Top 5Has said they use
“I always use Remo heads. Coated Ambassador on the top and clear on the bottom”
Said in Steve Gadd official site: Drumset (2010 Jazzwise interview and kit list), January 2010
No store page for this one.
Photo: Henrik Dvergsdal · CC BY-SA 3.0
Independent research by truerecs. Not affiliated with, endorsed or verified by Steve Gadd. Every item links to its public source.
21 items · Last checked What drums does Steve Gadd play?
Steve Gadd has said he has played Yamaha drums since 1975 and helped design the Recording Custom series. He has said he always puts Remo Coated Ambassador heads on his drums and has always played Zildjian cymbals, including K and Constantinople models, with his own Vic Firth signature sticks and brushes.
Top 5
Where to start with Steve Gadd's gear.
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02
Top 5Has said they use
Said in Steve Gadd official site: Drumset (2010 Jazzwise interview and kit list), January 2010
No store page for this one.
03
Top 5SponsoredHas said they use
Vic Firth
Signature Series Steve Gadd sticks“We just came up with what we'd like them to be.”
Said in Steve Gadd official site: Drumset (2010 Jazzwise interview and kit list), January 2010
04
Top 5SponsoredHas said they use
Vic Firth
Steve Gadd signature brushesSaid in Steve Gadd official site: Drumset (2010 Jazzwise interview and kit list), January 2010
No store page for this one.
05
Yamaha
Recording Custom drums, black
Top 5SponsoredHas said they use
“I helped them design the Recording Custom series, sizes and everything.”
Said in Steve Gadd official site: Drumset (2010 Jazzwise interview and kit list), January 2010
No store page for this one.
What drums Steve Gadd uses: a sourced gear guide
Independent research by truerecs: every item links to the public source it comes from.
Drums
Yamaha
Recording Custom drums, black
SponsoredHas said they use
“I helped them design the Recording Custom series, sizes and everything.”
Said in Steve Gadd official site: Drumset (2010 Jazzwise interview and kit list), January 2010
No store page for this one.
Yamaha
Maple bass drum, 22x14 and 20x16
Has said they use
“It gives a fatter sound”
Said in Steve Gadd official site: Drumset (2010 Jazzwise interview and kit list), January 2010
No store page for this one.
Gretsch
Drum kit (first kit, age 12)
Has said they use
Gretsch
Drum kit (first kit, age 12)“My uncle bought me a Gretsch drum kit when I was 12 that I still have.”
Said in Steve Gadd official site: Drumset (2010 Jazzwise interview and kit list), January 2010
No store page for this one.
Hardware
Yamaha
Cymbal stands CS755
Has said they use
Yamaha
Cymbal stands CS755Said in Steve Gadd official site: Drumset (2010 Jazzwise interview and kit list), January 2010
No store page for this one.
Yamaha
Snare stand SS-950
Has said they use
Yamaha
Snare stand SS-950Said in Steve Gadd official site: Drumset (2010 Jazzwise interview and kit list), January 2010
No store page for this one.
Yamaha
Hi-hat stand HS1200D
Has said they use
Yamaha
Hi-hat stand HS1200DSaid in Steve Gadd official site: Drumset (2010 Jazzwise interview and kit list), January 2010
No store page for this one.
Yamaha
Bass drum pedal DFP9500C
Has said they use
Yamaha
Bass drum pedal DFP9500CSaid in Steve Gadd official site: Drumset (2010 Jazzwise interview and kit list), January 2010
No store page for this one.
Yamaha
Drum throne DS-840
Has said they use
Yamaha
Drum throne DS-840Said in Steve Gadd official site: Drumset (2010 Jazzwise interview and kit list), January 2010
No store page for this one.
Cymbals
Zildjian
A orchestra cymbal (20 inch, used as a ride)
Has said they use
“One of the orchestra rides I've got is an A. Actually, it's not an orchestra ride, but an orchestra cymbal that I use as a ride.”
Said in Steve Gadd official site: Drumset (2010 Jazzwise interview and kit list), January 2010
No store page for this one.
Zildjian
K Constantinople ride (20 inch)
Has said they use
Zildjian
K Constantinople ride (20 inch)Said in Steve Gadd official site: Drumset (2010 Jazzwise interview and kit list), January 2010
No store page for this one.
Zildjian
K Dark Crash (18 inch)
Has said they use
Zildjian
K Dark Crash (18 inch)Said in Steve Gadd official site: Drumset (2010 Jazzwise interview and kit list), January 2010
No store page for this one.
Zildjian
Old K heavy hi-hat over riveted A bottom
Has said they use
Said in Steve Gadd official site: Drumset (2010 Jazzwise interview and kit list), January 2010
No store page for this one.
Zildjian
K Custom Session Crash (16 and 18 inch)
Has said they use
Said in Steve Gadd official site: Drumset (2010 Jazzwise interview and kit list), January 2010
No store page for this one.
Zildjian
K Custom Session Ride (18 inch)
Has said they use
Zildjian
K Custom Session Ride (18 inch)Said in Steve Gadd official site: Drumset (2010 Jazzwise interview and kit list), January 2010
No store page for this one.
Zildjian
K Custom Session Hi-Hats (14 inch)
Has said they use
Said in Steve Gadd official site: Drumset (2010 Jazzwise interview and kit list), January 2010
No store page for this one.
Heads and sticks
Has said they use
“I always use Remo heads. Coated Ambassador on the top and clear on the bottom”
Said in Steve Gadd official site: Drumset (2010 Jazzwise interview and kit list), January 2010
No store page for this one.
Has said they use
Said in Steve Gadd official site: Drumset (2010 Jazzwise interview and kit list), January 2010
No store page for this one.
Evans
Drumheads (earlier years)
Has said they use
Said in Steve Gadd official site: Drumset (2010 Jazzwise interview and kit list), January 2010
No store page for this one.
SponsoredHas said they use
Vic Firth
Signature Series Steve Gadd sticks“We just came up with what we'd like them to be.”
Said in Steve Gadd official site: Drumset (2010 Jazzwise interview and kit list), January 2010
SponsoredHas said they use
Vic Firth
Steve Gadd signature brushesSaid in Steve Gadd official site: Drumset (2010 Jazzwise interview and kit list), January 2010
No store page for this one.
Percussion
LP
Cowbell (LP229SG)
Has said they use
Said in Steve Gadd official site: Drumset (2010 Jazzwise interview and kit list), January 2010
No store page for this one.
Questions
About Steve Gadd's gear.
What drums does Steve Gadd play?
He has said he has been with Yamaha since 1975 or 1976 and helped design the Recording Custom series. His site lists a black Recording Custom kit with a 20x16 bass drum, 10 and 12 inch toms and 14 and 16 inch floor toms.
What cymbals does Steve Gadd use?
He has said he has always played Zildjian, including an A orchestra cymbal and a Constantinople as 20 inch rides, an 18 inch dark K crash and an old K hi-hat top. His site also lists K Custom Session crashes, ride and hi-hats.
What drum sticks does Steve Gadd use?
He plays his own Vic Firth signature sticks and brushes. The sticks have barrel tips and measure 16 1/4 inches long and .550 inches wide.
What drum heads does Steve Gadd use?
He has said he always plays Remo heads: Coated Ambassador on top and clear on the bottom, sometimes clear Pinstripes on top. Years ago he tried Evans heads.
What was Steve Gadd's first drum kit?
He has said his uncle bought him a Gretsch kit when he was 12, which he still has, and he bought another Gretsch set after leaving the army.
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Named in this guide
SG
Steve Gadd
About this guide · Last checked
Steve Gadd is the session and touring drummer heard with Paul Simon, Steely Dan, Eric Clapton, James Taylor and Chick Corea. This guide covers the Yamaha Recording Custom kit he helped design, his Zildjian cymbals, Remo heads and Vic Firth signature sticks, from his own website.
truerecs put this guide together from public videos, interviews and posts. Each item says how we know and links to the source. Steve Gadd didn't write it or choose anything on it. How we source gear guides.
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