Tony Allen

"The kit used was Tony’s Pearl Masters Premium Studio kit. This is Tony’s main kit that he has been using for years. It comes with a 22” kick drum, 12” and 13” rack toms and a 16” floor tom.

We used two snare drums, a Pearl Masters Premium (14” x 7”) and a Tony Allen custom snare (14” x 5”). The cymbals we user were an HHX stage 16” crash, an HHX 20” stage ride and some Zildjian New Beat 14” hi-hats. This all makes up Tony’s main recording kit."

Visible in this photo of Allen and specified on page 46 of Modern Drummer #395 (October 2009). Two other photos can be seen on page 45 and 46.

Tony Allen plays Pearl Masters Custom Extra drums (6 1/2 x14 wood snare, 12" and 14" rack toms, 16" floor tom, 22" bass drum), Zildjian cymbals (14" ZBT hi-hats, 17" A thin crash, 20" A medium ride), Pearl hardware, Remo Pinstripe batter heads, and Vic Firth or Zildjian sticks (“5B in my right hand and upside down, in my left hand—it gives a good touch," Tony says).

Used live, as specified in this May 1, 2015 contact rider by Sasa Music.

Drums: Drum PEARL Master Custom series

• 1 snare signature Denis Chember 14’’x6 (skin REMO Ambassador coated and new) - 1 Bass Drum 22’’ (skin Powerstroke 3 new)

• 1 Tom 12’’ (mounted on bass drum) (skin REMO Emperor coated or G2 Evans new)

• 1 Tom 14’’(mounted on bass drum) (skin REMO Emperor coated or G2 Evans new) - 1 Tom Bass 16’’ (skin REMO Emperor coated or G2 Evans new)

• 1 cymbal ZILDJIAN Avedis medium ride 20’’ + 1 cymbal ZILDJIAN Avedis thin crash 17’’ - 1 Hi-Hat ZILDJIAN Serie K 14’’

• 2 cymbals stands Boom ‘n’ boom

• 1 drum Kick PEARL P.201P

• 1 Snare stand PEARL S985W

• 1 Hi-Hat stand PEARL H985W

• 1 Drum throne PEARL D110S

• 1 black carpet 2mx 2m

• 2 pillows for drum+ towels

A typo ambiguates which snare is used. However, since this contact rider precedes the 2016 announcement of the 14 x 5" version, one can deduce the original 14 x 6.5". This is supported by the detail in Modern Drummer #395 (October 2009) that Allen's unspecified snare matches these dimensions.

Tony Allen plays Pearl Masters Custom Extra drums (6 1/2 x 14 wood snare, 12" and 14" rack toms, 16" floor tom, 22" bass drum), Zildjian cymbals (14" ZBT hi-hats, 17" A thin crash, 20" A medium ride), Pearl hardware, Remo Pinstripe batter heads, and Vic Firth or Zildjian sticks (“5B in my right hand and upside down, in my left hand—it gives a good touch," Tony says).

Specified on page 46 of Modern Drummer #395 (October 2009) and in this May 1, 2015 contact rider by Sasa Music.

Modern Drummer October 2009

Tony Allen plays Pearl Masters Custom Extra drums (6 1/2 x14 wood snare, 12" and 14" rack toms, 16" floor tom, 22" bass drum), Zildjian cymbals (14" ZBT hi-hats, 17" A thin crash, 20" A medium ride), Pearl hardware, Remo Pinstripe batter heads, and Vic Firth or Zildjian sticks (“5B in my right hand and upside down, in my left hand—it gives a good touch," Tony says).

May 1, 2015 Sasa Music Contact Rider

Drums: Drum PEARL Master Custom series

• 1 snare signature Denis Chember 14’’x6 (skin REMO Ambassador coated and new) - 1 Bass Drum 22’’ (skin Powerstroke 3 new)

• 1 Tom 12’’ (mounted on bass drum) (skin REMO Emperor coated or G2 Evans new)

• 1 Tom 14’’(mounted on bass drum) (skin REMO Emperor coated or G2 Evans new) - 1 Tom Bass 16’’ (skin REMO Emperor coated or G2 Evans new)

• 1 cymbal ZILDJIAN Avedis medium ride 20’’ + 1 cymbal ZILDJIAN Avedis thin crash 17’’ - 1 Hi-Hat ZILDJIAN Serie K 14’’

• 2 cymbals stands Boom ‘n’ boom

• 1 drum Kick PEARL P.201P

• 1 Snare stand PEARL S985W

• 1 Hi-Hat stand PEARL H985W

• 1 Drum throne PEARL D110S

• 1 black carpet 2mx 2m

• 2 pillows for drum+ towels

"The kit used was Tony’s Pearl Masters Premium Studio kit. This is Tony’s main kit that he has been using for years. It comes with a 22” kick drum, 12” and 13” rack toms and a 16” floor tom.

We used two snare drums, a Pearl Masters Premium (14” x 7”) and a Tony Allen custom snare (14” x 5”). The cymbals we user were an HHX stage 16” crash, an HHX 20” stage ride and some Zildjian New Beat 14” hi-hats. This all makes up Tony’s main recording kit."

"The kit used was Tony’s Pearl Masters Premium Studio kit. This is Tony’s main kit that he has been using for years. It comes with a 22” kick drum, 12” and 13” rack toms and a 16” floor tom.

We used two snare drums, a Pearl Masters Premium (14” x 7”) and a Tony Allen custom snare (14” x 5”). The cymbals we user were an HHX stage 16” crash, an HHX 20” stage ride and some Zildjian New Beat 14” hi-hats. This all makes up Tony’s main recording kit."

Visible in this photo of Allen and specified on page 46 of Modern Drummer #395 (October 2009).

Tony Allen plays Pearl Masters Custom Extra drums (6 1/2 x14 wood snare, 12" and 14" rack toms, 16" floor tom, 22" bass drum), Zildjian cymbals (14" ZBT hi-hats, 17" A thin crash, 20" A medium ride), Pearl hardware, Remo Pinstripe batter heads, and Vic Firth or Zildjian sticks (“5B in my right hand and upside down, in my left hand—it gives a good touch," Tony says).

Used on Chicago Afrobeat Project's What Goes Up, as stated in this November 1, 2017 Reverb.com interview with Fullerton Recording Studios owner Kevin Ford. A photo is given, which can be viewed here, as well as an embedded URL that specifies the V.

The live room at FRS usually has the Mapex Saturn kit set up with a Bison snare drum that most drummers drool over, either because they’re concentrating too hard while they play or they love the drum so much. I’ve used the kit on countless recordings. Tony Allen played this kit in the studio on What Goes Up and took it on tour with us. You can also see the “afrobeat machine” behind the drumkit — a hi-hat stand with a shekere mounted to it.

Used live, as specified in this May 1, 2015 contact rider by Sasa Music.

Drums: Drum PEARL Master Custom series

• 1 snare signature Denis Chember 14’’x6 (skin REMO Ambassador coated and new) - 1 Bass Drum 22’’ (skin Powerstroke 3 new)

• 1 Tom 12’’ (mounted on bass drum) (skin REMO Emperor coated or G2 Evans new)

• 1 Tom 14’’(mounted on bass drum) (skin REMO Emperor coated or G2 Evans new) - 1 Tom Bass 16’’ (skin REMO Emperor coated or G2 Evans new)

• 1 cymbal ZILDJIAN Avedis medium ride 20’’ + 1 cymbal ZILDJIAN Avedis thin crash 17’’ - 1 Hi-Hat ZILDJIAN Serie K 14’’

• 2 cymbals stands Boom ‘n’ boom

• 1 drum Kick PEARL P.201P

• 1 Snare stand PEARL S985W

• 1 Hi-Hat stand PEARL H985W

• 1 Drum throne PEARL D110S

• 1 black carpet 2mx 2m

• 2 pillows for drum+ towels

Used live, as specified in this May 1, 2015 contact rider by Sasa Music.

Drums: Drum PEARL Master Custom series

• 1 snare signature Denis Chember 14’’x6 (skin REMO Ambassador coated and new) - 1 Bass Drum 22’’ (skin Powerstroke 3 new)

• 1 Tom 12’’ (mounted on bass drum) (skin REMO Emperor coated or G2 Evans new)

• 1 Tom 14’’(mounted on bass drum) (skin REMO Emperor coated or G2 Evans new) - 1 Tom Bass 16’’ (skin REMO Emperor coated or G2 Evans new)

• 1 cymbal ZILDJIAN Avedis medium ride 20’’ + 1 cymbal ZILDJIAN Avedis thin crash 17’’ - 1 Hi-Hat ZILDJIAN Serie K 14’’

• 2 cymbals stands Boom ‘n’ boom

• 1 drum Kick PEARL P.201P

• 1 Snare stand PEARL S985W

• 1 Hi-Hat stand PEARL H985W

• 1 Drum throne PEARL D110S

• 1 black carpet 2mx 2m

• 2 pillows for drum+ towels

"Tony Allen first acquired a flamed-maple snare-drum prototype, 13 x 4 1/2 inches.

A few months later, he ordered a similar one, so he could keep one in the studio where he works on most of his projects in UK, and bring the second one on tour. This last one (on the picture), is made from a sycomore maple blank as the first one is from hard flamed maple. Its sound is a little more focused than the first one but both have the fast and clear response of the solid maple when used with this making method."

The final, pictured snare is 14" by 5", as stated here.

Used live, as specified in this May 1, 2015 contact rider by Sasa Music.

Drums: Drum PEARL Master Custom series

• 1 snare signature Denis Chember 14’’x6 (skin REMO Ambassador coated and new) - 1 Bass Drum 22’’ (skin Powerstroke 3 new)

• 1 Tom 12’’ (mounted on bass drum) (skin REMO Emperor coated or G2 Evans new)

• 1 Tom 14’’(mounted on bass drum) (skin REMO Emperor coated or G2 Evans new) - 1 Tom Bass 16’’ (skin REMO Emperor coated or G2 Evans new)

• 1 cymbal ZILDJIAN Avedis medium ride 20’’ + 1 cymbal ZILDJIAN Avedis thin crash 17’’ - 1 Hi-Hat ZILDJIAN Serie K 14’’

• 2 cymbals stands Boom ‘n’ boom

• 1 drum Kick PEARL P.201P

• 1 Snare stand PEARL S985W

• 1 Hi-Hat stand PEARL H985W

• 1 Drum throne PEARL D110S

• 1 black carpet 2mx 2m

• 2 pillows for drum+ towels

"The kit used was Tony’s Pearl Masters Premium Studio kit. This is Tony’s main kit that he has been using for years. It comes with a 22” kick drum, 12” and 13” rack toms and a 16” floor tom.

We used two snare drums, a Pearl Masters Premium (14” x 7”) and a Tony Allen custom snare (14” x 5”). The cymbals we user were an HHX stage 16” crash, an HHX 20” stage ride and some Zildjian New Beat 14” hi-hats. This all makes up Tony’s main recording kit."

Made from samples of Allen's drumkit.

Made in collaboration with Allen. It can be purchased here.

Used live for Allen's toms, as specified in this May 1, 2015 contact rider by Sasa Music.

Drums: Drum PEARL Master Custom series

• 1 snare signature Denis Chember 14’’x6 (skin REMO Ambassador coated and new) - 1 Bass Drum 22’’ (skin Powerstroke 3 new)

• 1 Tom 12’’ (mounted on bass drum) (skin REMO Emperor coated or G2 Evans new)

• 1 Tom 14’’(mounted on bass drum) (skin REMO Emperor coated or G2 Evans new) - 1 Tom Bass 16’’ (skin REMO Emperor coated or G2 Evans new)

• 1 cymbal ZILDJIAN Avedis medium ride 20’’ + 1 cymbal ZILDJIAN Avedis thin crash 17’’ - 1 Hi-Hat ZILDJIAN Serie K 14’’

• 2 cymbals stands Boom ‘n’ boom

• 1 drum Kick PEARL P.201P

• 1 Snare stand PEARL S985W

• 1 Hi-Hat stand PEARL H985W

• 1 Drum throne PEARL D110S

• 1 black carpet 2mx 2m

• 2 pillows for drum+ towels

Used live for Allen's snare, as specified in this May 1, 2015 contact rider by Sasa Music.

Drums: Drum PEARL Master Custom series

• 1 snare signature Denis Chember 14’’x6 (skin REMO Ambassador coated and new) - 1 Bass Drum 22’’ (skin Powerstroke 3 new)

• 1 Tom 12’’ (mounted on bass drum) (skin REMO Emperor coated or G2 Evans new)

• 1 Tom 14’’(mounted on bass drum) (skin REMO Emperor coated or G2 Evans new) - 1 Tom Bass 16’’ (skin REMO Emperor coated or G2 Evans new)

• 1 cymbal ZILDJIAN Avedis medium ride 20’’ + 1 cymbal ZILDJIAN Avedis thin crash 17’’ - 1 Hi-Hat ZILDJIAN Serie K 14’’

• 2 cymbals stands Boom ‘n’ boom

• 1 drum Kick PEARL P.201P

• 1 Snare stand PEARL S985W

• 1 Hi-Hat stand PEARL H985W

• 1 Drum throne PEARL D110S

• 1 black carpet 2mx 2m

• 2 pillows for drum+ towels

Used live for Allen's toms, as specified in this May 1, 2015 contact rider by Sasa Music.

Drums: Drum PEARL Master Custom series

• 1 snare signature Denis Chember 14’’x6 (skin REMO Ambassador coated and new) - 1 Bass Drum 22’’ (skin Powerstroke 3 new)

• 1 Tom 12’’ (mounted on bass drum) (skin REMO Emperor coated or G2 Evans new)

• 1 Tom 14’’(mounted on bass drum) (skin REMO Emperor coated or G2 Evans new) - 1 Tom Bass 16’’ (skin REMO Emperor coated or G2 Evans new)

• 1 cymbal ZILDJIAN Avedis medium ride 20’’ + 1 cymbal ZILDJIAN Avedis thin crash 17’’ - 1 Hi-Hat ZILDJIAN Serie K 14’’

• 2 cymbals stands Boom ‘n’ boom

• 1 drum Kick PEARL P.201P

• 1 Snare stand PEARL S985W

• 1 Hi-Hat stand PEARL H985W

• 1 Drum throne PEARL D110S

• 1 black carpet 2mx 2m

• 2 pillows for drum+ towels

Used live for Allen's bass drum, as specified in this May 1, 2015 contact rider by Sasa Music.

Drums: Drum PEARL Master Custom series

• 1 snare signature Denis Chember 14’’x6 (skin REMO Ambassador coated and new) - 1 Bass Drum 22’’ (skin Powerstroke 3 new)

• 1 Tom 12’’ (mounted on bass drum) (skin REMO Emperor coated or G2 Evans new)

• 1 Tom 14’’(mounted on bass drum) (skin REMO Emperor coated or G2 Evans new) - 1 Tom Bass 16’’ (skin REMO Emperor coated or G2 Evans new)

• 1 cymbal ZILDJIAN Avedis medium ride 20’’ + 1 cymbal ZILDJIAN Avedis thin crash 17’’ - 1 Hi-Hat ZILDJIAN Serie K 14’’

• 2 cymbals stands Boom ‘n’ boom

• 1 drum Kick PEARL P.201P

• 1 Snare stand PEARL S985W

• 1 Hi-Hat stand PEARL H985W

• 1 Drum throne PEARL D110S

• 1 black carpet 2mx 2m

• 2 pillows for drum+ towels

Specified on page 46 (and in an ad on page 48) of Modern Drummer #395 (October 2009) and in this May 1, 2015 contact rider by Sasa Music.

Modern Drummer October 2009

Tony Allen plays Pearl Masters Custom Extra drums (6 1/2 x14 wood snare, 12" and 14" rack toms, 16" floor tom, 22" bass drum), Zildjian cymbals (14" ZBT hi-hats, 17" A thin crash, 20" A medium ride), Pearl hardware, Remo Pinstripe batter heads, and Vic Firth or Zildjian sticks (“5B in my right hand and upside down, in my left hand—it gives a good touch," Tony says).

(...) Tony Allen plays 20" A Medium Ride

"The response, feel and balanced tone of the A Zildjian Medium Ride is second to none."

zildjian.com/tonyallen

May 1, 2015 Sasa Music Contact Rider

Drums: Drum PEARL Master Custom series

• 1 snare signature Denis Chember 14’’x6 (skin REMO Ambassador coated and new) - 1 Bass Drum 22’’ (skin Powerstroke 3 new)

• 1 Tom 12’’ (mounted on bass drum) (skin REMO Emperor coated or G2 Evans new)

• 1 Tom 14’’(mounted on bass drum) (skin REMO Emperor coated or G2 Evans new) - 1 Tom Bass 16’’ (skin REMO Emperor coated or G2 Evans new)

• 1 cymbal ZILDJIAN Avedis medium ride 20’’ + 1 cymbal ZILDJIAN Avedis thin crash 17’’ - 1 Hi-Hat ZILDJIAN Serie K 14’’

• 2 cymbals stands Boom ‘n’ boom

• 1 drum Kick PEARL P.201P

• 1 Snare stand PEARL S985W

• 1 Hi-Hat stand PEARL H985W

• 1 Drum throne PEARL D110S

• 1 black carpet 2mx 2m

• 2 pillows for drum+ towels

Used live, as specified in this May 1, 2015 contact rider by Sasa Music.

Drums: Drum PEARL Master Custom series

• 1 snare signature Denis Chember 14’’x6 (skin REMO Ambassador coated and new) - 1 Bass Drum 22’’ (skin Powerstroke 3 new)

• 1 Tom 12’’ (mounted on bass drum) (skin REMO Emperor coated or G2 Evans new)

• 1 Tom 14’’(mounted on bass drum) (skin REMO Emperor coated or G2 Evans new) - 1 Tom Bass 16’’ (skin REMO Emperor coated or G2 Evans new)

• 1 cymbal ZILDJIAN Avedis medium ride 20’’ + 1 cymbal ZILDJIAN Avedis thin crash 17’’ - 1 Hi-Hat ZILDJIAN Serie K 14’’

• 2 cymbals stands Boom ‘n’ boom

• 1 drum Kick PEARL P.201P

• 1 Snare stand PEARL S985W

• 1 Hi-Hat stand PEARL H985W

• 1 Drum throne PEARL D110S

• 1 black carpet 2mx 2m

• 2 pillows for drum+ towels

Used live, as specified in this May 1, 2015 contact rider by Sasa Music.

Drums: Drum PEARL Master Custom series

• 1 snare signature Denis Chember 14’’x6 (skin REMO Ambassador coated and new) - 1 Bass Drum 22’’ (skin Powerstroke 3 new)

• 1 Tom 12’’ (mounted on bass drum) (skin REMO Emperor coated or G2 Evans new)

• 1 Tom 14’’(mounted on bass drum) (skin REMO Emperor coated or G2 Evans new) - 1 Tom Bass 16’’ (skin REMO Emperor coated or G2 Evans new)

• 1 cymbal ZILDJIAN Avedis medium ride 20’’ + 1 cymbal ZILDJIAN Avedis thin crash 17’’ - 1 Hi-Hat ZILDJIAN Serie K 14’’

• 2 cymbals stands Boom ‘n’ boom

• 1 drum Kick PEARL P.201P

• 1 Snare stand PEARL S985W

• 1 Hi-Hat stand PEARL H985W

• 1 Drum throne PEARL D110S

• 1 black carpet 2mx 2m

• 2 pillows for drum+ towels

Specified on page 46 of Modern Drummer #395 (October 2009).

Tony Allen plays Pearl Masters Custom Extra drums (6 1/2 x14 wood snare, 12" and 14" rack toms, 16" floor tom, 22" bass drum), Zildjian cymbals (14" ZBT hi-hats, 17" A thin crash, 20" A medium ride), Pearl hardware, Remo Pinstripe batter heads, and Vic Firth or Zildjian sticks (“5B in my right hand and upside down, in my left hand—it gives a good touch," Tony says).

Specified on page 46 of Modern Drummer #395 (October 2009).

Tony Allen plays Pearl Masters Custom Extra drums (6 1/2 x14 wood snare, 12" and 14" rack toms, 16" floor tom, 22" bass drum), Zildjian cymbals (14" ZBT hi-hats, 17" A thin crash, 20" A medium ride), Pearl hardware, Remo Pinstripe batter heads, and Vic Firth or Zildjian sticks (“5B in my right hand and upside down, in my left hand—it gives a good touch," Tony says).

Whether or not it is coated is unspecified. However, a picture of Allen's kit on the bottom of the same page shows that it is coated.

Once used for Allen's tom, as is visible on page 45 of Modern Drummer #359 (October 2009).