Blake Richardson vs Mike Mangini — Drum Gear Comparison | MetalForge
Side-by-side gear: Blake Richardson (Between the Buried and Me) vs Mike Mangini (Godsmack (2026-present); Dream Theater (2010-2023)). Kits, cymbals, pedals, sticks — compare specs and prices.
Frequently Asked Questions
What drum kit does Blake Richardson use?
Blake Richardson uses Tama Starclassic Bubinga (Custom Finish) with Sabian (14" HHX Evolution Hi-Hats, 18" HHX Evolution Crash, 17" & 21" AAX Holy Chinas, 21" HH Raw Bell Dry Ride, 10" HH Duo Splash, 9" Radia Cup Chime). Blake Richardson plays a Tama Starclassic Bubinga kit (Custom Finish) with a Tama STARPHONIC 14x6" Brass snare and Sabian cymbals (14" HHX Evolution Hi-Hats, 18" HHX Evolution Crash, 17" & 21" AAX Holy Chinas, 21" HH Raw Bell Dry Ride), driven by twin Tama Iron Cobra Power Glide single pedals and Vic Firth American Classic 3A sticks. Mike Mangini plays a Pearl Reference Series kit with a Pearl Reference 14x5" & 14x6.5" Brass snare and Sabian HHX & AAX Series cymbals (14" HHX Evolution Hi-Hats, 17", 18", 19" HHX Evolution Crashes, 21" HHX Raw Bell Dry Ride), powered by a Pearl Demon Drive double pedal and a Roland SPD-SX sampling pad — both drummers share a Sabian HHX Evolution cymbal foundation despite very different drum and pedal choices.
What drum kit does Mike Mangini use?
Mike Mangini uses Pearl Reference Series with Sabian HHX & AAX Series (14" HHX Evolution Hi-Hats, 17", 18", 19" HHX Evolution Crashes, 21" HHX Raw Bell Dry Ride). Blake Richardson plays a Tama Starclassic Bubinga kit (Custom Finish) with a Tama STARPHONIC 14x6" Brass snare and Sabian cymbals (14" HHX Evolution Hi-Hats, 18" HHX Evolution Crash, 17" & 21" AAX Holy Chinas, 21" HH Raw Bell Dry Ride), driven by twin Tama Iron Cobra Power Glide single pedals and Vic Firth American Classic 3A sticks. Mike Mangini plays a Pearl Reference Series kit with a Pearl Reference 14x5" & 14x6.5" Brass snare and Sabian HHX & AAX Series cymbals (14" HHX Evolution Hi-Hats, 17", 18", 19" HHX Evolution Crashes, 21" HHX Raw Bell Dry Ride), powered by a Pearl Demon Drive double pedal and a Roland SPD-SX sampling pad — both drummers share a Sabian HHX Evolution cymbal foundation despite very different drum and pedal choices.
Which is better, Blake Richardson or Mike Mangini?
Blake Richardson and Mike Mangini share a Sabian HHX Evolution cymbal foundation but arrive at progressive metal from opposite directions. Richardson is Between the Buried and Me's genre-blending compositional chameleon, treating extreme complexity as a vehicle for musicality. Mangini is Dream Theater's record-holding technician, treating drumming as a science of speed and efficiency. Both represent progressive metal's outer technical limits — one through creative unpredictability, the other through calculated precision.