Show Notes
In this episode of Drum History, we take an in-depth look at the legendary gear of Steve Gadd, one of the most recorded and influential drummers of all time.
Our returning guest, Paul Wells (Juilliard jazz faculty, Curtis Stigers, Vince Giordano & The Nighthawks), joins host Bart van der Zee for another ultra-detailed “gear episode” exploring the drums that shaped Gadd’s sound across his incredible career. Part 1 covers from Childhood to 1989.
From his early Gretsch and Rogers kits to the iconic Yamaha setup that became synonymous with his style, we trace how each era of his gear evolved — and how innovations like his tom configurations, hi-hat preferences, and snare choices influenced generations of drummers.
Paul also shares insights from his exclusive interview with Steve Gadd, arranged with help from John DeChristopher (Live From My Drum Room), and stories from Artie Smith, Steve’s longtime drum tech.
Links and resources:
📘 Steve Gadd: A Life in Time by Joe Bergamini (Hudson Music)
🥁 Gaddiments – Steve’s book of modern rudimental exercises
🎥 Ruben van Roon’s YouTube channel for rare Steve Gadd performances and breakdowns
https://www.youtube.com/@RubenvanRoonDrumChannel
and of course, Live from My Drum Room with John DeChristopher
https://www.youtube.com/@livefrommydrumroom
If you love deep gear history, detailed analysis, and legendary drumming stories, this is one you won’t want to miss.
Timestamps:
0:00 – Intro & Steve Gadd overview
2:30 – Early Gretsch kits and childhood setup
10:00 – Rogers kits, The Hustle, and the disco era
20:00 – Army years & rare cymbal stories
28:00 – Yamaha era and gear innovations
45:00 – Interview with Steve Gadd preview
55:00 – Books, resources & legacy
🎙️ Hosted by Bart van der Zee
🎵 Guest: Paul Wells
More from Drum History
🥁 STEVE GADD’S GADDIMENTS - GET YOUR COPY HERE! https://link.amazon/B0gpNPICM
In Part 2 of our deep-dive into the gear of Steve Gadd, Paul Wells returns to unpack even more forensic-level details about one of the most influential drummers of all time.
I am super excited to share with you the first episode of this great new podcast!
In this episode, Bart talks with Shawn Fields, founder of Drumatica, and Grammy-winning audio engineer Darrell Thorp (Radiohead, Beck, Foo Fighters) about the creation of the groundbreaking Black Oyster drum sample library.
Drummer and educator Dave Elitch (The Mars Volta, Weezer, Miley Cyrus) joins me to break down why so many drummers hit a ceiling—and how to fix it with better mechanics, smarter practice, and choices that actually translate to the kit. We dig into eliminating hidden tension, building sustainable speed and feel, practical tuning and muffling, and Dave’s new course Your Mind’s Ear on dialing in sound and gear (launching September 8, 2025).