# Brann Dailor Drum Setup — Mastodon Gear Guide

> Complete breakdown of Brann Dailor's drum setup with Mastodon. Tama Starclassic Maple kit, Istanbul Agop cymbals, Vater sticks — the full gear guide for progressive sludge metal's most melodic drummer, covering Leviathan through Emperor of Sand.

**Type:** Kit Breakdown
**Drummer(s):** [Brann Dailor](/llms/drummers/brann-dailor.md)
**Band / Album:** Mastodon
**Genre:** Progressive Sludge Metal

## Overview

Brann Dailor (born March 19, 1975, in Rochester, New York) co-founded Mastodon in Atlanta in 2000 alongside guitarists Bill Kelliher and Brent Hinds, and bassist Troy Sanders. Since the band's formation, he has been the rhythmic and increasingly vocal engine behind one of metal's most critically acclaimed acts.

What distinguishes Dailor from every other metal drummer is his melodic approach: toms tuned in musical intervals and integrated as counter-melodies throughout grooves, not just fills; jazz-influenced ghost notes woven through every pattern; and a single-bass-drum philosophy focused on groove placement over double-kick speed. His playing treats the kit as a compositional instrument equal to the guitars.

He also sings — complex harmonies and co-lead vocals throughout Mastodon's catalog, simultaneously with technically demanding drum parts. This dual role places him among the most technically accomplished musician-drummers in heavy music.

## Drum Kit

- **Drums:** Tama Starclassic Maple
- **Bass Drums:** 22" x 18" (single kick)
- **Toms:** 10", 12", 13" rack toms; 16" floor tom
- **Shells:** 100% maple — warm, resonant, melodically focused
- **Snare:** Tama Starphonic or Artstar, 14" x 6.5", steel or brass shell
- **Estimated Kit Value:** $3,000–5,500 (Starclassic Maple shell pack)

## Cymbals

- **Brand:** Istanbul Agop (primary) / Zildjian (secondary)
- **Hi-Hats:** Istanbul Agop 14" Traditional Hi-Hats
- **Crashes:** Istanbul Agop 18" Traditional Crash, 20" Traditional Crash
- **Ride:** Istanbul Agop 22" Traditional Ride
- **China:** Zildjian 18" China or Istanbul Agop China
- **Estimated Cymbal Value:** $2,000–3,500

## Key Facts

- Co-founder of Mastodon (2000) — one of metal's most critically acclaimed bands
- Tama Starclassic Maple — primary kit across Leviathan, Blood Mountain, Crack the Skye, The Hunter, Emperor of Sand
- Istanbul Agop Traditional cymbals — warm, complex, hand-hammered Turkish tone
- Vater drumsticks (American hickory)
- Tama Iron Cobra or Speed Cobra single pedal
- Remo Ambassador Coated (toms batter), Remo Powerstroke 3 (bass batter)
- Single bass drum — creative single-pedal groove patterns over double-kick speed
- Sings complex vocal parts simultaneously with demanding drum arrangements
- Four Grammy nominations with Mastodon
- Jazz-influenced ghost note vocabulary applied to sludge/prog metal context
- Toms tuned in musical intervals — used as melodic instruments throughout songs
- Known for constant flowing fills woven into grooves, not isolated

## Career Eras

**Leviathan (2004):** Mastodon's critical breakthrough — Dailor's melodic tom language introduced on "Hearts Alive" and "Blood and Thunder." Tama Starclassic Maple established as primary kit.

**Blood Mountain (2006):** Aggressive complexity with melodic integration. Global charting debut. Istanbul Agop cymbals central to the record's texture.

**Crack the Skye (2009):** Career peak — Grammy-nominated, universally acclaimed. "The Czar," "Oblivion," "Pendulous Skin" feature the most melodically sophisticated drum performances in metal. Istanbul Agop's atmospheric warmth complements the album's progressive character.

**The Hunter (2011):** Billboard 200 Top 10. Dailor's dual drummer-vocalist role becomes central. "Show Yourself"-era accessibility built on melodic drumming foundation.

**Emperor of Sand (2017):** Grammy-nominated for Best Metal Performance. Emotionally resonant, with "Show Yourself" demonstrating how melodic single-kick drumming anchors a radio-accessible metal song.

## FAQ

**Q: What drums does Brann Dailor use?**
A: Brann Dailor's long-time kit is the Tama Starclassic Maple series. The 100% maple shells provide the warm, resonant tone his melodic drumming demands — tuned to sing, not just to punch. His configuration includes a single 22" bass drum, three rack toms (10", 12", 13"), and a 16" floor tom. This Tama setup was used across Mastodon's defining albums from Leviathan (2004) through Emperor of Sand (2017).

**Q: What cymbals does Brann Dailor use?**
A: Brann Dailor plays Istanbul Agop cymbals, primarily the Traditional series — hand-hammered Turkish cymbals with warm, complex, dark character. His setup includes 14" Traditional hi-hats, 18" and 20" Traditional crashes, and a 22" Traditional Ride. Istanbul Agop's tonal warmth suits his compositional approach: cymbals that develop atmospherically rather than simply attacking and decaying. Zildjian cymbals have also appeared across various Mastodon eras for specific accent needs.

**Q: What sticks does Brann Dailor use?**
A: Brann Dailor uses Vater drumsticks in American hickory models. Vater's hickory construction balances the power needed for Mastodon's heavier passages with the sensitivity his ghost note work and nuanced cymbal playing require.

**Q: Does Brann Dailor use double bass?**
A: No — Brann Dailor plays a single bass drum with a single pedal. This is one of his most distinctive choices in a metal genre saturated with double-bass players. His single-kick approach focuses on precise groove placement and feel rather than velocity, giving Mastodon's rhythmic foundation a musical quality that double-kick saturation would compromise. The foot is a groove instrument in his philosophy, not a speed demonstration.

**Q: What makes Brann Dailor's drumming style unique?**
A: Dailor applies a jazz-influenced melodic vocabulary to heavy metal: toms used as melodic instruments tuned in musical intervals; extensive ghost notes derived from jazz's constant-hand-motion technique; single-bass-drum groove philosophy; and Istanbul Agop cymbal warmth used for atmospheric colour. He performs all this while singing complex vocal harmonies and leads — a combination that makes him one of the most technically accomplished musician-drummers in heavy music. His playing produces drum parts that function as counter-melodies to the guitar work, not merely rhythmic support.

**Q: What Mastodon albums best showcase Brann Dailor's drumming?**
A: Start with *Crack the Skye* (2009) — the career peak. "The Czar," "Oblivion," and "Pendulous Skin" are among the most melodically sophisticated drum performances ever recorded on a metal album. Then *Leviathan* (2004) for the initial statement — "Hearts Alive" introduces his melodic tom language definitively. *Emperor of Sand* (2017) shows how the approach translates to more accessible material without sacrificing depth.

## Related

- [Drummer profile](https://metalforge.io/drummer/brann-dailor)
- [Kit overview](https://metalforge.io/articles/whats-in-brann-dailors-kit)
- [Signature lick breakdowns](https://metalforge.io/drummers/brann-dailor/licks)

**Source:** https://metalforge.io/articles/brann-dailor-mastodon-drum-setup

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*Last updated: 2026-06-20 · Source: [MetalForge.io](https://metalforge.io)*