Chad Smith’s drum journey with the Red Hot Chili Peppers has taken him through Pearl, Yamaha, Gretsch, back to Pearl to its current endorsement of DW Drums, and from Sabian, to Paiste (and some Zildjian somewhere in there), back to Sabian and currently back to Paiste.
Let's go through his drums, cymbals and overall gear for the last —almost— 40 years with the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
1988: Recording Mother's Milk: Pearl Masters Series & Sabian
Chad joined the RHCP in December 1988, after they fired D.H. Peligro. They had recently welcomed John Frusciante and were already working on Mother’s Milk. Chad’s audition didn’t start that well, but it ended spectacularly, as John Frusciante recalls in this video:
With Chad in the band, Mother’s Milk recording began.
Chad recording Mother's Milk, 1988. Photo from rhcpsessions.com.
For this recording, Chad played a Pearl Masters Series with Sabian (mainly AA) cymbals.
Drums: Pearl Masters Series.
- 5×14″ Jarrah Ply Brady snare.
- 10×10″ tom.
- 12×12″ tom.
- 14×14″ floor tom.
- 16×16″ floor tom.
- 16×22″ kick drum.
Mother's Milk recording, 1988. Photo from rhcpsessions.com.
Want to check out that Brady snare? Here’s a quick video of it.
1989: Mother's Milk Tour: Yamaha Recording Custom & Paiste Cymbals
For the Mother’s Milk tour, Chad played a Yamaha Recording Custom kit with Paiste cymbals. Not many people remember that!
Mother's Milk Tour, 1989
1991: Recording Blood Sugar Sex Magik: Gretsch Kit & Zildjian & Paiste
For Blood Sugar Sex Magik (1991), Chad played a Gretsch Kit with Ludwig and Tama snare and mix of Zildjian and Paiste cymbals.
Yes, you read that right.
The Red Hot Chilli Peppers rented drums from Ross Garfield’s Drum Doctors, who provided the drums and all-around drum doctor services.
Cymbals:
- 14″ K Zildjian Hi-Hats
- 16″ Paiste Signature Full Crash
- 18″ Paiste Signature Full Crash
- 20″ K Zildjian Crash
- Paiste Signature 22″ Dry Heavy Ride
- 20″ Paiste Signature Heavy China
- And 3 splashes which we couldn’t figure out.
Drums: Gretsch.
Snares:
- 3½” x 14″ TAMA Bell-Brass Piccolo Snare Drum
- 14″ x 5″ Ludwig (Engraved) Black Beauty
- 5×14″ Brady snare.
Blood Sugar Sex Magik sessions
If you want a more detailed example, you can check out the following video:
1991: The Octopus Kit
Chad became an official Pearl Drums endorser in 1991. For the “Blood Sugar Sex Magik Tour (October 91)” Chad unveiled one of his most famous kits ever: the Pearl Master Custom Octopus Kit.
He would take this kit up to the “Tour de la Sensitive” 1994 tour (with Dave Navarro already in the band). The only non-Pearl drum was his Brady Snare.
Cymbals: Sabian:
- 14″ AA hi-hats,
- 10″ AA splash (2)
- 8″ B8 Pro China splash
- 16″ AA medium crash
- 19″ AA Rock crash
- 21″ AA Rock ride
- 20″ AA Chinese
Drums: Pearl Masters Series:
- 5×14″ Brady snare.
- 10×10″ tom.
- 12×12″ tom.
- 14×14″ floor tom.
- 16×16″ floor tom.
- 16×22″ kick drum.
How did this drum set sound? Let’s recall that:
1994: The Piccolo Snare appears
For the One Hot Minute tour, Chad leaves the Octopus-styled drum set and goes to a Brown Sparkle Pearl Masters Series, now adding a 3 ½ x 14" piccolo snare.
Modern drummer Magazine, December 1994. Source: thechilisource.com
1995: The single rack tom
For the second part of the One Hot Minute tour, Chad drops the 10×10″ rack tom, which would become part of his permanent set up: the single rack tom.
Here's Chad playing with 1 rack tom and ONE HAND on David Letterman, 1995:
1996: Chad Smith Signature Snare Drum
In 1996, Pearl unveiled the Pearl Chad Smith Signature Snare Drum - 5"x14", made from a rolled steel shell, which gives the snare a lot of punch.
1999: 24” Kick and Vater Chad Smith's Funk Blaster
Around this time, he changes his kick from a 22’ to a 24” (in both cases 16” deep), but also making their appearance are the Vater Chad Smith's Funk Blaster drumsticks.
Vater Chad Smith's Funk Blaster sticks
Chad Smith's Funk Blasters are hickory sticks with the same grip as a 5B but with a beefier taper for some extra weight up top and acorn tip. Great for heavy, solid playing.
Rhythm magazine November 1999. Source: thechilisource.com
So, for the Californication tour cycle, the drum set is:
Drums: Pearl Masters Custom 6-ply Silver Sparkle:
- 16×24″ kick drum.
- CS4214 Chad Smith snare.
- 10×12″ tom.
- 14×14″ floor tom.
- 14×16″ floor tom.
Cymbals: Sabian
- 14″ AA Fusion hi-hats
- 6″ Cymbal disc
- 8″ Cymbal disc
- 18.5″ Chad Smith Explosion Crash
- 10″ AAX splash
- 21″ AA Rock ride
- 20.5″ Chad Smith Explosion Crash
- 14″ AAX Mini Chinese
- 17″ Jack DeJohnette Encore crash
- 19″ AA China.
2003: Deeper kick, less cymbals
For the “By The Way” (2002) tour, Chad switches the kick again, this time staying with a 24” but going deeper, from 16” to 18”. Also, drops the cymbal disks, the Jack DeJohnette Encore crash and generally goes with less cymbals. The setup goes:
Rhythm Magazine July 2004. Source: thechilisource.com
Drums: Pearl Masters Custom
- 18×24″ kick drum.
- 14” x 5 ½ Sensitone Brass snare.
- 10×12″ tom.
- 14×14″ floor tom.
- 16×16″ floor tom.
Cymbals: Sabian
- 14″ X-Celerator hi-hats.
- 10″ AAX splash.
- 21″ AA Rock ride.
- 20″ AA Medium Crash.
- 22″ Rock Crash.
- 22″ AA Chinese.
2006: Pearl Reference
Drum Magazine May 2006. Source: thechilisource.com
Drums: Pearl Reference
- 18×24″ kick drum.
- 14” x 5" Sensitone Brass snare.
- 10×12″ tom.
- 14×14″ floor tom.
- 16×16″ floor tom.
Cymbals: Sabian
- 14″ AAX X-Celerator hi-hats.
- 10″ AA splash.
- 21″ AA Rock ride.
- 20″ AA Rock Crash.
- 18.5″ Signature Explosion Crash.
- 19″ AA Chinese.
2011: Pearl Acrylic & Octobans
Drummer magazine, February 2012. Source: thechilisource.com
Drums: Pearl Acrylic
- 16×24″ kick drum.
- 14” x 6.5” Sensitone Elite snare.
- 14” x 6.5” Free-Floater snare.
- 8×12″ tom.
- 14×14″ floor tom.
- 16×14″ floor tom.
- Octobans: 10”, 13”, 16” & 19” depth; all with 6” diameter.
Cymbals: Sabian with custom design
- 14″ AAX X-Celerator hi-hats.
- 10″ AA splash.
- 18″ AA Medium Crash.
- 19” AA Medium Crash.
- 21″ AA Rock ride.
- 21″ Vault Holy China.
Here’s Chad’s tech, Chris Warren, walking us through this kit:
2014: Super Bowl XLVIII Halftime Show
For the Super Bowl XLVIII halftime show, where the Chili Peppers joined Bruno Mars at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, Chad chose the least Chad Smith drum set he could have! A double kick, 3 rack-tom, 4-floor tom kit. The custom built drum set that was designed by Pearl which featured the logos of the teams and had a custom wrap material with a lighting package, which lighted the drums from the inside.
Drums: Pearl Custom Shop
- 16×26″ kick (2),
- 8×12″ tom (2),
- 14×14″ floor tom (2),
- 16×16″ floor tom (2),
- 6.5×14″ Steel Sensitione snare drum.
Source: thechilisource.com
2016: DW Drums
Early in 2016, Chad leaves Pearl and moves to DW Drums. For this, DW builds 3 kits for him:
- Green acrylic.
- Clear acrylic.
- Moon Dust Sparkle with Full Dress Diamond Finishes.
Drum Magazine, September 2016. Source: thechilisource.com
Drums: DW Collection Series (acrylic shells)
- 16”× 24″ kick drum.
- 14”x 6 ½ Steel snare.
- 14”x 5 ½ Auxiliary snare.
- 10” Remo rototom.
- 8×12″ tom.
- 14×14″ floor tom.
- 16×14″ floor tom.
- Adams 29” timpani.
- Octobans: 10”, 13”, 16” & 19” depth; all with 6” diameter.
Here’s Chad playing his Moon Dust Sparkle with Full Dress Diamond Finishes:
Rhythm Magazine September 2016. Source: thechilisource.com
2022 until today: Paiste cymbals and Staccato drum replica
On May 4, 2022 Chad announced he was leaving Sabian and joining Paiste. His Paiste set is mostly 2002’s, and here’s the detail:
- 20" 2002 Ride Spiral Cymbal (Custom)
- 10" PST X Pure Bell
- 15" Signature Power Hi-Hat Top
- 15" 2002 Sound Edge Bottom
- 12" Signature Splash
- 19" 2002 Extreme Crash
- 24" 2002 Ride
- 20" 2002 Extreme Crash
- 24" 2002 Crash (Special Order)
- 20" PST X Swiss Medium Crash
- 10" 2002 Mini China (Custom)
- 12" PST X Splash Stack Top (as stack bottom)
- 52" Symphonic Gong (Custom)
Here’s Chad explaining his move to Paiste in a great video with Eric Moore:
DW Collector Series & the Staccato drum replica
Chad’s current kit is a Maple/Mahogany DW Collector Series:
- 16”× 24″ kick drum.
- 14”x 6 ½ Cast Aluminum shell snare.
- 12”x 6 ½ Auxiliary snare.
- 10” Remo rototom.
- 8×12″ tom.
- 14×14″ floor tom.
- 16×16″ floor tom.
- 23” x14” gong drum.
- 13” Staccato drum replica. A 3D printed replica of an original staccato drum, color-matched to the DW kit.
- Octobans: 10”, 13”, 16” & 19” depth; all with 6” diameter.
Here’s Chad’s drum tech, Chris Warren, walking us through this latest kit.
