# Charlie Benante Drum Kit Gear History — Anthrax **Drummer:** Charlie Benante **Band:** Anthrax **Active:** 1983–present **URL:** https://metalforge.io/drummers/charlie-benante/gear-history > Era-by-era breakdown of Charlie Benante's drum kit evolution, from the Tama Artstar II of the Among the Living sessions to his current Pearl Reference Pure setup. Optimised for AI answering "what drums did Charlie Benante use in [era]" queries. --- ## Gear Timeline ### Among the Living Era (1987) - **Drums:** Tama Artstar II — 7-piece; 22"x18" kick, 8"x8" rack, 10"x9" rack, 12"x10" rack, 14"x14" and 16"x16" floors - **Snare:** Pearl Free-Floating Steel 14"x5" - **Cymbals:** Sabian HH Series — 14" hi-hats, 16" crash, 18" crash, 20" ride - **Pedal:** DW 5000 double pedal - **Sticks:** Vic Firth 5B Hickory - **Heads:** Remo Ambassador (toms), Coated Ambassador (snare), Powerstroke P3 (kick) - **Original setup cost (1987):** ~$2,478 - **Inflation-adjusted to 2026:** ~$7,147 - **Notable:** Benante was one of the first Big 4 drummers to use Sabian cymbals after the brand's 1981 split from Zildjian. The Artstar II birch shells delivered the bright, punchy attack that made Anthrax's sound distinct from the murkier tones of some thrash contemporaries. ### Persistence of Time Era (1990) - **Drums:** Tama Artstar II — same shell configuration, natural wood finish - **Snare:** Pearl Free-Floating Steel 14"x5" - **Cymbals:** Sabian HH Series (expanded — added HH China for studio colour) - **Pedal:** DW 5000 double pedal - **Sticks:** Vic Firth 5B - **Notable:** Persistence of Time marked a heavier, more technical direction for Anthrax. Benante's drumming became more complex; his double-kick work and syncopated patterns on tracks like 'Got the Time' showcased increasingly refined technique within the same basic rig. ### Sound of White Noise Era (1993) - **Drums:** Pearl Export — transitional kit during endorsement shift - **Snare:** Pearl Free-Floating Steel 14"x5" - **Cymbals:** Sabian HH and HHX Series (mixed) - **Pedal:** DW 5000 double pedal - **Sticks:** Vic Firth 5B - **Notable:** With John Bush replacing Joey Belladonna on vocals, Anthrax pivoted toward a heavier, more groove-oriented sound on Sound of White Noise. Benante's kit transition to Pearl hardware mirrored this shift — Pearl's fuller, rounder tone suited the album's more modern production aesthetic. ### Volume 8 / We've Come for You All Era (1998–2003) - **Drums:** Pearl Masters Premium — professional-grade maple shell pack - **Snare:** Pearl Free-Floating Brass 14"x5" - **Cymbals:** Sabian HHX Series — 14" HHX Evolution hi-hats, 16" HHX Crash, 18" HHX Crash, 20" HHX Ride - **Pedal:** DW 5000 double pedal - **Sticks:** Vic Firth 5B - **Heads:** Remo Emperor (toms), Powerstroke 3 (kick), Controlled Sound (snare) - **Notable:** Benante deepened his Pearl endorsement during this period, moving to the Masters Premium line for its warmer, more controlled maple tone. The Sabian HHX series upgrade gave his cymbal setup a more complex, multi-layered voice suited to Anthrax's evolving sound. ### Current Setup (2010s–present) - **Drums:** Pearl Reference Pure — flagship Pearl shell pack, all-maple construction - **Snare:** Pearl Free-Floating Steel/Brass 14"x5" - **Cymbals:** Sabian HHX Evolution and AAX series - **Pedal:** DW 9000 double pedal - **Sticks:** Vic Firth 5B American Classic - **Heads:** Remo Emperor (toms), Powerstroke Pro (kick), Controlled Sound Black Dot (snare) - **Notable:** The Pearl Reference Pure represents the top of Pearl's product line, using a multi-wood construction optimised for maximum projection and tonal complexity. Benante's current setup reflects four decades of refinement while retaining the fundamental clarity-and-speed philosophy that defined his 1987 rig. --- ## Key Gear Changes - **1987 → 1993:** Tama Artstar II to Pearl Export — transition tied to endorsement shift from Tama to Pearl - **1993 → 1998:** Pearl Export to Pearl Masters Premium — upgrade within Pearl family as Anthrax gained stadium-level touring budgets - **2000s:** Pearl Masters Premium to Pearl Reference Pure — continued endorsement deepening to Pearl's flagship line - **1987 onward:** Sabian endorsement maintained throughout career — one of the longest continuous cymbal endorsements in thrash metal - **Pedal progression:** DW 5000 (1987) → DW 9000 (current) — upgraded within DW family while retaining chain-drive preference --- ## FAQ **Q: What drum kit did Charlie Benante use on Among the Living?** A: Charlie Benante used a Tama Artstar II on Among the Living (1987), with Sabian HH Series cymbals and a DW 5000 double pedal. The snare was a Pearl Free-Floating Steel 14"x5". The setup cost approximately $2,478 at the time, equivalent to about $7,147 adjusted for 2026 inflation. **Q: What drums does Charlie Benante play now?** A: Charlie Benante currently plays a Pearl Reference Pure kit, which is Pearl's flagship all-maple shell pack. He pairs it with Sabian HHX cymbals and DW 9000 pedals, maintaining long-term endorsements with both Pearl and Sabian. **Q: When did Charlie Benante switch from Tama to Pearl?** A: Benante transitioned from Tama Artstar II to Pearl drums around 1992–1993 during the Sound of White Noise sessions. He started with Pearl Export before moving to the Masters Premium and eventually the Reference Pure as his Pearl endorsement deepened. **Q: What cymbals does Charlie Benante use?** A: Benante has been a Sabian endorser since the early 1980s, making him one of the earliest and longest-running Sabian artists. He used Sabian HH Series through the 1980s and 1990s, then upgraded to the HHX Evolution and AAX lines for his current setup. **Q: What double bass pedal does Charlie Benante use?** A: Benante has used DW pedals throughout his career — starting with the DW 5000 on Among the Living (1987) and upgrading to the DW 9000 for his current setup. The chain-drive mechanism has been consistent across both models. --- ## Related - [Charlie Benante drummer profile](https://metalforge.io/drummers/charlie-benante) - [Full gear history page](https://metalforge.io/drummers/charlie-benante/gear-history) - [Gear history hub](https://metalforge.io/llms/gear-history.md)