Joey Jordison vs Mike Portnoy — Drum Gear Comparison | MetalForge
Side-by-side gear: Joey Jordison (Slipknot) vs Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater / Liquid Tension Experiment / The Winery Dogs). Kits, cymbals, pedals, sticks — compare specs and prices.
Frequently Asked Questions
What drum kit does Joey Jordison use?
Joey Jordison uses Pearl Reference Series with Paiste RUDE & 2002 Series (14" Wild Hi-Hats, 16", 17", 18", 19" Power Crashes, 20" & 22" Wild Chinas, 22" Power Ride). Joey played Pearl drums with Paiste cymbals. Mike uses Tama drums with Sabian cymbals for his iconic sound.
What drum kit does Mike Portnoy use?
Mike Portnoy uses Tama Starclassic Maple + Starclassic Bubinga ("Dream Monster" dual kit) with Sabian HHX MAX / AAX MAXX Series (22" HHX MAX Ride, 18" AAX X-Plosion Crash, 19" HHX X-Plosion Crash, 18" AAX O-Zone Crash, 18" HHX Chinese, 19" Paragon Chinese, 7"/9"/11" AAX MAXX Splashes, 6"/6.5"/7" AA MAX Chimes). Joey played Pearl drums with Paiste cymbals. Mike uses Tama drums with Sabian cymbals for his iconic sound.
Which is better, Joey Jordison or Mike Portnoy?
Two different paths to drumming greatness. Joey Jordison brought extreme metal to the masses. Mike Portnoy elevated progressive metal to new heights. Both are essential to understanding modern metal drumming.