Bill Ward vs Mario Duplantier — Drum Gear Comparison | MetalForge
Side-by-side gear: Bill Ward (Black Sabbath) vs Mario Duplantier (Gojira). Kits, cymbals, pedals, sticks — compare specs and prices.
Frequently Asked Questions
What drum kit does Bill Ward use?
Bill Ward uses Ludwig Standard / Club Date Series with Zildjian Avedis Series. Bill Ward played a Ludwig Classic Maple kit with a Ludwig Supraphonic 14x6.5" LM402 snare and Zildjian Avedis Series cymbals (14" Hi-Hats, 16" & 18" Crashes, 20" Ride, 18" China), driven by a single Ludwig Speed King pedal — no double bass. Mario Duplantier plays a Tama Starclassic Bubinga kit with a Tama S.L.P. 14x6.5" G-Maple snare and a Zildjian A Custom/K Custom cymbal array, powered by a Tama Iron Cobra 900 Power Glide double pedal and Tama Mario Duplantier Signature sticks.
What drum kit does Mario Duplantier use?
Mario Duplantier uses Tama Starclassic Bubinga (22"x18" Bass Drums x2, 12"x9" & 13"x10" Toms, 16"x16" Floor Tom) with 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). Bill Ward played a Ludwig Classic Maple kit with a Ludwig Supraphonic 14x6.5" LM402 snare and Zildjian Avedis Series cymbals (14" Hi-Hats, 16" & 18" Crashes, 20" Ride, 18" China), driven by a single Ludwig Speed King pedal — no double bass. Mario Duplantier plays a Tama Starclassic Bubinga kit with a Tama S.L.P. 14x6.5" G-Maple snare and a Zildjian A Custom/K Custom cymbal array, powered by a Tama Iron Cobra 900 Power Glide double pedal and Tama Mario Duplantier Signature sticks.
Which is better, Bill Ward or Mario Duplantier?
Bill Ward and Mario Duplantier occupy opposite ends of heavy metal's evolution while sharing a common thread — both prioritize feel and groove over pure technical display. Ward invented the genre's foundational swing more than five decades ago, giving Black Sabbath's earliest riffs their loose, hard-hitting heaviness. Duplantier represents progressive death metal's tribal, polyrhythmic modern era, driving Gojira's tuned-percussion attack with the same instinct for groove that made Ward's playing timeless. The comparison spans genres and generations, but both drummers prove that heavy metal's power has always come from feel first.