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Bill Bruford, Photo: Steven Rieder (Wikimedia Commons)

Photo: Steven Rieder (Wikimedia Commons) · CC BY-SA 3.0

Independent research by truerecs. Not affiliated with, endorsed or verified by Bill Bruford. Every item links to its public source.
35 items · Last checked

What drums does Bill Bruford play?

Bill Bruford uses Tama Starclassic drums with his Tama BB146 signature snare, Paiste cymbals including 15in Giant Beat hats and PSTX stacks, Evans heads and Promark SD4 signature sticks, per his official site. In the 1970s he played Ludwig and Hayman drums, and in the 1980s Simmons electronic kits.

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AllTop 5Current kit (2022 on)Yes and King Crimson years1980s electronic eraEarthworks years
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What drums Bill Bruford uses: a sourced gear guide

Independent research by truerecs: every item links to the public source it comes from.

Current kit (2022 on)

12 items

Yes and King Crimson years

10 items

1980s electronic era

7 items

Earthworks years

6 items
Questions

About Bill Bruford's gear.

What drum kit does Bill Bruford play?

Tama Starclassic or Starclassic Performer drums with a 12in rack tom, 14in floor tom and 18in or 20in bass drum, plus his 14x6 Tama BB146 signature snare, according to the equipment page on his official site.

What cymbals does Bill Bruford use?

Paiste: 15in Giant Beat hi-hats, a 20in Traditionals medium ride, an 18in Dimensions light ride and PSTX flanger and splash stacks in his current setup. In the 1970s he played Paiste 2002 Sound Edge hats and 602 rides.

What drumsticks does Bill Bruford use?

Promark SD4 Bill Bruford signature sticks. Earlier he played Ludwig 5A and 5B, then Promark 5A in the early 1980s and Promark SD9 from 1987.

What electronic drums did Bill Bruford use?

Simmons: the SDS5 in King Crimson in 1981, then the SDS7, SDS9 and SDX with Zone Intelligent pads through the late 1990s, alongside Tama acoustic drums.

What drums did Bill Bruford play in Yes?

A Premier Olympic kit in 1968 and 1969, then Ludwig drums with a Supraphonic LM400 snare, and Hayman drums from 1971, with Paiste cymbals.

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Bill Bruford
About this guide · Last checked

Bill Bruford is the English drummer of Yes, King Crimson, UK and his own Bruford and Earthworks bands. This guide covers his kits era by era, from Ludwig and Hayman in the 1970s to Simmons electronics in the 1980s and the Tama and Paiste setup listed on his official site today.

truerecs put this guide together from public videos, interviews and posts. Each item says how we know and links to the source. Bill Bruford didn't write it or choose anything on it. How we source gear guides.

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truerecs gear guides are independent research from public sources, not made or approved by the artist. Store buttons on this page may be affiliate links: truerecs may earn a commission when you buy through them, at no extra cost to you. Bill Bruford isn't paid for them. Report an error or ask for removal. Full disclosure.