Gear

Drum sticks

Ahead Lars Ulrich Signature (LU)

Review of the Ahead Lars Ulrich Signature drumstick (part number LU): aluminum-core construction, long taper, replaceable nylon tip. Lars Ulrich's documented signature stick since September 2000.

Drum sticks

Ahead Tommy Lee Signature (Studio)

Review of the Ahead Tommy Lee Signature drumstick (Studio model, part number TS): aluminum-core construction, Vibration Reduction System, replaceable Delrin tip. Tommy Lee's current documented signature stick, distinct from an earlier Vic Firth signature model.

Drum heads

Aquarian Hi-Velocity

An editorial review of the Aquarian Hi-Velocity drumhead. Double-ply coated with a center reinforcement dot, designed for hard-hitting rock + metal snare batter applications where Coated Ambassador and Coated Emperor wear too fast.

Drum heads

Aquarian Super-Kick II

An editorial review of the Aquarian Super-Kick II drumhead. Double-ply with felt-strip damping ring, the canonical 70s rock-kick voice that recreates the John Bonham + classic-rock kick character.

Drum sticks

Bopworks Art Blakey Model

Review of the Bopworks Art Blakey Model drumstick (SKU BDAB): hickory, 16 inch length, .530 inch diameter, longer taper, triangle wood tip. Bopworks says it's reproduced exactly from Art Blakey's own 1960s stick, with a portion of each sale going to his estate.

Drum heads

Evans EMAD 2

An editorial review of the Evans EMAD 2 kick batter drumhead. Double-ply with externally-mounted adjustable damping ring (1-inch + 2-inch options). The modern metal + rock kick batter alternative to Remo Powerstroke 3.

Drum heads

Evans G2 Coated

An editorial review of the Evans G2 Coated drumhead. Double-ply 7+7 mil Mylar with no internal damping ring, warm and slightly more open than Pinstripe, designed for modern rock tom batter applications. Documented users include Chad Smith, Taylor Hawkins, and the broader rock + session catalog.

Drum heads

Evans Hydraulic Black

An editorial review of the Evans Hydraulic Black drumhead. Double-ply with oil-filled damping layer, ultra-wet short-sustain tom voicing, the canonical 70s rock-tom sound recreated on a modern double-ply head.

snare drum

Ludwig Supraphonic LM400

Review of the Ludwig Supraphonic LM400 snare drum: 5x14 inch, seamless chrome-plated aluminum shell, 10 Imperial lugs. Clyde Stubblefield's documented studio snare across James Brown's 1965-1971 catalog; Ludwig's own current 400-series snare.

Cymbals

Meinl Classics Custom Brilliant Ghost Ride, Brann Dailor Signature (CC21GR)

Review of the Meinl Classics Custom Brilliant Ghost Ride (CC21GR): Mastodon drummer Brann Dailor's named Meinl signature cymbal. 21-inch B8 bronze, chargrilled dark finish, glassy ping with a cutting raw black bell.

Cymbals

Meinl Byzance Brilliant 20" Medium Ride (B20MR-B)

Meinl Byzance Brilliant 20-inch Medium Ride cymbal (B20MR-B). Hand-hammered B20 bronze, made in Turkey. The premium boutique alternative to Zildjian and Sabian, with a darker, more vintage-leaning tone profile.

compressor

MXR M76 Studio Compressor

An editorial review of the MXR M76 Studio Compressor (Dunlop). 1176-style FET compression circuit with five controls (Attack, Release, Ratio, Input, Output) and an LED gain-reduction meter. Settings recipes, famous users, and where it sits versus Boss CS-2, Keeley Compressor Plus, and Origin Effects Cali76.

Cymbals

Paiste 2002 Big Ride "Reverend Al's" (1061824)

Review of the Paiste 2002 Big Ride "Reverend Al's" (SKU 1061824): a 24-inch ride cymbal Paiste's Sound Development team co-designed with Van Halen drummer Alex Van Halen, introduced at 2010 Winter NAMM. Full, silky, powerful sound with real crash-ability.

Cymbals

Paiste 2002 Classic 18" Crash (1061418)

Paiste 2002 Classic 18-inch Crash cymbal (1061418). The legendary Paiste sound bronze formula. The classic-rock crash since the late 1960s, used by John Bonham, Stewart Copeland, Nicko McBrain, and the working pro canon of arena rock.

Cymbals

Paiste 2002 Ride 20" (1061620)

Paiste 2002 Ride cymbal (1061620), 20-inch. The tighter, quicker sibling to Paiste's workhorse 22-inch 2002 Ride, documented in Eagles drummer Don Henley's live cymbal setup.

Cymbals

Paiste 2002 Ride 22" (1061622)

Paiste 2002 Ride cymbal (1061622), 22-inch. The workhorse general-purpose ride behind Paiste's legendary 2002 line, documented in Ian Paice's (Deep Purple) live setup since 1971 and Patrick Carney's (The Black Keys) kit since 2008.

Cymbals

Paiste 2002 Power Ride 22" (1062922)

Paiste 2002 Power Ride cymbal (1062922), 22-inch. The heavier, louder ride in Paiste's 2002 line, built for rock and metal. Documented in Larry Mullen Jr.'s (U2) live setup since 1983.

Cymbals

Paiste Signature Power Crash 18"

Paiste Signature Power Crash cymbal, 18-inch. The louder, heavier crash in Paiste's Signature series, built for cutting through a loud rock mix. Documented in Brad Wilk's (Rage Against the Machine) live setup, a Paiste artist since February 2003.

snare-drum

Pearl IP1465 Ian Paice Signature Snare Drum

Review of the Pearl IP1465 Ian Paice Signature Snare Drum: a 14x6.5 inch chrome-plated steel SensiTone shell with SuperHoop II rims, stainless steel stop-lock tension rods, and Pearl's internal muffler. Ian Paice's real namesake Pearl signature snare, listed on his own official Pearl artist page.

Drum sticks

Pro-Mark Classic Forward 2B Raw Hickory (TXR2BN)

Pro-Mark Classic Forward 2B Raw Hickory Drumstick, Oval Nylon Tip (SKU TXR2BN): hickory, 16 inch length, .630in diameter, short taper, raw unlacquered finish. The stock Pro-Mark model extreme-metal drummer Gene Hoglan names as his favorite, not a personalized signature stick.

Drum sticks

Pro-Mark Joey Jordison Signature (TX515W)

Review of the Pro-Mark Joey Jordison Signature drumstick (SKU: TX515W, also labeled '515'): hickory, 16 inch length, .551 inch diameter, quick taper, large round wood tip. Co-designed with the Slipknot drummer for Pro-Mark's Autograph Series.

Drum sticks

Pro-Mark Matt Halpern Signature (TXMHW)

Pro-Mark Matt Halpern Signature drumstick (TXMHW): hickory, 16 inch length, .630in diameter, medium taper, large round wood tip. Periphery drummer Matt Halpern's namesake stick, nominally 2B but built to play like a 5B.

Drum sticks

Pro-Mark Mike Portnoy 420X ActiveGrip (TXMP420XW-AG)

Pro-Mark Mike Portnoy 420X ActiveGrip drumstick (TXMP420XW-AG): hickory, 16 1/4 inch, .565in diameter, wood tip, ActiveGrip finish. Portnoy's current signature stick, heavier than his original 420.

Drum sticks

Pro-Mark Neil Peart Signature Shira Kashi Oak (PW747W)

An editorial review of the Pro-Mark Neil Peart Signature drumstick (PW747W). Shira Kashi Japanese Oak wood, slightly extended length, oval wood tip, designed with Neil Peart for Rush's prog-rock touring rig. Spec, feel, and where it sits versus Vic Firth 5B / Zildjian Tré Cool / Pro-Mark American Hickory 747.

Drum sticks

Pro-Mark Simon Phillips Signature 707 (TX707W)

Review of the Pro-Mark Simon Phillips Signature 707 drumstick (SKU TX707W): hickory, 16.25 inch length, .551 inch diameter, long taper, large round wood tip. Phillips's real, 37-year Pro-Mark endorsement, not the similarly-named Vic Firth SSP built for Creed's Scott Phillips.

Drum sticks

ProMark Dave Lombardo

An editorial review of the ProMark Dave Lombardo Hickory Drumstick, Nylon Tip (model TX2BXN). Hickory wood, .630 inch diameter, short taper, oval nylon tip, designed with Dave Lombardo for thrash-metal hard hitting and double-bass technique.

Drum sticks

Promuco John Bonham Signature (19015JB)

Review of the Promuco John Bonham Signature drumstick (19015JB): hickory, 410mm, acorn tip, built to Bonham's original 1970s Promuco spec. Reissued by Barnes and Mullins in 2020.

Drum sticks

Regal Tip Performer Series - Alex Van Halen (228R-AVH)

Review of the Regal Tip Alex Van Halen Signature drumstick (228R-AVH): hickory, 17.75 inches long, .570 inch diameter, oval wood tip, natural lacquer finish. Co-designed with Van Halen's drummer for extended reach and stadium-rock power.

Drum heads

Remo Coated Ambassador

An editorial review of the Remo Coated Ambassador (Weatherking) drumhead. Single-ply, 10-mil coated, the universal snare batter from jazz to rock to session work. Spec, tone, famous records, and where it sits versus Evans G1 Coated and Aquarian Texture Coated.

Drum heads

Remo Controlled Sound Clear Black Dot

An editorial review of the Remo Controlled Sound Clear Black Dot drumhead. Single-ply, 10-mil clear film with a reinforced 5-mil center dot, the exact 'CS black dot' head John Bonham's tech ran on his see-through Ludwig Vistalite kit. Spec, tone, and where it sits versus Coated Ambassador and Emperor Coated.

Drum heads

Remo Coated Emperor

An editorial review of the Remo Coated Emperor drumhead. Double-ply 7+7 mil Mylar with no internal damping ring, durable + warm, the rock-and-metal alternative to Coated Ambassador.

Drum heads

Remo Pinstripe Coated

An editorial review of the Remo Pinstripe Coated drumhead. Double-ply with internal damping ring, warm and controlled tom voicing, the dry rock-tom sound on countless 70s and 80s records. Spec, tone, famous records, and where it sits versus Evans G2 and Hydraulic Black.

Drum heads

Remo Powerstroke 3 Coated

An editorial review of the Remo Powerstroke 3 Coated kick batter drumhead. Single-ply with sub-ply damping ring, focused attack with controlled sustain, the rock kick batter on countless 80s, 90s, and 2000s records. Spec, tone, famous records, and where it sits versus Evans EMAD 2 and Aquarian Super-Kick.

Cymbals

Sabian AAX X-Plosion Hats 16" (2160287XB)

Sabian AAX X-Plosion Hats, 16-inch pairing (2160287XB), brilliant finish. Medium top over medium-heavy bottom, B20 bronze. Bill Ward's documented current hi-hat choice for Black Sabbath-scale volume.

Cymbals

Sabian HHX Evolution 14" Hi-Hats (11402XEB)

Sabian HHX Evolution 14-inch Hi-Hat cymbals (11402XEB), brilliant finish. Dave Weckl signature design with HHX top over hand-hammered bottom. The fusion and modern-jazz hi-hat reference.

snare-drum

Tama BB146 Bill Bruford Signature Snare Drum

Review of the Tama BB146 Bill Bruford Signature Snare Drum: a 14x6 inch, 10-lug, 6-ply Maple/Birch/Maple shell in Black Metallic Sandblast finish. Bill Bruford's real namesake Tama signature snare, documented on both Tama's own artist page and Bruford's own equipment archive.

Drum sticks

Vater Carl Palmer Signature (VHPALMER50W)

Review of the Vater Carl Palmer Signature drumstick (SKU VHPALMER50W): American hickory, 16 inch length, .580 inch diameter between a 5A and 5B, long gradual taper, teardrop/oval hybrid wood tip. Released 2022 for ELP's 50th anniversary.

Drum sticks

Vater Chad Smith's Funk Blaster

An editorial review of the Vater Chad Smith's Funk Blaster drumstick (model VHCHADW). Hickory wood, .605 inch diameter, acorn wood tip, designed with Chad Smith for Red Hot Chili Peppers' funk-rock backbeat.

Drum sticks

Vater Mike Mangini's Wicked Piston

Review of the Vater Mike Mangini's Wicked Piston drumstick (SKU VHMMWP): American hickory, 16-3/4 inch length, a diameter that swells from .58 to .62 inch before an acorn wood tip. Built with the former Dream Theater drummer.

Drum sticks

Vater Stewart Copeland Standard

An editorial review of the Vater Stewart Copeland Standard drumstick (model VHSCSTD). Hickory wood, .555 inch diameter, oval wood tip, designed with Stewart Copeland for The Police's reggae-into-rock pocket.

Drum sticks

Vic Firth American Classic 5A

Vic Firth American Classic 5A review (SKU 5A): hickory, 16 inch length, 0.565 inch diameter, medium taper, wood tear-drop tip. Vic Firth's own best-selling stick.

Drum sticks

Vic Firth Buddy Rich Signature

An editorial review of the Vic Firth Buddy Rich Signature drumstick (model SBR). Hickory wood, 5A-family spec, wood tip, designed to Buddy Rich's stage spec and in continuous production through Vic Firth + D'Addario as a tribute since Rich's 1987 death.

Drum sticks

Vic Firth Signature Series - Charlie Benante (SBEN)

Review of the Vic Firth Signature Series Charlie Benante drumstick (SKU: SBEN): hickory, 16-5/8 inch length, .625 inch diameter, textured Vic Grip coating, abrupt taper, modified oval wood tip. Built with the Anthrax and touring Pantera drummer.

Drum sticks

Vic Firth Signature Series - Charlie Watts (SCW)

An editorial review of the Vic Firth Signature Series Charlie Watts drumstick (SKU SCW): hickory, 16 inch length, 0.585 inch diameter, medium taper, elongated oval wood tip built for a dark cymbal voice. The Rolling Stones drummer's namesake Vic Firth Signature Series model.

Drum sticks

Vic Firth Danny Carey Signature

An editorial review of the Vic Firth Danny Carey Signature drumstick (model SDC). Hickory wood, oversized profile, designed with Danny Carey for Tool's polyrhythmic prog-metal context.

Drum sticks

Vic Firth Signature Series - Keith Moon (SKM)

Review of the Vic Firth Signature Series Keith Moon drumstick (SKU: SKM): hickory, medium taper, oval wood tip, built to match the stick Moon played, released with the Keith Moon Estate's cooperation.

Drum sticks

Vic Firth Signature Series - Matt Cameron (SMC)

Review of the Vic Firth Signature Series Matt Cameron drumstick (SKU SMC): hickory, 16 3/16 inch length, .585 inch diameter, long taper, barrel wood tip. Cameron's real namesake Vic Firth signature stick, built for reach and cymbal articulation.

Drum sticks

Vic Firth Modern Jazz Collection -- 4 (MJC4)

Review of the Vic Firth Modern Jazz Collection -- 4 drumstick (SKU MJC4): maple, 16-3/8 inch length, .595 inch diameter, long taper, barrel wood tip. A shared catalog model, not a personalized signature, that Smashing Pumpkins drummer Jimmy Chamberlin named as his pick in a January 2023 tour-kit interview.

Drum sticks

Vic Firth Signature Series - Nicko McBrain (SNM)

Review of the Vic Firth Signature Series Nicko McBrain drumstick (SKU: SNM): a 5B-based hickory stick with a beefed-up neck and tip for power and durability. Iron Maiden drummer Nicko McBrain's own namesake signature stick.

Drum sticks

Vic Firth Steve Gadd Signature

An editorial review of the Vic Firth Steve Gadd Signature drumstick (model SSG). Hickory wood, 5A-adjacent profile, wood tip, designed with Steve Gadd for the session-drumming canon.

Drum sticks

Vic Firth Signature Series - Terry Bozzio, Phase 1 (STB1)

Review of the Vic Firth Signature Series Terry Bozzio, Phase 1 drumstick (SKU STB1): hickory, 16.25 inch length, .550 inch diameter, short taper, reverse tear drop wood tip. Bozzio's real namesake Vic Firth signature stick, built for speed and response.

Drum sticks

Vic Firth Vinnie Colaiuta Signature

An editorial review of the Vic Firth Vinnie Colaiuta Signature drumstick (model SVC). Hickory wood, 5B body profile, designed with Vinnie Colaiuta for the post-Gadd LA session lane.

Drum sticks

Vic Firth Signature Series - Vinnie Paul (SVP)

Review of the Vic Firth Signature Series Vinnie Paul drumstick (SKU: SVP): hickory, 16-7/8 inch length, 0.630 inch diameter, full-sized shaft, teardrop wood tip. Built with the late Pantera and Damageplan drummer, released through his official online store.

Drum sticks

Wincent Tomas Haake Signature

An editorial review of the Wincent Tomas Haake Signature drumstick (model W-THS). Hickory wood, oval wood tip, stone-ground in Sweden and sealed with Wincent's UWP wax coating. Designed with Meshuggah's drummer for heavy, polyrhythmic extreme-metal playing.

Drum sticks

Zildjian Tré Cool Artist Series Drumsticks

Correction. Tré Cool's documented signature drumstick is the Zildjian Tré Cool Artist Series, not a Vater signature model. Spec, sourcing, and what we got wrong.

Cymbals

Zildjian A Custom 20" Medium Ride (A20519)

Zildjian A Custom 20-inch Medium Ride cymbal (A20519). Brilliant-finish B20 bronze with rotary hammering, the ride most working rock and pop drummers reach for when the recording needs definition without harshness.

Cymbals

Zildjian A New Beat 14" Hi-Hats (A0133)

Zildjian A New Beat 14-inch Hi-Hat cymbals (A0133). Louie Bellson's medium-top, heavy-bottom design, in continuous production since 1970. The reference hi-hat pairing across rock, jazz, funk, and session drumming for over five decades.

Cymbals

Zildjian A Zildjian Swish Knocker w/ 20 Rivets (A0315)

Zildjian's current 22-inch A Swish Knocker (A0315), 20 rivets, B20 bronze. The direct descendant of the swish cymbal tied to jazz drummer Mel Lewis, and the exact cymbal Charlie Watts named as his own in a 2012 interview.

Cymbals

Zildjian A Zildjian Medium Ride 22" (A0036)

Zildjian A Zildjian Medium Ride 22-inch (A0036). Cast B20 bronze, classic bright A Zildjian voice. Ginger Baker bought his first Zildjians in 1963 and rode a 22-inch A-family ride, modified with rivets, through Cream's 1968 tours and beyond; this page reviews the plain modern version of that same family and size.

Cymbals

Zildjian A Zildjian Thin Crash 18" (A0225)

Zildjian A Zildjian Thin Crash 18-inch (A0225). Bright B20 bronze crash from the A Zildjian family, the same line Avedis Zildjian was developing when Gene Krupa asked him for thinner cymbals in the 1930s, a request that helped create the crash and splash as categories.

Drum sticks

Zildjian Dave Grohl Artist Series

An editorial review of the Zildjian Dave Grohl Artist Series signature drumstick (ZASDG). Hickory wood, oversized 16-3/4 inch length, .600 inch diameter, acorn tip, tattoo-artwork finish, designed with Dave Grohl for hard-hitting stadium rock.

Drum sticks

Zildjian Hal Blaine Artist Series

Review of the Zildjian Hal Blaine Artist Series drumstick (SKU ASHB): hickory, 15.25 inch length, .500 inch diameter, medium taper, acorn wood tip. Zildjian's signature model for Hal Blaine, the most-recorded session drummer in popular music history.

Cymbals

Zildjian K Constantinople Medium Ride 20" (K1016)

Zildjian K Constantinople Medium Ride 20-inch (K1016). Hand-lathed B20 bronze reviving the dark, dry "Old K" sound. Zildjian and DRUM! Magazine credit bebop-era vanguard drummers, Elvin Jones foremost, as the reason the modern K Constantinople line exists.

Cymbals

Zildjian K Custom Dark Crash 18"

Zildjian K Custom Dark 18-inch Crash cymbal. B20 bronze, traditional finish, special over-hammered design for fast, bright attack with extra-fast decay. Tré Cool's documented Green Day crash.

Cymbals

Zildjian K Custom Session Hi-Hats (K0993)

Zildjian K Custom Session Hi-Hats (K0993). Modeled on Steve Gadd's personal pair: a 13 15/16 inch medium-weight top over a 14 inch medium-thin bottom, brilliant finish. Built for controlled studio work, reversing the usual heavier-bottom hi-hat formula.

Drum sticks

Zildjian Taylor Hawkins Artist Series Drumsticks

Review of the Zildjian Taylor Hawkins Artist Series drumstick (SKU ZASTH): hickory, 15.87 inch length, 0.600 inch diameter, short taper, large round wood tip. Designed with the late Foo Fighters drummer for extra weight and throw.

Drum sticks

Zildjian Tony Williams Artist Series

Review of the Zildjian Tony Williams Artist Series drumstick (SKU ASTW): U.S. hickory, 16 inch length, .625 inch diameter, hefty 2B dimensions with a thinner neck and an angular wood tip. Zildjian's first-ever signature drumstick artist, introduced at Winter NAMM in January 1991, modeled directly on Tony Williams's own Gretsch 2B sticks.

Drum sticks

Zildjian Travis Barker Artist Series Drumsticks

An editorial review of the Zildjian Travis Barker Artist Series signature drumstick (ZASTB). Hickory wood, white-painted finish, round wood tip, designed with Travis Barker for Blink-182's pop-punk pocket and his pop-punk-revival production catalog. Spec, feel, and where it sits versus Vic Firth 5B / Zildjian Tré Cool Artist Series / ProMark.