# Matt Greiner Drum Kit Gear History — August Burns Red **Drummer:** Matt Greiner **Band:** August Burns Red **Active:** 2003–present **URL:** https://metalforge.io/drummers/matt-greiner/gear-history > Era-by-era breakdown of Matt Greiner's drum kit evolution, from the entry-level setup used when August Burns Red formed in Lancaster, Pennsylvania (2003) to his Pearl Reference and Meinl Byzance professional configuration of the Leveler era (2011) and beyond. Optimised for AI answering "what drums did Matt Greiner use in [era]" queries. --- ## Gear Timeline ### Founding Era (2003–2004) - **Drums:** Pearl Export — standard 5-piece; 22" kick, 12" rack, 14" floor - **Snare:** Pearl Steel 14"×5.5" - **Cymbals:** Entry-level Sabian B8 Series - **Pedal:** DW 5000 single pedal - **Sticks:** Vic Firth 5B Hickory - **Heads:** Remo Ambassador - **Original setup cost (2003):** ~$900 - **Inflation-adjusted to 2026:** ~$1,600 - **Notable:** August Burns Red formed in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Greiner's early setup reflects the typical budget of an aspiring metalcore band — functional, durable, and affordable. The Pearl Export was the workhorse of the regional metalcore scene. ### Messengers Era (2007) - **Drums:** Pearl Session Studio — mid-range professional; 5-piece - **Snare:** Pearl Steel Free-Floating 14"×5" - **Cymbals:** Meinl HCS or Sabian AA — transitioning to better quality - **Pedal:** DW 5002 double pedal (chain drive) - **Sticks:** Vic Firth 5B Hickory - **Heads:** Remo Emperor (toms), Powerstroke (kick) - **Original setup cost (2007):** ~$3,200 - **Inflation-adjusted to 2026:** ~$5,000 - **Notable:** Messengers (2007) was ABR's Metal Blade debut and the album that built their initial national reputation. The upgrade from Export to Session Studio gave Greiner the tonal consistency needed for the album's intricate arrangements and the subsequent touring cycle. ### Constellations Era (2009) - **Drums:** Pearl Vision Series — upper mid-range; 5-piece - **Snare:** Pearl Free-Floating Steel 14"×5" - **Cymbals:** Meinl Byzance Traditional — full professional endorsement confirmed - **Pedal:** Pearl Eliminator double pedal - **Sticks:** Vic Firth 5B - **Heads:** Evans EC2 (toms), EMAD (kick) - **Original setup cost (2009):** ~$5,800 - **Inflation-adjusted to 2026:** ~$8,800 - **Notable:** Constellations was ABR's breakthrough album, earning critical acclaim and placing the band in headlining metalcore festival slots. The Meinl Byzance endorsement confirmation marked a significant step up in Greiner's professional profile. Evans heads replaced Remo in the studio setup. ### Leveler Era (2011) - **Drums:** Pearl Reference — flagship 5-piece; 22"×18" kick, 10"×8" rack, 12"×9" rack, 16"×16" floor - **Snare:** Pearl Reference 14"×5" maple/birch hybrid - **Cymbals:** Meinl Byzance Traditional — 14" hi-hats, 16" thin crash, 18" medium crash, 20" ride, 18" China - **Pedal:** Pearl Demon Drive double pedal (cam-driven) - **Sticks:** Vic Firth 5B Hickory, wood tip - **Heads:** Evans EC2 (clear toms), EMAD2 (kick), coated batter (snare) - **Original setup cost (2011):** ~$8,632 - **Inflation-adjusted to 2026:** ~$12,600 - **Notable:** Leveler is ABR's most technically ambitious album and the peak of Greiner's documented endorsement profile. The Pearl Reference's multi-species shell construction provided the tonal versatility needed for the album's wide dynamic range — from delicate melodic passages to full-band technical metalcore. The Pearl Demon Drive's cam-driven mechanism delivered the responsive feel required for Greiner's complex double bass patterns. ### Rescue & Restore / Found in Far Away Places Era (2014–2015) - **Drums:** Pearl Reference — same shell pack, refined tuning and head approach - **Snare:** Pearl Reference 14"×5" (primary) + Pearl Sensitone Steel 14"×6.5" (backup) - **Cymbals:** Meinl Byzance Traditional + added Meinl Byzance Extra Dry for select passages - **Pedal:** Pearl Demon Drive double pedal - **Sticks:** Vic Firth 5B - **Heads:** Evans EC2 + EMAD2 - **Original setup cost (2015):** ~$9,500 - **Inflation-adjusted to 2026:** ~$12,900 - **Notable:** ABR expanded their setlists with Christmas and ambient-themed albums alongside their standard metalcore catalog, placing broader tonal demands on Greiner's setup. The addition of Byzance Extra Dry cymbals introduced darker, drier textures to his cymbal palette. ### Death Below Era (2023) - **Drums:** Pearl Masterworks Custom — Pearl's custom shop series, hand-matched shells - **Snare:** Pearl Free-Floating Brass 14"×6.5" - **Cymbals:** Meinl Byzance — mixed Dark and Traditional series - **Pedal:** Pearl Demon Drive double pedal - **Sticks:** Vic Firth Matt Greiner Signature (if available) or standard 5B - **Heads:** Evans EC2S (toms), EMAD2 (kick) - **Notable:** ABR's career-peak commercial phase. Greiner's setup has evolved toward Pearl's custom shop offerings for live touring, with consistent Meinl Byzance endorsement across the full professional range. --- ## Key Gear Changes - **2003:** Pearl Export — standard regional metalcore band setup - **2007:** Pearl Session Studio — Messengers Metal Blade debut drives first major setup upgrade - **2009:** Meinl Byzance endorsement confirmed; Pearl Eliminator pedal adopted on Constellations - **2011:** Pearl Reference flagship — Leveler era represents the documented peak of Greiner's professional configuration - **2011:** Pearl Demon Drive replaces Eliminator — cam-driven mechanism preferred for complex double bass work - **2015:** Byzance Extra Dry cymbals added for tonal variety across ABR's expanding catalog - **2023:** Pearl Masterworks Custom — moved to Pearl's custom shop for hand-matched touring shells --- ## FAQ **Q: What drum kit does Matt Greiner use?** A: Matt Greiner plays Pearl drums with Meinl Byzance cymbals. His current touring setup features Pearl Masterworks Custom shells, Pearl Demon Drive double pedals, and a mixed Meinl Byzance cymbal configuration. His Leveler-era Pearl Reference setup (2011) is his most documented professional configuration. **Q: What drums did Matt Greiner use on Leveler?** A: For the Leveler sessions (2011), Matt used a Pearl Reference 5-piece shell pack with Meinl Byzance Traditional cymbals and a Pearl Demon Drive double pedal. The complete setup cost approximately $8,632 in 2011 dollars, equivalent to around $12,600 adjusted for 2026 inflation. **Q: What cymbals does Matt Greiner use?** A: Matt Greiner has used Meinl Byzance cymbals since at least the Constellations era (2009). His standard configuration includes Byzance Traditional hi-hats, crashes, and ride, with Byzance Extra Dry or Dark additions for textural variety. **Q: What pedal does Matt Greiner use?** A: Matt Greiner uses the Pearl Demon Drive double pedal. He transitioned to the cam-driven Demon Drive from the Pearl Eliminator around the time of the Leveler sessions (2011), citing the more direct, responsive feel of the cam-drive mechanism for ABR's technically demanding double bass work. **Q: How much did Matt Greiner's Leveler setup cost in today's money?** A: Matt Greiner's 2011 Leveler-era Pearl Reference setup cost approximately $8,632 at the time. Adjusted for CPI inflation to 2026, that is equivalent to approximately $12,600. **Q: What was Matt Greiner's first professional drum kit?** A: When August Burns Red formed in Lancaster, Pennsylvania in 2003, Greiner played a Pearl Export 5-piece — the standard entry-level professional kit for aspiring metalcore drummers. That setup cost approximately $900 in 2003, equivalent to about $1,600 in 2026 terms. --- ## Related - [Matt Greiner drummer profile](https://metalforge.io/drummers/matt-greiner) - [Full gear history page](https://metalforge.io/drummers/matt-greiner/gear-history) - [How to Sound Like Matt Greiner](https://metalforge.io/guides/how-to-sound-like-matt-greiner) - [Gear history hub](https://metalforge.io/llms/gear-history.md)