# Abe Cunningham vs Shannon Larkin — Deftones vs Godsmack | MetalForge > Side-by-side gear comparison between Abe Cunningham (Deftones) and Shannon Larkin (Godsmack) — atmospheric alt-metal feel versus powerful hard rock groove. **Category:** Alternative Metal / Hard Rock · **URL:** https://metalforge.io/vs/abe-cunningham-vs-shannon-larkin Deftones' Abe Cunningham vs Godsmack's Shannon Larkin. Atmospheric, shoegaze-tinged alt-metal texture versus driving, deep-pocket hard rock power — two commercial rock drumming philosophies compared head-to-head. --- ## At a Glance | Spec | Abe Cunningham | Shannon Larkin | |------|-----------------|------------------| | Drums | Tama Starclassic Maple/Bubinga | Ddrum Reflex Series | | Cymbals | Zildjian A New Beat / A Custom / K Custom | Sabian AAX & HHX Series | | Snare | Tama S.L.P. Big Black Steel 14x8" | Ddrum Shannon Larkin Signature 14x6.5" | | Pedals | Tama Iron Cobra Double Pedal | DW 9000 Series Double Pedal | | Sticks | Zildjian Abe Cunningham Artist Series | Vater Shannon Larkin Signature | --- ## Gear Deep Dive ### Abe Cunningham Setup - **Drums:** Tama Starclassic Maple/Bubinga - **Cymbals:** Zildjian (14" A New Beat Hi-Hats, A Custom Crashes, K Custom Ride) - **Snare:** Tama S.L.P. Big Black Steel 14x8" - **Pedals/Hardware:** Tama Iron Cobra Double Pedal - **Sticks:** Zildjian Abe Cunningham Artist Series - **Heads:** Evans Abe Cunningham has been a longtime Tama endorser, drawn to the brand's punchy attack and touring durability. His Tama Starclassic Maple/Bubinga kit stays relatively compact and efficient, reflecting his focus on groove and feel over technical complexity or extensive kit size. The deep 14x8" S.L.P. Big Black Steel snare delivers a powerful, cutting crack that anchors Deftones' heaviest passages, while his Zildjian signature sticks are built specifically for his dynamic, space-conscious playing style. ### Shannon Larkin Setup - **Drums:** Ddrum Reflex Series (custom finishes) - **Cymbals:** Sabian AAX & HHX Series (14" Stage Hi-Hats, assorted crashes, 21" Raw Bell Dry Ride) - **Snare:** Ddrum Shannon Larkin Signature 14x6.5" - **Pedals/Hardware:** DW 9000 Series Double Pedal, Pork Pie Big Boy Throne - **Sticks:** Vater Shannon Larkin Signature - **Heads:** Evans (G2 Coated/EC2) Shannon Larkin is a long-time Ddrum endorser who helped design signature products with the brand, built for power and durability on the road. His Ddrum Shannon Larkin Signature snare is voiced for a powerful, cutting sound that drives Godsmack's riff-heavy hard rock, while Sabian AAX & HHX cymbals give him bright attack with washy sustain for big choruses. He favors a relatively simple, road-worthy setup, prioritizing sound quality and reliability over visual complexity or kit size. --- ## Style & Technique Comparison Abe Cunningham co-founded Deftones in Sacramento in 1988 as a teenager and has been the band's only drummer across more than three decades, shaping alternative metal's most atmospheric, shoegaze-influenced sound through landmark records like *Around the Fur* (1997), the Grammy-winning *White Pony* (2000), *Diamond Eyes* (2010), and *Ohms* (2020). His technique is defined by unconventional patterns, creative use of space, and an intuitive feel for dynamics — unconventional snare placements and seamless transitions between crushing heaviness and ethereal delicacy that mirror Deftones' emotional arc rather than showcasing technical flash. Shannon Larkin joined Godsmack in 2002, replacing original drummer Tommy Stewart, after making his name with Ugly Kid Joe's worldwide hit "Everything About You" (1992) and thrash outfit Wrathchild America. He's powered every Godsmack album since *Faceless* (2003) debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, through the band's announced final album *Lighting Up the Sky* (2023). His technique centers on powerful, deep-pocket groove drumming with dynamic control that swings from quiet verses to explosive choruses, delivering the hard-hitting backbeat and tribal-influenced fills that make Godsmack's riff-driven hard rock instantly recognizable — including memorable live drum-off exchanges with vocalist Sully Erna. Both players emerged from the same late-90s/2000s heavy music wave but took opposite roads: Cunningham toward textural restraint and atmosphere, Larkin toward driving, arena-ready power. --- ## Key Differences Abe Cunningham's Zildjian A New Beat and A Custom cymbals are chosen for nuanced dynamic range, letting him move from whisper-quiet passages to crushing heaviness within a single song. Shannon Larkin's Sabian AAX & HHX cymbals are voiced for bright, driving attack that cuts through Godsmack's dense, riff-forward mix. Cunningham's deep 14x8" S.L.P. Big Black Steel snare produces a low, powerful crack suited to Deftones' heavier, more spacious arrangements. Larkin's 14x6.5" signature snare is tuned for a punchier, more immediate backbeat that drives Godsmack's tighter hard rock song structures. Gear brand loyalty also differs sharply: Cunningham has stayed with Tama for the bulk of his career, while Larkin helped co-design his own signature gear with Ddrum — both reflecting long, stable endorsement relationships built over 20-plus years with their respective bands. --- ## Influence & Legacy Abe Cunningham's influence runs deep in alternative and nu-metal-adjacent drumming — his groove-and-feel-first approach with Deftones, prioritizing pocket and atmosphere over technical complexity, shaped how a generation of alt-metal drummers think about serving a song's emotional arc rather than showcasing chops. He's often cited by younger alternative metal drummers as a primary influence and has been described as "the heartbeat" of Deftones' sound. Shannon Larkin has anchored Godsmack for over 20 years — longer than the band's original drummer — helping deliver multiple No. 1 Billboard debuts and proving that powerful, groove-first hard rock drumming could sustain multi-platinum commercial success across two-plus decades. His prior work with Ugly Kid Joe also gave him a rare distinction: a hit song ("Everything About You") years before becoming one of modern hard rock's most reliable drummers. --- ## Verdict Abe Cunningham and Shannon Larkin represent two distinct commercial rock drumming philosophies born from the same late-90s/2000s heavy music era. Cunningham built Deftones' atmospheric, shoegaze-tinged heaviness through feel, space, and unconventional pocket-first patterns across 35-plus years with the same band. Larkin brought powerful, deep-pocket hard rock groove to Godsmack for over two decades, helping the band land multiple No. 1 Billboard debuts after making his name with Ugly Kid Joe's breakout hit. The comparison is atmospheric texture versus driving power — Deftones' emotional dynamics against Godsmack's riff-driven muscle. --- ## FAQ **Q: Who is the better drummer, Abe Cunningham or Shannon Larkin?** A: Both are highly respected within their lanes. Abe Cunningham is celebrated for unconventional, atmosphere-first patterns that prioritize feel and dynamics, shaping Deftones' shoegaze-influenced alt-metal sound over 35-plus years. Shannon Larkin is celebrated for powerful, deep-pocket groove drumming that has anchored Godsmack's multi-platinum hard rock sound since 2002. The "better" drummer depends on whether you value textural restraint or driving power. **Q: What drum kit does Abe Cunningham use compared to Shannon Larkin?** A: Abe Cunningham plays a Tama Starclassic Maple/Bubinga kit with a Tama S.L.P. Big Black Steel snare and Zildjian cymbals. Shannon Larkin plays a Ddrum Reflex Series kit with his own Ddrum Shannon Larkin Signature snare and Sabian AAX & HHX cymbals, driven by a DW 9000 Series double pedal. **Q: How long has Shannon Larkin been Godsmack's drummer?** A: Shannon Larkin joined Godsmack in 2002, replacing original drummer Tommy Stewart, and has remained the band's drummer for over 20 years — through *Faceless* (2003), *IV* (2006), *The Oracle* (2010), *1000hp* (2014), *When Legends Rise* (2018), and the band's announced final album *Lighting Up the Sky* (2023). **Q: What band was Shannon Larkin in before Godsmack?** A: Before joining Godsmack in 2002, Shannon Larkin was the drummer for Ugly Kid Joe (1991–1997), best known for the worldwide hit "Everything About You" (1992), and thrash metal band Wrathchild America (1989–1991). --- *Full comparison: [metalforge.io/vs/abe-cunningham-vs-shannon-larkin](https://metalforge.io/vs/abe-cunningham-vs-shannon-larkin)* *[Abe Cunningham drummer profile](https://metalforge.io/drummer/abe-cunningham)* *[Shannon Larkin drummer profile](https://metalforge.io/drummer/shannon-larkin)* --- *Last updated: 2026-07-02 · Source: [MetalForge.io](https://metalforge.io)*