drums from “the pretender” by foo fighters | ToneDB
the pretender
foo fighters
drums
Tone Profile
A powerful, punchy, and slightly compressed rock drum sound with a balanced kit and a room presence. It's tight and impactful, fitting the driving energy of the song.
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The Story
Dave Grohl's drum sound on 'The Pretender' was recorded at Studio 606 in Los Angeles, with producer Gil Norton and engineer Adrian Bushby. The drums were tracked using a multi-microphone setup on a DW kit, featuring close mics like the Shure SM57 on snare and AKG D112 on kick, plus Neumann U87 overheads and room mics. The signal path included Neve 1073 and API 512c preamps feeding into an SSL 4000 G+ console, which provided the EQ and compression that shaped the final punchy, controlled sound.
Production Credits
Producer: Gil Norton
Engineer: Adrian Bushby
Recorded at: Studio 606
Signal Chain
Instrument: DW DrumsShop on Reverb
Microphone: Shure SM57Shop on Reverb
Recreation Tips
- Start with a well-tuned DW drum kit or similar.
- Use a combination of close mics (SM57 on snare, AKG D112 on kick) and overhead/room mics (Neumann U87).
- Experiment with mic placement to capture the desired balance between direct sound and ambience.
- Use a console or channel strip plugin (Neve 1073 or API 512c emulations) for subtle EQ and compression.
- Add a touch of room reverb to enhance the sense of space.
- Avoid excessive processing; the goal is a natural and punchy drum sound.
Original Gear
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- DW DrumsShop on Reverb(drums)
- Shure SM57Shop on Reverb(mic)
- AKG D112Shop on Reverb(mic)
- Neumann U87Shop on Reverb(mic)
- Neve 1073Shop on Reverb(preamp)
- API 512cShop on Reverb(preamp)
- SSL 4000 G+ ConsoleShop on Reverb(channel_strip)
Substitutions & Recommendations
Alternative to: DW Drums
Similar punch and resonance to DW with maple shells, offering that tight rock tone at a budget-friendly price point
Alternative to: Neve 1073 preamp
1073-style preamp that delivers the warm, musical coloration and gentle compression characteristic of the original
Alternative to: API 512c preamp
The exact same preamp used in the original recording, still manufactured and providing that punchy API sound
Alternative to: SSL 4000 G+ Console
Accurate emulation of the SSL console EQ and dynamics processing that shaped the final drum mix
Alternative to: Neumann U87
Large-diaphragm condenser that captures similar overhead detail and room ambience as the U87
Alternative to: Studio 606 room sound
Adds natural room ambience and dimension to recreate the spatial characteristics of the original recording
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