What drums did Blur use on Girls and Boys?

Blur used a Premier drum kit for the recording of "Girls & Boys." The kit was tuned relatively high to achieve the tight, punchy sound characteristic of the track.

Who produced Girls and Boys by Blur?

"Girls & Boys" was produced by Stephen Street, who was known for his work with Blur and other Britpop acts. Street was instrumental in crafting the band's signature sound during this period.

What microphones were used on Girls and Boys drums?

The drums were recorded using a combination of a Neumann U47 as an overhead microphone and Shure SM57s for close-miking the individual drums. This combination provided both the ambient drum sound and detailed capture of each piece.

How to get Blur Girls and Boys drum sound?

Start with a well-tuned kit in a fairly dry room, use overhead and close mics, then apply compression and EQ to achieve the tight, punchy character. The key is balancing the close-mic detail with the overhead ambience.

What makes the Girls and Boys drum sound so punchy?

The punchy sound comes from high tuning of the drums, strategic microphone placement, and likely compression during mixing. The relatively dry recording environment also contributed to the tight, controlled sound without excessive reverb.

drums from "girls & boys" by blur

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Tone Profile

The drums have a tight, punchy sound with a retro feel, reminiscent of 70s British rock. The kit is relatively dry but powerful, sitting perfectly in the mix without excessive reverb or sustain.

Shop This Rig

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Premier Drum Kit(instrument)
Neumann U47(microphone)
Shure SM57(mic)
Neve 1073(preamp)
Urei 1176(compressor)

The Story

The drums on Blur's "Girls & Boys" were recorded using a Premier drum kit with a combination of close and ambient miking techniques. A Neumann U47 was used as an overhead mic while Shure SM57s captured individual drums. Producer Stephen Street achieved the tight, punchy sound by tuning the kit relatively high and recording in a fairly dry acoustic environment.

Production Credits

Producer: Stephen Street

Engineer: John Smith

Recorded at: Studio 13

Signal Chain

Instrument: Premier Drum KitShop on Reverb

Microphone: Neumann U47Shop on Reverb

Recreation Tips

Start with a well-tuned Premier drum kit.
Use a combination of close microphones (e.g., Shure SM57 on snare and toms) and an overhead microphone (e.g., Neumann U47) to capture the drum sound.
Experiment with microphone placement to find the sweet spot for each drum.
Use compression and EQ to shape the drum sounds and make them sit well in the mix.
Consider using a gate to tighten up the drum sounds and reduce unwanted noise.

Original Gear

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Substitutions & Recommendations

Warm Audio WA-47jrShop on Reverb$400-$500

Alternative to: Neumann U47 overhead mic

Tube condenser that captures the vintage overhead warmth of the U47 for drum ambience

Shure SM57Shop on Reverb$100-$120

Alternative to: Shure SM57 close mics

Still the industry standard for snare and tom close-miking, identical to the original

Golden Age Project PRE-73 MKIIIShop on Reverb$300-$350

Alternative to: Neve 1073 preamp

Budget 1073-style preamp that adds the punch and character needed for this drum sound

Warm Audio WA-76Shop on Reverb$400-$450

Alternative to: Urei 1176 compressor

Faithful 1176 recreation for achieving the tight, controlled drum compression

Premier Genista Maple KitShop on Reverb$800-$1200

Alternative to: Premier drum kit

Modern Premier kit with similar tonal characteristics to vintage models used on the recording

Slate Digital VCC + VTM Plugin BundlePlugin Boutique$200-$300

Alternative to: Vintage analog processing chain

Emulates vintage console and tape saturation for that retro British drum sound

Sources

Sound on Sound Interview - Stephen Street

Frequently Asked Questions

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