What drums did Chad Smith use on Californication?

Chad Smith used a DW drum kit for the recording of "Californication." The kit was recorded at The Mansion studio in Los Angeles with producer Rick Rubin and engineer Andrew Scheps.

How to get Chad Smith's drum tone on Californication?

Focus on a well-tuned kit with punchy kick and tight snare, use quality condenser mics like U47s and C414s for overheads, control room reflections, and apply subtle compression to enhance attack without losing dynamics. The key is balancing natural acoustic character with controlled studio processing.

What microphones were used on Red Hot Chili Peppers Californication drums?

The drums were recorded using Neumann U47 microphones and AKG C414s for overheads. These high-end condensers were chosen for their ability to capture both the punchy attack and smooth cymbal response characteristic of the album's drum sound.

Who produced Californication by Red Hot Chili Peppers?

"Californication" was produced by Rick Rubin with Andrew Scheps as the engineer. The album was recorded at The Mansion studio in Los Angeles, known for its unique acoustic properties and spacious recording environment.

What cymbals did Chad Smith use on Californication?

Chad Smith used Zildjian cymbals during the recording of "Californication." The cymbals were captured with overhead microphones positioned to achieve a balanced, smooth response across the frequency spectrum.

drums from "californication" by red hot chili peppers

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Tone Profile

The drums have a tight, punchy, and slightly compressed sound with a focused low-end and clear attack. It blends a natural acoustic character with subtle studio processing for a modern rock feel.

Shop This Rig

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DW Drums(instrument)
Neumann U47(microphone)
Zildjian Cymbals(drums)
AKG C414(mic)

The Story

The drum sound on "Californication" was recorded at The Mansion in Los Angeles with producer Rick Rubin and engineer Andrew Scheps. Chad Smith's DW kit was captured using high-end microphones including Neumann U47s and AKG C414s, with careful placement to achieve a controlled room sound and minimal reflections. The result is a tight, punchy drum sound that balances natural acoustic character with modern studio processing.

Production Credits

Producer: Rick Rubin

Engineer: Andrew Scheps

Recorded at: The Mansion (Los Angeles)

Signal Chain

Instrument: DW DrumsShop on Reverb

Microphone: Neumann U47Shop on Reverb

Recreation Tips

Start with a well-tuned drum kit, focusing on achieving a punchy kick and a tight snare sound.
Experiment with microphone placement to capture a controlled room sound, minimizing excessive reverb or reflections.
Use compression sparingly to enhance the attack and sustain of the drums without sacrificing their natural dynamics.
Consider using EQ to shape the overall tone, focusing on the low-end of the kick drum and the high-end of the snare.

Original Gear

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Substitutions & Recommendations

Warm Audio WA-47Shop on Reverb$800-$900

Alternative to: Neumann U47

Faithful recreation of the U47's warm tube character for kick and overhead miking, essential for that controlled room sound

AKG C414 XLIIShop on Reverb$1,000-$1,100

Alternative to: AKG C414

Current production version of the classic C414 used for overheads, maintaining the smooth cymbal response

DW Design SeriesShop on Reverb$1,500-$3,000

Alternative to: DW Drums

More affordable DW option that retains the punchy attack and focused tone characteristics of higher-end DW kits

Universal Audio 1176 pluginPlugin Boutique$300-$400

Alternative to: Studio compression

Provides the controlled compression needed for that tight, punchy drum character without over-processing

sE Electronics Gemini IIShop on Reverb$300-$400