# Jon Dette vs Dave Lombardo — Slayer's Drum Chair Compared > Side-by-side career and gear comparison between Jon Dette and Dave Lombardo — the touring fill-in and the founding architect who each held down Slayer's legendary drum chair. **Category:** Thrash Metal · **URL:** https://metalforge.io/vs/jon-dette-vs-dave-lombardo Jon Dette vs Dave Lombardo: the touring fill-in vs the founding architect of Slayer's drum chair. Career, technique, gear, and legacy compared across thrash metal's most famous kit. --- ## Dave Lombardo Setup - **Drums:** Tama Starclassic Walnut/Birch - **Snare:** Tama S.L.P. 14"x6.5" G-Maple - **Cymbals:** Paiste RUDE and 2002 Series - **Pedals/Hardware:** Tama Iron Cobra 900 double pedal - **Sticks:** Promark Dave Lombardo Signature 2Bx ## Jon Dette Setup - **Drums:** Pearl, Tama, or DW (depending on period) - **Snare:** 14"x6.5" metal or maple snares - **Cymbals:** Sabian or Zildjian - **Pedals/Hardware:** DW 9000 or Tama Iron Cobra double pedal - **Sticks:** Promark or Vater 5B ## Career Overview Dave Lombardo co-founded Slayer in 1981 alongside Kerry King, Jeff Hanneman, and Tom Araya, and his drumming across "Show No Mercy" (1983), "Hell Awaits" (1985), and especially "Reign in Blood" (1986) effectively invented the extreme-metal double-bass vocabulary that every subsequent thrash and death metal drummer studied. Jon Dette stepped into that same drum chair a decade later, joining Slayer as touring drummer in 1996-97 while Paul Bostaph recovered from injury — tasked not with writing new parts but with faithfully reproducing Lombardo's iconic, already-canonized performances night after night on the road. Dette went on to a much longer tenure in Testament (1997-2012), most notably recording "The Gathering" (1999). ## Playing Style Lombardo's technique combined pioneering double bass speed with a Latin-influenced groove inherited from his Cuban heritage and idols like Tito Puente — his fills and accents gave Slayer's riffs a swinging, almost danceable undercurrent beneath the aggression, a quality no other thrash drummer of his generation matched. Dette's technique is defined by rapid adaptability rather than innovation: the ability to absorb an entire Slayer setlist on short notice and deliver it live with the authority fans expected from Lombardo's original recordings, a skill that later carried him through complete setlists for Testament and, briefly, Anthrax. ## Technique Lombardo's drumming across "Reign in Blood" set the template for extreme metal double bass — relentless speed paired with dynamic control and Latin-tinged fills that made his playing musical rather than purely mechanical. Dette's technique prioritizes precision replication over composition: rapid setlist absorption, powerful and consistent double bass, and a professional approach built to maintain the integrity of songs he didn't write. ## Key Differences Dave Lombardo has been a longtime Tama endorser, playing a Tama Starclassic Walnut/Birch kit with Paiste RUDE and 2002 series cymbals, a Tama Iron Cobra 900 double pedal, and his own signature Promark 2Bx sticks — gear built for the size and power his revolutionary style demanded. Jon Dette's setups varied by gig, mixing Pearl, Tama, and DW drums with Sabian or Zildjian cymbals and DW 9000 or Tama Iron Cobra double pedals — a rig built for versatility across multiple bands' requirements rather than one signature identity. ## Influence & Legacy Lombardo is routinely named among the greatest and most influential drummers in heavy metal history; "Reign in Blood" alone reshaped what extreme metal drumming could be, and his Latin-tinged approach continues to distinguish him from the drummers who followed his blueprint. Dette's influence is more modest but genuine — he proved that a reliable touring specialist could preserve a legendary drummer's legacy convincingly enough to keep Slayer's live shows credible during a transition period, a reputation that turned into a real 15-year career at Testament and cameo work with Anthrax. ## Verdict Dave Lombardo and Jon Dette represent the two poles of Slayer's drum chair: the founding revolutionary who wrote the blueprint, and the professional caretaker who kept the machine running during a transition. Lombardo's "Reign in Blood" performance remains the most influential thrash drumming ever recorded. Dette's 1996-97 stint proved that faithfully executing that blueprint under pressure is its own kind of skill — one that built him a genuine career well beyond Slayer. ## FAQ **Q: Did Jon Dette replace Dave Lombardo in Slayer?** A: Not directly. Jon Dette joined Slayer as a touring drummer in 1996-97 while Paul Bostaph — who had replaced Dave Lombardo in 1992 — recovered from an injury. Dette never recorded a studio album with Slayer; Lombardo (1981-1992, 2001-2013) and Bostaph (1992-2001, 2013-2019) hold that distinction. **Q: What is Dave Lombardo best known for?** A: Dave Lombardo co-founded Slayer in 1981 and is best known for his drumming on "Reign in Blood" (1986), widely considered the most influential thrash metal album ever recorded. His pioneering double bass technique and Latin-influenced groove defined extreme metal drumming. **Q: What gear do Jon Dette and Dave Lombardo use?** A: Dave Lombardo plays a Tama Starclassic Walnut/Birch kit with Paiste RUDE and 2002 cymbals, a Tama Iron Cobra 900 double pedal, and signature Promark 2Bx sticks. Jon Dette has used various setups including Pearl, Tama, and DW drums with Sabian or Zildjian cymbals and DW 9000 or Tama Iron Cobra double pedals. **Q: What did Jon Dette do after leaving Slayer?** A: After his 1996-97 Slayer touring stint, Jon Dette joined Testament in 1997, remaining with the band through 1999 and again from 2001-2012, recording "The Gathering" (1999). He also filled in for Charlie Benante on Anthrax tour dates in 2010. --- *Full comparison: [metalforge.io/vs/jon-dette-vs-dave-lombardo](https://metalforge.io/vs/jon-dette-vs-dave-lombardo)* *[Jon Dette drummer profile](https://metalforge.io/drummer/jon-dette)* *[Dave Lombardo drummer profile](https://metalforge.io/drummer/dave-lombardo)* *[Paul Bostaph vs Jon Dette comparison](https://metalforge.io/vs/paul-bostaph-vs-jon-dette)* *[Lars Ulrich vs Dave Lombardo comparison](https://metalforge.io/vs/lars-ulrich-vs-dave-lombardo)* --- *Last updated: 2026-07-09 · Source: [MetalForge.io](https://metalforge.io)*