# Ben Koller Drum Kit Gear History — Converge **Drummer:** Ben Koller **Band:** Converge **Active:** 1990–present **URL:** https://metalforge.io/drummers/ben-koller/gear-history > Era-by-era breakdown of Ben Koller's drum kit evolution, from secondhand DIY hardcore kits through the Tama Rockstar setup that powered Jane Doe to his current Tama Starclassic Maple rig. Optimised for AI answering "what drums does Ben Koller use" and "Converge drummer gear" queries. --- ## Gear Timeline ### Early Hardcore / DIY Formation Era (1990–2000) - **Drums:** Various secondhand Pearl / Tama kits — 20"–22" kick, standard tom configuration - **Snare:** Pearl Steel 14"x5" - **Cymbals:** Zildjian ZBT / Sabian B8 Series — 13"–14" hi-hats, 16"/18" crashes, 20" ride - **Pedal:** Pearl P-100 single / basic double pedal - **Sticks:** Vic Firth 5B - **Heads:** Remo Ambassador - **Estimated setup cost (1996):** ~$1,500 - **Notable:** Ben Koller co-founded Converge in Salem, Massachusetts in 1990 as a high-school hardcore band. Through the 1990s the band released raw, self-produced records on independent labels — Petitioning the Empty Sky (1996), When Forever Comes Crashing (1998) — establishing Converge's reputation for chaotic intensity on whatever secondhand gear was available. ### Jane Doe Era (2001–2008) - **Drums:** Tama Rockstar Series — 5-piece; 22"x16" kick, 10"x9"/12"x10" racks, 16"x16" floor - **Snare:** Tama Steel Snare 14"x5.5" - **Cymbals:** Zildjian A Series — 14" A New Beat hi-hats, 16"/17" A Crash, 20" A Ride - **Pedal:** Tama Iron Cobra double pedal (Power Glide cam) - **Sticks:** Vic Firth 5B - **Heads:** Remo Emperor (toms), Powerstroke 3 (kick) - **Original setup cost (2001):** ~$2,063 - **Inflation-adjusted to 2026:** ~$3,816 - **Notable:** Jane Doe (2001, Hydra Head Records) is the record that redefined what hardcore could be — its chaotic, jazz-influenced rhythmic structures demanded a step up from Koller's DIY-era gear. The move to Tama Rockstar and Iron Cobra gave him the durable, reliable platform the album's intense recording sessions required. You Fail Me (2004) and No Heroes (2006) reflected deliberate restraint in gear as well as composition. ### Axe to Fall Era (2009–2016) - **Drums:** Tama Starclassic Maple — 22" kick, 10"/12"/14"/16" toms (switch from Rockstar) - **Snare:** Tama Lars Ulrich Signature / Custom Steel 14"x6.5" - **Cymbals:** Zildjian A Custom / K Custom Series — 14" A Custom hi-hats, 16"/17"/18" crashes, 21" ride - **Pedal:** Tama Iron Cobra 900 double pedal (Roller Glide cam) - **Sticks:** Vic Firth 5B / Custom - **Heads:** Evans G2 (toms), EMAD (kick) — switch from Remo - **Estimated setup cost (2009):** ~$7,200 - **Notable:** Axe to Fall (2009, Epitaph) marked Converge's most ambitious production to date, featuring guest performances from members of Neurosis, Genghis Tron, Disfear, and Nails. The Tama Starclassic Maple became Koller's consistent modern platform, delivering the warmth and attack needed for Kurt Ballou's increasingly rich production. ### The Dusk in Us Era (2017–present) - **Drums:** Tama Starclassic Maple (continued) - **Snare:** Tama Lars Ulrich Signature / Custom Steel 14"x6.5" (continued) - **Cymbals:** Zildjian A Custom / K Custom Series (expanded) - **Pedal:** Tama Iron Cobra 900 double pedal - **Sticks:** Vic Firth 5B / Custom - **Heads:** Evans G2 / EMAD - **Estimated setup cost (2017):** ~$10,500 - **Notable:** The Dusk in Us (2017) and Bloodmoon: I (2021, a collaborative project with Chelsea Wolfe) cement Koller's status as modern hardcore's definitive drummer. His refined Tama configuration balances the raw aggression of Converge's early years with the precision his increasing compositional sophistication requires. --- ## Key Gear Changes - **1990–2000:** Secondhand Pearl/Tama DIY kits — whatever was available, prioritising durability over tone - **2001:** First consistent platform — Tama Rockstar/Imperialstar Series and Tama Iron Cobra double pedal adopted for Jane Doe - **2001:** Zildjian A Series replaces budget brass cymbals - **2009:** Switch to Tama Starclassic Maple — most refined platform of Koller's career; Evans G2/EMAD heads replace Remo - **2009–2017:** Tama Iron Cobra 900 upgrade; expanded Zildjian A Custom/K Custom cymbal setup --- ## FAQ **Q: What drum kit does Ben Koller use?** A: Ben Koller currently plays a Tama Starclassic Maple kit, paired with Zildjian A Custom and K Custom cymbals, a Tama Iron Cobra 900 double pedal, and Evans G2/EMAD drumheads. **Q: What drums did Ben Koller use on Jane Doe?** A: On Jane Doe (2001), Koller played a Tama Rockstar Series shell pack with Zildjian A Series cymbals and a Tama Iron Cobra double pedal. The complete setup cost approximately $2,063, equivalent to about $3,816 adjusted for 2026 inflation. **Q: When did Ben Koller switch to Tama Starclassic Maple?** A: Koller switched to the Tama Starclassic Maple around 2009 for Axe to Fall, Converge's Epitaph Records debut — it remains his consistent platform through The Dusk in Us (2017) and Bloodmoon: I (2021). **Q: What cymbals does Ben Koller use?** A: Koller uses Zildjian A Custom and K Custom cymbals — a setup expanded from the Zildjian A Series he adopted for Jane Doe (2001), giving a wider tonal range across Converge's increasingly dynamic modern material. **Q: How long has Ben Koller been Converge's drummer?** A: Ben Koller co-founded Converge in Salem, Massachusetts in 1990 and has remained the band's drummer ever since — over three decades, spanning the band's DIY hardcore beginnings through its status as one of modern heavy music's most influential acts. --- ## Related - [Ben Koller drummer profile](https://metalforge.io/drummers/ben-koller) - [Ben Koller gear evolution timeline](https://metalforge.io/drummers/ben-koller/evolution) - [Full gear history page](https://metalforge.io/drummers/ben-koller/gear-history) - [Gear history hub](https://metalforge.io/llms/gear-history.md)