Lars Ulrich vs Mike Portnoy — Drum Gear Comparison | MetalForge
Side-by-side gear: Lars Ulrich (Metallica) 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 Lars Ulrich use?
Lars Ulrich uses Tama Starclassic Maple with Zildjian A Custom Series (14" Dyno Beat Hi-Hats, 16", 17" & 18" Rock Crashes, 20" Z Custom China, 22" Ride). 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.
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). 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.
Which is better, Lars Ulrich or Mike Portnoy?
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.