# DW Collector's Maple Drummers — Which Metal Drummers Use the DW Collector's Maple? > MetalForge's guide to professional metal drummers who play the DW Collector's Maple drum kit. > Last updated: 2026-06-25 The DW (Drum Workshop) Collector's Maple is DW's flagship production drum series and one of the most celebrated acoustic drum kits in the world. Built in Oxnard, California, the Collector's Maple uses 100% North American hard-rock maple shells with DW's proprietary True-Pitch tuning system and heavy-duty chrome hardware. Unlike most custom-order drum lines, the DW Collector's Maple is configurable in nearly limitless shell combinations — allowing professional drummers to specify exact shell sizes, depths, bearing edges, finishes, and hardware — making it a perennial favourite among touring artists who require bespoke sound without sacrificing production consistency. In metal, the kit's powerful projection, controlled sustain, and roadworthy construction have made it a standard at some of the world's most demanding live performances. --- ## Pro Metal Drummers Who Use the DW Collector's Maple ### Mike Portnoy — Dream Theater **Band & Era:** Dream Theater, 1994–2010 **Configuration:** DW Collector's Maple — 22"×18" Bass Drums ×2, 10"×7", 12"×8", 14"×12", 16"×14" Toms **Notes:** Mike Portnoy is one of the most decorated drummers in rock and metal history, and his long-running partnership with DW during his Dream Theater years helped define what a high-end progressive metal drum setup looks and sounds like. Portnoy's iconic DW Collector's Maple kit — nicknamed the "Siamese Monster" in reference to its twin-bass-drum centrepiece — was a landmark in drum aesthetics, featuring elaborate artwork commissioned for each major Dream Theater touring cycle. His setup during this era paired the DW kit with Sabian HHX Evolution cymbals: 14" Evolution Hi-Hats, 18" and 19" Evolution Crashes, a 21" Raw Bell Dry Ride, and Evolution Splashes. DW 5000 and later 9000 series hardware anchored the kit's double pedal and rack systems. Portnoy won over 30 awards from Modern Drummer magazine during this period, and the Collector's Maple's blend of studio-quality tone and live-venue projection was central to that recognition. He re-joined Dream Theater in 2023, continuing as one of progressive metal's most influential figures. See the full profile → [metalforge.io/drummers/mike-portnoy](https://metalforge.io/drummers/mike-portnoy) ### Matt Greiner — August Burns Red **Band & Era:** August Burns Red, 2010–present **Configuration:** DW Collector's Maple — 22"×18" Bass Drum, 10"×8", 12"×9", 14"×12", 16"×14" Toms **Notes:** Matt Greiner is the founding drummer of August Burns Red and one of the most technically accomplished metalcore drummers of his generation. A Grammy-nominated artist (Best Metal Performance for "Identity"), Greiner has refined his setup over twenty years of relentless touring and recording. His DW Collector's Maple pairs naturally with the Meinl Byzance cymbal array he has developed — 15" Dual Hi-Hats, 18" and 19" Dual Crashes, 21" Transition Ride, and Extra Dry China — creating a controlled, complex top-end that complements his layered double bass patterns. Greiner's technique combines blazing 32nd-note kick runs with intricate ghost note sequences on the snare, all of which demand a kit that responds consistently whether in a recording booth or a festival tent. DW 9000 Series hardware and his Greiner & Kilmer Custom signature snare complete the setup. His drumming on albums like "Constellations," "Leveler," and "Phantom Anthem" demonstrates the Collector's Maple's versatility across aggressive metalcore and more dynamically nuanced arrangements. See the full profile → [metalforge.io/drummers/matt-greiner](https://metalforge.io/drummers/matt-greiner) --- ## About the DW Collector's Maple The DW Collector's Maple is DW's primary professional production shell line, assembled in DW's Oxnard facility. For metal applications, its distinguishing characteristics include: - **Shell construction:** 100% North American hard-rock maple, 7-ply — high projection, balanced warmth, controlled sustain - **True-Pitch tuning:** Tension rods threaded through the entire hoop contact surface for micro-precise and stable tuning under heavy hitting - **Hoops:** 2.3mm flanged steel (tom) and DW's own heavy-duty cast hoops on snare — delivers powerful rimshots without warping - **Hardware:** DW's full USA-made hardware ecosystem (9000 series pedals, racks, thrones) - **Finish options:** Nearly unlimited lacquer, wrap, and exotic-veneer options; endorsed artists commonly order full custom artwork finishes - **Price range:** Approximately $4,000–$10,000+ (complete shell kit) depending on configuration and finish; custom artwork and hardware upgrades add significantly DW USA produces the Collector's Maple for professional endorsers and serious players worldwide, with lead times of several weeks for custom specifications. --- ## Frequently Asked Questions **Q: Which metal drummers use the DW Collector's Maple?** A: Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater, 1994–2010) is among the most celebrated DW Collector's Maple players in progressive and heavy metal. Matt Greiner of August Burns Red is a current DW-endorsed player who deploys the Collector's Maple in metalcore contexts. Both represent the breadth of heavy music sub-genres the DW Collector's Maple covers effectively. **Q: Why did Mike Portnoy use two bass drums with his DW Collector's Maple?** A: Double bass drumming is central to progressive metal technique, and Portnoy's use of two separate 22"×18" Collector's Maple bass drums — rather than a single bass drum with a double pedal — gave him complete independence between his feet. Each bass drum had its own dedicated beater, head, and resonance chamber, producing a rounder, more natural kick sound than a double pedal can achieve on a single drum. His twin-bass setup became an aesthetic and sonic signature of the Dream Theater live experience. **Q: Is the DW Collector's Maple good for metal drumming?** A: The DW Collector's Maple is widely regarded as one of the finest drums ever produced for metal. Its North American hard-rock maple shells offer the projection and attack needed to cut through dense, high-gain guitar arrangements at both studio and live volumes. The True-Pitch tuning system ensures the kit remains in tune under the heavy rimshots and double bass passages that characterise modern metal. Its primary drawback is cost — it is a flagship instrument with a price to match. --- [Full DW Collector's Maple drummers page → metalforge.io/gear/dw/collectors-maple/drummers-using](https://metalforge.io/gear/dw/collectors-maple/drummers-using) *Source: [MetalForge Gear Guides](https://metalforge.io/gear)*