Creating the "Indian Subsonic Bass Sound" Kit Part Three
Several years ago, I built my own version of Trilok Gurtu's famed Indian Subsonic Bass Sound kit, modeled after his wooden Remo and Sonor models.Trilok however, mostly uses his famous Melanie Tri-Fantom drums. Back in 2000, I'd searched high and low for any and all of them, but to no avail. Now, at long last, I finally got by hands on one from a chap the UK! Seems only fitting, since the original Melanie company was based there. Melanie only made these drums for just a few years in the early 1980s. The "Fantoms" featured a flanged, metal collar under the head, which gave the drums a unique sound. You could purchase them as either the 6", 8" and 10" "Tri-Fantoms", or a dual set of Fantoms with 12" and 14" drums. Later models even had removable plugs in the bottom bowl section to alter the sound. In the Trilok's case, he used condenser microphones, mixed with EQ, a dash of reverb, and along with his inimitable talent, produced s