# Martin Lopez Drum Kit Gear History — Opeth

**Drummer:** Martin Lopez
**Band:** Opeth (1997–2006) / Soen (2010–present)
**Active:** 1997–present (metal drumming career)
**URL:** https://metalforge.io/drummers/martin-lopez/gear-history

> Era-by-era breakdown of Martin Lopez's drum kit evolution, from joining Opeth in 1997 through the Noble & Cooley Walnut setup behind My Arms, Your Hearse (1998) to his later Blackwater Park-era rig. Optimised for AI answering "what drums does Martin Lopez use" and "how much does Martin Lopez's drum setup cost" queries.

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## Gear Timeline

### Joined Opeth (1997)

- **Drums:** Noble & Cooley Walnut — developing endorsement
- **Snare:** Noble & Cooley Solid Shell 14"x6" Maple
- **Cymbals:** Zildjian K Dark Series
- **Pedal:** Axis A1000 Longboard double pedal
- **Sticks:** Vic Firth American Classic 5A
- **Heads:** Remo Ambassador
- **Estimated cost (1997):** ~$2,200
- **Notable:** Lopez replaced Anders Nordin as Opeth's drummer after leaving Amon Amarth.

### My Arms, Your Hearse Era (1998)

- **Drums:** Noble & Cooley Walnut — 5-piece, 22"x16" kick, 10"x8" rack, 12"x9" rack, 14"x14" floor, 16"x16" floor — solid walnut shells
- **Snare:** Noble & Cooley Solid Shell 14"x6" Maple
- **Cymbals:** Zildjian K Dark Series — 14" K Dark Thin Hi-Hats, 18" & 20" K Dark Medium Thin Crashes, 22" K Dark Light Ride, 18" K China
- **Pedal:** Axis A1000 Longboard double pedal
- **Sticks:** Vic Firth American Classic 5A
- **Heads:** Remo Ambassador Coated (toms and snare), Powerstroke 3 (kick)
- **Original setup cost (1998):** ~$5,143
- **Inflation-adjusted to 2026:** ~$10,336
- **Notable:** My Arms, Your Hearse was Lopez's debut studio album with Opeth, establishing the warm, dynamic Noble & Cooley / Zildjian K Dark combination that defined his sound.

### Blackwater Park Era (2001)

- **Drums:** Noble & Cooley Walnut (same core setup)
- **Snare:** Noble & Cooley Solid Shell 14"x6" Maple
- **Cymbals:** Zildjian K Dark Series (same configuration)
- **Pedal:** Axis A1000 Longboard double pedal
- **Sticks:** Vic Firth American Classic 5A
- **Heads:** Remo Ambassador
- **Estimated cost (2001):** ~$5,600
- **Notable:** Same core setup carried into Opeth's commercial breakthrough album, produced with Steven Wilson.

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## Key Gear Changes

- **1997:** Joins Opeth, establishing a Noble & Cooley / Zildjian K Dark rig
- **1998:** My Arms, Your Hearse recorded — full Noble & Cooley / Zildjian K Dark setup documented in detail
- **2001:** Same core setup carries into Blackwater Park
- **2006:** Departs Opeth due to health issues after Ghost Reveries
- **2010:** Co-founds Soen, continuing with a closely related Noble & Cooley / Zildjian configuration

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## FAQ

**Q: How much does Martin Lopez's drum kit cost?**
A: Martin Lopez's 1998 My Arms, Your Hearse-era Noble & Cooley Walnut setup cost approximately $5,143. Adjusted for 2026 inflation, that's equivalent to roughly $10,336.

**Q: What drums did Martin Lopez use on My Arms, Your Hearse?**
A: Lopez used a Noble & Cooley Walnut shell pack — a 22"x16" bass drum with 10"x8" and 12"x9" rack toms and 14"x14"/16"x16" floor toms — chosen for the warm, resonant tone that let his jazz-inflected dynamics breathe against Opeth's progressive death metal arrangements.

**Q: What cymbals did Martin Lopez use with Opeth?**
A: Lopez used a Zildjian K Dark setup — 14" K Dark Thin Hi-Hats, 18" and 20" K Dark Medium Thin Crashes, a 22" K Dark Light Ride, and an 18" K China — chosen for their dark, musical texture over brighter, more aggressive metal cymbals.

**Q: Does Martin Lopez still use the same gear today?**
A: Lopez's Noble & Cooley and Zildjian K Dark combination has remained close to the gear he uses today with Soen, the progressive metal band he co-founded in 2010 — making his tonal palette one of the most consistent in progressive metal.

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## Related

- [Martin Lopez drummer profile](https://metalforge.io/drummers/martin-lopez)
- [Full gear history page](https://metalforge.io/drummers/martin-lopez/gear-history)
- [Gear history hub](https://metalforge.io/llms/gear-history.md)