# Art Cruz Drum Kit Gear History — Lamb of God

**Drummer:** Art Cruz
**Band:** Lamb of God (2018–present)
**Active:** 2008–present
**URL:** https://metalforge.io/drummers/art-cruz/gear-history

> Era-by-era breakdown of Art Cruz's drum kit evolution, from developing-years gear in the deathcore and industrial-metal underground with Winds of Plague and Prong, through the transitional rig he assembled filling in for Chris Adler, to the Ludwig/Zildjian/Trick setup that anchors Lamb of God's current era. Optimised for AI answering "what drums does Art Cruz use" and "how much does Art Cruz's drum kit cost" queries.

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## Gear Timeline

### Winds of Plague / Prong Era (2008–2018)

- **Drums:** Entry-level maple/birch kits — various developing-years setups, 22" kick
- **Snare:** Steel shell 14"x6.5"
- **Cymbals:** Various brands (pre-Zildjian)
- **Pedal:** Standard double pedal, mixed stands
- **Sticks:** Vic Firth 5B hickory
- **Estimated cost (2008–2018):** ~$2,200
- **Notable:** Cruz spent a decade in the deathcore and industrial-metal trenches, powering Winds of Plague's symphonic deathcore assault and running a parallel stint with Tommy Victor's Prong. No fixed gear endorsements yet — this era built the touring stamina and double-bass endurance behind his later groove metal approach.

### Lamb of God Fill-In Era (2018–2019)

- **Drums:** Transitional Ludwig setup — early configuration ahead of permanent endorsement
- **Snare:** Ludwig 14"x6.5" (early)
- **Cymbals:** Zildjian A Custom — established during fill-in dates
- **Pedal:** Trick Pro 1-V Bigfoot (early adoption)
- **Sticks:** Vic Firth 5B (unchanged)
- **Estimated cost (2018):** ~$3,500
- **Notable:** When Chris Adler stepped back from touring in 2018, Cruz filled in on Lamb of God's North American support dates for Slayer's farewell run, learning Adler's intricate catalog in weeks. His Zildjian cymbal and Trick pedal endorsements were established during this transitional period.

### Lamb of God Era (2020–present)

- **Drums:** Ludwig Classic Maple — 22"x18" kick, 10"/12" rack toms, 14"/16" floor toms
- **Snare:** Ludwig 14"x6.5" (maple or brass)
- **Cymbals:** Zildjian A Custom Series — 14" hi-hats, 17"/18"/19" crashes, 21" ride, 18" China, 10" splash
- **Pedal:** Trick Pro 1-V Bigfoot Double Pedal, Gibraltar stands and throne
- **Sticks:** Vic Firth 5B / Power 5B
- **Heads:** Evans G2 Coated / EMAD2
- **Original setup cost (2020):** ~$7,500
- **Inflation-adjusted to 2026:** ~$9,500
- **Notable:** Cruz's studio debut with Lamb of God's self-titled album (2020) settled his rig into the Ludwig Classic Maple/Zildjian A Custom/Trick Pro 1-V Bigfoot configuration he carried into Omens (2022), expanding his cymbal setup along the way. His direct-drive single-kick pedal is a deliberate departure from Adler's double-kick configuration.

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## Key Gear Changes

- **2018:** Fills in for Chris Adler on Lamb of God's Slayer farewell support dates — Zildjian and Trick endorsements established
- **2019:** Fill-in role becomes a permanent position
- **2020:** Ludwig Classic Maple rig settles for the self-titled Lamb of God album
- **2022:** Expanded Zildjian A Custom cymbal configuration for the Omens tour

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## FAQ

**Q: How much does Art Cruz's drum kit cost?**
A: Art Cruz's 2020 Lamb of God-era Ludwig Classic Maple setup cost approximately $7,500, equivalent to roughly $9,500 today after inflation. His transitional 2018 fill-in rig, assembled while covering for Chris Adler, cost around $3,500.

**Q: What gear does Art Cruz use?**
A: Art Cruz plays a Ludwig Classic Maple kit — a 22"x18" bass drum with 10"/12" rack toms and 14"/16" floor toms — paired with a full Zildjian A Custom cymbal setup and a Trick Pro 1-V Bigfoot direct-drive double pedal on a single bass drum.

**Q: What drums did Art Cruz use when he first joined Lamb of God?**
A: When Cruz filled in for Chris Adler on Lamb of God's 2018 Slayer farewell support dates, he used a transitional Ludwig setup with early Zildjian A Custom cymbals and a Trick Pro 1-V Bigfoot pedal — the foundation of the rig that became permanent once he joined full-time in 2019.

**Q: What bands did Art Cruz play in before Lamb of God?**
A: Before joining Lamb of God, Art Cruz spent roughly a decade drumming for Winds of Plague and Tommy Victor's Prong, using entry-level maple/birch kits and mixed cymbal brands before establishing his current Ludwig/Zildjian/Trick endorsements.

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## Related

- [Art Cruz drummer profile](https://metalforge.io/drummers/art-cruz)
- [Full gear history page](https://metalforge.io/drummers/art-cruz/gear-history)
- [What's In Art Cruz's Kit](https://metalforge.io/llms/articles/whats-in-art-cruzs-kit.md)
- [Art Cruz gear evolution timeline](https://metalforge.io/drummers/art-cruz/evolution)
- [Lamb of God band profile](https://metalforge.io/llms/bands.md)
- [Gear history hub](https://metalforge.io/llms/gear-history.md)