Famed Drummer Steve Jordan Is Selling His Gear on Gear Exchange!

Here’s your chance to own drums played by the famous musician Steve Jordan during some of the most celebrated periods in his long, enviable career, including his stint on Late Night with David Letterman, as sideman with Keith Richards, and as a member of the John Mayer Trio. So, why is Steve selling his gear? Well, we wondered the same, so we asked!

If You Don’t Use It, Lose It!

Steve Jordan is many things: a world-renowned drummer, a gifted songwriter, an accomplished producer, and just a cool person — but a hoarder he is not. Quite the contrary, rather than curating a gear collection and letting it gather dust, Steve believes that all instruments should rest in the hands of someone who will appreciate and make the most of them.

“I’m a fan of using the gear you have,” he explains. “I believe the instruments you have should be played — if you can’t use them, you should either donate them or move them on to people who will actually enjoy them.”

Steve advises that he changes his sound frequently to best serve the projects he’s involved in. “I swap gear a lot,” he explains. “I put kits together to get a specific sound for a specific thing, but there’s no way I would use the same setup again for anything else.”

Given that Steve’s list of credits includes live dates with the Rolling Stones, the John Mayer Trio, and Eric Clapton — to name but three — and studio sessions with, well, pretty much everybody that put out an album from the 1970s through today, it’s pretty easy to understand how building per-project drum kits could lead to a hefty stockpile of gear over time.

Moreover, Steve is still experimenting with new sounds, both as a session player and with the Verbs, the New York City–based rock ’n’ roll band he fronts with his wife, Meegan Voss, so he’s still actively acquiring gear.

Steve Chooses Sweetwater’s Gear Exchange

Steve’s previous experience as a Sweetwater customer ensured that Gear Exchange was number one on his list of used gear resellers. “Sweetwater always has great customer service,” he states. “Meegan and I both appreciate how Sweetwater takes care of customers; you get a follow-up — even if you order guitar picks.”

Paiste Cymbals

The first item on Steve’s list is a batch of Paiste cymbals that he used on Late Night with David Letterman. “I’ve been a Paiste endorser for a long time,” he says. “During my time on Late Night with Letterman, I was always experimenting with sound, looking for something that would cut through on television without being too abrasive — I used them in the studio, too.”

Here are the cymbals that Steve is currently selling:

Short Crash 16-inch (1985–1994 Sound Creation New Dimension) 

Signature Full Crash 18-inch (1989–Present, Traditional) 

Crash 18-inch (1971–1980) Artist Prototype

Signature Full Crash 20-inch (1989–Present)

Signature Power Crash 20-inch (1989–Present)

Medium Dark Ride 20-inch (1986–1990) Artist Prototype

Yamaha SD655RH Roy Haynes Signature Snare

Next, we have a Yamaha SD655RH Roy Haynes signature seamless hammered copper snare drum that Steve used as a member of Keith Richards’s backing band, the X-Pensive Winos. “This is a 14-inch copper snare drum, and it’s absolutely outrageous,” Steve exclaims. “I got it for a reggae tune on Keith’s Crosseyed Heart album.”

Steve expresses a great affinity for this snare. So great, in fact, that he exhibits a bit of seller’s remorse. “This is a crazy idea,” he exclaims. “I shouldn’t give this drum away.” Nonetheless, he’s fully resigned to part with it, stating, “I’m just going to have to leave it before I change my mind!”

The Yamaha Roy Haynes snare is among the most sought-after signature models of all time, and now you can finally harness the fat, explosive sound that has eluded many. What’s more, you’ll also get a pair of Vic Firth Steve Jordan signature drumsticks used by Steve himself!

Yamaha BSD1550JR John “JR” Robinson Signature Snare

Up next is a Yamaha BSD1550JR John “JR” Robinson signature snare drum that Steve played on tour with John Mayer. “I needed a 15-inch snare for one song, so I had Yamaha send me a John Robinson model that was a 15,” he advises. “It has wood hoops and a birch wood shell, and it sounds amazing.”

The Yamaha John “JR” Robinson snare is a rare, made-in-Japan model with a warm, punchy sound and lots of snap. And just like the previous snare on this list, you also get a pair of Vic Firth Steve Jordan signature drumsticks that Steve has played.

Yamaha Maple Custom Absolute 5-piece Drum Kit

Finally, we have the Yamaha Maple Custom Absolute drum kit that was custom-tweaked by Steve’s longtime associate, renowned drum technician Artie Smith. “I used it on John Mayer’s Continuum album on the tune ‘In Repair,’” Steve says. “It was one of the most memorable and remarkable recording sessions I’ve ever participated in.”

Boasting an amazingly rich, open sound, this 5-piece kit sports wood hoops and articulate maple shells with a Grey Sparkle finish.

There’s More Where That Came From!

Few things are cooler to a musician than a piece of gear with a story to tell, and this is just the tip of the iceberg! You’ll find all sorts of vintage instruments with interesting histories on Sweetwater’s Gear Exchange, some of which were used by famous musicians, housed in legendary studios, or featured on hit albums.

We appreciate that Steve agreed to share his instruments — and the stories behind them — with us. And we’ve only covered a sample of the listed items that are available. To browse Steve’s full inventory of gear, check out his Official Gear Exchange Artist Store.

If you’re curious about what Steve is currently up to, then be sure to follow his band, the Verbs, on social media:

The Antoinettes – “What I Say” (Live from CBGB’s) on YouTube

The Verbs on Facebook

The Verbs on Instagram

The Verbs on X

Do you have gear that is gathering dust? Are you looking for the best place to turn it into new gear? Well, Sweetwater’s Gear Exchange is the place. Find out why our zero-seller-fees model is shaking up the used market.
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