Shannon Larkin vs Bill Ward — Drum Gear Comparison | MetalForge
Side-by-side gear: Shannon Larkin (Godsmack / Ugly Kid Joe / Amen) vs Bill Ward (Black Sabbath). Kits, cymbals, pedals, sticks — compare specs and prices.
Frequently Asked Questions
What drum kit does Shannon Larkin use?
Shannon Larkin uses ddrum Dios Series with Sabian AAX & HHX Series (14" AAX Stage Hi-Hats, 18" & 19" AAX X-Plosion Crashes, 21" HHX Raw Bell Dry Ride, 10" AAX Splash, 18" AAX Chinese). Larkin plays a ddrum Dios Series kit with a ddrum Dios 14x6.5" Maple snare and Sabian AAX & HHX Series cymbals, powered by a DW 9000 Series double pedal. Ward played a Ludwig Classic Maple kit with a Ludwig Supraphonic 14x6.5" LM402 snare and Zildjian Avedis Series cymbals, including a 20" ride, driven by a single pedal.
What drum kit does Bill Ward use?
Bill Ward uses Ludwig Classic Maple with Paiste 2002 & Giant Beat Series (15" Giant Beat Hi-Hats, 18" & 20" 2002 Crashes, 24" 2002 Ride, 18" 2002 China). Larkin plays a ddrum Dios Series kit with a ddrum Dios 14x6.5" Maple snare and Sabian AAX & HHX Series cymbals, powered by a DW 9000 Series double pedal. Ward played a Ludwig Classic Maple kit with a Ludwig Supraphonic 14x6.5" LM402 snare and Zildjian Avedis Series cymbals, including a 20" ride, driven by a single pedal.
Which is better, Shannon Larkin or Bill Ward?
Shannon Larkin and Bill Ward represent two eras of the same hard-hitting, groove-first lineage that runs from Black Sabbath through modern hard rock. Ward invented the jazz-swung, riff-driven foundation of heavy metal drumming in 1968; Larkin carried that hard-hitting, song-serving philosophy into Godsmack's platinum-selling 21st-century sound, even briefly filling in for Black Sabbath's touring lineup in 1997. Both prioritize power and groove over technical spectacle, and both remain indispensable architects of hard rock's heaviest drumming lineage.