White Pony Drum Setup: Abe Cunningham's Atmospheric Masterpiece | MetalForge
Abe Cunningham recorded White Pony (2000) on a Tama Starclassic Maple kit with a Tama S.L.P. Big Black Steel (or equivalent deep steel snare) snare.
Discover the exact drum kit, cymbals, and gear Abe Cunningham used to record Deftones' genre-defining White Pony album. Complete setup breakdown with recordi...
Frequently Asked Questions
What drum kit did Abe Cunningham use on White Pony?
Abe Cunningham recorded White Pony in 2000 using a Tama Starclassic Maple kit. The setup featured a 22x18 inch bass drum, 10 and 12 inch rack toms, and 14 and 16 inch floor toms, all using all-maple shells with die-cast hoops. This configuration gave the Deftones' landmark album its warm, resonant low end combined with articulate tom attacks that complemented the record's dynamic shifts between ambient and aggressive sections.
What cymbals did Abe Cunningham use on White Pony?
Abe Cunningham used a Zildjian A and K Series cymbal setup on White Pony. His rig included 14 inch A New Beat hi-hats, A Custom crashes in 16 and 18 inch sizes, a 20 inch K Custom Dark Ride for smoother, washy overtones, a 19 inch K Dark Thin Crash/Ride, and a 16 inch Oriental China Trash for sharp, aggressive accents. The mix of A and K series tones matched the album's tonal contrasts.
How much does Abe Cunningham's White Pony kit cost?
The Tama Starclassic Maple kit Abe Cunningham used on White Pony was valued at approximately $3,000 to $5,000 new in 2000. A comparable used or new Tama Starclassic Maple setup today costs $3,500 to $5,500 for the shell pack. Adding a period-correct deep steel snare at $300 to $500 and a full Zildjian A and K cymbal setup brings the total to approximately $7,000 to $10,000.