What drum kit did Ringo Starr use on Come Together?

Ringo used his Ludwig drum kit for the recording of 'Come Together' at Abbey Road Studios. The Ludwig kit was his primary drum setup during the late Beatles period.

How to get the Come Together drum sound?

Use close-miking techniques on each drum, apply compression for punch and control, and add subtle plate reverb to the snare. The key is achieving a dry, tight sound with controlled dynamics.

What microphones were used on Come Together drums?

Neumann U67 microphones were used for close-miking Ringo's drums. Additional room mics were positioned further back to capture ambient sound.

Who produced Come Together by the Beatles?

George Martin produced 'Come Together' with Geoff Emerick as the engineer. The song was recorded at Abbey Road Studios in London.

What compression was used on Come Together drums?

The exact compressor models haven't been fully documented, but Abbey Road Studios typically used Altec and Fairchild compressors during this period. Compression was applied both during tracking and mixing to achieve the tight, punchy drum sound.

drums from "come together" by the beatles

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Tone Profile

A dry, punchy, and somewhat compressed drum sound with a focus on the kick and snare. The overall vibe is tight and controlled, fitting the song's swampy and bluesy feel.

Shop This Rig

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Ludwig Drum Kit(instrument)
Neumann U67(microphone)

The Story

The drums on 'Come Together' were recorded by Ringo Starr using his Ludwig drum kit at Abbey Road Studios, with Neumann U67 microphones used for close-miking. The tight, punchy sound was achieved through careful microphone placement and compression techniques applied both during recording and mixing.

Production Credits

Producer: George Martin

Engineer: Geoff Emerick

Recorded at: Abbey Road Studios, London

Signal Chain

Instrument: Ludwig Drum KitShop on Reverb

Microphone: Neumann U67Shop on Reverb

Recreation Tips

Use a Ludwig drum kit or similar vintage kit.
Experiment with microphone placement to find the sweet spot for each drum, focusing on capturing a full and balanced sound.
Apply compression to the individual drum tracks and the overall drum mix to achieve a punchy and controlled sound.
Use EQ to shape the tone of each drum, focusing on enhancing the attack and body while removing any unwanted frequencies.
Add a touch of plate reverb to the snare to add some vintage flavor.

Original Gear

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Ludwig Drum KitShop on Reverb(drums)
Neumann U67Shop on Reverb(mic)

Substitutions & Recommendations

Gretsch Catalina Club 4-PieceShop on Reverb$600-$800

Alternative to: Ludwig drum kit

Similar vintage shell sizes and warm tone characteristics to Ludwig kits of the era, great for achieving that punchy Beatles sound

Audio-Technica AT4047Shop on Reverb$350-$400

Alternative to: Neumann U67 microphone

Large diaphragm tube condenser with similar warmth and character to the U67, excellent for drum overheads

Golden Age Project R1 MkIIIShop on Reverb$200-$250

Alternative to: Neumann U67 microphone

Budget ribbon mic that captures the vintage character and natural compression of classic Beatles drum recordings

Waves Abbey Road RS124 CompressorPlugin Boutique$30-$50

Alternative to: Abbey Road compression

Exact emulation of the Altec compressors used at Abbey Road Studios during the Beatles era

UAD EMT 140 Plate ReverbPlugin Boutique$150-$200

Alternative to: Abbey Road plate reverb

Authentic emulation of the EMT 140 plate reverb used extensively at Abbey Road for that vintage snare sound

Sources

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drums from “come together” by the beatles | ToneDB