# Godsmack IV Drum Setup: Shannon Larkin's Pearl Reference Gear on the #2 Billboard Album (2006)

> Discover the exact drum kit, cymbals, and gear Shannon Larkin used on Godsmack's IV (2006) — the #2 Billboard 200 debut, certified Platinum. Pearl Reference drums, Sabian HH/HHX cymbals, Pearl Eliminator pedals, and the heavier direction that evolved from Faceless.

**Type:** Album Drum Setup
**Drummer(s):** [Shannon Larkin](/llms/drummers/shannon-larkin.md)
**Band / Album:** Godsmack — *IV* (2006)
**Genre:** Hard Rock / Heavy Metal

## Overview

Released on April 25, 2006, *IV* is Godsmack's fourth studio album and the follow-up to their #1 Billboard 200 breakthrough *Faceless* (2003). The album debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200 and certified Platinum in the United States — a remarkable achievement for a hard rock album in 2006. Shannon Larkin arrived at the *IV* sessions with a comprehensive gear overhaul from his *Faceless* setup: the Tama Starclassic Maple kit gave way to the Pearl Reference Series, his steel snare became a Pearl Free-Floating brass shell, his Sabian AAX cymbals evolved into a dual HH/HHX configuration, and his DW 9000 pedals were replaced by the Pearl Eliminator. His sticks also changed, from Vater Hickory 5B to Vic Firth SD1 General.

The album's heavier, more direct approach reflected a band that had reached commercial summit on *Faceless* and was now moving toward a harder-hitting sound for its own sake. Larkin's Pearl Reference kit — with its maple/birch hybrid shells delivering a more attack-forward character than the all-maple Starclassic — was the right instrument for that direction.

## Gear Breakdown

- **Drums:** Pearl Reference Series (Maple/birch hybrid shells, custom touring finish)
- **Snare:** Pearl Free-Floating 14" x 6.5" Brass
- **Cymbals:** Sabian HH / HHX Series — HH 14" Medium Hi-Hats, HHX 17" and 19" Evolution Crashes, HHX 21" Raw Bell Dry Ride, HH 18" Chinese
- **Hardware / Pedals:** Pearl Eliminator Double Bass Pedal; Vic Firth SD1 General sticks; Pearl H-2050 Gyro-Lock Hi-Hat Stand; Remo Emperor Coated (toms); Remo Powerstroke 3 (bass)
- **Heads:** Remo Emperor Coated (batter), Remo Ambassador Snare Side (resonant)
- **Snare tuning:** Medium-high tension — maximizing brass shell warmth while preserving hard rock attack

### Pearl Reference: Flagship Shells for a Heavier Direction

The Pearl Reference Series was Pearl's flagship professional shell pack when introduced in the mid-2000s. Its hybrid maple/birch shell construction — alternating plies of maple and birch — combines the warm fundamental of maple with the punchy attack of birch, delivering a more immediate, attack-forward tone than the all-maple Tama Starclassic that Larkin recorded *Faceless* with. For *IV*'s heavier arrangements, the Reference's faster transient response suited the album's more aggressive direction.

The double 22" bass drum configuration carries over from *Faceless* — a constant in Larkin's Godsmack philosophy — now with the Pearl Reference's more defined, punchy attack. The four-tom spread (10", 12", 14", 16") remains identical to the *Faceless* setup: a deliberate choice reflecting Larkin's groove-first approach to kit configuration.

### Pearl Free-Floating 14"x6.5" Brass Snare

The Pearl Free-Floating snare's defining construction feature is its independently suspended hoops, which allow the shell to vibrate without constraint from bolted tension rods. The result is a snare that resonates fully — natural, complex, with complete shell-to-air transference. The 14"x6.5" brass shell provides a warmer, more harmonically complex backbeat than the *Faceless*-era steel model: sharp initial attack from the brass, with overtones and sustain that add musical character beyond pure percussion.

Larkin tuned the Free-Floating at medium-high tension to maintain hard rock attack while allowing the brass shell's natural character to express itself fully.

### Sabian HH / HHX: Tonal Depth for a Heavier Record

The transition from Sabian AAX to HH/HHX between *Faceless* and *IV* represents a meaningful shift toward tonal complexity. Where AAX cymbals are machine-hammered for bright, consistent response, the HH series (Hand-Hammered) is individually crafted by hand at Sabian's Meductic, New Brunswick facility — each cymbal with unique tonal variations that machine processes cannot replicate.

The HH 14" Medium Hi-Hats provide a darker, chikier closed sound and more complex open wash than the *Faceless*-era AAX Stage Hi-Hats. The HHX Evolution Crashes — introduced shortly before the *IV* sessions — brought faster response with complex dark overtones. The HHX 21" Raw Bell Dry Ride, which became central to Larkin's sound in subsequent Godsmack years, provides a dry, contained body wash and sharply defined bell: a time-keeping voice the *Faceless*-era AAX Stage Ride could not deliver.

### Pearl Eliminator Double Bass Pedal

The Pearl Eliminator replaced Larkin's *Faceless*-era DW 9000 for the *IV* sessions. The Eliminator's key differentiator — interchangeable cam profiles (round, oval, eccentric) — allows the player to customize the pedal's power curve and return speed to precise personal specification. For *IV*'s more aggressive bass drum patterns, the Eliminator's direct-feel chain-drive with tunable cam delivered the power-consistent response the heavier material demanded.

## Key Facts

- Godsmack IV debuted #2 on Billboard 200 (April 2006) and certified Platinum in the US
- Shannon Larkin's comprehensive gear transition from Faceless: Tama → Pearl Reference, steel → brass snare, AAX → HH/HHX cymbals, DW 9000 → Pearl Eliminator, Vater → Vic Firth
- Pearl Reference Series — maple/birch hybrid shells for attack-forward hard rock tone
- Pearl Free-Floating 14"x6.5" brass snare — warmer, more complex backbeat than Faceless-era steel
- Sabian HH/HHX dual-series cymbal setup — hand-hammered complexity added to Larkin's playing
- Pearl Eliminator with interchangeable cam system for tunable double-kick feel
- Vic Firth SD1 General sticks — new endorsement, heavier mass for aggressive IV material
- Estimated kit value: $3,500–6,000 (Pearl Reference Series shell pack, 2006 era)
- Estimated snare value: $400–700 (Pearl Free-Floating brass snare, 2006 era)

## FAQ

**What drums did Shannon Larkin use on Godsmack IV?**
Pearl Reference Series — double 22" bass drums, 10" and 12" rack toms, 14" and 16" floor toms, with a Pearl Free-Floating 14"x6.5" brass snare. A complete gear change from the Tama Starclassic Maple on Faceless (2003).

**How does Shannon Larkin's kit compare between Faceless and IV?**
Every major component changed: Tama Starclassic Maple → Pearl Reference (kit), steel → brass snare, Sabian AAX → HH/HHX cymbals, DW 9000 → Pearl Eliminator pedals, Vater 5B → Vic Firth SD1 General sticks. The Pearl Reference's maple/birch hybrid delivers a more attack-forward, punchy tone compared to the Starclassic Maple's all-maple warmth.

**What cymbals does Shannon Larkin use?**
On IV (2006): Sabian HH 14" Medium Hi-Hats, HHX 17" and 19" Evolution Crashes, HHX 21" Raw Bell Dry Ride, HH 18" Chinese — a dual-series hand-hammered configuration that evolved from the pure AAX setup on Faceless. The HHX Raw Bell Dry Ride became a defining element of his sound going forward.

## Related Content

- [Shannon Larkin drummer profile](/drummer/shannon-larkin)
- [Shannon Larkin complete gear guide](/articles/shannon-larkin-drum-setup)
- [Faceless drum setup (2003)](/articles/faceless-drum-setup) — the Tama Starclassic Maple era that preceded IV
- [Browse all drummers](/drummers)

**Source:** https://metalforge.io/articles/godsmack-iv-drum-setup

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*Last updated: 2026-06-26 · Source: [MetalForge.io](https://metalforge.io)*