Shannon Larkin vs Mario Duplantier — Drum Gear Comparison | MetalForge
Side-by-side gear: Shannon Larkin (Godsmack / Ugly Kid Joe / Amen) vs Mario Duplantier (Gojira). 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). Shannon Larkin plays a ddrum Dios Series kit with a ddrum Dios 14x6.5" Maple snare and Sabian AAX Series cymbals (14" Stage Hi-Hats, 18" & 19" X-Plosion Crashes, 21" Raw Bell Dry Ride, 18" AAX Chinese), driven by a DW 9000 Series double pedal and Vic Firth American Classic 5B sticks. Mario Duplantier plays a Tama Starclassic Walnut/Birch kit with a Tama S.L.P. 14x6" G-Maple snare and a Zildjian A Custom/K Custom cymbal array, powered by a Tama Iron Cobra 900 Power Glide double pedal.
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). Shannon Larkin plays a ddrum Dios Series kit with a ddrum Dios 14x6.5" Maple snare and Sabian AAX Series cymbals (14" Stage Hi-Hats, 18" & 19" X-Plosion Crashes, 21" Raw Bell Dry Ride, 18" AAX Chinese), driven by a DW 9000 Series double pedal and Vic Firth American Classic 5B sticks. Mario Duplantier plays a Tama Starclassic Walnut/Birch kit with a Tama S.L.P. 14x6" G-Maple snare and a Zildjian A Custom/K Custom cymbal array, powered by a Tama Iron Cobra 900 Power Glide double pedal.
Which is better, Shannon Larkin or Mario Duplantier?
Shannon Larkin and Mario Duplantier represent two distinct strands of modern metal drumming. Larkin built Godsmack's commercial hard rock foundation on solid groove and dynamic power across more than two decades of multi-platinum albums, prioritizing feel over technical complexity. Duplantier drives Gojira's tuned-percussion, polyrhythmic attack, layering crushing double bass with a tribal, ceremonial quality that has redefined progressive death metal's rhythmic vocabulary. Larkin is hard rock's dependable groove engine; Duplantier is progressive death metal's tribal innovator — both prove that metal drumming's power comes in many forms.