Lars Ulrich's drums from KEA to DM

lars ulrichs drums throughout the ages

[@paradigmshiftz7]

He didnt use the white Black Album kit in the Justice era, he used the Grey Tama kit during that era. And the mirror chrome kit he used since '84

[@brenoschwarzandrade]

Fun fact: when they played in Brazil in '89 for the finalshow of the AJFA tour, he played a drumkit rented locally, which had flames drawn on the toms....I think there are pictures of it online...

[@fatimapalacios2292]

here is the video ?v=ODMvdzf2Vpo

[@MyTony40]

His justice tour kit which in fact is a Tama Granstar custom( not a Granstar II ) in smoke blue painted finish. IMO is his best kit.

[@andrewkalipetis7128]

Its a great kit, but I live the black and white kit. I'm currently building a replica of it

[@MM-ig1iv]

agreed! wish he would've continued playing like that..

[@derfdoow195]

My favorite also!

[@anders2772]

Once again this list in the video is very inaccurate and I have done the proper research so I will share it with you. The drum interviews actually do tell you the setups and truth but lets begin. 1981-1982: Lars decides in LA to get a drum kit and learn drums in a week. West Coast Drums supplies a brown or white kit for rental at first. Lars also starts to take some leasons at the same place. Metallica starts october 1981 and Lars has a Camco kit in natural with a lot of toms and one bass drum. 1983: Metallica move to SF and Lars gets another bass drum for the Camco + he paints the kit black. This is the Kill'em'all recording kit. 1984: By the Boston date Metallica get their all the gear stolen exept guitars and bass which the roadies had taken inside for the cold night. Metallica borrows gear from Anthrax and also renting. For Ride the lightning Lars got a Ludwig kit restored by Bazz Ward from John Henry in UK. He is on the thank you list on the album for that reason. Music for nation paid and arranged it. By fall Qprime make the Tama connection happen and Lars talks to Neal Peart about Tama drums. 1984 - 1985: Lars first official Tama which is chrome covered Imperial star in a typical 9 pcs double bass setup. It was used on the lightning tour and ends with the Day on the green gig 1985 where the best pictures of it comes from. 1985: The day after the Day on the Green Metalica - Cliff Burton flies to Copenhagen to record Puppets. Tama supplies 2 Tama Superstar kits. Wine red for Europe and chrome covered for US. The wine red is the Puppets recording kit. 1986: Lars uses mostly the chrome covered Superstar after Roskilde. For the tour of Japan Tama supplies a Tama Artstar I in white. 1987: Lars still uses the chrome Superstar and is seen in ads with a white Tama Granstar. The chrome Superstar was most likely used on the Garage EP. 1988 - 1989: Justice recording consist of Superstar bass drums from the chrome covered kit for its natural sound. Toms are a mix of Granstar Custom/Crestar. Live Lars uses a custom color grey Tama Granstar Custom 1990: Lars still uses a Tama Granstar Custom but this time in white. 1991 - 1993 Lars uses Tama Artstar II with Granstar single lugs. Lars switches to Tama Starclassic and still uses Artstar backstage So that is how the truth looks like. This is all proveable but maybe I should post the pictures in a video?

[@ibalish0392]

Anders Jørgensen lol this isn't even the uploader's text. I recognized the text in the video from a website about Metallica's gear, all of it is plagiarized.

[@anders2772]

Yes but it is nothing but guess work and the tuning truth is what I posted to clear up the mess which is copied on nearly all Metallica gear oriented sites though I have noticed my research has changed some of them.

[@sugoma6741]

Lars started playing drums when he was 14 or 15, he didn't start in '81, yeah he sucked, but he had still been playing for a few years... just without lessons

[@DavidMatine]

I want a set of the Justice recording one

[@jacksonsjackedupbass2741]

Artstar ll*

[@Rockin_Ross]

I know for a fact his early 90’s black on white kit are Artstar II’s. I coveted that kit for years.

He use a Sabian hats for recording black album

[@jacknewton5961]

and in hardwired

[@phantom24323]

@@jacknewton5961 and St Anger

[@Mike-oz5pp]

Yea, & I don't think he ever played a swish knocker, splashes or a ping ride (I play a 20"ping)...he also used Zil A Platinum series during justice, this is not correct

[@Mike-oz5pp]

Sponsored by Zildjian but get busted playing Sabs lol... seriously, ppl use what sounds best in the studio & sometimes it not what they endorse, how they get away with it I dk but it does happen

[@claydecoursey2339]

Always using those dyno beats. Love them, used mine since I started and never have looked to replace. Have others, but the dynos always get gigged.

[@danwebd4481]

I got one a month ago through e bay, very dirty, but I cleaned them and they sound amazing, must be a collector's item now because I can't find another pair on ebay...

[@razvanpatrascanu7429]

master of muppets really dude omg

[@ricklieffering]

Cool video! The black/white kit is actually an Artstar 2 instead of the Granstar. It's the only artstar which was built with Granstar lugs to Lars' liking.

[@_Only_Zuul]

i thought it said lars ulrichs drum kits from IKEA🤣🤣 i'm like hmm so that explains it🤔🤔🤔

[@centaurus5676]

A little note worth mentioning he used a Ludwig Black Beauty 14x6.5 Snare[ Used not new] on the recording of Master of Puppets as this was stated in an interview with Flemming Rasmussen and also uses Zildjian K's in his mix.

[@ltcg1674]

he now has a purple tama starclassic

[@Artstar2]

Thanks, that is my drum kit.

[@ramsesbruyperez8499]

YES!!!! THAT SOUNDED KILLER!!

[@KoMar551]

the 4:49 picture you advertise as black album studio set is the load studio set. the video is full of misinformation.

[@ccffire6666]

I remember in the late 80s. Lars used zildjian a medium thins. Zildjian z dynabeads. And zildjian k China's. For a time maybe two or three years. All his cymbals we're Platinum series zildjian. 87 to 89 give or take

[@zeindarma]

about the last picture , that's not the drumset for the black album , that's for load album and recorded in 1995

[@RhymesWithCarbon]

The white signature kit isn't Granstar, it's Artstar II (Maple) with the Granstar lugs, black coated.

[@koenzwegers7088]

His and justice/ black album kits actually had a 20” Tom He said it at that interview with guitar centre

[@c.i.dangelo4515]

Not true. 2 18" floors. It's not unusual for Lars to be off about his gear. He's not the type of guy that's ever been what you'd call a "gear head".

[@smaque666]

John Dolmayan has got a signature tama drum kit too.

[@reneeriksen8563]

So does Stewart Copeland and Simon Phillips.

[@bryant2399]

Black and white kit was an Artstar II with Granstar hardware.

[@boreto]

Guys, he used Tama Bell brass for the black album, it can be seen on the "year and a half..." video. The drums from the same album are supposed to be not Tama but Gretch studio kit. And the white kit is an Artstar with Granstar lugs - the signature kit designed for sale were true granstars. His first real drums were Camco, there is an interview with James where he speaks about that fact.

[@ricklieffering]

boreto the black/white signature kits designed for sale are also Artstar 2's. You can tell the difference by the badges. Granstar has silver badges that say Granstar obviously, the Artstar has brown/copper coloured badges that say, well you can guess what they say. =)

[@simmsdn]

The Bell Brass on black album was rented from Drum Doctors in LA. Same snare Dave Grohl used on Nevermind. Probably the world's single most famous drum.

[@charkvaror2112]

The Justice white set is sooo iconic.

[@josiahvadeboncoeur3164]

Dyers eve. I approve.

[@ianbones03]

Thought his kit during the Justice tour was blue/grey, and the white one was brought in for the black album tour

[@657holmer]

+ian bones That is correct, he had a grey one on the AJFA tour

[@SyeDrums]

That last studio kit is from Load/ReLoad recordings not black album

[@aaroneslinger7968]

If the Binge and Purge video was correct I think he recorded the black album (or at least part of it) on a Red Gretch. A lot of people bash on Lars. You catch me doing it. Metallica was the reason I started playing drums. Regardless of the accuracy, it was cool to see all of the old sets. I'd kill for that white one with the black lugs.

[@jasonking1400]

At the end that photo was his kit for load, reload, garage Inc. His black album kit was black tama Tom's, two black gretch bass drums and tama 6.5x14 bell brass snare. Not trying to make you feel bad just trying to fill in the blanks a bit for you. I myself was wrong quite a bit back in the day. It's quite hard to be 100% accurate on all of his gear over the years so keep up with your research bro and remember METAL UP YOUR ASS!!!❤

[@tweevers2]

trying to find an old Stick it drum magazine I have from the and Justice for all era.They interviewed Lars Drum tech and have a diagram of the kit It is a Tama Grandstar in custom Grey.That comes right from the drum tech himself.also in the making of the black album doc.Lars uses a black tama with old imperialstar/Superstar lugs on them to record.I think it be on of those models then.He also uses a steel snare to record Black album but live used a Tama Artwood snare drum model# AW526.

[@muriloninja]

4:54 is not his Black Album setup...not even close. Thats his Load setup

[@tribrow1]

@jnoble05 no he didnt the black and white kit used during the black album was an artstar II and the gun metal grey kit used during justice was a Granstar custom.

[@apolmisa1995]

Atleast the drum kit in reload album. i think that one is the best kit for me though

[@MyTony40]

the white granstar ii kit he is using is acualy the artstars 2s with granstar lugs..just look at the color of the badge on the drums..artstars had the dark almost bronze looking..the granstars where with silver or metal looking badges. so he is using artstar shells with granstar lugs.

[@ricklieffering]

MyTony40 Exactly!

[@JimHawkwind03411]

As for the pedals Lars used (all Tama): Ride the Lightning and Master of Puppets: King Beat And Justice for All to S&M: Pro Beat St. Anger and beyond: Iron Cobra Power Glides

[@kevinnugraha9198]

His kits was changed throughout the years 1981-1983 Ludwig 1984-1985 Tama granstar 1986-1987 Tama granstar (silver coloured toms as you can see on 01:13) 1988-1993 Tama imperialstar (The kit he used whenever metallica at their peak, coloured black and white) 1994 Tama imperialstar (Toms were reduced from 6 to 4 and new cymbals was added, coloured black and white similar to the previous kit) 1995 Tama imperialstar (the toms were smaller than previous kit and the toms have a different hardware colour) 1996-2000 Tama imperialstar (similar to the previous kit, but coloured white and had a silver sparkle hardware) 2001 Metallica is on hiatus 2003-2007 tama starclassic (coloured green sparkle) 2008-now tama starclassic maple (coloured orange sparkle, the cymbals were reduced in present days)

[@DTnorwayDT]

Lars said in a guitar center interview that he used only camco for the kill em all tour, untill he got the deal with tama.

[@Mtaalas]

Master of Muppets? wtf...

[@jensharald9091]

THE Master of Muppets apparently

[@guiltyspark343able]

His little tom is actually 10"x8" not 10"x9" because he believes in proportion two by one, this means one; the diameter, less 2 de deep, example 10x8, 12x10, 16x14 but not his bass drum, or snare.

[@randyhollister3477]

Black album studio set was much bigger than what's on here.

[@chisoxfan708]

Honestly. 1:16 is my fav!

[@tamadrummer1nz]

Most of this information and photos came from a website i made when i was a teenager 20 year's ago, alot of was copied wrong, granted my info back then wasn't fully correct either. I know alot more now. Information other people have listed here are more correct.

[@mrweirdwar]

I saw them like on the ...and Justice for All tour. His kit was grey with black hardware.. not white.

[@paulveach2748]

All his drums were sweet...ok ok hears a question, did lars' wear boxers or a jock strap while playing...

[@tonysmith5564]

Inaccurate! The Justice kit was A Granstar but in gun metal gray with black hardware!

[@dgcorozco]

NO HE USED THE WHITE TAMA ON THE JUSTICE TOUR AT LEAST IN SEATTLE WA AND THE SAME KIT ON BLACK ALBUM TOUR - THE BLACK ALBUM WAS A GRETSCH KIT WITH 18X24 KICKS

[@antreasgeorgiou1411]

0:42 master of muppets

[@egedum]

4:55 omfggggg

[@metalhead25ful]

Everybody thinks he used the same kit that he used on justice on the black album but he didn't he used a gray tama kit and a black one in the black album era he used a similar one but it was white

[@TheShepster80]

@MyTony40 Can't really see the badges in these pics though right?

[@mesiebooga]

RTL: tama superstar (birch) in cherry red MOP: tama imperialstar (mahogany) mirror chrome (not sure about UK kit) AJFA: Tama Granstar I (birch)gun metal grey with black hardware Black: Tama Artstar II (maple) piano white with black Granstar I lugs Researched Lars and Tama. If you look through Tama catalogs and match wood color, finishes, lug style, sizes, and years in production then this is the list you'll come up with.

[@Mprindeville94]

His white drums are the best sounding ever imo.

[@poliszslaw5499]

Dyers Eve

[@MatoRohacek]

Would be good if you added soubd for each set in the video.

[@tamadrummer1nz]

1st kit shown, is the Ludwig with Yamaha hardware, you can this the budge on the tom, it aint a Tama

[@kiwibonza]

4:15...7 cymbals on his right hand side!?? i dont think so!!! and thats not the studio kit for the black album!

[@poppari1231]

It's the kit on late 90's and it has 7 symbals on right side.

[@Alojz4513]

3 crashes, ride, 2 chinas, hihat

[@athlonbob]

4:58 Load era, mate, Black Album has 4 tom toms

[@MrMrkfuk]

4:57 why he uses only that few mics?

[@williamwozniak2052]

What year did Lars buy his Hi-hat Clutch pedal? So he did double bass with one foot in the very beginning?(Heel toe technique?)Seems to have gotten the Clutch pedal during Puppets touring videos i have noticed....I could be wrong.

[@KeijiSuwa]

Not a clutch pedal, but a drop clutch. Lars started using one with his chrome Tama Imperialstar set in '84 I think. Before the drop clutch, Lars set his hi-hat up to where it was very slightly open so he could play it with his two bass drums. Dave Lombardo does the same thing since he doesn't use a drop clutch or clutch pedal on his hi-hat.

[@TheMotorcityfive]

Kill'em All:Lars used a Camco kit,at least i saw him using that kit at Aardschokdag in 1983 and i have never seen him using a Tama Imperialstar or never saw it on pics Ride the lightning and Master O.P.: awesome drum sounds from the Rasmussen production,the kits were Tama Superstar(wine red and chrome custom kits) For Justice-terrible production job btw ;) (and Black album) not sure but it was either Granstar and the white Artstar with black Granstar lugs,later on he switched to Starclassics

[@TheMrDsl]

@MrMrkfuk to control every cymbal at the mixdown

[@damionchrist]

You forgot the Gray and Black Justice kit!

[@sjang816]

one thing i never got, why use 2 exact same floor toms? why not 16 and 18 or if 2 18's, diff depths

[@ianbones03]

+nycjin816 think they are different depths one is 14"x16" the other is 16"x16"

[@ianbones03]

copied directly from metallica.com TAMA STAR CLASSIC MAPLE DRUMSFinish is LU Magnetic OrangeTwo 16″ × 22″ bass drums6.5″ × 14″ Lars Ulrich Signature snare drum8″ × 10″ tom tom10″ × 12″ tom tom14″ × 16″ floor tom16″ × 16″ floor tom

[@I.Milanov]

back in the day he used two 18s.. he didnt play the second floor all that much, so it was there mainly for looks, though i heard em joke its the 'cup holder'

[@ricklieffering]

Wel the biggest mounted racktom on the black/white Artstar 2 kit was a whopping 16x15. As a mounted tom! That's actually floortom size for most "normall size" kits. So if you want bigger you automaticly get to 18 inch. Bigger than that is a gongdrum or bassdrum. And like Ivan said, he apperently used the second more as a table for drinks etc. But can you imagine what a thunderous sound an 18 inch floortom produces? Let alone two! It's like riding the lightning!

[@jayvalle50]

It's really just personal preferences.... I use "13-"18 toms, a "24 kick.....and big ass cymbals

[@beyer66]

You forgot the camco kit

[@Francochandiaa]

en el studio tenia 6 toms no 4

[@jasonking1400]

You made some mistakes but overall you got it but do some more research. For example lars used the white granstar kit in the studio for and justice all but played the gun metal gray kit live for that tour. Plus he played the cherry wine kit on later dates of the puppets tour as well as in the jam room as late as the mid black album era

[@drummer93ful]

Error: lars on the tour of and justice for all ... did not use the brass but the stainlees stell

[@drummerman875]

ive got an imperialstar myself

[@bjbeardse]

JEEBUS!! Did Bob Rock lose his shit with all those overheads????

[@tribrow1]

@jnoble05 no he dosent he uses A customs, FX oriental chinas and A/Z Dyno beats

[@Mansay548]

justice kit is gray

[@yuckota]

that's not Black Album studio set..it's Load studio set.....The Black set was waaaaay bigger

[@MrMrkfuk]

@TheMrDsl i know m8, i was sarcastic :)

[@AlexandreSchwarz]

Master of Muppets?! 😂😂😂

[@chrishellams1755]

Led Zeppelin used 3 mics to. Record when Levi breaks

[@christhomasfoadrums]

justice grandstar ll black artstar ll with grandstar lugs a.k.a. shark tooth lugs

[@vis_music]

1:09 Master of Muppets... LOL

[@_Only_Zuul]

this video missed the beat...

[@jbearmcdougall1646]

Says it all about his ability now a days and probably since the early 2000's.. he has a huge China symbol where a ride should be... Lazy lazy performer .

[@tibbs1278]

Totally inaccurate!

[@chrishellams1755]

Was there any bass on one at all worsted recording almost ever