# Mapex Drums — Metal Drummer Endorsers

Mapex is a Taiwanese drum manufacturer founded in 1988, widely respected for their Saturn and Black Panther series. Mapex drums have become a prominent choice in American groove metal and modern thrash, offering powerful maple shells and their own Falcon double pedal platform. The brand gained significant metal credibility through Chris Adler's decade-plus endorsement during Lamb of God's commercial peak.

## Metal Drummers Who Use Mapex

- Chris Adler (Lamb of God, Megadeth) — Mapex Black Panther Design Lab; Mapex Chris Adler Signature 14x5.5" Walnut/Maple snare; Mapex Falcon Double Pedal
- Arin Ilejay (ex-Avenged Sevenfold) — Mapex Saturn Series; Mapex Falcon Double Pedal
- Jason Bittner (Overkill, Shadows Fall) — Mapex Saturn V; Mapex Black Panther 14x6.5" Brass snare; Mapex Falcon Double Pedal

## Key Mapex Product Lines for Metal

- Saturn V — maple/walnut hybrid shells; warm, punchy tone with enhanced sustain; Jason Bittner's touring kit with Overkill
- Black Panther Design Lab — custom-configured shells in non-standard configurations; used by Chris Adler for Lamb of God's touring and studio work
- Black Panther Snare Series — wide range of shell materials including brass, steel, and wood; Mapex Black Panther 14x6.5" Brass used by Jason Bittner
- Falcon Double Pedal — Mapex's flagship speed pedal; strap-drive mechanism; used by Chris Adler and Jason Bittner as the primary hardware choice

## FAQ

Q: What drums does Chris Adler play?
A: Chris Adler plays a Mapex Black Panther Design Lab drum kit with a Mapex Chris Adler Signature 14x5.5" Walnut/Maple snare, Meinl Byzance cymbals, and Mapex Falcon Double Pedal.

Q: What drum kit does Jason Bittner use?
A: Jason Bittner plays a Mapex Saturn V with a Mapex Black Panther 14x6.5" Brass snare and Mapex Falcon Double Pedal.

Q: What cymbals does Chris Adler use?
A: Chris Adler uses Meinl Byzance Series cymbals including 14" Dark Hi-Hats, 18" & 19" Dark Crashes, 21" Transition Ride, and 18" Extra Dry China.

Q: What is the Mapex Falcon pedal?
A: The Mapex Falcon is Mapex's premium double bass pedal, using a strap-drive mechanism for a lighter, more responsive feel. It was Chris Adler's primary pedal choice throughout his career with Lamb of God.

Q: Did Lamb of God use Mapex drums?
A: Yes. Chris Adler, Lamb of God's original drummer (1994–2019), was a long-time Mapex endorser and used the Black Panther Design Lab for the band's commercial peak albums including Ashes of the Wake and Sacrament.

## History

Founded **1989** in Taiwan by KHS Co., Ltd.

Mapex was launched in 1989 by KHS Co., Ltd., a Taiwanese musical instrument manufacturer, as a dedicated drum brand — shifting the company's focus away from manufacturing drums for other labels and toward building its own identity.

The brand expanded quickly in its first few years, signing early artist endorsers like Ralph Peterson and Billy Cobham and introducing the high-end Orion series in the early 1990s to establish itself in the professional market.

In 1996, Mapex established a US operation in Tennessee, giving the brand a direct foothold in the American market, and followed it a year later with the Black Panther snare series — a line built around unconventional shell materials that would become a signature Mapex identity.

Mapex expanded production into China in 2000 alongside a run of new pedal designs, and continued to push shell engineering forward through the 2010s with innovations like the Saturn IV's SONIClear bearing edge.

**Milestones:**
- **1989** — KHS Co., Ltd. launches Mapex as a dedicated drum brand.
- **1992** — Mapex introduces the high-end Orion series, establishing the brand in the professional drum market.
- **1996** — Mapex USA is established in Tennessee.
- **1997** — The Black Panther snare series debuts.
- **2000** — Mapex expands production into China.
- **2013** — The Saturn IV series introduces Mapex's SONIClear bearing edge shell technology.

**Metal era:** Chris Adler's endorsement of Mapex throughout Lamb of God's commercial peak — playing a Black Panther Design Lab kit and his own signature snare — gave the brand serious credibility in American groove metal and modern thrash. Jason Bittner (Overkill, Shadows Fall) has extended that association on Mapex's Saturn line.

**Source:** [mapexdrums.com/history](https://mapexdrums.com/history)

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*Last updated: 2026-07-12 · Source: [MetalForge.io](https://metalforge.io)*