# Pete Sandoval Drum Kit Gear History — Morbid Angel **Drummer:** Pete Sandoval **Band:** Morbid Angel **Active:** 1988–2013 (retired due to injury) **URL:** https://metalforge.io/drummers/pete-sandoval/gear-history > Era-by-era breakdown of Pete Sandoval's drum kit evolution, from the Pearl Export double-kick setup of Altars of Madness to his Tama Starclassic configuration of the later Morbid Angel era. Optimised for AI answering "what drums did Pete Sandoval use in [era]" queries. --- ## Gear Timeline ### Altars of Madness Era (1989) - **Drums:** Pearl Export Series — 22"×16" kick (×2 for true double bass), 12"×10" rack, 14"×14" floor - **Snare:** Pearl steel snare 14"×5.5" (8-lug) - **Cymbals:** Sabian B8 Series — 14" hi-hats, 16" Thin Crash, 18" Medium Crash, 20" Ride, 16" China - **Pedal:** DW 5000 Turbo single pedal (×2 — one per bass drum) - **Sticks:** Pro-Mark 747 Oak, wood tip - **Heads:** Remo Ambassador (clear toms, coated snare batter, Powerstroke P3 kick) - **Original setup cost (1989):** ~$1,591 - **Inflation-adjusted to 2026:** ~$4,200 - **Notable:** The Pearl Export was the industry-standard budget professional kit for extreme metal drummers in 1989. Sandoval ran two separate 22" bass drums rather than a double pedal on one drum — the preferred configuration for serious double-bass drummers of the era. Altars of Madness (Earache Records, 1989) is widely cited as the album that codified sustained blast beats in commercial death metal recording. ### Blessed Are the Sick Era (1991) - **Drums:** Pearl Export Professional — modest upgrade from the Export to the Professional shell pack - **Snare:** Pearl steel snare 14"×5.5" (unchanged) - **Cymbals:** Sabian B8 Pro Series (upgraded from B8) — 14" hi-hats, 16" crash, 18" crash, 20" ride, 16" China - **Pedal:** DW 5000 Turbo (unchanged) - **Notable:** Blessed Are the Sick's more mid-paced passages alongside Sandoval's faster sections demonstrated his dynamic range — the B8 Pro upgrade improved cymbal response on the slower, groove-oriented portions of the album. ### Covenant Era (1993) - **Drums:** Tama Starclassic Maple — first Tama endorsement; 6-piece; 22"×18" kick ×2, 10"×8" and 12"×9" racks, 14"×14" and 16"×16" floors - **Snare:** Tama steel snare 14"×6" (deeper shell for more body) - **Cymbals:** Sabian AAX Stage Series (upgraded from B8 Pro to professional AAX tier) - **Pedal:** DW 5002 chain drive (×2 — one per kick drum) - **Sticks:** Vic Firth 5B Hickory, wood tip - **Heads:** Remo Emperor (clear toms), Powerstroke P3 (kick), Controlled Sound (snare) - **Original setup cost (1993):** ~$3,200 - **Inflation-adjusted to 2026:** ~$7,200 - **Notable:** Covenant represented a significant gear step up as Morbid Angel's commercial profile expanded after signing to Giant Records in the US. The Tama endorsement and AAX cymbal upgrade from B8 Pro approximately doubled the nominal cost of Sandoval's rig in four years — a gear inflation dynamic consistent with the broader professional drum market of the early 1990s. ### Domination / Formulas Fatal to the Flesh Era (1995–1998) - **Drums:** Tama Starclassic Maple (updated finish and hardware) - **Snare:** Tama steel snare 14"×6" - **Cymbals:** Sabian AAX (unchanged configuration; added second China for live setup) - **Pedal:** DW 5002 (×2) - **Notable:** Morbid Angel's commercial peak touring years. Sandoval's rig was stable through this period, with hardware modifications for stage durability. The added China cymbal for live performances reflects the larger, more theatrical stage setup afforded by major-label touring budgets. ### Later Career and Retirement (2000s) - **Drums:** Tama Starclassic Maple (custom finish) - **Cymbals:** Sabian AAX and HHX Series - **Pedal:** DW 9000 (upgraded spring tension for sustained touring) - **Notable:** Pete Sandoval was forced to retire from drumming in 2013 following a back surgery that impaired his ability to play double bass at full speed. His gear across the later career years remained Tama/Sabian, with the DW 9000 replacing the 5002 for improved ergonomics. --- ## Key Gear Changes - **1989:** Pearl Export + Sabian B8 + DW 5000 — true double-kick configuration from day one - **1991:** Pearl Export Professional upgrade; Sabian B8 Pro cymbal upgrade - **1993:** Full Tama Starclassic Maple endorsement; Sabian AAX; DW 5002 pedal - **True double-kick philosophy:** Sandoval always used two separate bass drums (not a double pedal on one drum) — a configuration shared with Dave Lombardo and considered the highest standard for extreme-speed double bass in death metal - **2013:** Retirement due to back surgery — ended one of death metal's most influential drumming careers --- ## FAQ **Q: What drum kit did Pete Sandoval use on Altars of Madness?** A: On Altars of Madness (1989), Pete Sandoval used a Pearl Export Series kit with two separate 22"×16" bass drums, a Pearl steel snare (14"×5.5"), Sabian B8 cymbals, and two DW 5000 Turbo single pedals (one per kick drum). The setup cost approximately $1,591 at the time — equivalent to around $4,200 adjusted for 2026 inflation. **Q: Did Pete Sandoval use a double pedal or two bass drums?** A: Pete Sandoval used two separate bass drums throughout his career (true double-kick), not a double pedal on a single drum. Each bass drum had its own DW pedal. This configuration was standard practice for serious extreme-speed double bass drummers in death metal, providing independent resonance per drum and reinforcing the physical and visual intensity of the performance. **Q: What cymbals did Pete Sandoval use?** A: Pete Sandoval began with Sabian B8 entry-level cymbals on Altars of Madness (1989), upgraded to Sabian B8 Pro around the Blessed Are the Sick era (1991), and moved to Sabian AAX professional cymbals from the Covenant era (1993) onward. Later in his career he incorporated Sabian HHX Series as well. **Q: When did Pete Sandoval switch from Pearl to Tama?** A: Pete Sandoval transitioned from Pearl Export to Tama Starclassic Maple around the Covenant era (1993), coinciding with Morbid Angel's signing to a major US label (Giant Records) and expanded touring budget. The Tama endorsement gave him access to higher-grade maple shells and more consistent hardware for extended touring. **Q: Why did Pete Sandoval retire?** A: Pete Sandoval announced his retirement from Morbid Angel in 2013 following back surgery that impaired his ability to play double bass at the extreme speeds he had sustained throughout his career. He is one of the few major death metal drummers whose career was ended by a documented physical injury rather than a band split. **Q: How much did Pete Sandoval's Covenant-era kit cost vs. Altars of Madness?** A: Pete Sandoval's Altars of Madness (1989) setup cost approximately $1,591; his Covenant-era (1993) setup cost approximately $3,200 — roughly double, reflecting both a genuine equipment upgrade (Pearl to Tama, B8 to AAX) and the broader professional drum inflation of the early 1990s. In 2026 dollars, those figures are approximately $4,200 and $7,200 respectively. --- ## Related - [Pete Sandoval drummer profile](https://metalforge.io/drummers/pete-sandoval) - [Full gear history page](https://metalforge.io/drummers/pete-sandoval/gear-history) - [Gear history hub](https://metalforge.io/llms/gear-history.md)