--- name: "Abe Cunningham" band: "Deftones" page_type: "gear_evolution" profile_url: "https://metalforge.io/drummer/abe-cunningham" evolution_url: "https://metalforge.io/drummers/abe-cunningham/evolution" source: "https://metalforge.io" last_updated: "2026-06-29" --- # Abe Cunningham Drum Kit Evolution — Complete Timeline Abe Cunningham is the founding drummer of the Deftones, one of alternative metal's most critically acclaimed and influential bands. Co-founding the Sacramento group in 1988 alongside Chino Moreno, Stephen Carpenter, and the late Chi Cheng, Cunningham has been the rhythmic backbone of every Deftones record across nearly four decades. His evolution spans hardcore-rooted aggression, the atmospheric breakthroughs of White Pony, the groove sophistication of Diamond Eyes, and the cinematic density of Gore and Ohms — a career arc as rich as any in modern heavy music. This timeline documents his complete gear evolution from ddrum beginnings through Pearl Reference and beyond. See also: [Abe Cunningham drummer profile](/llms/drummers/abe-cunningham.md) --- ## Founding / Early Deftones Era (1988–1994) **Albums:** Early demos, pre-Adrenaline recordings **Tours:** Sacramento club circuit, early California DIY touring Abe Cunningham co-founded the Deftones while still in high school in Sacramento. The early years were shaped by hardcore punk and alternative metal — raw, hard-hitting drumming on budget gear held together by teenage energy and relentless local gigging. His ddrum kit became the foundation of his sound before the band signed to Maverick Records in 1994. - **Drums:** ddrum Dios Series — maple shells: 22" kick, 12"/13"/16" toms (durable, punchy option favored by hard-hitting alternative metal drummers in the early 1990s) - **Snare:** ddrum Steel 14"×5.5" (bright, cutting steel for hardcore-influenced attack) - **Cymbals:** Zildjian A Series — 14" hi-hats, 16"/18" crashes, 20" ride (reliable, bright A Series across early gigging years) - **Hardware:** Various budget hardware — single kick configuration - **Sticks:** Vic Firth 5B (heavy hickory for aggressive playing) - **Heads:** Remo Ambassador clear on toms, coated on snare - **Estimated kit cost (original):** ~$2,500 **Key developments:** - Deftones co-founded in Sacramento, California (1988) - Hardcore and alternative metal roots establish aggressive drumming foundation - ddrum Dios kit becomes Cunningham's early signature brand - Signed to Maverick Records (1994) — major label breakthrough --- ## Adrenaline / Around the Fur Era (1995–1999) **Albums:** Adrenaline (1995), Around the Fur (1997) **Tours:** Adrenaline Tour 1995–1996, Around the Fur Tour 1997–1999, Warped Tour appearances, Ozzfest 1998 **Q: What drums did Abe Cunningham use on Adrenaline and Around the Fur?** A: On Adrenaline (1995) and Around the Fur (1997), Cunningham played an expanded ddrum Dios Series setup — the brand he used from the Deftones' earliest years. As the band's profile grew with mainstream nu-metal success, he upgraded to a larger tom configuration (adding a 10" tom) and switched to a DW 5000 double pedal for enhanced drive. His Zildjian A Custom cymbals replaced the earlier A Series for a brighter, more cutting sound suited to the Ozzfest stage. - **Drums:** ddrum Dios Series (expanded) — maple shells: 22" kick, 10"/12"/13"/16" toms *(upgrade — added tom for wider tonal range as Deftones' sound grew)* - **Snare:** ddrum Steel 14"×6.5" *(upgrade — deeper shell for heavier projection on arena-scale shows)* - **Cymbals:** Zildjian A Custom Series — 14" A Custom hi-hats, 16"/18" A Custom crashes, 21" A Custom ride *(upgrade — brighter, more cutting for nu-metal production and Ozzfest stages)* - **Hardware:** DW 5000 Double Pedal *(new — double kick added for Around the Fur's heavier material)* - **Sticks:** Vic Firth 5B (consistent heavy choice) - **Heads:** Remo Emperor on toms *(upgrade — durability for constant Ozzfest and Warped Tour touring)* - **Estimated kit cost (original):** ~$6,000 **Key developments:** - Adrenaline (1995) — major label debut breaks Deftones into mainstream - Around the Fur (1997) — nu-metal breakthrough; "My Own Summer" becomes an anthem - Double kick configuration added for heavier Around the Fur material - Ozzfest 1998 — massive audience exposure - Groove-forward style distinguishes Cunningham from heavier nu-metal peers --- ## White Pony Era (2000–2003) **Albums:** White Pony (2000) **Tours:** White Pony World Tour 2000–2002 **Q: What drums did Abe Cunningham use on White Pony?** A: For White Pony (2000), Cunningham made the most significant gear transition of his career — switching from ddrum to Pearl Custom. The Pearl maple shells gave him a warmer, more resonant tone suited to White Pony's atmospheric arrangements, which move between atmospheric shoegaze, post-rock, and heavy metal within a single album. His cymbal palette shifted dramatically with a switch to Zildjian K Series — darker, more complex Turkish bronze that suited the album's textured, atmospheric sound. White Pony won the Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance ("Elite") and is widely considered one of the greatest alternative metal albums ever made. Cunningham's dynamic, spacious drumming was central to its success. - **Drums:** Pearl Custom Series — maple shells: 22" kick, 10"/12"/14"/16" toms *(switch from ddrum — warmer, more resonant maple shells for White Pony's atmospheric arrangements)* - **Snare:** Pearl Free-Floating Brass 14"×6.5" *(switch — warm brass shell for the dynamic range from quiet to crushing across White Pony)* - **Cymbals:** Zildjian K Series — 14" K hi-hats, 16"/18" K crashes, 20" K ride *(switch from A Custom — darker, more complex Turkish bronze for White Pony's textured sound)* - **Hardware:** Pearl Eliminator Double Pedal *(switch — more refined double bass response for White Pony's nuanced foot work)* - **Sticks:** Vic Firth 5A *(switch from 5B — lighter hickory for more control and nuance in atmospheric passages)* - **Heads:** Remo Emperor on toms, Coated Ambassador on snare *(upgrade — coated snare for warmer, more controlled attack)* - **Estimated kit cost (original):** ~$8,000 **Key developments:** - White Pony (2000) — Grammy Award winner; career-defining masterpiece - Decisive switch from ddrum to Pearl Custom — defining tonal upgrade - Switched to Zildjian K — darker, more atmospheric cymbal voice - Atmospheric, dynamic drumming replaces nu-metal aggression as defining approach - White Pony establishes Deftones as critical darlings beyond genre boundaries --- ## Saturday Night Wrist / Diamond Eyes Era (2003–2012) **Albums:** Deftones (2003), Saturday Night Wrist (2006), Diamond Eyes (2010) **Tours:** Saturday Night Wrist Tour 2006–2007, Diamond Eyes World Tour 2010–2011 **Q: What gear did Abe Cunningham use on Diamond Eyes?** A: For the Diamond Eyes era, Cunningham switched from Pearl Custom to a Gretsch USA Custom — warm, resonant maple shells with a looser, more organic feel suited to Diamond Eyes's groove-forward approach. He upgraded his cymbals to Zildjian K Custom and adopted a DW 9000 double pedal. Diamond Eyes (2010) was written and recorded rapidly in the wake of Chi Cheng's accident (November 2008) — Cunningham's drumming carries both urgency and emotional weight throughout the album. - **Drums:** Gretsch USA Custom — maple shells: 22" kick, 10"/12"/14"/16" toms *(switch from Pearl — warm, organic maple for Diamond Eyes's groove-focused approach)* - **Snare:** Gretsch USA Custom 14"×6.5" Maple *(switch — matching Gretsch maple snare, warm full crack in dense mix)* - **Cymbals:** Zildjian K Custom Series — 14" K Custom hi-hats, 16"/18" K Custom crashes, 21" K Custom ride *(upgrade — darker, more refined K Custom palette)* - **Hardware:** DW 9000 Double Pedal *(switch — smooth, powerful double bass for Diamond Eyes's harder-driving sections)* - **Sticks:** Vater 5A *(switch — new endorsement; same 5A weight class maintained)* - **Heads:** Remo Emperor on toms, Powerstroke 3 on kick *(upgrade — Powerstroke 3 for focused kick punch)* - **Estimated kit cost (original):** ~$10,000 **Key developments:** - Gretsch USA Custom — most tonally distinct kit of Cunningham's career - Chi Cheng accident (November 2008) — traumatic context for Diamond Eyes sessions - Diamond Eyes (2010) — widely acclaimed; recorded rapidly as tribute to Chi - Groove-forward drumming approach reaches full maturity - K Custom cymbal upgrade for sophisticated tonal palette --- ## Koi No Yokan / Gore / Ohms Era (2012–Present) **Albums:** Koi No Yokan (2012), Gore (2016), Ohms (2020) **Tours:** Koi No Yokan Tour 2012–2013, Gore Tour 2016–2017, Ohms Tour 2021–2022 **Q: What drum kit does Abe Cunningham currently use?** A: In the modern era, Abe Cunningham plays a Pearl Reference Series kit — the flagship maple/birch hybrid that replaced Pearl Masters at the premium tier. His snare is a Pearl Free-Floating Brass 14"×6.5", and his cymbals are Zildjian K Custom Dark — the darkest, most complex offering in the Zildjian range. He supplements the acoustic kit with a Roland SPD-SX sampling pad for the layered studio textures of Gore and Ohms in a live context. - **Drums:** Pearl Reference Series — maple/birch hybrid: 22" kick, 10"/12"/14"/16" toms *(return to Pearl — flagship hybrid shells for the Deftones' cinematic modern sound)* - **Snare:** Pearl Free-Floating Brass 14"×6.5" *(return to brass Free-Floating — warm, articulate tone for moody, textured production of Gore and Ohms)* - **Cymbals:** Zildjian K Custom Dark — 14" K Custom Dark hi-hats, 16"/18"/19" K Custom Dark crashes, 21" K Custom Dark ride *(upgrade — darkest, most complex Zildjian offering for Ohms's cinematic atmosphere)* - **Hardware:** DW 9000 Double Pedal (continued) - **Sticks:** Vater 5A (continued) - **Heads:** Remo Emperor on toms, EMAD on kick *(upgrade — EMAD for focused kick fundamental in dense Gore/Ohms production)* - **Electronics:** Roland SPD-SX Sampling Pad *(new — atmospheric triggers for live reproduction of studio layers)* - **Estimated kit cost (original):** ~$18,000 **Key developments:** - Returned to Pearl with the flagship Reference Series - Koi No Yokan (2012) — most acclaimed Deftones album since White Pony - Gore (2016) — dark, atmospheric direction; most restrained and sophisticated playing - Ohms (2020) — pandemic-era cinematic scope; groove sophistication at its peak - Roland SPD-SX added for live atmospheric textures - K Custom Dark — darkest, most complex tonal palette of career --- ## Career Cost Overview | Era | Years | Kit Cost (Original) | Inflation-Adjusted | |---|---|---|---| | Early / Founding Era | 1988–1994 | $2,500 | ~$5,200 | | Adrenaline / Around the Fur | 1995–1999 | $6,000 | ~$11,500 | | White Pony Era | 2000–2003 | $8,000 | ~$14,500 | | Diamond Eyes Era | 2003–2012 | $10,000 | ~$16,500 | | Koi No Yokan / Gore / Ohms | 2012–present | $18,000 | ~$20,000 | --- ## Gear Brand Partnerships Timeline - **ddrum (drums)** — 1988–~1999 (Dios Series across founding era through Around the Fur) - **Pearl (drums)** — ~2000–2003, 2012–present (Custom; then Reference in modern era) - **Gretsch (drums)** — ~2003–2012 (USA Custom across Diamond Eyes era) - **Zildjian A/A Custom (cymbals)** — 1988–~1999 (early gigging and nu-metal years) - **Zildjian K / K Custom / K Custom Dark (cymbals)** — ~2000–present (progressive darkening from K through K Custom Dark) - **DW (hardware)** — ~1997–present (5000 → 9000 double pedal) - **Pearl Eliminator (hardware)** — ~2000–2003 (White Pony era) - **Vic Firth (sticks)** — 1988–~2003 (5B through early career; 5A from White Pony era) - **Vater (sticks)** — ~2003–present (5A endorsement maintained from Diamond Eyes era onward) - **Remo (heads)** — throughout career (Ambassador → Emperor / Powerstroke 3 / EMAD) --- ## FAQ **Q: What drum kit does Abe Cunningham use?** A: Abe Cunningham currently plays a Pearl Reference Series kit — a maple/birch hybrid shell kit configured with a 22" kick and 10", 12", 14", and 16" toms. He returned to Pearl for the Koi No Yokan era after a stint on Gretsch USA Custom during the Diamond Eyes years. Earlier in his career he used ddrum (through Around the Fur) and Pearl Custom (White Pony). **Q: What cymbals does Abe Cunningham use?** A: Cunningham plays Zildjian K Custom Dark cymbals in the modern era — the darkest, most complex series in the Zildjian range. His setup typically includes 14" K Custom Dark hi-hats, 16", 18", and 19" K Custom Dark crashes, and a 21" K Custom Dark ride. He progressed from Zildjian A through K and K Custom to arrive at K Custom Dark over a career spanning four decades. **Q: What drums did Abe Cunningham use on White Pony?** A: On White Pony (2000), Cunningham played Pearl Custom — a significant brand switch from the ddrum kit he used on Adrenaline and Around the Fur. The Pearl maple shells gave him a warmer, more resonant tone suited to White Pony's atmospheric, dynamic arrangements. He also switched to Zildjian K cymbals during this era, moving away from the brighter A Custom setup of the nu-metal years. **Q: What drums did Abe Cunningham use on Diamond Eyes?** A: On Diamond Eyes (2010), Cunningham played a Gretsch USA Custom — maple shells with a distinctly warm, organic quality. This was his most unique kit choice across his career. He used Zildjian K Custom cymbals during this period and switched to a DW 9000 double pedal. **Q: When did Abe Cunningham join the Deftones?** A: Abe Cunningham is a founding member of the Deftones — he co-founded the band in Sacramento, California in 1988 with Chino Moreno, Stephen Carpenter, and the late Chi Cheng. He was still in high school when the band formed and has appeared on every Deftones studio album from Adrenaline (1995) through Ohms (2020). **Q: What makes Abe Cunningham's drumming distinctive?** A: Cunningham is known for his dynamic intelligence and groove sophistication — his ability to serve the song with space, restraint, and precision. Unlike many hard rock drummers, he uses silence and dynamics as compositional tools. His cymbal evolution (from A Custom through K Custom Dark) reflects a consistent pursuit of darker, more complex tones suited to the Deftones' atmospheric direction. See also: [Deftones discography and drumming analysis](/llms/bands.md). **Q: What snare does Abe Cunningham use?** A: Cunningham uses a Pearl Free-Floating Brass 14"×6.5" snare in the modern era. He switched to brass Free-Floating for the White Pony era, returned to it on the Koi No Yokan record, and has used it consistently through Gore and Ohms. The warm, articulate brass tone suits the Deftones' atmospheric production approach. --- ## Related Pages - [Abe Cunningham Drummer Profile](/llms/drummers/abe-cunningham.md) - [Deftones Band Profile](/llms/bands.md) - [Abe Cunningham vs Dirk Verbeuren Comparison](/llms/comparisons/abe-cunningham-vs-dirk-verbeuren.md) - [Pearl Drums Brand Guide](/llms/brands/pearl.md) - [Zildjian Cymbal Guide](/llms/brands/zildjian.md) - [Metal Drumming Facts & Stats](/llms/facts.md)