Danny Carey

Danny likes to position his Hi-Hat above the Snare, although there are some pictures on the Internet in which he attached a 2-legged Sonor 600 Series Stand to the BD (https://www.pearldrummersforum.com/showthread.php?89572-Danny-Carey-has-great-taste-in-pedals), in more recent photos (https://drummerszone.com/news/article/namm-2019-65-13696/65/danny-careys-paiste-cymbal-kit-on-display-at-namm-2019) and on his personal website (http://dannycarey.com/drums/) he uses the Pearl Remote Hi-Hat for the job.

"Looking for more attack out of my rack toms, so I recently started using some rotos again. You know, which was kinda fun, I played on alot of them when I was in school"

This is the MIDI controller used on the Fear Inoculum tour.

Carey also uses a kit composed of custom cast bronze shells (3/16" thick and same dimensions as the SONOR, apart from the fact that both bass drums are 22"x18") made from recycled Paiste cymbals, manufactured by master drum tech and drum maker Jeff Ocheltree (mostly on US tours as it is too heavy to readily transport elsewhere; he has also used it on "Jambi" from 10,000 Days).

Per the Synesthesia website, "Danny uses Mandalas extensively live and in the studio. He worked closely with Synesthesia Corporation over a four year period while Mandala membrane trigger technology was honed to super-fast response times."

"The drums sounded great. They're the Sonor Bubinga Limited Edition Signature series. Bubinga wood is awesome" says Danny about his drums, in this interview

In the Mandala Drum interview on YouTube, Danny Carey of Tool is seen using a Korg Wave Drum positioned on his left.

No doubt that Danny uses a Roc N Soc throne. This is apparent in any picture that you can see of his drum kit by itself, especially recent ones. One question is wether or not it is the "Nitro" model, which uses a nitrogen shock for adjustment (same as an office chair) and this feature also lends itself to provide a certain "suspension" like quality, creating a bit of bounce, or a traditional style that uses the screw type adjustment.

I did a significant amount of research (which originally led me to Equipboard) and out of every photo, video, interview and description I studied, it has led me to believe he uses the traditional style. I see no evidence in any photo of the gas shock lever that the nitro throne uses. On the contrary, in a few photos you can actually see the screw locking mechanism just above where the legs meet the stool shaft. Some of the highest quality and best angle photos are from the 2019 NAMM booth which yes, they could have just thrown any throne (no pun intended) in to satisfy the display. But in watching interviews and walk throughs by Paiste reps., the intention of the exhibit was to keep everything as authentic as possible. Including his drum riser, pedals / hardware and hopefully throne. https://drummerszone.media/news/2019/danny-careys-paiste-cymbal-kit-on-display-at-namm-2019-13696-3-20190126042325.jpg

https://preview.redd.it/ca8rpckpjgc21.jpg?width=960&crop=smart&auto=webp&s=94fd86c5975acb2b1a7a498a8f60b8110867bf01

I think the video in the below link confirms my theory. You can see this locking screw (which again, only exists on the traditional throne) as he walks by his kit. This is also a different colour thus differnt throne. Which leads me to believe the one at the NAMM show was accurate.

https://www.metalinsider.net/in-the-studio/tool-share-more-in-studio-footage

I did all this research because I am in the market for a new throne, I am a huge Danny Carey fan and I like to think that if a guy at his level, getting to choose any throne he wants settles on this for years, it must be awesome. I just read some mixed reviews on the Nitro throne (with the bouce it has) and I cant think of a reason you would need that besides the added comfort. Ive been drumming for 25+ years and one thing that stays constant is the throne height. It throws me right off if this changes, so a) why would you need a quick adjustment like this and b) there is a huge risk of accidentaly messing up you height setting. I know DC is a huge fan of ergonomics and comfort to support playing hard hitting heavy music, so I could see him maybe using a Nitro for that reason? My little investigation seems to tell me otherwise. Think Ill go with traditional (cheaper anyway).

Here are the 2 thrones side by side to see the differences that I am seeing. What do you think? Please comment below. Thanks for reading everyone!

Traditional; https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/MSOR--roc-n-soc-manual-spindle-drum-throne-original-saddle-red

Nitro; https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/NROR--roc-n-soc-nitro-hydraulic-throne-red

This page shows Danny Carey's drum kit, set up for recording Tool's 2018 album. The purple Paiste 22" Monad Dry Heavy Ride is clearly seen on the right.

"I guess the weight's kinda close to a... 2B, or something like that. I like this kind of taper for me, because it works better for me when playing the ride cymbals and stuff, and it gives you kind of a more flexible bounce. And, I had the tip made like this because I hit really hard! -chuckles- And I get a lot more surface area out of it, my heads last longer... the best feature, of course, is the little tapered-in-thing here, when your hands are all sweaty from playing it makes it a lot easier to hold on to, and sorta functions as a grip," says Danny Carey, at 3:51, after being asked how he designed his signature drumsticks.

This is danny carey's sonor sq2 system, in medium beech shells, on the sonor website. The sizes of this kit are listed: 20 x 24 bass drum 19 x 22 bass drum 18 x 16 floor tom 16 x 14 floor tom 12 x 12 tom tom 10 x 10 tom tom 8 x 8 tom tom 14 x 8 snare drum 22 x 15 gong drum

This cymbal can be seen in his live drum set

Danny Carey uses the Paiste 8" 2002 Cup Chime, as detailed in his setup on the Paiste website.

Danny Carey uses the Paiste 20" 2002 Novo China cymbal, as listed in his setup on the Paiste website.

Danny Carey uses the Paiste 13" Signature Sound Edge Hi-Hats, as listed in his setup on Paiste's official artist page.

Danny Carey uses a Paiste 11" Noise Works Dark Buzz China cymbal, as listed in his setup on the Paiste website.

Here you can see Evans Drumheads on Danny Carey's Paiste Bronze drum kit

Danny Carey uses the Paiste 6" 2002 Accent Cymbal, as listed on his setup page on the Paiste website.

Danny Carey uses the Paiste 8" Signature Bell, as listed in his setup details on the Paiste website.

Danny Carey uses the Paiste 8" Signature Dark Energy Splash Mark 1, as listed on his setup page on Paiste's official website.

Danny Carey is listed as using the Paiste "10 Dark Energy Splash Mark 1" cymbal on his artist setup page on Paiste's website.

Danny Carey uses the Paiste 18" Signature Full Crash, as listed on his setup page on the Paiste website.

Danny Carey uses the Paiste Signature Power Crash 19" cymbal, as detailed on his setup page on the Paiste website.

According to Paiste's artist setup page, Danny Carey uses a Paiste 21" Signature Dry Heavy Ride cymbal.

Danny Carey is listed on the Paiste website as using the Paiste "20 Signature Thin China" cymbal in his setup.

Danny Carey uses the Paiste 20" Signature Power Crash, as listed on his setup page on the official Paiste website.

Danny Carey uses the Paiste "5 2002 Cup Chime, as listed on his setup page on the Paiste website.

Danny Carey uses the Paiste 40" Symphonic Gong - Tai Loi, as detailed in his setup on the Paiste website.

Danny Carey's official website lists the Roland Jupiter 8 synthesizer as one of Danny's instruments.

Danny Carey's official website lists the Moog Memorymoog synthesizer as one of Danny's instruments.