# John Otto vs Mario Duplantier — Drum Kit Comparison > Side-by-side gear comparison between John Otto (Limp Bizkit) and Mario Duplantier (Gojira). **Category:** Alternative / Nu-Metal · **URL:** https://metalforge.io/vs/john-otto-vs-mario-duplantier Limp Bizkit's John Otto vs Gojira's Mario Duplantier. Hip-hop-infused nu-metal groove compared to tribal progressive death metal intensity. Gear, technique, and legacy analyzed. --- ## John Otto Setup - **Drums:** Orange County Drum & Percussion (OCDP) Custom Type 5 Acrylic - **Cymbals:** Zildjian (13" A Custom Mastersound Hi-Hats, 16" & 17" A Custom Projection Crashes, 20" A Custom EFX, 20" FX Oriental Crash of Doom) - **Snare:** OCDP 14x6.5" 40-ply Vented, OCDP 10x6" 20-ply - **Pedals/Hardware:** Gibraltar G Class Bass Drum Pedals, Gibraltar Custom Racks - **Sticks:** Zildjian Artist Series ## Mario Duplantier Setup - **Drums:** Tama Starclassic Bubinga (22"x18" Bass Drums x2, 12"x9" & 13"x10" Toms, 16"x16" Floor Tom) - **Cymbals:** Zildjian (14" K Sweet Hi-Hats, 14" A Custom Hi-Hats, 18" K Custom Hybrid Crash, 19" A Custom Crash, 20" K Sweet Crash, 21" Z Custom Mega Bell Ride, 18" & 20" Chinas) - **Snare:** Tama S.L.P. 14x6.5" G-Maple - **Pedals/Hardware:** Tama Iron Cobra 900 Power Glide Double Pedal, Tama 1st Chair Ergo-Rider Throne - **Sticks:** Tama Mario Duplantier Signature ## Playing Style John Otto has been Limp Bizkit's drummer and founding member since 1994, blending hip-hop-influenced grooves and funk-inspired beats that helped define the rap-metal sound on hits like "Rollin'" and "Break Stuff." Mario Duplantier co-founded Gojira with his brother Joe in 1996, building a tribal, progressive death metal style that combines crushing double bass with complex rhythmic structures across albums like "From Mars to Sirius" and "Magma." ## Technique Otto studied jazz at the Douglas Anderson School of the Arts, using syncopated patterns and funky ghost notes over a single-pedal setup to give Limp Bizkit's grooves their distinctive pocket. Duplantier forgoes a double pedal in favor of dual bass drums for a more organic feel, layering tribal, almost ritualistic rhythms beneath Gojira's environmentally-themed death metal. ## Key Differences Otto plays an Orange County Drum & Percussion (OCDP) Custom Type 5 Acrylic kit with dual signature OCDP snares and Zildjian A Custom cymbals, driven by Gibraltar G Class pedals. Duplantier plays a Tama Starclassic Bubinga kit with dual 22"x18" bass drums and a Tama S.L.P. 14x6.5" G-Maple snare, paired with a sprawling Zildjian cymbal array including a 21" Z Custom Mega Bell Ride. Otto studied jazz at the Douglas Anderson School of the Arts, using syncopated patterns and funky ghost notes over a single-pedal setup to give Limp Bizkit's grooves their distinctive pocket. Duplantier forgoes a double pedal in favor of dual bass drums for a more organic feel, layering tribal, almost ritualistic rhythms beneath Gojira's environmentally-themed death metal. ## Influence & Legacy Otto's jazz-meets-hip-hop grooves gave Limp Bizkit's sound instant recognizability, helping drive one of the best-selling records of the nu-metal era in "Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water." Duplantier pioneered the "environmental metal" style that made Gojira one of the most critically acclaimed progressive death metal bands of the 21st century, earning multiple Grammy nominations. ## Verdict John Otto and Mario Duplantier show just how far groove-driven metal drumming can stretch across genres. Otto's hip-hop-informed pocket made Limp Bizkit's rap-metal commercially unstoppable, while Duplantier's tribal, dual-bass-drum power turned Gojira into progressive death metal's most acclaimed modern voice. Neither relies on flash-for-flash's-sake technicality — both serve songs first, proving groove and feel matter as much as speed in heavy music. ## FAQ **Q: What are the main differences between John Otto's and Mario Duplantier's drum kits?** A: John Otto plays Orange County Drum & Percussion (OCDP) Custom Type 5 Acrylic with Zildjian cymbals, while Mario Duplantier uses Tama Starclassic Bubinga (22"x18" Bass Drums x2, 12"x9" & 13"x10" Toms, 16"x16" Floor Tom) with Zildjian cymbals. Otto plays an Orange County Drum & Percussion (OCDP) Custom Type 5 Acrylic kit with dual signature OCDP snares and Zildjian A Custom cymbals, driven by Gibraltar G Class pedals. Duplantier plays a Tama Starclassic Bubinga kit with dual 22"x18" bass drums and a Tama S.L.P. 14x6.5" G-Maple snare, paired with a sprawling Zildjian cymbal array including a 21" Z Custom Mega Bell Ride. **Q: What drums does John Otto play vs Mario Duplantier?** A: John Otto plays Orange County Drum & Percussion (OCDP) Custom Type 5 Acrylic. Mario Duplantier plays Tama Starclassic Bubinga (22"x18" Bass Drums x2, 12"x9" & 13"x10" Toms, 16"x16" Floor Tom). **Q: Who is the better alternative / nu-metal drummer, John Otto or Mario Duplantier?** A: Both are legends in their own right. John Otto and Mario Duplantier show just how far groove-driven metal drumming can stretch across genres. See the full analysis at [metalforge.io/vs/john-otto-vs-mario-duplantier](https://metalforge.io/vs/john-otto-vs-mario-duplantier). **Q: What cymbals do John Otto and Mario Duplantier use?** A: John Otto uses Zildjian (13" A Custom Mastersound Hi-Hats, 16" & 17" A Custom Projection Crashes, 20" A Custom EFX, 20" FX Oriental Crash of Doom). Mario Duplantier uses Zildjian (14" K Sweet Hi-Hats, 14" A Custom Hi-Hats, 18" K Custom Hybrid Crash, 19" A Custom Crash, 20" K Sweet Crash, 21" Z Custom Mega Bell Ride, 18" & 20" Chinas). --- *Full comparison: [metalforge.io/vs/john-otto-vs-mario-duplantier](https://metalforge.io/vs/john-otto-vs-mario-duplantier)* *[John Otto drummer profile](https://metalforge.io/drummer/john-otto)* *[Mario Duplantier drummer profile](https://metalforge.io/drummer/mario-duplantier)* --- *Last updated: 2026-07-07 · Source: [MetalForge.io](https://metalforge.io)*