Koi No Yokan Drum Setup: Abe Cunningham's Dream-State Masterwork | MetalForge
Discover the exact drums, cymbals, and gear Abe Cunningham used to record Deftones' Koi No Yokan album. Complete setup breakdown with recording techniques an...
Frequently Asked Questions
What drum kit did Abe Cunningham use on Koi No Yokan?
Abe Cunningham recorded Koi No Yokan in 2011-2012 using the same Tama Starclassic kit with bubinga/birch hybrid shells he had used on Diamond Eyes. The setup featured a single 22x18 inch bass drum, 10 and 12 inch rack toms, and 14 and 16 inch floor toms. By 2012, this kit had become the dialed-in foundation of the modern Deftones drum sound.
Who played bass on Koi No Yokan?
Sergio Vega (ex-Quicksand) played all the bass on Koi No Yokan, his second consecutive Deftones studio album. Original bassist Chi Cheng was still credited as a band member on the record, but he remained in a semi-comatose state following his 2008 accident and passed in April 2013. Koi No Yokan is the final Deftones album to credit Cheng.
Did Abe Cunningham use double bass on Koi No Yokan?
No. Abe Cunningham is a documented single-kick player, and Koi No Yokan uses no double bass drumming. The album's heaviest moments — including "Leathers," "Tempest," and "Poltergeist" — derive their weight from pocket, dynamics, and the locked-in interplay between Abe's single 22-inch kick and Sergio Vega's bass guitar.