By Nicholas Hunt
Kit 1:
Ludwig, Super Classic-model #-980PC
Finish-Sparkling Green Pearl or Green Sparkle as we know it today.
14"x22" Bass Drum-model #-922PC
Rail Mount-model #-782C
Cymbal Mount-model #-1372C
Folding Spurs-model #-1305C
16"x16" Floor Tom-model #-950PC
9"x13" Tom-model #-944PC
5"x14" Supra-Phonic Snare Drum-model #-400
This is most likely the kit he used to record Led Zeppelin 1.
Kit 2:
When Led Zeppelin first came to America on Dec.26, 1969 John had the following hire kit.
Ludwig, Finish-Black Diamond Pearl
color #-2006
14"x24" Bass Drum-model #-924P
Rail Mount-model #-782C
Cymbal Mount-model #-1372C
Folding Spurs-model #-1305C
9"x13" Tom-model #-944PC
16"x16" Floor Tom-model #-950PC
16"x18" Floor tom-model #-952P or it might have been a 16"x16" Floor Tom-model #-950PC
Ludwig & Ludwig 20's/30's COB tube lug snare*
This kit can be seen in photos taken at the Whisky-A-Go-Go Jan 1969
*Jim Keltner mentioned in a Modern Drummer Article that when he first saw Bonham he was playing an old Ludwig snare with tube lugs. This was when Zeppelin first came to America so it might have been the snare with this kit but I’ve never seen a tube lug snare with his Maple kit.
When John first got this kit he used both bass drum's in rehearsal and for a couple of shows, he soon got rid of it because his fellow band members said he was drowning them out! The tom was at first placed on a Ludwig Atlas snare stand (model # 1364-3) but later he added a Rogers Swivo-Matic tom mount while still keeping the snare stand there. Also he used what looked like 2 small concert toms next to his hi-hat but he only used these for a short time. They can be seen in photos from Toronto Aug 1969.
You can see this kit with 2 bass drums on the new Led Zeppelin DVD (Communication Breakdown promo)
Kit 4:
This kit came from Ludwig in about May 1970 just before the start of the Iceland tour and he used this kit until the start of the 1973 US tour. This is the kit John used while touring Australia in 1972 and is my personal favorite.
Ludwig, Sparkle Green (Green Sparkle)
color #-2004
14"x26" Bass Drum-model #-926P
Rail Mount-model #-782-1
Cymbal Mount-model #-1372
Sure Grip Curved Retracting Spurs model #-1306
10"x14" Tom-model #-946P
16"x16" Floor Tom-model #-950P
16"x18" Floor Tom-model #-952P
6.5"x14" Chrome Supra-Phonic Snare Drum-model #-402
This kit was John's favorite recording kit and was used on Led Zeppelin III and all of the other albums after that. I have the same kit as this minus the gong and Timpani drums and mine is finished in Natural Maple Thermo-Gloss.
I think the Timpani drums were added to the kit later on in 72.
29" Ludwig Machine Timpani Drum-model #-853
30" Ludwig Universal Timpani Drum-model #-895
Kit 6:
Bonham's last Kit was a Ludwig Stainless Steel kit that he got before the start of the 1977 US Tour.
Ludwig, Stainless Steel
Color #-900
14"x26" Bass Drum-model #-926
Double Ratchet Tom Holder- model #-781
Cymbal Mount-model #-1372
Sure Grip Curved Retracting Spurs-model #-1306
12"x15" Tom-model #-947****
16"x16" Floor Tom-model #-950
16"x18" Floor Tom-model #-952
6.5"x14" Chrome Supra-Phonic Snare Drum-model #-402
29" Ludwig Machine Timpani Drum-model #-853
30" Ludwig Universal Timpani Drum-model #-895
****On the "Over Europe Tour" he used a 10"x14" Tom-model #-946 in place of the 12"x15" Tom.
This kit was used until Led Zeppelin's last ever performance, Monday July 7, 1980 Berlin, Germany. An interesting feature about this kit was that it had Mach Lugs (long lugs) on the 12"x15" tom. Also I’ve heard he used 18"& 20" floor toms but in all the photo’s I’ve seen the floor toms were the same depth so they must have been 16" & 18".
Hardware:
On Bonham's Natural Maple kit he used Rogers Swivo-Matic cymbal stands, a Rogers Swivo-Matic hi-hat stand and 2 Ludwig Atlas snare stands-model #-1364-3. On the new Led Zeppelin DVD, on the Royal Albert Hall footage he has a Ludwig 1400 Cymbal stand to his right with a Ludwig Gold Tone Cow Bell-model #-129 mounted on it.
Bonham's Green Sparkle and Amber Vistalite kits used Ludwig's first generation Atlas Cymbal stands-model #-1402 (there the ones with the flat steel legs) 1 Atlas snare stand model #-1364-5 and a Rogers Swivo-Matic Hi-hat stand.
His Stainless Steel kit used Ludwig’s second-generation Atlas hardware (the ones with the tube legs) and a Rogers Swivo-matic Hi-hat stand. On all of his kits John used a Ludwig Shell Mount Cymbal Holder-model #-1372 to mount his big 24” rides. John used a Ludwig Speed King Pedal-model #-201 on all his kits with a felt beater or sometimes a wood beater. He also used a Ralp Kester Ching Ring-model for his solo’s (Moby Dick/Over the Top).
I read that John used Ludwig 2A sticks but I don't know if this is true or not. John also used Gretsch 42 strand snare wires, it’s hard to say exactly when he started to use them but I think it was around the time he got his Vistalites. Also, on tour, a spare pre-tuned Bass drum and snare drum were kept close at hand just in case they broke!
Drumheads:
Bonham used a variety of drumheads throughout the years including Remo C.S Black Dots, Remo Coated Ambassadors and Ludwig Weather Master heads.
Cymbals:
Here's his cymbal list in the order he got them.
Where are they now?
Well, the hired Black Diamond Pearl Kit, I have no idea where it’s gone. Paul Thompson of Roxy Music has his Natural Maple Kit complete with 2 Bass Drums but no hardware or cymbals. The Green Sparkle Kit Now sits in the Rock'n'Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. The spare Bass drum is at Jimmy Page's former Studio “Sol”. Terry Bozzio used the 14"x26" green sparkle Bass drum on a Jeff Beck Album and Jason Bonham also used this bass drum on Jimmy Page's Outrider album. Apparently John gave Jimmy this bass drum. Amber Vista-lite I've heard all sorts of stories but nothing concrete. His Stainless steel kit was auctioned on the net this year minus one floor tom and a snare drum.
|
Bonham always used Ludwig drums on stage except for the odd hire kit in the early days and 99% of the time Paiste Cymbals Here is a complete list of the drums he used on stage through the years with Led Zeppelin starting from his first kit to his last kit, I know he had other kits but I just wanted to focus on his stage setups. I've collected this information over the years by reading every article on Bonham I could find and studying photos for hours at a time. I first did this article way back in 97 when I first got online and have added more stuff as I’ve found it, so it’s way before the Bonham book came out, the Bonham book doesn’t go into much detail on his kits which is a shame. |
|
Kit 1:
Ludwig, Super Classic-model #-980PC
Finish-Sparkling Green Pearl or Green Sparkle as we know it today.
14"x22" Bass Drum-model #-922PC
Rail Mount-model #-782C
Cymbal Mount-model #-1372C
Folding Spurs-model #-1305C
16"x16" Floor Tom-model #-950PC
9"x13" Tom-model #-944PC
5"x14" Supra-Phonic Snare Drum-model #-400
This is most likely the kit he used to record Led Zeppelin 1.
Kit 2:
When Led Zeppelin first came to America on Dec.26, 1969 John had the following hire kit.
Ludwig, Finish-Black Diamond Pearl
color #-2006
14"x24" Bass Drum-model #-924P
Rail Mount-model #-782C
Cymbal Mount-model #-1372C
Folding Spurs-model #-1305C
9"x13" Tom-model #-944PC
16"x16" Floor Tom-model #-950PC
16"x18" Floor tom-model #-952P or it might have been a 16"x16" Floor Tom-model #-950PC
Ludwig & Ludwig 20's/30's COB tube lug snare*
This kit can be seen in photos taken at the Whisky-A-Go-Go Jan 1969
*Jim Keltner mentioned in a Modern Drummer Article that when he first saw Bonham he was playing an old Ludwig snare with tube lugs. This was when Zeppelin first came to America so it might have been the snare with this kit but I’ve never seen a tube lug snare with his Maple kit.
|
Kit 3: Bonham's first Endorsement kit from Ludwig was in 1969. Carmine Appice got him a Ludwig Endorsement by personally ringing the Ludwig factory. Ludwig, Finish-Thermo-Gloss Natural Maple 14"x26" x2 Bass Drums-model #-926L Cymbal Mounts-model #-1372C Bass drum spurs were 2 sets of Ludwig Disappearing spurs-model #-1303C on each drum. 12"x14" Tom-Custom Order** 16"x16" Floor Tom-model # 950L 16"x18" Floor Tom-model # 952L (this was added later on) 6.5"x14" Chrome Supra-Phonic Snare Drum-model # 402 He also used a pair of conga drums. **For years I thought his tom was a 12"x15" but Todd Trent from Ludwig told me it was 12"x14" not a 12"x15" (Thanks Todd!) |
|
You can see this kit with 2 bass drums on the new Led Zeppelin DVD (Communication Breakdown promo)
Kit 4:
This kit came from Ludwig in about May 1970 just before the start of the Iceland tour and he used this kit until the start of the 1973 US tour. This is the kit John used while touring Australia in 1972 and is my personal favorite.
Ludwig, Sparkle Green (Green Sparkle)
color #-2004
14"x26" Bass Drum-model #-926P
Rail Mount-model #-782-1
Cymbal Mount-model #-1372
Sure Grip Curved Retracting Spurs model #-1306
10"x14" Tom-model #-946P
16"x16" Floor Tom-model #-950P
16"x18" Floor Tom-model #-952P
6.5"x14" Chrome Supra-Phonic Snare Drum-model #-402
This kit was John's favorite recording kit and was used on Led Zeppelin III and all of the other albums after that. I have the same kit as this minus the gong and Timpani drums and mine is finished in Natural Maple Thermo-Gloss.
I think the Timpani drums were added to the kit later on in 72.
29" Ludwig Machine Timpani Drum-model #-853
30" Ludwig Universal Timpani Drum-model #-895
|
Kit 5: Bonham's next kit from Ludwig was his most famous kit. He got it around March-April 1973 for the start of the 1973 US Tour. Ludwig, Vistalite (Amber) color #-2209 14"x26" Bass Drum-model #-926TP Rail Mount-model #-782-1 Cymbal Mount-model #-1372 Sure Grip Curved Retracting Spurs-model #-1306 10"x14" Tom-model #-946TP 16"x16" Floor Tom-model #-950TP 16"x18" Floor Tom-model #-952TP 18”x20” Floor Tom-model #-954TP*** 6.5"x14" Chrome Supra-Phonic Snare Drum-model #-402 29" Ludwig Machine Timpani Drum-model #-853 30" Ludwig Universal Timpani Drum-model #-895 ***Sometimes he would use 18”and 20” floor toms but very rarely. John last used this kit at Earl's Court Arena London May 23, 1975 |
|
Kit 6:
Bonham's last Kit was a Ludwig Stainless Steel kit that he got before the start of the 1977 US Tour.
Ludwig, Stainless Steel
Color #-900
14"x26" Bass Drum-model #-926
Double Ratchet Tom Holder- model #-781
Cymbal Mount-model #-1372
Sure Grip Curved Retracting Spurs-model #-1306
12"x15" Tom-model #-947****
16"x16" Floor Tom-model #-950
16"x18" Floor Tom-model #-952
6.5"x14" Chrome Supra-Phonic Snare Drum-model #-402
29" Ludwig Machine Timpani Drum-model #-853
30" Ludwig Universal Timpani Drum-model #-895
****On the "Over Europe Tour" he used a 10"x14" Tom-model #-946 in place of the 12"x15" Tom.
This kit was used until Led Zeppelin's last ever performance, Monday July 7, 1980 Berlin, Germany. An interesting feature about this kit was that it had Mach Lugs (long lugs) on the 12"x15" tom. Also I’ve heard he used 18"& 20" floor toms but in all the photo’s I’ve seen the floor toms were the same depth so they must have been 16" & 18".
Hardware:
On Bonham's Natural Maple kit he used Rogers Swivo-Matic cymbal stands, a Rogers Swivo-Matic hi-hat stand and 2 Ludwig Atlas snare stands-model #-1364-3. On the new Led Zeppelin DVD, on the Royal Albert Hall footage he has a Ludwig 1400 Cymbal stand to his right with a Ludwig Gold Tone Cow Bell-model #-129 mounted on it.
Bonham's Green Sparkle and Amber Vistalite kits used Ludwig's first generation Atlas Cymbal stands-model #-1402 (there the ones with the flat steel legs) 1 Atlas snare stand model #-1364-5 and a Rogers Swivo-Matic Hi-hat stand.
His Stainless Steel kit used Ludwig’s second-generation Atlas hardware (the ones with the tube legs) and a Rogers Swivo-matic Hi-hat stand. On all of his kits John used a Ludwig Shell Mount Cymbal Holder-model #-1372 to mount his big 24” rides. John used a Ludwig Speed King Pedal-model #-201 on all his kits with a felt beater or sometimes a wood beater. He also used a Ralp Kester Ching Ring-model for his solo’s (Moby Dick/Over the Top).
I read that John used Ludwig 2A sticks but I don't know if this is true or not. John also used Gretsch 42 strand snare wires, it’s hard to say exactly when he started to use them but I think it was around the time he got his Vistalites. Also, on tour, a spare pre-tuned Bass drum and snare drum were kept close at hand just in case they broke!
Drumheads:
Bonham used a variety of drumheads throughout the years including Remo C.S Black Dots, Remo Coated Ambassadors and Ludwig Weather Master heads.
Cymbals:
Here's his cymbal list in the order he got them.
|
15" Sound-Edge Hi-hats 2 Pair
18" Giant Beat 20" Giant Beat 24" Giant Beat 15" Sound-Edge Hi-hats 18" Giant Beat 20" Giant Beat 24" Giant Beat 18" Giant Beat x2 20" Giant Beat 16" 2oo2 Medium 18" Giant Beat 20" Giant Beat 24" Giant Beat 20" 602 Medium Ride 38" Gong 15" 2oo2 Sound-Edge Hi-hats 15" 602 Sound-edge Hi-hats 16" 2oo2 Medium 18" 2oo2 Medium 18" 2oo2 Medium Ride 20" 602 Medium Ride 24" 2oo2 Ride 15" 2oo2 Sound-edge Hi-hats 18" 2oo2 Crash 18" 2oo2 Medium 20" 2oo2 Ride 24" 2oo2 Ride 1 Cymbal Bag |
|
Where are they now?
Well, the hired Black Diamond Pearl Kit, I have no idea where it’s gone. Paul Thompson of Roxy Music has his Natural Maple Kit complete with 2 Bass Drums but no hardware or cymbals. The Green Sparkle Kit Now sits in the Rock'n'Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. The spare Bass drum is at Jimmy Page's former Studio “Sol”. Terry Bozzio used the 14"x26" green sparkle Bass drum on a Jeff Beck Album and Jason Bonham also used this bass drum on Jimmy Page's Outrider album. Apparently John gave Jimmy this bass drum. Amber Vista-lite I've heard all sorts of stories but nothing concrete. His Stainless steel kit was auctioned on the net this year minus one floor tom and a snare drum.
Long live Bonham!
Here's a little extra news on the vista kit etc. from David W.
Hi there,
John Bonham auctioned off his Vistalite kit in England to raise money for charity. Don't know the date but he was there playing it for the crowd. Don't know who bought them. In about 1987 his timp's were put up for sale in Pro Percussion, Kentishtown, London. They went for about two thousand pounds each, I wish I had bought them as you could see his hand marks on the calf heads.
This is all I know about his drums other than that which you have on this site. His sticks were custom made by Eddy Ryan, a drum maker in London. Eddy's drums have distinctive square lug boxes. Billy Cobham has one of his snare drums. This is all true information and can be verified if you wish to take the time.
Thank you
David W.
Hi there,
John Bonham auctioned off his Vistalite kit in England to raise money for charity. Don't know the date but he was there playing it for the crowd. Don't know who bought them. In about 1987 his timp's were put up for sale in Pro Percussion, Kentishtown, London. They went for about two thousand pounds each, I wish I had bought them as you could see his hand marks on the calf heads.
This is all I know about his drums other than that which you have on this site. His sticks were custom made by Eddy Ryan, a drum maker in London. Eddy's drums have distinctive square lug boxes. Billy Cobham has one of his snare drums. This is all true information and can be verified if you wish to take the time.
Thank you
David W.