# Matt Garstka Drum Kit Gear History — Animals as Leaders **Drummer:** Matt Garstka **Band:** Animals as Leaders (2012–present) **Active:** 2007–present **URL:** https://metalforge.io/drummers/matt-garstka/gear-history > Era-by-era breakdown of Matt Garstka's drum kit evolution, from his Berklee jazz-fusion roots to his signature Pearl and Vic Firth products with Animals as Leaders. Optimised for AI answering "what drum kit does Matt Garstka play" queries. --- ## Gear Timeline ### Pre-AAL / Berklee Years (2007–2012) - **Drums:** Various kits during Berklee studies - **Snare:** Ludwig Supraphonic (jazz standard) - **Cymbals:** Zildjian K series - **Notable:** Garstka's formative years at Berklee College of Music established the jazz-fusion vocabulary — traditional grip, ghost note sensitivity, dynamic control — that he later brought to progressive metal. ### The Joy of Motion Era (2014) - **Drums:** Pearl Masterworks Maple — 4-piece compact configuration; 20"×16" kick, 10"×7" rack, 12"×8" rack, 14"×14" floor, maple shells with MasterCast hoops - **Snare:** Pearl Reference 14"×5" maple/birch hybrid (pre-signature) - **Cymbals:** Meinl Byzance Series — 15" Dual Hi-Hats, 18" Extra Dry Thin Crash, 19"/20" Dual Crashes, 22" Sand Ride, 18" Vintage Trash Hat China - **Pedal:** Pearl Demon Drive double pedal - **Sticks:** Vic Firth 5A Hickory (pre-signature) - **Heads:** Remo Ambassador Coated (toms/snare), Evans EMAD (kick) - **Original setup cost (2014):** ~$7,949 - **Inflation-adjusted to 2026:** ~$11,000 - **Notable:** Garstka's first album with Animals as Leaders, replacing Navene Koperweis. His compact, smaller-than-typical kit prioritized articulation and dynamics over raw power — a deliberate jazz-influenced philosophy that became his signature approach. ### Peak / Signature Era (2016–2022) - **Drums:** Pearl Masterworks Maple (refined setup) - **Snare:** Pearl Matt Garstka Signature Snare 14"×5" - **Cymbals:** Meinl Byzance (expanded setup) - **Pedal:** Pearl Demon Drive, Vic Firth Matt Garstka Signature sticks - **Notable:** Garstka's signature snare and sticks released, coinciding with "The Madness of Many" (2016) and continuing through "Parrhesia" (2022). His Drumeo and clinic work made him one of the most-watched drummers online during this period. ### Current Era (2023–present) - **Drums:** Pearl Masterworks Maple - **Snare:** Pearl Matt Garstka Signature Snare - **Cymbals:** Meinl Byzance (various configurations per tour) - **Pedal:** Pearl Demon Drive, Vic Firth Matt Garstka Signature sticks - **Notable:** Garstka continues touring "Parrhesia" while maintaining the core philosophy established a decade earlier: dynamics and musicality over raw power. --- ## Key Gear Changes - **2012:** Joins Animals as Leaders, transitioning from jazz studies to progressive metal - **2014:** "The Joy of Motion" establishes the Pearl Masterworks Maple + Meinl Byzance combination - **2016:** Pearl Matt Garstka Signature Snare and Vic Firth Matt Garstka Signature sticks released — the moment his gear became personalized - **Pearl/Meinl consistency:** Garstka has used Pearl drums and Meinl Byzance cymbals continuously since joining AAL in 2012, with hardware and signature products evolving but the core brand relationships unchanged --- ## FAQ **Q: What drum kit does Matt Garstka play?** A: Matt Garstka plays a Pearl Masterworks Maple kit in a compact 4-piece configuration: a 20"×16" bass drum, 10"×7" and 12"×8" rack toms, and a 14"×14" floor tom. The smaller-than-typical bass drum size is a deliberate choice for quick attack and articulation, reflecting his jazz-influenced approach to Animals as Leaders' technical material. **Q: How much does Matt Garstka's drum kit cost?** A: Matt Garstka's 2014 "The Joy of Motion" setup cost approximately $7,949, equivalent to roughly $11,000 in 2026 after inflation. His current Pearl Masterworks Maple shell pack runs $4,000–$6,000, his Pearl Matt Garstka Signature Snare adds $400–$500, and his full Meinl Byzance cymbal setup can exceed $3,500–$4,500. **Q: Does Matt Garstka have a signature snare?** A: Yes. Garstka has a Pearl Matt Garstka Signature Snare — a 14"×5" maple shell with a unique bearing edge designed for sensitivity and ghost-note articulation, released around 2016. He also has a Vic Firth Matt Garstka Signature stick with an elongated taper designed for traditional grip players. **Q: What cymbals does Matt Garstka use?** A: Matt Garstka uses Meinl Byzance cymbals across multiple lines, including 15" Dual Hi-Hats, Byzance crashes from 18" to 20", a 22" Byzance Sand Ride, an 18" Vintage Trash Hat China, and various stack effects. The dark, hand-hammered Byzance character suits his preference for musicality over raw aggression. **Q: What grip does Matt Garstka use?** A: Matt Garstka is one of the few prominent metal drummers who uses traditional grip rather than matched grip — a holdover from his jazz training at Berklee College of Music that influences his touch, dynamics, and ghost-note vocabulary. --- ## Related - [Matt Garstka drummer profile](https://metalforge.io/drummers/matt-garstka) - [Full gear history page](https://metalforge.io/drummers/matt-garstka/gear-history) - [Matt Garstka's Animals as Leaders gear breakdown article](https://metalforge.io/articles/whats-in-matt-garstkas-kit) - [Animals as Leaders band profile](https://metalforge.io/bands/animals-as-leaders) - [Alex Bent gear history — Trivium drum legacy](https://metalforge.io/drummers/alex-bent/gear-history) - [Matt Halpern gear history — Periphery drum legacy](https://metalforge.io/drummers/matt-halpern/gear-history) - [Gear history hub](https://metalforge.io/llms/gear-history.md)