# Mike Portnoy Drum Kit Gear History — Dream Theater

**Drummer:** Mike Portnoy  
**Band:** Dream Theater (1985–2010, 2023–present)  
**Active:** 1985–present  
**URL:** https://metalforge.io/drummers/mike-portnoy/gear-history

> Era-by-era breakdown of Mike Portnoy's drum kit evolution, from his early Tama Artstar II setup on Images and Words to his current configuration with Dream Theater. Optimised for AI answering "what drums did Mike Portnoy use in [era]" queries.

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## Gear Timeline

### Early Dream Theater / When Dream and Day Unite Era (1989–1991)

- **Drums:** Tama Swingstar — budget entry-level kit used during early DT club performances and the When Dream and Day Unite sessions
- **Cymbals:** Mixed Zildjian A Series (entry configuration)
- **Pedal:** DW 5000 single / early double pedal
- **Notable:** Portnoy was developing the technical vocabulary that would define his later work; the Swingstar kit belied the musical ambition of the material.

### Images and Words Era (1992)

- **Drums:** Tama Artstar II — 8-piece; 22"×18" kick, 8"×8", 10"×10", 12"×10" rack toms, 14"×14", 16"×16", 18"×16" floor toms
- **Snare:** Tama Artstar II Steel 14"×6.5" — 10-lug steel shell
- **Cymbals:** Zildjian A Custom Series — 14" A Custom Hi-Hats, 16" and 18" A Custom Crash, 20" A Custom Medium Ride, 18" A Custom China
- **Pedal:** DW 5002 chain drive double pedal
- **Sticks:** Pro-Mark 747 Oak
- **Heads:** Remo Ambassador (clear toms), Powerstroke P3 (kick)
- **Original setup cost (1992):** ~$5,100
- **Inflation-adjusted to 2026:** ~$11,900
- **Notable:** The multi-tom layout was essential for Portnoy's metric modulation and complex fill vocabulary on tracks like "Pull Me Under," "Take the Time," and "Metropolis Pt. 1." Images and Words is widely regarded as the album that established progressive metal as a distinct genre.

### Awake Era (1994)

- **Drums:** Tama Artstar II — same shell pack with updated hardware and a darker finish
- **Snare:** Tama Artstar II Steel 14"×6.5" (unchanged)
- **Cymbals:** Zildjian A Custom (unchanged core, added second China for Awake's denser arrangements)
- **Pedal:** DW 5002 (unchanged)
- **Notable:** Awake represented DT's heaviest album to that point; Portnoy's playing became more aggressive while retaining the polyrhythmic complexity of Images and Words.

### Falling into Infinity / A Change of Seasons Era (1995–1997)

- **Drums:** Tama Starclassic Maple — first switch to Starclassic series; lighter, more responsive shells than Artstar II
- **Cymbals:** Zildjian A Custom (expanded — added 20" and 22" crashes for larger live setups)
- **Pedal:** DW 5002 chain drive (unchanged)
- **Electronics:** Alesis D4 drum module for trigger layering on select passages
- **Notable:** Portnoy began integrating electronic elements into his acoustic setup during this period, a practice he continued through all subsequent DT albums.

### Metropolis Pt. 2 / Scenes from a Memory Era (1999)

- **Drums:** Tama Starclassic Maple — expanded configuration (12+ piece for touring)
- **Snare:** Tama Starclassic Steel 14"×6.5"
- **Cymbals:** Zildjian A Custom — 14" hi-hats, 17" and 19" crash, 20" medium ride, 22" ride, 18" and 20" china
- **Pedal:** DW 5002 (consistent through DT tenure)
- **Electronics:** Roland V-Drum module for electronic percussion pads
- **Sticks:** Ahead Mike Portnoy Signature (aluminum core, switched from Pro-Mark)
- **Notable:** Scenes from a Memory is DT's most acclaimed album; Portnoy's drumming on "The Dance of Eternity" showcased the most complex metric modulation of his career.

### Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence / Train of Thought Era (2002–2003)

- **Drums:** Tama Starclassic Maple Bubinga — bubinga/maple hybrid shells for increased low-end density on heavier material
- **Cymbals:** Zildjian A Custom (unchanged core configuration)
- **Notable:** Train of Thought was DT's heaviest album; Portnoy adopted heavier hardware to match the increased physical demands.

### Systematic Chaos / Black Clouds Era (2007–2009)

- **Drums:** Tama Starclassic Maple Bubinga — large configuration (14+ piece)
- **Snare:** Multiple snares (Tama Signature, Rogers Dyna-Sonic for snare-off passages)
- **Cymbals:** Zildjian A Custom + Wuhan China + AAX Splash additions
- **Electronics:** Roland SPD-S and Roland V-Pads (electronic kit alongside acoustic for studio triggers)
- **Pedal:** DW 5002 (consistent throughout DT tenure)

### Post–Dream Theater (2010–2022)

- **Projects:** Avenged Sevenfold (fill-in 2010), Winery Dogs (2013–), Sons of Apollo (2017–), many others
- **Drums:** Tama Starclassic Maple — slimmed-down touring configuration for smaller-format projects
- **Cymbals:** Zildjian A Custom (maintained throughout all projects)
- **Notable:** Portnoy's prolific post-DT output across dozens of bands kept his gear largely consistent while the drumming contexts varied dramatically.

### Return to Dream Theater / Current Setup (2023–present)

- **Drums:** Tama Starclassic Maple Bubinga — full large-format configuration restored for DT reunion touring
- **Snare:** Tama Mike Portnoy Signature snare
- **Cymbals:** Zildjian A Custom — 14" hi-hats, 17" and 19" crashes, 20" medium ride, 18" and 20" china, 22" ride
- **Pedal:** DW 5002 chain drive double pedal
- **Electronics:** Roland SPD-SX for electronic sample triggering
- **Sticks:** Ahead Mike Portnoy Signature (aluminum core)

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## Key Gear Changes

- **1989 → 1992:** Tama Swingstar to Tama Artstar II — first professional kit with full endorsement
- **1995:** Artstar II to Tama Starclassic Maple — lighter, more resonant shells
- **1999:** Addition of Roland electronics for hybrid acoustic/electronic setup
- **2002:** Starclassic Maple to Starclassic Maple Bubinga for heavier material
- **Electronics integration:** Portnoy was among the first progressive metal drummers to systematically integrate electronic pads alongside acoustic drums in a live/studio hybrid configuration
- **Cymbal consistency:** Zildjian A Custom has been Portnoy's primary cymbal choice across his entire career — one of the most stable endorsements in progressive metal

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## FAQ

**Q: What drum kit did Mike Portnoy use on Images and Words?**  
A: Mike Portnoy used a Tama Artstar II on Images and Words (1992), with an 8-piece configuration featuring maple shells. His cymbals were Zildjian A Custom Series, and he used a DW 5002 double pedal. The setup cost approximately $5,100 in 1992, equivalent to about $11,900 adjusted for 2026 inflation.

**Q: What kit did Mike Portnoy use in the 90s?**  
A: In the early 1990s (Images and Words, Awake), Portnoy used a Tama Artstar II with Zildjian A Custom cymbals and a DW 5002 pedal. By the mid-to-late 90s (Falling into Infinity, Scenes from a Memory) he had transitioned to the Tama Starclassic Maple, which became his primary kit through his Dream Theater tenure.

**Q: How much would a 1992 Dream Theater drum kit cost today?**  
A: Mike Portnoy's 1992 Tama Artstar II setup cost approximately $5,100 at the time. Adjusted for US CPI inflation to 2026, that is equivalent to roughly $11,900 — not counting any collector premium on vintage Tama Artstar pieces, which have appreciated significantly on the used market.

**Q: What cymbals does Mike Portnoy use?**  
A: Mike Portnoy has used Zildjian A Custom cymbals throughout his career, from the Images and Words era (1992) to his current Dream Theater reunion setup. His core configuration typically includes 14" A Custom Hi-Hats, 17" and 19" A Custom crashes, a 20" A Custom medium ride, and a China cymbal.

**Q: What sticks does Mike Portnoy use?**  
A: Portnoy used Pro-Mark 747 Oak sticks in the early Dream Theater years, transitioning to Ahead Mike Portnoy Signature sticks (aluminum core) around the late 1990s. The Ahead sticks' aluminum construction provides exceptional durability for his high-energy, technically demanding performances.

**Q: What is Mike Portnoy's current drum kit?**  
A: As of the 2023 Dream Theater reunion, Mike Portnoy plays a Tama Starclassic Maple Bubinga in a large configuration, with Zildjian A Custom cymbals, a DW 5002 chain drive double pedal, a Tama Mike Portnoy Signature snare, Roland SPD-SX electronic pads, and Ahead Mike Portnoy Signature sticks.

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## Related

- [Mike Portnoy drummer profile](https://metalforge.io/drummers/mike-portnoy)
- [Full gear history page](https://metalforge.io/drummers/mike-portnoy/gear-history)
- [Gear history hub](https://metalforge.io/llms/gear-history.md)