# Deftones Self-Titled Drum Setup: Abe Cunningham's Grammy-Nominated Gear (2003)

> Discover the exact drums, cymbals, and gear Abe Cunningham used to record Deftones' Grammy-nominated, 4x Platinum self-titled album. Complete breakdown of the 2003 record featuring 'Minerva' and 'Hexagram', produced by Don Gilmore.

**Type:** Album Drum Setup
**Drummer(s):** [Abe Cunningham](/llms/drummers/abe-cunningham.md)
**Band / Album:** Deftones — *Deftones* (2003)
**Genre:** Alternative Metal
**Producer:** Don Gilmore

## Overview

Released on October 28, 2003, Deftones' self-titled fourth studio album is one of the most commercially successful and critically recognized records in the band's catalog — and one of the most important for understanding Abe Cunningham's evolution as a drummer. Coming three years after the landmark White Pony, the record represented a deliberate change of direction: out went longtime collaborator Terry Date and in came Don Gilmore, whose work with Linkin Park on Hybrid Theory and Meteora had made him one of the biggest names in alternative metal production.

The change of producer brought a different energy. Gilmore pushed for a tighter, more direct sound than Date's atmospheric approach, and the album reflects that. It is heavier, more aggressive in places, yet never abandons the dynamic intelligence that defines Deftones' best work. "Minerva," the album's lead single, is haunting, patient, and emotionally devastating. "Hexagram" opens the record with one of the most violent riffs Deftones had ever committed to tape.

The album earned a Grammy nomination for Best Metal Performance for "Minerva" and was eventually certified 4x Platinum in the United States, making it one of the band's most successful records by commercial measures.

For Abe Cunningham, the 2003 sessions mark the final chapter of his Zildjian A/K Custom era before the cymbal transitions of Saturday Night Wrist and the full Sabian HHX commitment of Diamond Eyes.

## Gear Breakdown

- **Drums:** Tama Starclassic Maple (all-maple shells)
- **Snare:** Tama Steel 14" x 6.5" — bright, cutting, aggressive
- **Cymbals:** Zildjian A Custom / K Custom hybrid — 14" A New Beat hi-hats, A Custom 16-17" crash, A Custom 18-19" crash, K Custom 20-21" Dark Ride, A Custom 18" China
- **Hardware / Pedals:** Tama Iron Cobra Single Pedal; Tama Iron Cobra Hi-Hat Stand; Tama 1st Chair
- **Heads:** Remo Powerstroke 3 Clear (kick batter), Remo Emperor Clear (tom batter), Remo Ambassador Coated (snare batter)
- **Sticks:** Zildjian 5A / Artist Series

### Abe's 2003 Era Kit: Tama Starclassic Maple

For the self-titled sessions, Abe Cunningham remained with his Tama Starclassic Maple kit — the same essential instrument that had anchored White Pony's atmospheric breakthrough three years earlier. Don Gilmore's more direct production approach captured the kit with tighter, more controlled miking than Terry Date's room-heavy technique. The result is a drum sound with more immediate impact: the kick hits harder on first contact, the snare is more present in the mid-range, and the overall picture is slightly drier.

The compact configuration remained unchanged: a single 22-inch bass drum, two rack toms (10 and 12 inch), and two floor toms (14 and 16 inch). The 22-inch kick's focused, punchy character is especially effective on "Hexagram," where Abe's kick pattern locks with Stephen Carpenter's enormous, downtuned riff to create the album's most visceral opening moments.

### The Crack: Tama Steel Snare

The 14x6.5-inch Tama steel snare delivers the bright, cutting crack that the album's heavier tracks require. On "Hexagram" and "Deathblow," the snare announces every backbeat with authority. On "Minerva," the same drum reveals a different face — tuned slightly looser and played softly in the verse, it whispers rather than shouts. This dynamic range on a single drum is at the heart of Abe's approach.

### Zildjian A/K Custom: The Final Chapter

The self-titled sessions represent the final flourishing of Abe Cunningham's Zildjian A/K Custom hybrid setup before the cymbal transitions that began during Saturday Night Wrist. By 2003, this palette had been refined over three major Deftones records. The 14-inch A New Beat hi-hats anchor the grooves throughout. The K Custom Dark Ride is the secret weapon for atmospheric passages — on "Minerva" and "Bloody Cape," its dark, complex wash creates the texture that differentiates Deftones from straightforward metal bands.

### Don Gilmore's Production Approach

Don Gilmore's approach to drums differed fundamentally from Terry Date's atmospheric sensibility. He favored tighter, close-miked sounds over room ambience, and the self-titled album's drums are correspondingly more immediate and direct. Despite the tighter approach, Gilmore preserved Deftones' essential dynamic range — "Minerva" demonstrates this clearly, with enormous contrast between whispered verse and full-force chorus.

## Key Facts

- Released October 28, 2003 on Maverick Records
- Produced by Don Gilmore — first Deftones album without Terry Date as producer
- Grammy-nominated: Best Metal Performance for "Minerva"
- Certified 4x Platinum in the United States
- "Hexagram" and "Minerva" are among the most widely recognized Deftones tracks
- Tama Starclassic Maple — warm, punchy, all-maple construction
- Single 22" bass drum; no double bass
- Zildjian A Custom / K Custom hybrid — final album before cymbal transition
- Tama Iron Cobra single pedal throughout
- Estimated kit value: $3,000-5,000 (2003 Starclassic Maple shell pack)
- Estimated snare value: $200-350 (2003 era steel snare)

## Frequently Asked Questions

**Q: What drum kit did Abe Cunningham use on the Deftones self-titled album?**
A: Abe Cunningham recorded the 2003 self-titled Deftones album using a Tama Starclassic Maple kit with a single 22x18 inch bass drum, 10 and 12 inch rack toms, and 14 and 16 inch floor toms. Producer Don Gilmore captured the kit with a tighter, more direct sound than earlier Deftones records.

**Q: Was Deftones' self-titled album Grammy-nominated?**
A: Yes. "Minerva" from the 2003 Deftones self-titled album earned a Grammy nomination for Best Metal Performance. The album is also certified 4x Platinum in the United States.

**Q: Who produced the Deftones self-titled album?**
A: The 2003 self-titled Deftones album was produced by Don Gilmore, best known for Linkin Park's Hybrid Theory and Meteora. It was the first Deftones album not produced by Terry Date.

**Q: How does the self-titled Deftones album fit in Abe Cunningham's discography?**
A: The 2003 self-titled album fills the gap between White Pony (2000) and Saturday Night Wrist (2006) in Abe's Deftones arc. It represents the peak of his Zildjian A/K Custom cymbal era before transitioning toward the Sabian HHX setup he commits to fully on Diamond Eyes (2010).

**Source:** https://metalforge.io/articles/deftones-self-titled-drum-setup

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**See also:**
- [Abe Cunningham drummer profile](/llms/drummers/abe-cunningham.md)
- [White Pony drum setup (2000)](/llms/articles/white-pony-drum-setup.md)
- [Saturday Night Wrist drum setup (2006)](/llms/articles/saturday-night-wrist-drum-setup.md)
- [Diamond Eyes drum setup (2010)](/llms/articles/diamond-eyes-drum-setup.md)

*Last updated: 2026-06-29 · Source: [MetalForge.io](https://metalforge.io)*