Fred Eltringham

Documented by Drum Faster

Sheryl Crow's drummer and a Nashville first call — ACM Drummer of the Year in 2018. A three-tom vintage Ludwig kit, an elbow-driven stroke, and a car boot full of tambourines, chains, pots and a broiler pan, which is where a lot of modern country texture actually comes from.

Read our full Fred Eltringham feature →

2022 — The Sheryl Crow road kit

Three toms, a snare, a kick and three cymbals — a deliberate constraint. He gigs 1960s Classic Ludwigs and Ludwig Standards rather than modern shells, because old three-ply drums are thinner, warmer and drier, which is exactly what sits under a vocal. He also turns up to sessions with over a dozen tambourines, plus chains, pots and a broiler pan — that kitchenware is where a lot of the metallic texture on modern country and Americana records actually comes from.

The 2022 kit at a glance. Tap a piece to find it below; sticks, pedals and hardware aren't drawn.

Ludwig Standard kit charcoal wrap, 1960s — vintage three-ply shells ⤷ who plays this

Ludwig Classic 1960s toms three of them, no more ⤷ who plays this

Ludwig 14" snare muffled, low, almost no ring ⤷ who plays this

Paiste Hi-hats ⤷ who plays this

Paiste Crash three cymbals in total ⤷ who plays this

Paiste Ride ⤷ who plays this

Aquarian heads coated, low-tuned ⤷ who plays this

Vater sticks played from the elbow rather than the whole arm ⤷ who plays this

2022 — The Sheryl Crow road kit

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