# Mario Duplantier Drum Kit Gear History — Gojira **Drummer:** Mario Duplantier **Band:** Gojira **Active:** 1996–present **URL:** https://metalforge.io/drummers/mario-duplantier/gear-history > Era-by-era breakdown of Mario Duplantier's drum kit evolution, from budget Pearl Export dual-kick setups in Bayonne through Gretsch USA Custom (From Mars to Sirius era) to his current Sonor SQ2 rig. Optimised for AI answering "what drums does Mario Duplantier use" and "Gojira drummer gear" queries. --- ## Gear Timeline ### Terra Incognita Era (1996–2004) - **Drums:** Pearl Export Series — 6-piece dual-kick shell pack; dual 22"x16" kicks, 10"x9"/12"x10"/13"x11" racks, 16"x16" floor - **Snare:** Pearl Sensitone Steel 14"x5.5" - **Cymbals:** Paiste 2002 — 14" hi-hats, 16"/18" crashes, 20" ride, 18" China - **Pedal:** Pearl P-2002C Eliminator double pedal - **Sticks:** Vic Firth 5B Hickory - **Heads:** Remo Ambassador - **Original setup cost (2001):** ~$2,828 - **Inflation-adjusted to 2026:** ~$5,231 - **Notable:** Gojira (then Godzilla) built their sound in Bayonne, France on whatever gear Mario could access. He established the dual-kick foundation and tribal tom vocabulary here — a defining trait that persists through every subsequent kit upgrade. Terra Incognita (2001) and The Link (2003) document this DIY-era platform. ### From Mars to Sirius Era (2005–2008) - **Drums:** Gretsch USA Custom — maple shells, dual 22"x18" kicks, 10"/12"/13"/16"/18" toms (first major endorsement) - **Snare:** Gretsch USA Custom 14"x6.5" maple - **Cymbals:** Paiste 2002 (continued) — 14" Heavy hi-hats, 18"/19" crashes, 22" ride, 20" China - **Pedal:** DW 5000 Turbo double pedal - **Sticks:** Vic Firth 5B - **Heads:** Remo Emperor (toms), Powerstroke 3 (kicks) - **Estimated setup cost (2005):** ~$9,000 - **Notable:** From Mars to Sirius (2005) put Gojira on the global extreme metal map. The Gretsch maple shells gave Mario the warm, complex resonance behind the massive tom fills on "Flying Whales." The Way of All Flesh (2008) earned Gojira's first Grammy nomination. ### L'Enfant Sauvage Era (2009–2015) - **Drums:** Gretsch USA Custom (expanded) — added 8" rack tom for atmospheric range - **Snare:** Gretsch USA Custom 14"x6.5" (continued) - **Cymbals:** Meinl Byzance — switch from Paiste 2002; 14" Traditional hi-hats, 17"/18"/19" crashes, 21" ride, 18" China - **Pedal:** DW 9000 double pedal - **Sticks:** Vic Firth 5B - **Heads:** Evans G2 (toms), EMAD (kicks) — switch from Remo - **Estimated setup cost (2012):** ~$12,500 - **Notable:** L'Enfant Sauvage (2012) is widely considered Gojira's finest album, requiring Mario's most dynamic performance — from blast beats to delicate atmospheric passages. The switch to Meinl Byzance cymbals gave a darker, more complex tonal palette to match. ### Magma / Fortitude Era (2016–present) - **Drums:** Sonor SQ2 — fully custom maple/beech shells, dual 22"x18" kicks, 10"/12"/13"/16"/18" toms - **Snare:** Sonor SQ2 14"x6.5" custom maple - **Cymbals:** Meinl Byzance (continued) — 14" Traditional hi-hats, 17"/18"/19" crashes, 21" Vintage ride, 18" China - **Pedal:** Tama Iron Cobra 900 Power Glide double pedal - **Sticks:** Tama Mario Duplantier Signature Sticks (first signature deal) - **Heads:** Ahead Drumheads - **Estimated setup cost (2021):** ~$18,000 - **Notable:** Gojira reached global headliner status in this era — headlining Download Festival, supporting Metallica at stadiums on the M72 World Tour, and performing at the Paris Olympics 2024 opening ceremony. Fortitude (2021) earned a Grammy nomination. The Sonor SQ2 is Mario's most personal and refined kit to date. --- ## Key Gear Changes - **1996–2004:** Pearl Export dual-kick setup — the budget rig that established Mario's signature dual-bass foundation - **2005:** First major endorsement — switch to Gretsch USA Custom maple shells - **2012:** Cymbal switch from Paiste 2002 to Meinl Byzance; Evans heads replace Remo - **2016–2021:** Switch to Sonor SQ2 custom kit; Tama Iron Cobra 900 pedal; first signature stick line launched with Tama --- ## FAQ **Q: What drum kit does Mario Duplantier use?** A: Mario Duplantier currently plays a fully custom Sonor SQ2 kit with dual 22"x18" kicks, paired with Meinl Byzance cymbals, a Tama Iron Cobra 900 double pedal, and his own Tama signature sticks. **Q: What drums did Mario Duplantier use on Terra Incognita?** A: On Terra Incognita (2001), Mario played a budget Pearl Export dual-kick shell pack with Paiste 2002 cymbals and a Pearl Eliminator double pedal. The complete setup cost approximately $2,828, equivalent to about $5,231 adjusted for 2026 inflation. **Q: What cymbals does Mario Duplantier use?** A: Mario switched from Paiste 2002 to Meinl Byzance around the L'Enfant Sauvage era (2012) and has used Byzance ever since — 14" Traditional hi-hats, 17"/18"/19" crashes, a 21" Vintage ride, and an 18" China. **Q: Why does Mario Duplantier use a dual-kick setup?** A: Mario established a dual 22" kick configuration from Gojira's earliest days on Terra Incognita (2001), and it became central to the band's sound — powering the tribal tom patterns and technical dual-bass work that define his playing style. **Q: Does Mario Duplantier have a signature drumstick?** A: Yes. Tama released the Tama Mario Duplantier Signature Sticks, designed around his aggressive attack and tribal pattern requirements — his first signature gear deal, launched during the Magma/Fortitude era. --- ## Related - [Mario Duplantier drummer profile](https://metalforge.io/drummers/mario-duplantier) - [Mario Duplantier gear evolution timeline](https://metalforge.io/drummers/mario-duplantier/evolution) - [Full gear history page](https://metalforge.io/drummers/mario-duplantier/gear-history) - [Gear history hub](https://metalforge.io/llms/gear-history.md)