Signal Chain

Recreation Tips

Original Gear

Substitutions & Recommendations

Sources

Frequently Asked Questions

Community Insights

TONEDB...

drums from “sing, sing, sing (with a swing)” by benny goodman | ToneDB

sing, sing, sing (with a swing)

Tone Profile

Gear

The Story

Production Credits

Signal Chain

Recreation Tips

Original Gear

Substitutions & Recommendations

Sources

Frequently Asked Questions

What drums did Gene Krupa use on Sing Sing Sing?

How to get Gene Krupa's drum sound from Sing Sing Sing?

What microphone was used to record Sing Sing Sing drums?

Why do 1930s drums sound so different from modern recordings?

What recording techniques were used for big band drums in the 1930s?

Community Insights