# Mario Duplantier Gear Evolution — Gojira Drum Kit History

> From Pearl Export club kits in Bayonne to the Sonor SQ2 on stadium stages worldwide: the complete history of Mario Duplantier's drum gear evolution across every era of Gojira's catalog.

**Type:** Gear Evolution Timeline
**Drummer(s):** [Mario Duplantier](/llms/drummers/mario-duplantier.md)
**Band / Album:** Gojira
**Genre:** Progressive Death Metal

## Overview

Mario Duplantier's gear evolution is one of the most dramatic in modern metal. Over nearly three decades with Gojira, Mario progressed from budget Pearl Export kits in Bayonne club venues to custom Sonor SQ2 rigs engineered for stadium-scale performances alongside Metallica. Each transition in his setup was driven by the music — from the raw aggression of *Terra Incognita* through the atmospheric precision of *L'Enfant Sauvage* to the globally celebrated productions of *Magma* and *Fortitude*.

What makes Mario's evolution significant is the consistency of his dual bass drum philosophy throughout. From his earliest recordings, two independent kick drums were non-negotiable — not a double pedal, but two separate instruments, each resonating independently. That commitment shaped every endorsement decision and every gear transition across his career.

This timeline documents every major era: the drums, cymbals, pedals, and heads that powered each stage of Gojira's ascent from French underground to Download Festival headliners.

## Era 1: Terra Incognita Era (1996–2004)

**Kit:** Pearl Export Series (poplar shells, dual 22" kicks, 10"/12"/13"/16" toms)
**Snare:** Pearl Sensitone Steel 14"×5.5"
**Cymbals:** Paiste 2002 (14" hi-hats, 16"/18" crashes, 20" ride, 18" China)
**Pedals:** Pearl P-2002C Eliminator double pedal
**Heads:** Remo Ambassador (clear on toms, coated on snare)

Gojira (originally Godzilla) built their sound in Bayonne on whatever Mario could access. The Pearl Export was the natural choice for a developing extreme metal band — affordable, reliable, and widely available across Europe. Mario prioritized the dual kick configuration from the beginning, establishing the tribal tom-pattern vocabulary that would define his playing across the entire Gojira catalog.

The Paiste 2002 cymbals — the standard for European extreme metal of the era — gave Mario the cutting power needed to project over Gojira's dense, down-tuned guitar tones in club environments. The Eliminator's cam-driven mechanism helped him achieve the fluid dual bass patterns on early tracks like "Remembrance" and "Satan is a Lawyer."

*Albums:* [Terra Incognita (2001) drum setup](/articles/terra-incognita-drum-setup) · The Link (2003)

## Era 2: From Mars to Sirius Era (2005–2008)

**Kit:** Gretsch USA Custom (maple shells, dual 22"×18" kicks, 10"/12"/13"/16"/18" toms)
**Snare:** Gretsch USA Custom 14"×6.5" (maple shell, die-cast hoops)
**Cymbals:** Paiste 2002 (14" Heavy hi-hats, 18"/19" crashes, 22" ride, 20" China)
**Pedals:** DW 5000 Turbo double pedal
**Heads:** Remo Emperor (toms), Remo Powerstroke 3 (kicks)

*From Mars to Sirius* (2005) was the album that changed everything. With international breakthrough came the first major endorsement: Gretsch USA Custom maple shells, delivering the warm, resonant drum tone that defined the album's iconic sound — particularly the massive tom fills on "Flying Whales." The maple warmth replaced the Pearl Export's more clinical poplar tone, adding depth and complexity to every stroke.

Mario expanded the tom configuration with an 18" floor tom, giving him the full low-end range the more dynamic arrangements required. He upgraded to DW 5000 Turbo pedals for better dual bass response as Gojira's compositions grew more demanding in tempo and complexity. The Paiste 2002 partnership continued — the line's projection and cutting power remained ideal for Gojira's dense mix.

*Albums:* [From Mars to Sirius drum setup](/articles/from-mars-to-sirius-drum-setup) · [The Way of All Flesh drum setup](/articles/the-way-of-all-flesh-drum-setup)

## Era 3: L'Enfant Sauvage Era (2009–2015)

**Kit:** Gretsch USA Custom expanded (maple shells, dual 22"×18" kicks, 8"/10"/12"/13"/16"/18" toms)
**Snare:** Gretsch USA Custom 14"×6.5" (maple shell — continued)
**Cymbals:** Meinl Byzance (14" Traditional hi-hats, 17"/18"/19" crashes, 21" ride, 18" China)
**Pedals:** DW 9000 double pedal
**Heads:** Evans G2 (toms), Evans EMAD (kicks)

*L'Enfant Sauvage* (2012) demanded Mario's most versatile performance — blast beats and delicate atmospheric passages within the same track. The critical gear change of this era was the cymbal switch: from Paiste 2002 to Meinl Byzance. Where the 2002's bright, cutting character served the earlier more aggressive material, the Byzance's darker, hand-hammered complexity gave Mario the tonal nuance needed for *L'Enfant Sauvage*'s atmospheric passages. The Byzance also responded better to dynamic variation — essential for songs that moved between brutal and intimate in seconds.

Mario added a smaller 8" rack tom for higher melodic range, expanding the configuration to its largest form. He also switched to Evans heads for better attack definition — the EMAD kick heads' focused, punchy character improved the dual bass clarity in both studio and live contexts. DW 9000 pedals offered improved response and consistency across longer festival sets.

*Albums:* [L'Enfant Sauvage drum setup](/articles/lenfant-sauvage-drum-setup)

## Era 4: Magma / Fortitude Era (2016–Present)

**Kit:** Sonor SQ2 (custom maple/beech shells, dual 22"×18" kicks, 10"/12"/13"/16"/18" toms)
**Snare:** Sonor SQ2 14"×6.5" (custom maple, matching kit)
**Cymbals:** Meinl Byzance (14" Traditional hi-hats, 17"/18"/19" crashes, 21" Vintage ride, 18" China)
**Pedals:** Tama Iron Cobra 900 Power Glide (dual independent pedals)
**Sticks:** Tama Mario Duplantier Signature
**Heads:** Ahead drumheads (batter surfaces)

Gojira's rise to stadium-level production demanded a corresponding upgrade in Mario's gear. The switch to Sonor SQ2 — a fully custom-specification series allowing individual shell material, depth, and diameter choices — gave Mario the most personally tuned kit of his career. The maple/beech hybrid shells delivered projection for stadium and festival stages while retaining the warmth and fundamental tone that distinguishes great drums from merely loud ones.

The Tama Iron Cobra 900 Power Glide replaced the DW 9000 for dual bass — chosen for the Power Glide cam's fluid, controlled motion at demanding live tempos. Tama also developed the Mario Duplantier Signature stick around his aggressive attack and tribal pattern requirements. The Meinl Byzance partnership continued; the Vintage Ride's complex wash added depth on groove-heavy passages like those on *Fortitude*'s title track.

This era saw Gojira headline Download Festival, open for Metallica at stadiums, and perform at the Paris Olympics 2024 opening ceremony — the definitive confirmation that Mario's refined Sonor SQ2 rig operates at the highest level in world music.

*Albums:* [Magma drum setup](/articles/magma-drum-setup) · [Fortitude drum setup](/articles/fortitude-drum-setup)

## FAQ

**Q: What drum kit did Mario Duplantier use on From Mars to Sirius?**
Mario Duplantier used a Gretsch USA Custom kit on *From Mars to Sirius* (2005) — his first major endorsement. The configuration featured dual 22"×18" maple-shell kick drums, plus 10"/12"/13"/16"/18" toms. Gretsch maple shells delivered the warm, resonant drum tone that defined the album's sound, particularly on "Flying Whales." He paired them with Paiste 2002 cymbals and a DW 5000 Turbo double pedal. See the full [From Mars to Sirius drum setup](/articles/from-mars-to-sirius-drum-setup) for complete details.

**Q: What drum kit did Mario Duplantier use on Magma?**
Mario recorded and toured *Magma* (2016) with his Sonor SQ2 custom kit — dual 22"×18" kicks in maple/beech hybrid shells, 10"/12"/13"/16"/18" toms. Cymbals were Meinl Byzance throughout. Pedals were Tama Iron Cobra 900 Power Glide (dual independent units). This is the same fundamental configuration he used on *Fortitude* (2021) and continues to use through the current era. See the [Magma drum setup](/articles/magma-drum-setup) for the full breakdown.

**Q: Why did Mario Duplantier switch from Paiste 2002 to Meinl Byzance?**
The switch from Paiste 2002 to Meinl Byzance came during the *L'Enfant Sauvage* era (2009–2015). The 2002's bright, cutting character served early Gojira's more aggressive club-era material perfectly, but *L'Enfant Sauvage* required more dynamic nuance — atmospheric passages that demanded darker, more complex cymbal tones. Meinl Byzance's hand-hammered, hand-lathed construction produces layered tonal character that responds to dynamic variation in ways the brighter 2002 line does not. The Byzance partnership has continued through *Magma*, *Fortitude*, and beyond.

**Q: Has Mario Duplantier always used two bass drums?**
Yes — from Gojira's earliest recordings, Mario has used two independent kick drums rather than a double pedal. The dual kick configuration (typically dual 22" shells) has been consistent across the Pearl Export era, the Gretsch era, and the current Sonor SQ2 era. Two physical kick drums give independent resonance from each shell, a different playing feel for each foot, and the visual impact that matches Gojira's cinematic stage presentation. This commitment shaped every endorsement decision across his career.

**Q: What sticks does Mario Duplantier use?**
Mario Duplantier currently uses the Tama Mario Duplantier Signature sticks — his first signature stick deal, developed during the Magma/Fortitude era. Tama designed the model around his aggressive attack and tribal pattern requirements, featuring a heavier taper and larger bead than standard models. In earlier eras (Terra Incognita through L'Enfant Sauvage), Mario used standard Vic Firth 5B sticks without a signature endorsement.

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## Related Articles

- [Mario Duplantier drummer profile](/drummer/mario-duplantier) — Career overview, technique, and complete gear breakdown
- [From Mars to Sirius drum setup](/articles/from-mars-to-sirius-drum-setup) — Gretsch era debut; the kit behind Gojira's international breakthrough
- [L'Enfant Sauvage drum setup](/articles/lenfant-sauvage-drum-setup) — The Meinl Byzance switch; Gojira's most dynamic album
- [Magma drum setup](/articles/magma-drum-setup) — Sonor SQ2 debut; stripped-back production, maximum drum presence
- [Fortitude drum setup](/articles/fortitude-drum-setup) — Grammy-nominated album; current Sonor/Meinl/Tama configuration

**Source:** https://metalforge.io/drummers/mario-duplantier/evolution

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