Ben Koller's Complete Drum Setup — Converge Gear Guide | MetalForge

Frequently Asked Questions

What drums does Ben Koller use?

Ben Koller plays a Tama Starclassic Maple kit — all-maple shells chosen for their balanced, versatile tone. His configuration typically includes 10", 12", and 16" toms with a 22" bass drum. He has used both single and double kick setups depending on the setlist and project.

What cymbals does Ben Koller use?

Ben Koller plays Zildjian cymbals built around the K Dark Series. His setup includes Zildjian K Dark Series 14" Thin Hi-Hats, Zildjian K Dark Series 18" and 19" Medium Thin Crashes, a Zildjian K Custom Ride 21", a Zildjian K China 18", and a Zildjian K Splash 10". The K Dark Series gives his hats, crashes, and china a controlled, complex darkness, while the brighter K Custom Ride adds versatility for texture work.

What pedals does Ben Koller use?

Ben Koller uses the Tama Iron Cobra double bass drum pedal. The Iron Cobra is a chain-drive pedal known for its smooth, consistent feel and wide adjustability — well-suited to the blast beats and sustained double-kick patterns that appear throughout Converge's catalog. The Iron Cobra is available in Power Glide (linear feel) and Rolling Glide (progressive feel) configurations; Koller has used both across different touring configurations.

What snare does Ben Koller use?

Ben Koller plays a Tama S.L.P. (Studio Legendary Percussion) brass snare drum, in a 14" x 6" configuration. The S.L.P. series is Tama's vintage-inspired professional line; the brass shell and 6" depth give the drum more body and projection than a standard 5.5" snare, which helps it cut through Converge's dense guitar arrangements in both live and studio contexts.

What drumheads does Ben Koller use?

Ben Koller uses Evans drumheads on his Tama Starclassic Maple kit. He typically runs Evans G2 Coated heads on the toms (batter side) for warm attack with controlled sustain, Evans G1 Clear on the resonant side, and Evans EMAD or EC2 on the bass drum for focused punch. His snare uses an Evans G1 Coated batter head for articulation and rimshot response.

What is Ben Koller's drum setup with Converge?

Ben Koller's current Converge drum setup is built around a Tama Starclassic Maple kit (all-maple shells), a Tama S.L.P. 14"x6" Brass snare, Zildjian K Dark Series cymbals, Tama Iron Cobra double pedal, and Evans drumheads. This configuration provides the attack, durability, and tonal range demanded by Converge's physically intense live show and exacting studio work with producer Kurt Ballou.