Explaining the Makita Drill Used by Mr. Big!

Mr. B is coming to Japan this July!
Their incredibly technical and aggressive live performances are always mesmerizing, but one of their signature moves is their live performance using an electric drill.

“Daddy, Brother, Lover, Little Boy (The Electric Drill Song)”

It’s well known that they used a Makita drill, a Japanese power tool brand, during this song, but the details are not as widely known.
This time, I’d like to review the actual drill they used!

Makita 6012HD

This is the Makita drill that Paul Gilbert and Billy Sheehan used!

The production period is unclear, but it is likely from the late 80s to the 90s (By the way, my model is from 1990).

It has a speed of 1,100 revolutions per minute at high speed. Paul Gilbert (PG) used a bit with three picks during the drill solo, so it’s estimated that he was picking at 3,300 RPM!

(About the size of an A4 notebook)

The dimensions of the tool are 260mm in length, 56mm in width, and 257mm in height.
It weighs 1.6kg (including the battery).

When you actually hold it, it feels pretty large and very heavy...
It’s amazing how effortlessly these two handle it during live performances.

By the way, PG had been using electric drills in live performances since his previous band, Racer X, before Mr. Big.

According to PG, he started using the drill as part of a show to keep the audience entertained and avoid them getting bored with the same live set every night.

Why PG Loves the Makita 6012HD

PG explained why he loves this drill in an interview video:

To summarize, here’s what he said:

PG: “Old models slow down gradually when you release the switch.
When you pick it up with the guitar pickups, it sounds cool. But the newer models stop suddenly when you release the switch.
You have to gradually bring it back with your finger strength if you want it to stop slowly.
That’s why I use the old model.”

(That’s about the gist of what he said.)

Guess Who Else Uses Makita?

In 1991, when Lean Into It was released, Van Halen also used an electric drill in the song “Poundcake”, and guess what? He used the same Makita 6012HD!
By the way, his drill was painted in the EVH color scheme.

(You can see the EVH-colored 6012HD at the beginning.)

Current Mr. Big Setup...
During their 2014 Japan tour, they were still using the 6012HD, but by the 2017 Japan tour, they had switched to a current model.

Paul himself even bought spare drills from auction sites like eBay, but after over 30 years, it seems the drill could no longer be repaired when it broke, so they switched to the current model.

The new model seems to have a lighter sound, possibly due to its higher RPM.

*Both Paul and Billy use the drill counterclockwise.

Sound Comparison

I analyzed the noise of the 6012HD using an analyzer:

Though I don’t fully understand the harmonic components, you can kind of tell it has rich harmonics.

To make the comparison clearer, I also tested another Makita drill, the 8400VD, which was made around the same time:

The peak points are similar, but the 8400VD has fewer harmonics compared to the 6012HD.

When run through an amp, the 6012HD had a more musical tone.

I compared these two vintage Makitas, but I’m curious how other brands’ drills would sound, so I’d like to test that when I have more time!

Things to Watch Out for with Vintage Makita Drills

Some of you might want to get a 6012HD after reading this, so here’s a heads-up about vintage Makitas.

While you can sometimes find them at second-hand shops or auction sites, many are non-working or have battery issues, so they’re considered ‘junk’.

Trying to fix or get them working without proper knowledge could lead to injuries or accidents, so please avoid doing that! (Use at your own risk!)

Also, using a power drill for musical performances isn’t its intended purpose! It could damage your equipment or cause injury, so please make sure to ensure safety before using it.

Thank you for reading to the end!
The reason I can talk so passionately about drills is because I’m a huge Mr. Big fan and admire them, but sadly, they’ll be disbanding after their upcoming tour...

The Tokyo, Nagoya, and Osaka shows are already sold out, but they just announced an additional Tokyo performance, so if you haven’t seen them or want to witness the drill solo one last time, you should definitely check it out!

Paul Gilbert’s Gear

• TC Electronic / MojoMojo Paul
• Supro / Drive

Billy Sheehan’s Gear

• Hartke / LX8500 Bass Amp Head
• EBS / Billy Sheehan Ultimate Signature Drive

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