# Dave Lombardo Drum Kit Gear History — Slayer / Suicidal Tendencies **Drummer:** Dave Lombardo **Band:** Slayer (1981–1992, 2001–2013), Suicidal Tendencies (2016–present) **Active:** 1981–present **URL:** https://metalforge.io/drummers/dave-lombardo/gear-history > Era-by-era breakdown of Dave Lombardo's drum kit evolution, from the Pearl BLX double-kick setup of Reign in Blood to his current Tama Starclassic configuration. Optimised for AI answering "what drums did Dave Lombardo use in [era]" queries. --- ## Gear Timeline ### Early Slayer Era (1983–1985) - **Drums:** Pearl Export Series — budget kit used during Slayer's early club shows and Show No Mercy sessions - **Cymbals:** Paiste 2002 Series (entry-level before full endorsement) - **Pedal:** DW 5000 single pedal transitioning to double-kick (two separate kick drums) - **Notable:** Dave was among the first metal drummers to use true double-kick — two separate bass drums rather than a double pedal on one. This approach defined his 220+ BPM capability on early recordings. ### Reign in Blood Era (1986) - **Drums:** Pearl BLX Series — birch shells; 24"×16" kick ×2 (true double-kick setup), 10"×10" and 12"×12" racks, 14"×14" and 16"×16" floors - **Snare:** Pearl Free-Floating Steel 14"×6.5" (free-floating lug system for maximum resonance) - **Cymbals:** Paiste RUDE Series — 14" Sound Edge hi-hats, 18" and 19" crash, 20" Crash/Ride, 22" Power Ride, 18" China - **Pedal:** DW 5000 Turbo double pedal (one per kick drum) + Pearl hardware stands - **Sticks:** Pro-Mark 747 Oak (heavy, wood tip, .551" diameter) - **Heads:** Remo Emperor double-ply (clear toms), CS Black Dot (snare batter), Powerstroke P3 (kick) - **BPM milestone:** First drummer to sustain 220+ BPM double-bass on a major studio recording ("Angel of Death") - **Original setup cost (1986):** ~$4,836 - **Inflation-adjusted to 2026:** ~$14,459 - **Notable:** Reign in Blood is universally cited as the defining thrash metal album; Dave's drum performance — recorded at Record One Studios with producer Rick Rubin — set the technical benchmark for extreme metal drumming for the following four decades. ### South of Heaven Era (1988) - **Drums:** Pearl BLX Series (same shell pack as Reign in Blood) - **Cymbals:** Paiste RUDE (unchanged configuration) - **Pedal:** DW 5000 Turbo (same setup) - **Notable:** South of Heaven's slower tempos (compared to Reign in Blood) allowed Dave's groove-oriented playing to emerge alongside his speed. The kit was unchanged but the recording approach was more dynamic. ### Seasons in the Abyss Era (1990) - **Drums:** Pearl Professional Series — upgraded shell pack replacing the BLX - **Cymbals:** Paiste RUDE (expanded — added larger crashes for arena touring; 20" and 21" crashes added) - **Pedal:** Upgraded to DW 5000 chain drive for improved reliability on extended touring legs - **Sticks:** Pro-Mark 747 Oak (unchanged) - **Notable:** Dave's first departure from Slayer occurred after Seasons in the Abyss touring cycle (1992), citing financial disputes. ### First Departure Period (1992–2001) - **Projects:** Dave worked with Grip Inc. (with Waldemar Sorychta), Testament (live), and other projects - **Drums:** Tama Starclassic Maple (first Tama usage, preceding his full Slayer-era switch) - **Cymbals:** Paiste RUDE (consistent through all projects — one of metal's longest-running cymbal endorsements) - **Notable:** Grip Inc. recordings documented Dave's first transition from Pearl to Tama shells. ### Christ Illusion / Return to Slayer Era (2006) - **Drums:** Tama Starclassic Maple — full Tama endorsement; replaced Pearl Professional after return to Slayer (2001) - **Second kick:** Second Tama Starclassic Maple kick for continued true double-kick setup - **Cymbals:** Paiste RUDE (unchanged — 20+ year endorsement continuity) - **Snare:** Pearl Dave Lombardo Signature Free-Floating 14"×5" - **Pedal:** DW 5002 double pedal (one per bass drum) - **Sticks:** Pro-Mark 747 Oak - **Heads:** Remo Emperor (toms), Powerstroke 3 (kick), CS Black Dot (snare) - **Notable:** Christ Illusion was Slayer's first studio album with Dave since Seasons in the Abyss (1990). His return was celebrated as a reunion of the classic lineup. ### World Painted Blood Era (2009) - **Drums:** Tama Starclassic Maple (updated hardware — Starclassic Performer series) - **Cymbals:** Paiste RUDE (core unchanged; added Paiste RUDE Wild Crash for studio sessions) - **Pedal:** DW 9000 double pedal — upgraded from 5002 series for improved spring tension adjustability - **Notable:** Final studio album with Dave before his second departure in 2013. ### Second Departure and Suicidal Tendencies (2013–present) - **Context:** Dave left Slayer again in 2013 amid disputes over drummer pay; joined Suicidal Tendencies in 2016 - **Drums:** Tama Starclassic Maple (custom finish for Suicidal Tendencies) - **Cymbals:** Paiste RUDE (continuous — Dave has used Paiste RUDE cymbals longer than any other drummer in their roster history) - **Snare:** Pearl Dave Lombardo Signature 14"×5" (updated version) - **Pedal:** DW 9000 double pedal ### Current Setup (2020s) - **Drums:** Tama Starclassic Maple (custom finish) — 6-piece; 22"×18" kick ×2, 10"×8" and 12"×9" racks, 14"×14" and 16"×16" floors - **Snare:** Pearl Dave Lombardo Signature 14"×5" - **Cymbals:** Paiste RUDE Series — 14" Sound Edge hi-hats, 18" and 19" crash, 20" Crash/Ride, 22" Power Ride - **Pedal:** DW 9000 double pedal (one per bass drum) - **Sticks:** Pro-Mark 747 Oak (unchanged for 35+ years) --- ## Key Gear Changes - **1983 → 1986:** Pearl Export to Pearl BLX — first full Pearl endorsement coinciding with Reign in Blood - **True double-kick:** Dave has always used two separate bass drums rather than a double pedal on a single kick — a defining feature of his setup across all eras - **1990s:** Transition from Pearl BLX to Pearl Professional during Seasons in the Abyss touring - **1992–2001:** First Slayer departure; first Tama usage with Grip Inc. - **2001–2013:** Full Tama Starclassic Maple endorsement on return to Slayer - **2006 → 2009:** DW 5002 to DW 9000 pedal upgrade - **Paiste RUDE:** Only major constant across 40+ years — Dave has used Paiste RUDE cymbals since approximately 1985, making it one of the longest-running cymbal endorsements in metal history --- ## FAQ **Q: What drum kit did Dave Lombardo use on Reign in Blood?** A: Dave used a Pearl BLX Series kit on Reign in Blood (1986), with birch shells and a true double-kick configuration (two separate 24"×16" bass drums). His cymbals were Paiste RUDE Series, and he used DW 5000 Turbo pedals. The setup cost approximately $4,836 in 1986, equivalent to about $14,459 adjusted for 2026 inflation. **Q: What cymbals did Dave Lombardo use?** A: Dave Lombardo has used Paiste RUDE Series cymbals since approximately 1985 — across Slayer, Grip Inc., Suicidal Tendencies, and all other projects. His core configuration has included RUDE Sound Edge hi-hats, RUDE crashes in 18" and 19", a RUDE Power Ride, and a RUDE China. This 40-year endorsement is one of the longest in metal cymbal history. **Q: Did Dave Lombardo use a double pedal or two bass drums?** A: Dave Lombardo has always used two separate bass drums (true double-kick), not a double pedal on a single drum. Each bass drum has its own DW pedal. This configuration — which requires more physical setup and tuning effort — gives each kick slightly different resonance and was foundational to his 220+ BPM capability on Reign in Blood. **Q: When did Dave Lombardo switch from Pearl to Tama?** A: Dave began using Tama Starclassic Maple shells during his post-Slayer projects in the 1990s (notably Grip Inc.). When he returned to Slayer in 2001, he continued with Tama as his primary endorsement through both his second Slayer tenure and his current work with Suicidal Tendencies. **Q: What snare did Dave Lombardo use on Reign in Blood?** A: Dave's snare on Reign in Blood was a Pearl Free-Floating Steel 14"×6.5". The free-floating lug design (where the shell and lug assembly are isolated) provides greater resonance and sustain — important for cutting through the dense, fast guitar work on that album. He later had a Dave Lombardo Signature model released through Pearl. **Q: What is Dave Lombardo's current drum kit?** A: As of the 2020s, Dave plays a Tama Starclassic Maple kit in a custom finish, with two 22"×18" bass drums, Paiste RUDE cymbals, a Pearl Dave Lombardo Signature snare (14"×5"), and DW 9000 double pedals. He has used Pro-Mark 747 Oak sticks continuously for over 35 years. --- ## Related - [Dave Lombardo drummer profile](https://metalforge.io/drummers/dave-lombardo) - [Full gear history page](https://metalforge.io/drummers/dave-lombardo/gear-history) - [Gear history hub](https://metalforge.io/llms/gear-history.md)