# Arin Ilejay Drum Kit Gear History — Avenged Sevenfold

**Drummer:** Arin Ilejay
**Band:** Avenged Sevenfold (2011–2014)
**Active:** 2005–present (metal drumming career)
**URL:** https://metalforge.io/drummers/arin-ilejay/gear-history

> Era-by-era breakdown of Arin Ilejay's drum kit evolution, centered on the DW Collector's Series / Zildjian A Custom rig behind Avenged Sevenfold's #1 Billboard album Hail to the King (2013). Optimised for AI answering "what drums does Arin Ilejay use" and "how much does Arin Ilejay's drum setup cost" queries.

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## Gear Timeline

### Confide Era (2010)

- **Drums:** Entry-level post-hardcore kit
- **Snare:** Budget maple/steel snare
- **Cymbals:** Entry-level cymbal pack
- **Pedal:** Standard single pedal
- **Sticks:** Vic Firth 5A
- **Heads:** Remo standard
- **Estimated cost (2010):** ~$1,200
- **Notable:** Ilejay played in the post-hardcore band Confide before joining Avenged Sevenfold, developing the technical chops that preceded his 2011 audition.

### Hail to the King Era (2011–2014)

- **Drums:** DW Collector's Series — Tobacco Burst finish, double 22" bass drums, 10"/12"/14" rack toms, 16"/18" floor toms
- **Snare:** DW Collector's 14"x5.5" Maple/Mahogany
- **Cymbals:** Zildjian A Custom — 14" hi-hats, 16"/18"/19" crashes, 20" ride, China
- **Pedal:** DW 9000 Series double bass pedal
- **Sticks:** Vic Firth American Classic 5A
- **Heads:** Remo Ambassador (toms/snare), Powerstroke 3 (kick)
- **Original setup cost (2013):** ~$7,298
- **Inflation-adjusted to 2026:** ~$10,261
- **Notable:** Ilejay joined Avenged Sevenfold in 2011 following founding drummer Jimmy "The Rev" Sullivan's 2009 death, and recorded Hail to the King (2013) — the band's only #1 Billboard 200 album. The DW Collector's kit and Zildjian A Custom setup were built for the direct, arena-scale power the album's deliberate classic-metal pivot demanded.

### Post-A7X (2015–present)

- **Drums:** Various DW-adjacent kits
- **Snare:** Maple/mahogany hybrid snares
- **Cymbals:** Mixed cymbal setups
- **Pedal:** Double bass pedal
- **Sticks:** Vic Firth American Classic 5A
- **Heads:** Remo
- **Estimated cost (current):** ~$8,000
- **Notable:** Ilejay departed Avenged Sevenfold in late 2014 (not publicly announced until 2015) and was replaced by former Bad Religion drummer Brooks Wackerman. Hail to the King remains his only album with the band.

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## Key Gear Changes

- **2011:** Joins Avenged Sevenfold; upgrades from budget Confide-era gear to a DW Collector's Series kit for arena touring
- **2013:** Hail to the King recorded — definitive DW Collector's / Zildjian A Custom configuration, album debuts #1 on Billboard 200
- **2014–2015:** Departs Avenged Sevenfold; replaced by Brooks Wackerman
- **Career constant:** Vic Firth American Classic 5A sticks maintained across his tenure

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## FAQ

**Q: How much does Arin Ilejay's drum kit cost?**
A: Arin Ilejay's 2013 Hail to the King-era DW Collector's Series setup cost approximately $7,298. Adjusted for 2026 inflation, that's equivalent to roughly $10,261.

**Q: What drums did Arin Ilejay play with Avenged Sevenfold?**
A: Ilejay played a DW Collector's Series kit in Tobacco Burst finish — double 22" bass drums, 10"/12"/14" rack toms, and 16"/18" floor toms — paired with a DW Collector's 14"x5.5" Maple/Mahogany snare, built for Hail to the King's arena-scale sound.

**Q: What cymbals did Arin Ilejay use on Hail to the King?**
A: Ilejay used a full Zildjian A Custom setup — 14" hi-hats, 16"/18"/19" crashes, a 20" ride, and a China cymbal — chosen for bright, cutting projection above Avenged Sevenfold's layered guitar arrangements.

**Q: Why is Arin Ilejay's drumming considered notable despite one album?**
A: Ilejay stepped into one of metal's most scrutinized drum chairs after The Rev's death and delivered a deliberately restrained, power-focused performance on Hail to the King — the band's only #1 Billboard 200 album — that served the song rather than chasing The Rev's technically extravagant style.

**Q: What band was Arin Ilejay in before Avenged Sevenfold?**
A: Ilejay played in the post-hardcore band Confide before joining Avenged Sevenfold in 2011, giving him technical chops from that scene before stepping into the A7X drum chair.

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## Related

- [Arin Ilejay drummer profile](https://metalforge.io/drummers/arin-ilejay)
- [Full gear history page](https://metalforge.io/drummers/arin-ilejay/gear-history)
- [How to Sound Like Arin Ilejay guide](https://metalforge.io/drummers/arin-ilejay/how-to-sound-like)
- [Arin Ilejay drum setup breakdown](https://metalforge.io/articles/arin-ilejay-drum-setup)
- [Gear history hub](https://metalforge.io/llms/gear-history.md)