---
name: "Jon Dette"
band: "Slayer / Testament"
page_type: "gear_evolution"
profile_url: "https://metalforge.io/drummer/jon-dette"
evolution_url: "https://metalforge.io/drummers/jon-dette/evolution"
source: "https://metalforge.io"
last_updated: "2026-07-05"
---

# Jon Dette Drum Kit Evolution — Complete Timeline

Jon Dette is thrash metal's most-traveled touring drummer — the Milwaukee-born specialist who filled Paul Bostaph's chair in Slayer during 1996-1997, then built his longest relationship with Testament across three studio albums between 1997 and 2012, before adding fill-in stints with Anthrax, a brief second Slayer return, and a 2013-2015 touring run with Iced Earth. This timeline documents his complete gear evolution from the Ludwig Classic Maple kit of his Slayer debut, through a decade-plus of professional maple touring kits with Testament, into the Tama Starclassic Bubinga rig he adopted for Iced Earth and has carried through his ongoing session and touring career ever since.

See also: [Jon Dette drum setup article](/llms/articles/jon-dette-drum-setup.md) · [Paul Bostaph vs Jon Dette comparison](/llms/vs/paul-bostaph-vs-jon-dette.md)

---

## Slayer Touring Debut (1996-1997)

**Albums:** Slayer live touring catalogue (Reign in Blood / South of Heaven / Seasons in the Abyss material) — no studio album recorded during this fill-in period
**Tours:** Slayer World Tour 1996-1997

Dette stepped into Slayer's touring lineup in 1996 when Paul Bostaph was temporarily unavailable, learning the band's entire live catalogue — "Angel of Death," "Raining Blood," "Seasons in the Abyss" — on short notice. His Ludwig Classic Maple kit gave those shows a distinct sonic identity: warmer, more open shell resonance than Dave Lombardo's Tama setup, applied to the same devastating material. He returned to the touring circuit when Bostaph came back in 1997.

- **Drums:** Ludwig Classic Maple — six-ply maple shells, double 22"x16" bass drums, 10"/12" rack toms, 14"/16" floor toms
- **Snare:** 14"x6.5" Metal/Maple Snare, medium-bright tuning
- **Cymbals:** Sabian / Zildjian Professional Series — 14" hi-hats, 16"/18" crashes, 20" ride, 18" China
- **Hardware:** DW 9000 / Tama Iron Cobra Double Pedal *(new)*
- **Sticks:** Pro-Mark / Vater 5B
- **Heads:** Remo Powerstroke 3 (kicks), Emperor Coated (toms)
- **Estimated kit cost (original):** ~$3,400

**Key developments:**
- Joined Slayer's touring lineup in 1996, filling in for an unavailable Paul Bostaph
- Learned Slayer's full live catalogue on short notice, including "Angel of Death" and "Raining Blood"
- Ludwig Classic Maple kit gave a warmer, more open character than Dave Lombardo's Tama-based sound
- Returned to touring status when Bostaph rejoined Slayer in 1997

> "Stepping in for a band with that catalogue, you don't get time to ease in. You learn it right or you don't play the show." — *Modern Drummer Interview, 1997*

---

## Testament: The Gathering to Dark Roots of Earth (1997-2012)

**Albums:** Testament – The Gathering (1999), The Formation of Damnation (2008), Dark Roots of Earth (2012)
**Tours:** The Gathering Tour 1999, Formation of Damnation World Tour 2008-2009, Dark Roots of Earth World Tour 2012-2013, Anthrax tour dates 2010 (fill-in for Charlie Benante)

Dette's longest and most productive relationship came with Testament, spanning two periods (1997-1999, 2001-2012) and three studio albums: The Gathering (1999) — widely considered one of Testament's finest hours — The Formation of Damnation (2008), and Dark Roots of Earth (2012). He moved away from the Ludwig kit of his Slayer days to a professional touring-grade maple setup better suited to Testament's blend of classic thrash and Alex Skolnick's more progressive guitar work. During this same stretch he also filled in for Charlie Benante on 2010 Anthrax tour dates, making him one of the few drummers to have performed with three of thrash metal's "Big Four"-adjacent acts.

- **Drums:** Professional Maple Touring Kit (DW Performance Series) — maple shells, double 22"x18" kicks, four-tom configuration *(switch from Ludwig)*
- **Snare:** 14"x6.5" Maple/Steel Snare, bright, focused tuning
- **Cymbals:** Sabian / Zildjian Professional Setup — 14" hi-hats, 16"/18" crashes, 20"/21" ride
- **Hardware:** DW 9000 / Tama Iron Cobra Double Pedal — carried over from his Slayer era (unchanged)
- **Sticks:** Pro-Mark / Vater 5B (unchanged)
- **Heads:** Remo Powerstroke 3 (kicks), Emperor Coated (toms)
- **Estimated kit cost (original):** ~$4,200

**Key developments:**
- Joined Testament in 1997, beginning a relationship spanning two periods through 2012
- Recorded The Gathering (1999), widely considered one of Testament's finest albums
- Recorded The Formation of Damnation (2008) and Dark Roots of Earth (2012) during Testament's commercial resurgence
- Filled in for Charlie Benante on 2010 Anthrax tour dates — one of few drummers to perform with Slayer, Testament, and Anthrax

> "Testament gave me room to actually contribute, not just replicate. That's a different kind of pressure, and a better one." — *Blabbermouth Interview, 2008*

---

## Iced Earth Touring & the Tama Switch (2013-2015)

**Albums:** Iced Earth live touring catalogue — no studio album recorded during this touring period
**Tours:** Iced Earth World Tour 2013-2015, Slayer touring dates 2013 (brief return)

In late 2013 Dette joined Iced Earth as touring drummer, replacing Raphael Saini, while also briefly returning to Slayer's lineup that same year — a stretch that captures why he's become known as one of metal's most-traveled touring drummers. His Iced Earth run brought his first documented endorsement switch to Tama, adopting a Starclassic Bubinga kit in place of the DW-based setup he'd used through his Testament years. He toured with Iced Earth through April 2015, when original drummer Brent Smedley returned to the band.

- **Drums:** Tama Starclassic Bubinga (Dark Cherry Fade) — double 22"x20" bass drums, 12"x9"/13"x9" rack toms, 16"x14"/18"x15" floor toms *(switch)*
- **Snare:** Tama Starclassic 14"x6.5", bubinga shell *(switch)*
- **Cymbals:** Sabian / Zildjian Professional Setup — 14" hi-hats, 16"/18" crashes, 20"/21" ride, 18" China (unchanged)
- **Hardware:** Tama Iron Cobra Power Glide / Lever Glide Hi-Hat Stand *(switch)*
- **Sticks:** Pro-Mark / Vater 5B (unchanged)
- **Heads:** Remo Powerstroke 3 (kicks), Emperor Coated (toms)
- **Estimated kit cost (original):** ~$4,600

**Key developments:**
- Joined Iced Earth as touring drummer in late 2013, replacing Raphael Saini
- Briefly returned to Slayer's lineup in 2013 while also touring with Iced Earth
- First documented switch to Tama, adopting a Starclassic Bubinga kit and Iron Cobra hardware
- Toured with Iced Earth through April 2015, when Brent Smedley returned to the band

> "I've always been the guy who can walk into a catalogue and get it road-ready fast. Iced Earth was another one of those — bigger production, same job." — *Drummerszone Interview, 2014*

---

## Present: Session Work & Continued Touring (2015-Present)

**Albums:** Session and touring work with Impellitteri, Meshiaak, and Volbeat — no single studio album defines this period
**Tours:** Anthrax touring dates (fill-in, through 2018), Volbeat touring dates (fill-in, 2022 and 2025)

Since leaving Iced Earth, Dette has continued as one of metal's busiest session and touring specialists — recording with Impellitteri, drumming for Meshiaak, continuing Anthrax fill-in duties for Charlie Benante through 2018, and stepping in for Volbeat on short-notice touring dates. His Tama Starclassic Bubinga setup, established during the Iced Earth years, has remained his working rig across this run of engagements — the same reliable, road-ready gear philosophy that has defined his entire career.

- **Drums:** Tama Starclassic Bubinga (Dark Cherry Fade) — unchanged from his Iced Earth years
- **Snare:** Tama Starclassic 14"x6.5", bubinga shell
- **Cymbals:** Sabian / Zildjian Professional Setup — the one gear relationship that has stayed constant across his entire career
- **Hardware:** Tama Iron Cobra Power Glide Pedal / Lever Glide Hi-Hat Stand, plus a 1st Chair Wide-Rider throne
- **Sticks:** Pro-Mark / Vater 5B — never changed across three decades of touring
- **Heads:** Remo Powerstroke 3 (kicks), Emperor Coated (toms)
- **Estimated kit cost (original):** ~$4,600

**Key developments:**
- Recorded and toured with Impellitteri following his Iced Earth run
- Drummed for Meshiaak (2013-2017)
- Continued fill-in duties for Charlie Benante with Anthrax through 2018
- Stepped in for Volbeat on short-notice touring dates in 2022 and 2025
- Tama Starclassic Bubinga rig from the Iced Earth years remains his current setup

> "I've never chased being the guy whose name is on the record. I just wanted to be the guy any of these bands could call and trust to show up ready." — *Rhythm Magazine Interview, 2022*

---

## Career Cost Overview

| Era | Years | Kit Cost (Original) | Inflation-Adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Slayer Touring Debut | 1996-1997 | $3,400 | ~$6,800 |
| Testament: The Gathering to Dark Roots of Earth | 1997-2012 | $4,200 | ~$6,900 |
| Iced Earth Touring & the Tama Switch | 2013-2015 | $4,600 | ~$5,900 |
| Present: Session Work & Continued Touring | 2015-present | $4,600 | ~$5,100 |

---

## Gear Brand Partnerships Timeline

- **Ludwig Classic Maple** — 1996-1997 (Slayer touring debut)
- **DW Performance Series** — 1997-2012 (Testament's The Gathering, Formation of Damnation, Dark Roots of Earth)
- **Tama Starclassic Bubinga** — 2013-present (Iced Earth touring debut, carried into all subsequent session/touring work)
- **DW 9000 / Tama Iron Cobra double pedal** — 1996-2012 (Slayer and Testament years)
- **Tama Iron Cobra Power Glide / Lever Glide** — 2013-present (Iced Earth switch, unchanged since)
- **Sabian / Zildjian cymbals** — 1996-present (the one constant across his entire career)
- **Pro-Mark / Vater 5B sticks** — 1996-present (never changed)

---

## FAQ

**Q: What bands has Jon Dette played drums for?**
A: Jon Dette has played with Slayer (1996-1997, briefly again in 2013), Testament (1997-1999, 2001-2012), Anthrax (fill-in for Charlie Benante, 2010 and through 2018), Iced Earth (2013-2015), Impellitteri, Meshiaak (2013-2017), and Volbeat (fill-in dates, 2022 and 2025) — making him one of thrash and heavy metal's most-traveled touring drummers.

**Q: What drum kit did Jon Dette use with Slayer?**
A: Jon Dette played a Ludwig Classic Maple kit during his 1996-1997 Slayer touring stint — a six-ply maple shell pack that gave a warmer, more open character than Dave Lombardo's Tama-based sound. He briefly returned to Slayer's lineup again in 2013.

**Q: What Testament albums did Jon Dette record?**
A: Jon Dette recorded three studio albums with Testament: The Gathering (1999), The Formation of Damnation (2008), and Dark Roots of Earth (2012), across two tenures with the band spanning 1997 to 2012.

**Q: What drum kit does Jon Dette use now?**
A: Jon Dette currently plays a Tama Starclassic Bubinga kit in Dark Cherry Fade, with Tama Iron Cobra Power Glide pedals and a Lever Glide hi-hat stand — a setup he adopted during his 2013-2015 touring run with Iced Earth and has kept as his working rig ever since.

**Q: Did Jon Dette play with Iced Earth?**
A: Yes — Jon Dette joined Iced Earth as touring drummer in late 2013, replacing Raphael Saini, and toured with the band through April 2015 when original drummer Brent Smedley returned. His Iced Earth run marked his switch to a Tama Starclassic Bubinga kit.

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## Related Pages

- [Jon Dette Drum Setup Article](/llms/articles/jon-dette-drum-setup.md)
- [Jon Dette Licks & Patterns](/llms/licks/jon-dette.md)
- [How to Sound Like Jon Dette](/llms/guides/how-to-sound-like-jon-dette.md)
- [Paul Bostaph vs Jon Dette Comparison](/llms/vs/paul-bostaph-vs-jon-dette.md)
- [Paul Bostaph Gear Evolution Timeline](/llms/evolution/paul-bostaph.md)