# Gavin Harrison Drum Setup — Porcupine Tree Fear of a Blank Planet Gear Guide > Complete breakdown of Gavin Harrison's drum setup for Porcupine Tree. Sonor SQ2 drums, Zildjian K Custom Special Dry cymbals, signature snares, and the polyrhythmic techniques behind Fear of a Blank Planet and In Absentia — progressive metal's most studied drumming. **Type:** Kit Breakdown / Album Focus **Drummer(s):** [Gavin Harrison](/llms/drummers/gavin-harrison.md) **Band / Album:** Porcupine Tree — *Fear of a Blank Planet* (2007) / *In Absentia* (2002) **Genre:** Progressive Metal / Progressive Rock **Published:** 2026-06-20 ## Overview Gavin Harrison's drum setup for Porcupine Tree is one of the most analysed in progressive rock and progressive metal. From the jazz-inflected ghost note work on *In Absentia* (2002) to the breathtaking polyrhythmic architecture of *Fear of a Blank Planet* (2007), Harrison elevated drum production in a genre already demanding by any standard. Harrison joined Porcupine Tree in 2002 — just in time for *In Absentia*, the album that brought the band wider recognition and introduced listeners worldwide to his approach. The controlled power on "Blackest Eyes," the delicate cymbal textures of "Heartattack in a Layby," and the seven-minute polyrhythmic showcase "The Sound of Muzak" made clear he was operating at a different level. When *Fear of a Blank Planet* arrived in 2007, that reputation was confirmed: the title track's interlocking odd-meter groove became a masterclass distributed across drumming forums globally. Harrison's gear philosophy matches his musical philosophy: precision first, power second. He builds his setup around instruments that respond to nuance, reward subtlety, and allow extreme dynamic shifts within a single song. The Sonor SQ2 custom kit, his Zildjian K Custom Special Dry cymbals (developed in direct collaboration with Zildjian), and his signature snares are precision tools shaped by decades of exacting progressive music. ## Gear Breakdown - **Drums:** Sonor SQ2 Series (custom maple shells, 22" kick, 10"/12" rack toms, 14"/16" floor toms) - **Snare (primary):** Sonor Gavin Harrison Signature — 14" x 5.25" brass shell - **Snare (secondary):** Sonor Gavin Harrison Protean — 12" x 5" - **Cymbals:** Zildjian K Custom Special Dry series - **Pedal:** Sonor Perfect Balance Pedal - **Heads:** Remo Ambassador Coated (batter), Remo Ambassador Snare Side (resonant) - **Snare tuning:** Medium to medium-high for full dynamic range ## Drum Kit: Sonor SQ2 The Sonor SQ2 is not a production kit — it is a fully custom instrument built to Harrison's exact specifications. His configuration uses thin maple shells for maximum resonance and sensitivity: these drums respond to whisper-quiet ghost notes as clearly as they respond to full-force accents. The 22" bass drum prioritises articulation over raw power. A smaller kick diameter means faster response and more precise rhythmic patterns — essential for the interlocking figures in "Fear of a Blank Planet," "Open Car," and "Anesthetize." His four-piece tom configuration (10", 12", 14", 16") covers the full melodic range and is tuned in musical intervals, voiced to complement guitar harmonics and played as melodic instruments throughout Porcupine Tree's arrangements. The SQ2's hardware preserves full shell resonance — no damping clamps — allowing the forensic studio approach Steven Wilson's production philosophy demanded across both albums. **Estimated value:** $6,000–9,000 (custom Sonor SQ2 kit) ## Snare: Sonor Gavin Harrison Signature The 14" x 5.25" brass-shell primary snare has become a benchmark in progressive rock drumming. Brass provides warmth and body that steel cannot, while still projecting powerfully through dense arrangements. The .25" extra depth adds body without sacrificing rimshot authority. Brass responds to light touches in a way steel does not: ghost notes sing rather than rattle, allowing the snare to function as a textural instrument across the full dynamic range *In Absentia* and *Fear of a Blank Planet* demand. The 12" Protean secondary snare provides a tighter, more intimate sound for complex ghost note passages and studio detail work. Both snares run medium to medium-high tuning: responsive for the softest ghost notes, authoritative on the hardest accents. **Estimated value:** $600–900 ## Cymbals: Zildjian K Custom Special Dry The K Custom Special Dry series was developed in direct collaboration with Gavin Harrison. The fundamental design principle — dry, controlled sound with fast decay — addresses the problem conventional bright cymbals create for polyrhythmic drumming: wash builds up and obscures rhythmic layers. ### Setup - **Hi-Hats:** 14" K Custom Special Dry — dry, quick decay for complex patterns without wash accumulation - **Crash (small):** 16" K Custom Special Dry — fast attack, controlled decay for articulate accents - **Crash (primary):** 18" K Custom Special Dry — controlled wash that clears quickly in dense arrangements - **Ride:** 21" K Custom Special Dry — centrepiece cymbal; defined ping and bell for all ride work - **China:** 18" K Custom Trash China — selective trashy accent for more aggressive passages The 21" Special Dry Ride is the defining sound of Harrison's Porcupine Tree recordings: clear articulate ping, complex but controlled wash, and a cutting bell. On *My Ashes* and *Sentimental*, the ride's dry character allows it to function at low volumes as delicate texture and at full drive as a sustained sound mass — a range within a single cymbal that is rare and essential for progressive rock production. **Estimated value:** $1,800–2,500 (full setup) ## Hardware: Sonor Perfect Balance The Sonor Perfect Balance Pedal provides even, consistent resistance throughout the entire stroke, allowing dynamic control with the foot as refined as dynamic control with the hand. On *Fear of a Blank Planet*, the kick drum operates within complex cross-rhythmic structures where ghost-level and accent-level strokes alternate rapidly. The Perfect Balance pedal's even feel makes this possible cleanly. Throne positioning sits lower than many rock/metal drummers, giving mechanical advantage for powerful playing while preserving full-kit mobility. Cymbals are positioned flat and close, minimising travel distance between strokes — a practical necessity for the rapid cymbal orchestrations both albums demand. ## Fear of a Blank Planet: The Definitive Recording *Fear of a Blank Planet* (2007) is the most complete recorded demonstration of this setup's capabilities. The title track runs in 6/4 with a three-against-four snare figure against a kick pattern implying a third grouping — three distinct time layers simultaneously. Harrison's SQ2 makes each voice audible: the snare cuts through with the brass shell's warmth, the kick sits precisely with the Perfect Balance pedal's dynamic control, and the Special Dry hi-hats drive the pattern without obscuring either layer. Produced by Steven Wilson with a preference for transparency and detail over compression, the album is the ideal context for Harrison's setup: it captures nuance, rewards dynamics, and showcases what the Sonor/Zildjian combination can achieve in a forensic production environment. ## Frequently Asked Questions **What is Gavin Harrison's drum setup?** Gavin Harrison's drum setup centres on a custom Sonor SQ2 kit with thin maple shells, Zildjian K Custom Special Dry cymbals (co-developed with Zildjian), Sonor Gavin Harrison Signature snares (14" x 5.25" brass and 12" Protean), and the Sonor Perfect Balance Pedal. The 21" K Custom Special Dry Ride is the centrepiece cymbal and defining sound of his Porcupine Tree recordings. **What drum kit does Gavin Harrison use?** Gavin Harrison plays a custom Sonor SQ2 kit — Sonor's fully bespoke program where each shell is built to the player's exact specifications. His configuration uses thin maple shells optimised for sensitivity and resonance, with a 22" bass drum, 10" and 12" rack toms, and 14" and 16" floor toms, all tuned as melodic instruments. **What gear does the Porcupine Tree drummer use?** Gavin Harrison (Porcupine Tree drummer) uses a Sonor SQ2 custom drum kit, Zildjian K Custom Special Dry cymbals, Sonor Gavin Harrison Signature snare drums, and the Sonor Perfect Balance bass drum pedal. This setup has remained consistent across In Absentia (2002), Fear of a Blank Planet (2007), and the reunion album Closure/Continuation (2022). **What is the drum setup on Fear of a Blank Planet?** The drum setup on Fear of a Blank Planet (2007) is Gavin Harrison's Sonor SQ2 custom kit paired with Zildjian K Custom Special Dry cymbals, including the 21" Special Dry Ride that drives the album's polyrhythmic textures. His Sonor Gavin Harrison Signature 14" x 5.25" brass snare is the primary snare. The Sonor Perfect Balance Pedal allows the precise foot dynamics central to the title track's interlocking 6/4 patterns. ## Internal Links - **Full drummer profile:** [Gavin Harrison at MetalForge](/drummer/gavin-harrison) - **Signature lick breakdowns:** [Gavin Harrison Lick Hub](/drummers/gavin-harrison/licks) - **Full gear profile:** [What's In Gavin Harrison's Kit](/articles/whats-in-gavin-harrisons-kit) - **Full article:** [Gavin Harrison Drum Setup — Porcupine Tree](/articles/gavin-harrison-porcupine-tree-drum-setup)