DrumFaster

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Matt Garstka

Documented by Drum Faster

Animals As Leaders' drummer since 2012, and the man who dragged gospel-chops vocabulary into progressive metal. Linear phrasing, constant ghost notes and a hi-hat foot used as a third hand — over a DW Collector's kit and a hand-picked Meinl setup.

Read our full Matt Garstka feature →

2022 — Parrhesia — the DW rig

The switch from Tama to DW, with a custom Collector's Series kit and his hand-selected Meinl setup including his own signature models. The Iron Cobra hi-hat stand staying on a DW rig tells you how particular he is about the hat.

Bass drum — DW Collector's Series custom kit Bass drum — DW Collector's Series custom kit Floor tom — DW Collector's Series custom kit Rack tom — DW Collector's Series custom kit Rack tom — DW Collector's Series custom kit Snare — DW snare Hi-hats — Meinl Equilibrium Hi-hats Crash — Meinl Byzance Vintage Trash Crash Crash — Meinl Byzance Extra Dry cymbals
The 2022 kit at a glance. Tap a piece to find it below; sticks, pedals and hardware aren't drawn.
DW Collector's Series custom kit single kick, moderate sizes — this is not a double-kick monster ⤷ who plays this
DW snare ⤷ who plays this
Meinl Equilibrium Hi-hats papery, with a crisp tip attack ⤷ who plays this
Meinl Byzance Vintage Trash Crash ⤷ who plays this
Meinl Byzance Extra Dry cymbals hand-selected, including his signature models ⤷ who plays this
DW 9000 pedal ⤷ who plays this
DW 9000 series hardware ⤷ who plays this
Tama Iron Cobra hi-hat stand the one piece of Tama that stayed ⤷ who plays this
Vic Firth sticks ⤷ who plays this
Yamaha DTX silicone pads chosen for feel ⤷ who plays this
Roland KT-10 kick trigger ⤷ who plays this

2016 — The Madness of Many

Peak-transcription-era Garstka. A moderate-sized kit rather than a metal monster, and cymbals chosen for how they behave under linear playing: dry, papery and short, because a big washy hat would bury the ghost notes.

Bass drum — Tama kit Floor tom — Tama kit Rack tom — Tama kit Rack tom — Tama kit Snare — 14"x6" snare 14"Hi-hats — Meinl Byzance Extra Dry Hi-hats Crash — Meinl Byzance Vintage Trash Crash Ride — Meinl Byzance Extra Dry Ride
The 2016 kit at a glance. Tap a piece to find it below; sticks, pedals and hardware aren't drawn.
Tama kit single kick, moderate sizes — he moved to DW later ⤷ who plays this
14"x6" snare tuned for ghost-note response ⤷ who plays this
Meinl Byzance Extra Dry Hi-hats short, defined chick, no wash ⤷ who plays this
Meinl Byzance Vintage Trash Crash the accent sound of the genre ⤷ who plays this
Meinl Byzance Extra Dry Ride ⤷ who plays this
Vic Firth sticks ⤷ who plays this

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