Carl Palmer has been seen using a 1973 stainless steel kit with a 28 inch bass drum, his Ludwig Venus signature snare, a 1968 Ludwig set in burgundy sparkle, the Paiste Vir2osity ride he designed, Vater signature sticks and Remo heads, plus ddrum and Korg Wavedrum electronics.
Independent research by truerecs: every item links to the public source it comes from.
“I remember buying his Ajax drum set which I started my professional career with.”
“my custom made electric drums, which were built in London”
His Ludwig Artist Signature Series Venus snare: a 3.7x14 inch beaded brass shell in lacquered green, with brass-plated tube lugs and die-cast hoops. Each drum carries a label he signed.
A 1973 kit with quarter-inch-thick stainless steel shells and Gretsch hoops: seven single-headed rack toms from 6 to 15 inches, 16 and 18 inch floor toms and a 20x28 bass drum, engraved by Paul Ravn.
Paiste. His signature Vir2osity 20 inch Duo Ride was made with Paiste, loosely based on the Signature Dry Dark Ride, with lathed and unlathed zones. He has also been seen with Paiste cup chime hi-hats.
In 2022 he joined Vater, which made a signature stick for him: 16 inches long, 0.580 inches in diameter, lathe-turned American hickory.
Carl Palmer is the English drummer of Emerson, Lake and Palmer, Atomic Rooster and Asia. This guide covers his drums, cymbals, sticks and electronics, from the 1973 stainless steel kit to his Ludwig and Paiste signature models.
truerecs put this guide together from public videos, interviews and posts. Each item says how we know and links to the source. Carl Palmer didn't write it or choose anything on it. How we source gear guides.
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