---
name: "Jon Dette"
band: "Slayer"
genre: "Thrash Metal"
country: "USA"
primary_brand: "Ludwig"
profile_url: "https://metalforge.io/drummer/jon-dette"
source: "https://metalforge.io"
last_updated: "2026-07-10"
---

# Jon Dette — Drum Kit & Gear Setup

Jon Dette's drum kit and gear setup. Jon Dette is a professional metal drummer best known for their work with Slayer, a defining act in thrash metal.

## Quick Facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | Jon Dette |
| Band | Slayer |
| All bands | Slayer, Testament, Anthrax |
| Genre | Thrash Metal |
| Country | USA |
| Primary brand | Ludwig |
| Drum kit | Ludwig Classic Maple |
| Signature snare | 14x6.5" Metal or Maple Snare |
| Sticks | Promark / Vater 5B |

## Biography

Jon Dette (born August 25, 1967, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin) is an American drummer best known as Slayer's touring drummer during 1996–1997, filling in for Paul Bostaph and learning the band's full live set on short notice. He went on to become Testament's drummer across two stints from 1997 to 2012, recording The Gathering (1999), The Formation of Damnation (2008), and Dark Roots of Earth (2012), and filled in for Charlie Benante on a 2010 Anthrax tour.

Jon Dette (born August 25, 1967, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin) is an American drummer known for his work as a touring and session drummer with several major thrash metal bands, most notably Slayer and Testament.

Dette served as Slayer's touring drummer during 1996-1997, filling in when Paul Bostaph was temporarily unavailable. He later became a longer-term member of Testament, contributing to their albums and tours. His versatility and professionalism have earned him respect throughout the metal community.

## Band History

- **Slayer** — 1996–1997
- **Testament** — 1997–1999, 2001–2012
- **Anthrax** — 2010

## Gear

- **Drums:** Ludwig Classic Maple
- **Snare:** 14x6.5" Metal or Maple Snare
- **Cymbals:** Sabian AAX / Zildjian A Series (14" Hi-Hats, 16" & 18" Crash, 20" Ride, 18" China)
- **Hardware:** DW 9000 or Tama Iron Cobra Double Pedal
- **Sticks:** Promark / Vater 5B
- **Heads:** Remo Powerstroke 3 (Kick) / Emperor Coated (Toms) / Coated Ambassador (Snare)

## Notable Performances

- Slayer - Killing Fields (Drum Playthrough by Former Slayer Drummer Jon Dette) (2022)

## Frequently Asked Questions

**Q: What drum kit does Jon Dette play?**

A: Jon Dette plays a Ludwig Classic Maple.

**Q: What cymbals does Jon Dette use?**

A: Jon Dette uses Sabian AAX / Zildjian A Series (14" Hi-Hats, 16" & 18" Crash, 20" Ride, 18" China).

**Q: What band is Jon Dette in?**

A: Jon Dette drums for Slayer, a thrash metal band.

## Signature Licks on MetalForge

MetalForge has 3 signature lick tutorial(s) for Jon Dette:

- [Killing Fields Thrash Engine](https://metalforge.io/drummers/jon-dette/licks/jon-dette-killing-fields-thrash)
- [Serenity in Fire Thrash Groove](https://metalforge.io/drummers/jon-dette/licks/jon-dette-serenity-in-fire-groove)
- [Postmortem Precision Attack](https://metalforge.io/drummers/jon-dette/licks/jon-dette-postmortem-precision)

Each lick page includes a video demonstration, HowTo breakdown, and gear notes.

---

**Full interactive profile:** [Jon Dette on MetalForge](https://metalforge.io/drummer/jon-dette)

**More LLM resources:** [Site index](https://metalforge.io/llms.txt) · [Full database](https://metalforge.io/llms-full.txt) · [Drummer markdown index](https://metalforge.io/llms/index.md)

*Last updated: 2026-07-10 · Source: [MetalForge.io](https://metalforge.io)*