Ride the Lightning Drum Setup: Lars Ulrich's 1984 Tama Kit Breakdown | MetalForge

Frequently Asked Questions

What drums did Lars Ulrich use on Ride the Lightning?

Lars Ulrich recorded Ride the Lightning in 1984 on a Tama Artstar II kit with birch shells — a significant upgrade from the budget Tama Imperial Star he used on Kill 'Em All the previous year. The configuration was a compact 5-piece: a single 22-inch bass drum at 16-inch depth, 12 and 13 inch rack toms, and a 16-inch floor tom. He paired the Artstar II with a Ludwig Supraphonic LM402 snare (14x6.5 inches, aluminum shell) and an all-Zildjian A series cymbal setup. The sessions took place at Sweet Silence Studios in Copenhagen, Denmark with producer Flemming Rasmussen.

How does the Ride the Lightning drum setup differ from Master of Puppets?

The most notable difference between Ride the Lightning (1984) and Master of Puppets (1986) is the drum kit itself. On Ride the Lightning, Lars used a Tama Artstar II with birch shells. On Master of Puppets, he switched to a vintage Camco Oaklawn Badge kit with maple shells — a surprising detour toward a different tonal character. Both albums used the Ludwig Supraphonic LM402 snare and Zildjian A series cymbals, and both were recorded at Sweet Silence Studios in Copenhagen with Flemming Rasmussen. The Artstar II birch gives Ride the Lightning a slightly brighter, tighter drum sound, while the Camco maple provides the warmer, more focused punch on Master of Puppets.

What is the double-bass pattern on For Whom the Bell Tolls?

The driving kick drum pattern on "For Whom the Bell Tolls" is executed with a single bass drum pedal, not a double pedal or two kick drums. Lars creates a continuous, driving feel through single-pedal technique combined with precise foot placement and timing at approximately 100 BPM, locking with Cliff Burton's distorted bass riff. This single-pedal approach to a musical idea that sounds like double bass is a key technical insight from the Ride the Lightning sessions. Lars did not switch to a double pedal until ...And Justice for All (1988), where it enabled the relentless double-bass work on "Blackened" and "One."

Where was Ride the Lightning recorded?

Ride the Lightning was recorded at Sweet Silence Studios in Copenhagen, Denmark during September and October 1984. Producer Flemming Rasmussen helmed the sessions — his first collaboration with Metallica, beginning a partnership that continued through Master of Puppets (1986) and ...And Justice for All (1988). Sweet Silence was a world-class facility that offered dramatically better recording conditions than Music America Studios in Rochester where Kill 'Em All had been tracked just one year earlier.

What cymbals did Lars Ulrich use on Ride the Lightning?

Lars Ulrich used an all-Zildjian A series cymbal setup on Ride the Lightning — a consolidation from the mixed Paiste/Zildjian approach on Kill 'Em All. The setup included Zildjian A 14" New Beat hi-hats, a 16" medium thin crash, an 18" medium crash, a 20" medium ride, and an 18" China Boy. There was no formal Zildjian endorsement at this stage — Lars was using the A series based on preference. This all-Zildjian configuration carried directly into the Master of Puppets sessions.