# Far Beyond Driven Drum Setup: Vinnie Paul's Heaviest Era Gear Breakdown

> Complete breakdown of Vinnie Paul's drum gear on Pantera's Far Beyond Driven. The Pearl Reference Pure kit, Steel Cobra pedals, and Zildjian Z Custom setup behind the #1 Billboard 200 debut.

**Type:** Album Drum Setup
**Drummer(s):** [Vinnie Paul](/llms/drummers/vinnie-paul.md)
**Band / Album:** Pantera — *Far Beyond Driven* (1994)
**Genre:** Groove Metal

## Overview

Released on March 22, 1994, Pantera's "Far Beyond Driven" did what no metal album had done in years — debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. The achievement was extraordinary not just because of its commercial success, but because it arrived with absolutely zero commercial compromise. This was Pantera at their heaviest, most uncompromising, and most powerful.

At the center of that power was Vinnie Paul Abbott, who brought his most evolved drum setup to this record. The album represented the full maturation of the groove metal sound he and brother Dimebag Darrell had been building since Cowboys from Hell. By 1994, Vinnie's kit, technique, and studio approach had all reached their peak refinement.

Recorded once again at the family's Pantego Sound Studio in Arlington, Texas, Far Beyond Driven featured Vinnie co-producing alongside Terry Date. The drum sound achieved on this record — heavier than Vulgar Display of Power, more refined than Cowboys from Hell — represented the definitive Vinnie Paul tone that drummers have chased ever since.

Tracks like "5 Minutes Alone," "I'm Broken," and "Becoming" each demanded something different from Vinnie's kit, and the Pearl Reference Pure shell setup delivered across every dynamic. This article breaks down the gear, recording approach, and production techniques behind Pantera's greatest commercial achievement.

## Gear Breakdown

- **Drums:** Pearl Pearl Reference Pure (Custom Black Chrome Wrap finish)
- **Snare:** Pearl Pearl Free-Floating Steel Snare, 14" x 8"
- **Cymbals:** Zildjian — Zildjian Z Custom
- **Hardware / Pedals:** DW 9000 Series / Tama Steel Cobra; DW 9000 Hi-Hat Stand; Roc-N-Soc Nitro Throne; Vic Firth American Classic 2B (played backwards)
- **Heads:** Remo Powerstroke 77 Coated (batter), Remo Ambassador Snare Side
- **Snare tuning:** Medium-low tension for maximum body, controlled snare wire tension

### The Pearl Reference Pure: Vinnie's Heaviest Setup

Far Beyond Driven marked a significant evolution in Vinnie Paul's kit setup. Moving to Pearl Reference Pure shells, Vinnie gained access to a maple/mahogany hybrid construction that provided a warmer fundamental tone with the attack he needed to cut through Dimebag's increasingly crushing guitar work.

The dual 24" x 18" bass drums remained the cornerstone of his sound — even larger and deeper than typical metal configurations. These oversized kicks produced the subsonic rumble that gave Pantera's rhythm section its ground-shaking quality. Vinnie triggered both drums, blending the acoustic punch of the shells with electronic reinforcement for consistency at high tempos.

The four-tom rack configuration spanning 8" to 13", paired with 16" and 18" floor toms, gave Vinnie the full palette for his signature tom fills. The Pearl Reference Pure shells produced a warmer, slightly darker tone than the ddrum shells of Vulgar Display — not softer, but with more body in the low-mids that added weight to every fill.

At studio volume, the Reference Pure shells had a focus and projection that allowed Terry Date to capture enormous drum sounds without excessive room treatment. The kit's build quality also meant tuning held steady across marathon tracking sessions.

### The Heaviest Crack

If the Vulgar Display of Power snare was already one of the most iconic sounds in metal, the Far Beyond Driven snare pushed it even further into sonic extremity. The Pearl Free-Floating steel snare at 14" x 8" gave Vinnie Paul a drum that was simultaneously massive and precise.

The free-floating strainer system — where the snare wires are tensioned independently of the shell — allowed Vinnie to tune the drum and the wires with more precision than conventional snare designs. The result was a controlled, consistent response that held up perfectly under Vinnie's aggressive, backwards-stick attack.

At 14" x 8", the drum had the same depth as the Vulgar Display snare, but the free-floating system and steel shell construction gave it a slightly different character — perhaps slightly tighter in the midrange while maintaining the famous Vinnie Paul low-end crack. Combined with his technique of playing stick-reversed, the snare produced the gunshot attack that locks with "I'm Broken" and "5 Minutes Alone."

Vinnie blended the natural snare sound with triggered samples in the studio, a technique he had perfected over Cowboys from Hell and Vulgar Display. The trigger added consistency to every hit's attack, ensuring that even in complex fill passages, the snare punch was identical from hit to hit.

### Zildjian Z Custom: A New Arsenal

Far Beyond Driven saw Vinnie Paul make a significant cymbal change, moving from the Sabian AA/AAX setup of previous Pantera records to the Zildjian Z Custom series. This shift was not subtle — the Z Custom cymbals have a louder, more aggressive character that matched the increased heaviness of Far Beyond Driven's production.

The 14" Z Custom hi-hats cut through the dense studio mix with their brilliant finish and aggressive attack. Their brighter tone provided a clear contrast to the deep, dark body of the Pearl shells, keeping the groove elements clearly defined in the recording.

The three crash cymbals — 16", 18", and 19" — gave Vinnie a cascading set of explosions for accents. The Z Custom crashes were known for being particularly loud and cutting, which suited Pantera's live approach and the studio requirement to compete with two full-stack guitar rigs.

The 20" Z Custom China is one of the most distinctive sounds on the record. Those trashy, violent accents that punctuate "I'm Broken" and "Becoming" carry the specific character of Zildjian Z Custom bronze — brighter and more abrasive than the Sabian China work of previous albums, matching the album's overall heavier aesthetic.

## Key Facts

- Debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 — the only metal album to do so in 1994
- Vinnie Paul's most evolved drum setup to this point in his career
- Pearl Reference Pure shells replaced the ddrum setup of previous records
- Steel Cobra and DW 9000 pedals drove the double kick attack
- Pearl Reference Pure offered warmer tone than previous ddrum setup
- Dual 24" x 18" bass drums remained for maximum low-end presence
- Triggered for attack consistency at high tempos
- Maple/mahogany construction added body to heavy groove patterns
- Estimated kit value: $5,000-7,000 (1994) / $9,000-14,000 (Reference Pure today)
- Estimated snare value: $500-700 (1994) / $600-900 (comparable today)

## FAQ

**What drums did Vinnie Paul use on Far Beyond Driven?**
Vinnie Paul recorded Far Beyond Driven in 1994 on a Pearl Reference Pure kit. The configuration included dual 24x18 inch bass drums, four rack toms spanning 8 to 13 inches, and floor toms at 16 and 18 inches. The maple/mahogany hybrid shells produced a warmer, darker tone than his previous ddrum setup on Vulgar Display of Power, while maintaining the massive attack and low-end presence that defined Pantera's sound. All drums were triggered for consistency, blending acoustic shell character with electronic attack reinforcement.

**What pedals did Vinnie Paul use on Far Beyond Driven in 1994?**
Far Beyond Driven (1994) was a transitional era for Vinnie Paul's pedal setup. He used DW 9000 series pedals alongside the Tama Steel Cobra — one per bass drum in his dual-kick configuration. This hybrid approach let him work with both the DW 9000's direct-drive mechanism and the Steel Cobra's spring-loaded feel simultaneously. The DW 9000 became his dominant system in the years that followed, but the 1994 sessions captured this transitional combination at its peak creative output.

**What cymbals did Vinnie Paul use on Far Beyond Driven?**
Vinnie Paul switched from Sabian to Zildjian Z Custom cymbals for Far Beyond Driven in 1994. His setup included Zildjian Z Custom 14 inch hi-hats, 16 and 18 inch crashes, a 19 inch crash, a 22 inch ride, and a 20 inch China cymbal. The Z Custom series, known for its brilliant finish and aggressive attack, was significantly louder and brighter than the Sabian AA/AAX setup of Cowboys from Hell and Vulgar Display of Power — a deliberate choice to match the increased heaviness of Far Beyond Driven's production.

## Related Albums

- [Cowboys from Hell drum setup](/articles/cowboys-from-hell-drum-setup) — 1990, Vinnie Paul on Pearl Export; Pantera's mainstream breakthrough and the trilogy's opening chapter
- [Vulgar Display of Power drum setup](/articles/vulgar-display-of-power-drum-setup) — 1992, Vinnie Paul's ddrum Custom era; the groove metal genre-defining record
- [Vinnie Paul kit profile](/articles/whats-in-vinnie-pauls-kit) — complete career gear overview from Cowboys from Hell through Hellyeah

## Structured Data (LLM Reference)

**Person:** Vinnie Paul Abbott — drummer, Pantera, Hellyeah, Damageplan; born March 11, 1964, Arlington, Texas; died June 22, 2018; primary instrument drums; genre groove metal / heavy metal / hard rock; co-produced all Pantera studio albums
**MusicAlbum:** Far Beyond Driven — Pantera (EastWest Records / Elektra, March 22, 1994); genre groove metal; debuted #1 on Billboard 200 (only metal album to do so in 1994); notable tracks: 5 Minutes Alone, I'm Broken, Becoming, 25 Years, Strength Beyond Strength
**MusicGroup:** Pantera — American groove metal band; formed Arlington, Texas, 1981; members Vinnie Paul Abbott (drums), Dimebag Darrell Abbott (guitar), Philip Anselmo (vocals), Rex Brown (bass); active 1981–2003

**Source:** https://metalforge.io/articles/far-beyond-driven-drum-setup

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*Last updated: 2026-06-25 · Source: [MetalForge.io](https://metalforge.io)*