Something people will come to learn about me is that I’m a huge drum nerd, and I will talk your ear off about it. There’s a ton of drum companies out in the world that each specialize in their own thing, and I’m going to break down each category of product and the frontrunners in them. 

For the drums themselves, the main companies to look at are Pearl, DW, Ludwig, Yamaha, Tama and Mapex, and all of them specialize in different soundscapes. Another essential product to play drums are the cymbals, and the companies that are leading that market are Zildjian (happy 400th birthday), Meinl, Sabian and Paiste. The next product to succeed on the kit are drumsticks, and the main companies are Vicfirth, Promark, Vater and Meinl Stick and Brush (which is my personal favorite). The last product needed for drums are drumheads. The big companies for drumheads are; Remo, Evans, and Aquarian. 

Now those are the biggest names in each market, but there are plenty of boutique brands that are just as good, maybe even better than these names. Now everyone has a personal preference when it comes to the gear they play and I know I’m strongly biased as well and I’m going to share it. My favorite companies are Pearl Drums, Meinl Cymbals, Meinl Stick and Brush, and Evans drumheads.