Recreating a drum set like Clyde and Jabo played with James Brown
For a brief period in the '60s, Vox Amplifiers offered a line of drums made by the West German company Trixon. A pair of those drum sets in Red Croco finish found their way onto the backline of the James Brown Band (along with Vox instruments and amplifiers for the other musicians), where they appeared in countless shows and recording sessions - including, most likely, the "Funky Drummer" session at King Studios in Cincinnati, where Clyde Stubblefield created one of the world's most famous breakbeats.
In this video, session drummer Dylan Wissing restores a vintage set of Vox drums in the same configuration (although Dylan's kit is Gold Croco rather than red) and updates some important elements of the hardware to function in a modern recording studio.
Cincinnati, OH - Clyde Stubblefield recording at King Studios, April 29, 1968. On the left is drummer Nate Jones, guitarist Jimmy Nolan on the right. Note the Vox drum set, guitar and amplifier. For more information on Clyde, the Funky Drummer, and King Studios, listen to Dylan's conversation with Alan Leeds, who was James Brown's tour manager during that period [Photo courtesy Alan Leeds Archives]
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Restoring a 1960s Vox Drum Set
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