Undertow Drum Setup: Danny Carey's 1993 Tool Debut Kit Breakdown | MetalForge

Frequently Asked Questions

What drum kit did Danny Carey use on Undertow?

Danny Carey used a Pearl Masters Custom kit on Tool's Undertow (1993). The setup featured maple/birch hybrid shells in a configuration including a 22" bass drum, rack toms at 10", 12", and 13", and floor toms at 16" and 18". This was the same broad gear family he would carry into Ænima three years later, and a world apart from the Sonor SQ2 Heavy Beech setup he uses today.

What cymbals did Danny Carey use on Undertow?

Danny Carey used Paiste 2002 cymbals on Undertow, including 14" Sound Edge hi-hats, 16" and 18" crashes, a 20" ride, and a Paiste RUDE 18" China. The 2002 series' bright, cutting character suited the raw early-90s production approach Sylvia Massy brought to the album, before Danny moved to the darker Paiste Signature and Traditional series for Lateralus.

Where was Undertow recorded?

Undertow was recorded primarily at Sound City Studios in Van Nuys, California, with additional work at Grand Master Recorders in Los Angeles. Sound City's Neve 8028 console and naturally great-sounding live room were ideal for capturing Danny Carey's Pearl Masters kit with the dimensional, room-driven sound that distinguishes the album from more claustrophobic 1993 metal productions.

Who produced Undertow?

Undertow was produced by Sylvia Massy alongside Tool. Massy came to the project with engineering credits on Prince, Tom Petty, and Johnny Cash records. She is known for unconventional studio approaches — including reportedly tracking Maynard James Keenan's vocals from inside a sealed metal trash can — but her treatment of Danny Carey's drums emphasized capturing the source kit with minimal processing.

How does the Undertow drum setup differ from Ænima and Lateralus?

The Undertow setup (Pearl Masters Custom, Paiste 2002, DW 5000 single pedal, compact 5-tom configuration) is the foundation of what would evolve through Ænima and into the Sonor/Paiste Signature setup of Lateralus. Ænima kept the Pearl Masters and Paiste 2002 family but expanded the configuration and moved to a DW 5000 double pedal. Lateralus marked the full transition to Sonor drums, Paiste Signature cymbals, and a much larger seven-tom kit. Undertow represents Danny Carey's playing at its rawest and most song-focused, with gear chosen for directness rather than sonic complexity.

What pedal did Danny Carey use on Undertow?

Danny Carey used a DW 5000 Series single bass drum pedal on Undertow. The album's material doesn't require double-bass pedaling — Danny's strong foot technique on the single pedal handles every section. The DW 5000 chain-drive mechanism was the professional standard for rock and alternative drummers in 1993 and gave him the smooth, consistent action he needed across the sessions.