What drums did Zigaboo Modeliste use on Cissy Strut?

Zigaboo Modeliste played Rogers drums on "Cissy Strut." Rogers was a popular professional drum brand in the late 1960s, known for their solid maple shells that provided the punch and warmth heard on the recording.

How to get The Meters drum sound?

The key is a tight, well-dampened drum kit recorded in a controlled acoustic space with close mics on kick and snare plus overheads. Focus on high, tight snare tuning and use compression to enhance the punch while maintaining clarity in the mix.

What studio recorded Cissy Strut?

"Cissy Strut" was recorded at Cosimo Matassa's studio in New Orleans. This studio was famous for its tight acoustics that helped create the focused, dry drum sounds characteristic of New Orleans funk and R&B recordings.

What mics were used on Cissy Strut drums?

The drums were recorded using an AKG D12 (likely on kick), Shure SM57 (likely on snare), and Neumann U67 (likely as overhead or room mic). This combination provided the balanced, punchy drum sound while maintaining the warmth of the analog recording chain.

How to tune drums for funk like The Meters?

For that Meters funk sound, tune the snare drum high and tight to get a sharp crack, and dampen the kit to minimize sustain and resonance. The goal is a focused, punchy sound that cuts through the mix without excessive ring or ambience.

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Tone Profile

Funky, tight, and dry drum sound with a focus on the snare and kick. The overall tone is punchy and well-defined, fitting perfectly within the clean instrumental mix.

Shop This Rig

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Rogers Drums(instrument)
AKG D12(microphone)
Shure SM57(mic)
Neumann U67(mic)

The Story

"Cissy Strut" was recorded at Cosimo Matassa's studio in New Orleans, produced by Allen Toussaint with Cosimo Matassa engineering. The drum sound was captured using Rogers drums with a combination of mics including an AKG D12, Shure SM57, and Neumann U67. The studio's tight acoustics and analog tape recording contributed to the focused, dry drum sound that became a hallmark of the New Orleans funk style.

Production Credits

Producer: Allen Toussaint

Engineer: Cosimo Matassa

Recorded at: Cosimo Matassa Studio, New Orleans

Signal Chain

Instrument: Rogers DrumsShop on Reverb

Microphone: AKG D12Shop on Reverb

Recreation Tips

Use a tight, well-dampened drum kit to minimize resonance and sustain.
Focus on tuning the snare drum high and tight for a cracking sound.
Experiment with microphone placement to capture a balanced kit sound without excessive room ambience.
Use EQ to emphasize the attack and body of the kick drum and the crack of the snare.
Light compression can help to further tighten the drum sound and make it sit well in the mix.

Original Gear

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Substitutions & Recommendations

AKG D112 MKIIShop on Reverb$150-$200

Alternative to: AKG D12 kick drum mic

Direct descendant of the D12 with similar frequency response and punch, designed specifically for kick drums to capture that tight attack

Shure SM57Shop on Reverb$100-$120

Alternative to: Shure SM57 snare mic

The same mic used on the original recording - still manufactured and the industry standard for snare drums

Warm Audio WA-67Shop on Reverb$700-$800

Alternative to: Neumann U67 overhead mic

Faithful recreation of the U67's tube warmth and balanced frequency response for overhead drum capture

UAD Studer A800Plugin Boutique$150-$200

Alternative to: Analog tape saturation

Recreates the subtle compression and harmonic saturation of analog tape that glued the original drum sound together

Gretsch Brooklyn SeriesShop on Reverb$800-$1200

Alternative to: Rogers drum kit

Similar maple shell construction and vintage-inspired sound to Rogers kits, with the punch and warmth needed for funk

Sources

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