Hey y'all! Welcome to my complete personal gear list one-stop shopping page!
Here you'll find pretty much every piece of gear that I trust and use on the stage and in my drum studio, with direct shopping links for Sweetwater Sound
Gigging Drums
Here's what I'm playing on stage.
Cymbals
These are what I'm playing.
My Hardware
These are the stands in my hardware bag that continue to hold up very well!
My Go-To Drumheads
My drumheads of choice for a least 15 years now. and they still sound fantastic and tune up lickety splitville!
My Studio Gear & Live Mics
Studio & live mics and recording gear.
My Favourite Sticks
I use a few different Promark sticks.
Yamaha Stage Custom Birch / Stage Hip
I have two Raven Black Stage Custom Birch kits which allow me SEVERAL configuration options between the two depending on the job. My 'hybrid' Stage Custom setup includes the 10x7, 12x8 and 16x15 from the full size SCs, and this is my current rig with Classic Troubadours Live. The compact 20x8 Hip kick drum sounds so good that I've officially retired my 22". And we play a LOT of 300-600 seat theatres with this show. I can assure you it's not restricted to small stages. But honestly, the Stage Birch is THE BEST workhorse 'sounds awesome and don't care if it gets thrown down the stairs' kit on the market. You don't need a high end kit for work.
Shop Stage Custom At Sweetwater
Yamaha Recording
Custom Snare
The 14x8 Recording Custom snare is one of my favourite snares of all time. That size is crazy versatile, from deep 70's right up to a tight soul or R&B pocket. It's literally the only snare I gig with now. If you haven't yet seen my Youtube video featuring the snare after I picked it up, you can check it out here.
Buy Recording Custom Snare At Sweetwater
Paiste Cymbals
Here's what I'm using on stage and also what you've been hearing on my YouTube channel. My two series' of choice are Signature Dark Energy, Masters and Traditionals, but I've own a full set of PST7's when they were first introduced and I'm going to add those here as a recommendation for a great high-side-of-mid end option.
Signature Dark Energy
17" Signature Dark Energy MK1
The benchmark for crash cymbals. Period. This is my favourite crash cymbal in my entire collection.
18" Signature Dark Energy MK1
Although it's only an inch apart from the 17, surprisingly there's enough tonal difference for them to still be a nice pair.
19" Signature Dark Energy MK1
This cymbal sounds freakin gorgeous. If you have a gig that only requires one crash and one ride...this is the one to take out.
8" Signature Dark Energy Splash
It's just 'glassy' and magical, man. This thing sounds so good when you use it to fill in a hole, it'll get your whole band's attention.
15" Signature Dark Energy MK1 Hats
These were the hats that convinced me that 15" is the way to go.
21" Signature Dark Energy MK1 Ride
The 21" Dark Energy ride is crazy versatile with a really present bell and tons of clean stick definition on the body. Shines in the studio.
Masters & Traditionals
17" Signature Traditionals Crash
The small room champion. If you're into thin, dark, trashy cymbals as musical as a fine cello...these Tradititionals crashes are it.
18" Signature Traditionals Crash
Word to the wise shopper. If you're looking to add two of these to your cymbal bag, keep in mind that the 17 & 18 are pretty similar sounding in pitch. So put 2 inches between them for the best pairing. Get the 17" and the 19". If you want just one...the 18" is perfection.
20" Signature Traditionals Light Ride
This is the main ride I use with Classic Troubadours Live and it's sonically perfect. Nice bright bell, very nice crash, and the stick definition is gorgeous.
22" Masters Swish
Arguably the prettiest sounding cymbal that Paiste makes. It LOOKS like a china...but it's not a china. It's a big, beautiful sounding piece of musical art that you need to play for yourself to really appreciate.
19" Masters Extra Thin
This cymbal found a permanent place in my live setup. It's the main crash on my hi-hat side and I love playing the thing. The super thin weight and larger size makes it perfect for a nice explosive crash that NEVER gets in the way.
22" Masters Thin
This is the most 'What cymbal is THAT?!' cymbal that I've ever played. I asked that very question out loud when I first heard it in a video that Jas Keyzer shot for Paiste talking about her setup with Lenny Kravitz. It's not a crash and it's not a ride. It's whatever you want it to be in your setup.
Other Paiste Rides
You've seen and heard these other rides in previous videos and I still take them out for specific occasions. Depending on what your musical situation is, one of these might be perfect for you.
21" Masters Dry Ride
I got the opportunity to play one of these at Sweetwater Gear Fest and was really surprised by how clean and lively the crash was for a dry ride. The bell is great as well, and of course, the stick definition is perfect. I take this one to smaller rooms and lower volume situations.
22" Formula 602 Modern Essentials Ride
Look no further for your one-and-done ride cymbal, especially if you do a lot of recording sessions. This is one of the best sounding rides in all areas that you'll ever play. Big crash, bright, loud bell, buttery and clean stick definition. A fantastic ourdoor festival gig ride.
What's in my hardware bag?
Yes, I'm with Yamaha...No, not all my stands are Yamaha. Here's the thing. Several years ago I was dealing with a serious pinched nerve issue in my neck. Top priority was to avoid heavy lifting as much as possible. Doc's orders! So I had set out to shave off every pound that I could from my load...starting with my hardware bag. I stumbled across DW's Ultra Light series, which were the thinnest and lightest stands I could find at the time and grabbed a full set. People sometimes comment 'What about the Yamaha Crosstown stuff? Well, it's great, but they weren't introduced until a good year and a half later. I do have a couple in my bag now, though.
DW Ultra Light Straight Cymbal Stand
Laughably light and light roadwork durable & reliable. Imagine slinging 4 cymbal stands over your shoulder as light as a backpack.
Grab SomeYamaha DS950 Drum Throne
This thing is like a small loveseat behind your kit. You'll be super comfortable all night up. there. 4 legs make it extra sturdy.
Grab OneYamaha FP9 Kick Pedal (CHAIN DRIVE)
I promise you this is the smoothest pedal you've played in a long time. I love this thing. If you've got a few minutes to spare, check out my review video here...then pick one up!
Pick One UpI've been playing the same drumheads since they came out back around 2015.
The Evans UV1 came out back around 2015 and I've been playing that head ever since. A few years later the UV2 (2-ply version) was introduced and these are the only two drumheads I'll ever buy for my drums.
EVANS UV1
Don't believe the idea that you have to change your drumheads often. The plain truth is that as long as your kit sounds good, they can stay right on there. I've had the same original UV1 heads on my Yamaha PHX kit in the studio for 10 years. The single-ply UV1 is just plain solid. They tune up in a snap. They sound awesome throughout the entire range and they STAY in tune. It's a perfect recording head.
Buy Your SizesEVANS UV2
The 2-ply UV2 is an even more durable head than the UV1 making it the perfect head for your workhorse kit. They sound just as full and open with a slightly shorter sustain than the UV1. And they have a remarkable ability to stay in tune. I rarely have to touch mine up between shows. I take my toms out of the bag, mount 'em, mic 'em, and they're ready to go. Check out the video above from the day I spent playing the UV2s at the Yamaha building when the heads were introduced.
Buy Your SizesMICING & RECORDING
Considerations for studio and live.
The heart of your home studio is your audio interface. My studio is powered by Presonus (now Fender) products.
I'm not a techy guy at all. As a matter of fact, I hate dealing with it. So the less complicated, the better. Learning curves are inescapable when you're building a home studio so I like to keep them as small as I can, which means my setup is very simple. Interface, mics, Mac, DAW.
Fender Quantum LT16
If you're starting your home studio/drum room and you've got no idea what you're doing, this is the perfect interface to get you up and running. It's affordable, dead simple to set up, it's STACKED with top tier components and it sounds great. It's plug and play and comes with Fender Studio (formerly Studio One). So you're all set. You don't need a rack full of gear to get up and running.
Get A Quantum LT16Presonus DM7 Drum Mic Pack
If you're starting your drum studio, you're gonna need mics. If you don't know which ones to get for your complete set...just get this. The DM7 pack has everything you need in it to get your whole kit mic'd up and ready to record.
Get The DM7 PackPresonus Eris Studio 5 Monitors
The Presonus Eris Studio 5 monitors are killer, compact pro level monitors that you can add to your new studio setup. You're gonna need to mix that kit down for your recording project or video content and your choice of proper studio monitors is important. But you also don't want to drop a grand on a pair when you don't need to. You can watch the short review here at the 6:20 mark.
Get A PairBeyerdynamic
If you'd like something a little higher end for your studio, The Beyerdynamic TG i51 and TG D70 kick mics are pretty awesome. I'm still using them on my kick and snare in my studio. I've since switched to the Neumann MCM 114s on my toms. Those are the tiny mics you're seeing in the videos these days.
Neumann MCM 114s
If you're putting together a top tier studio and you've budgeted for high end mics like a set of Earthworks, take a look at the Neumann MCM 114s first. These mics are absolutely smokin' and they're TINY.
Get A SetAustrian Audio OC7
The story of how I discovered these mics is pretty cool, but above that...these are the best live tom mics I've ever heard and there are at least a handful of soundguys that asked me if they could take 'em home after the show!
Grab SomeYamaha DM3 (Standard) Compact Digital Mixer
I run all of the in-ears for the crew on stage using a mixer/splitter box setup. Although it adds extra time to my setup and teardown...the luxury of having full control of your stage mix right beside you is pretty priceless. I carry a Yamaha DM3 with me which everyone connects to with their smartphones/iPads, giving them individual control of their own mixes. This shaves so much time off of our soundcheck that we often have an extra 45-60 minutes for dinner!
Buy Yamaha DM3
WIRELESS IN-EAR MONITORING
Two personal compact in-ear monitoring systems for the stage that I've spent a LOT of time with and can highly recommend. Why would a drummer need wireless in-ears if we're always sitting down? Logical question. The answer is simply CONVENIENCE! We have an intermission in our show...plus a couple of moments where there's a vocalist feature during each set when the the band leaves the stage. Being able to get up from your kit and walk away untethered is something you'll appreciate. It's the little things!
XVIVE U45
This is a fantastic and reliable little unit that's dead simple to use. It sounds great, It has never died or crackled on me on stage. You can use it with a sub-mixer or just replace your floor wedge with it by plugging the lead straight into the transmitter. The U45 is the newest upgrade of the U4. There is also now a stereo version available.
Shop XVIVE U45NU>X B7 Pro Wireless In-Ear Monitoring System
THIS thing. It's absolutely my current favourite piece of gear. The B7 Pro is a seriously cool, stereo-capable wireless personal monitor system that's as solid as a diamond. It's the only one I use now...until the next version comes out! If you're looking for one...treat yourself with this!
Get The NUX B7 ProSONGWRITING
AKAI MPK Mini
I write/arrange my own play-alongs these days, as well as all of the practice songs for my members in my Kopy Kats hand building course. The Akai MPK Mini is a cool little tool for getting all of your ideas down, and a great companion to your DAW for songwriting.
Get An MPK Mini
PROMARK DRUMSTICKS
Here's what I'm swingin'
5A Rebound Firegrain
Another variation of the 5A Rebound that I like to use, for no particular reason. Although the cross-stick sounds awesome with this one.
Todd Sucherman Signature (5B Maple)
A favourite of mine particularly when playing traditional grip. I've been using this one at out shows quite a bit lately.
5B 'Light' Nylon Brushes
Every stick bag needs a pair of brushes. And I've been using these for a while. They sound great, they're retractable, and they look cool from the seats!
Broomstick (LARGE)
These are a fun pair of noise makers that I use regularly in our show, and I also use them on cajon gigs. Because I hate playing cajon with my hands. I can get a lot more creative and musical using these brooms. They come in 3 sizes.
