# Lars Ulrich vs Mike Portnoy — Drum Kit Comparison > Side-by-side gear comparison between Lars Ulrich (Metallica) and Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater / Liquid Tension Experiment / The Winery Dogs). **Category:** Progressive Metal · **URL:** https://metalforge.io/vs/lars-ulrich-vs-mike-portnoy Metallica's Lars Ulrich vs Dream Theater's Mike Portnoy. Riff-driven thrash feel compared to technical progressive metal virtuosity. Gear, technique, and legacy compared. --- ## Lars Ulrich Setup - **Drums:** Tama Starclassic Maple - **Cymbals:** Zildjian A Custom Series (14" Dyno Beat Hi-Hats, 16", 17" & 18" Rock Crashes, 20" Z Custom China, 22" Ride) - **Snare:** Tama LU1465 Lars Ulrich Signature 14x6.5" - **Pedals/Hardware:** Tama Iron Cobra 900 Power Glide Double Pedal, Tama 1st Chair Throne - **Sticks:** Ahead Lars Ulrich Signature Drumsticks ## Mike Portnoy Setup - **Drums:** Tama Starclassic Maple/Birch - **Cymbals:** Sabian HHX Series (14" Evolution Hi-Hats, 18" & 19" Evolution Crashes, 21" Raw Bell Dry Ride, 10" & 12" Evolution Splashes, 19" O-Zone Crash) - **Snare:** Tama Mike Portnoy Signature Melody Master 14x5.5" - **Pedals/Hardware:** Tama Iron Cobra Power Glide Double Pedal, Tama 1st Chair Ergo-Rider Throne - **Sticks:** Promark Mike Portnoy Signature TX420N ## Playing Style Lars Ulrich co-founded Metallica in 1981 and built his career on groove-oriented, riff-driven thrash, favoring feel and mid-tempo stomps over technical display across albums from "Kill 'Em All" (1983) through the era-defining "Black Album" (1991). Mike Portnoy co-founded Dream Theater in 1985 and spent 25 years as the band's drummer and lyricist, helping define progressive metal with complex arrangements, odd time signatures, and theatrical live performances. ## Technique Ulrich favors powerful, punchy patterns locked tightly to Metallica's riffs, prioritizing the song's groove over displays of speed or complexity. Portnoy combines jazz fusion influences with heavy metal power, weaving intricate double bass patterns, rapid-fire transitions, and creative use of electronics into Dream Theater's sprawling compositions. ## Key Differences Ulrich plays a Tama Starclassic Maple kit with a Tama LU1465 Signature 14x6.5" snare and Zildjian A Custom Series cymbals, driven by a Tama Iron Cobra 900 Power Glide double pedal. Portnoy plays a Tama Starclassic Maple/Birch kit with a Tama Mike Portnoy Signature Melody Master 14x5.5" snare and Sabian HHX Series cymbals, powered by a Tama Iron Cobra Power Glide double pedal. Ulrich favors powerful, punchy patterns locked tightly to Metallica's riffs, prioritizing the song's groove over displays of speed or complexity. Portnoy combines jazz fusion influences with heavy metal power, weaving intricate double bass patterns, rapid-fire transitions, and creative use of electronics into Dream Theater's sprawling compositions. ## Influence & Legacy Ulrich shaped how millions of listeners perceive metal drumming through Metallica's commercial dominance, becoming one of the most recognizable drummers in rock history despite frequent criticism of his technical ability. Portnoy has won over 30 Drummer of the Year awards from Modern Drummer magazine and, after leaving Dream Theater in 2010 for projects including Avenged Sevenfold, Adrenaline Mob, and Sons of Apollo, rejoined the band for its 2023 reunion. ## Verdict Lars Ulrich and Mike Portnoy represent opposite ends of what "great metal drumming" can mean. Ulrich built the biggest metal band in history on feel, groove, and riff-serving simplicity, proving that a song's impact doesn't require technical complexity. Portnoy built his reputation on the exact opposite philosophy, stacking odd time signatures and virtuosic fills into Dream Theater's progressive metal architecture across 25 years. Both are among the most searched and debated drummers in metal, precisely because they sit at opposite poles of the genre's technical spectrum. ## FAQ **Q: What are the main differences between Lars Ulrich's and Mike Portnoy's drum kits?** A: Lars Ulrich plays Tama Starclassic Maple with Zildjian cymbals, while Mike Portnoy uses Tama Starclassic Maple/Birch with Sabian cymbals. Ulrich plays a Tama Starclassic Maple kit with a Tama LU1465 Signature 14x6.5" snare and Zildjian A Custom Series cymbals, driven by a Tama Iron Cobra 900 Power Glide double pedal. Portnoy plays a Tama Starclassic Maple/Birch kit with a Tama Mike Portnoy Signature Melody Master 14x5.5" snare and Sabian HHX Series cymbals, powered by a Tama Iron Cobra Power Glide double pedal. **Q: What drums does Lars Ulrich play vs Mike Portnoy?** A: Lars Ulrich plays Tama Starclassic Maple. Mike Portnoy plays Tama Starclassic Maple/Birch. **Q: Who is the better progressive metal drummer, Lars Ulrich or Mike Portnoy?** A: Both are legends in their own right. Lars Ulrich and Mike Portnoy represent opposite ends of what "great metal drumming" can mean. See the full analysis at [metalforge.io/vs/lars-ulrich-vs-mike-portnoy](https://metalforge.io/vs/lars-ulrich-vs-mike-portnoy). **Q: What cymbals do Lars Ulrich and Mike Portnoy use?** A: Lars Ulrich uses Zildjian A Custom Series (14" Dyno Beat Hi-Hats, 16", 17" & 18" Rock Crashes, 20" Z Custom China, 22" Ride). Mike Portnoy uses Sabian HHX Series (14" Evolution Hi-Hats, 18" & 19" Evolution Crashes, 21" Raw Bell Dry Ride, 10" & 12" Evolution Splashes, 19" O-Zone Crash). --- *Full comparison: [metalforge.io/vs/lars-ulrich-vs-mike-portnoy](https://metalforge.io/vs/lars-ulrich-vs-mike-portnoy)* *[Lars Ulrich drummer profile](https://metalforge.io/drummer/lars-ulrich)* *[Mike Portnoy drummer profile](https://metalforge.io/drummer/mike-portnoy)* --- *Last updated: 2026-07-07 · Source: [MetalForge.io](https://metalforge.io)*