BY ANDY DOERSCHUK
Mike Portnoy has been one of the favorite cover story artists among DRUM! Magazine readers over the past 20 years. While he’s known for a brutal attack and complex coordination, one of his most colorful attributes has been Portnoy’s outrageous drum setups, which often dominate the lion’s share of every stage upon which it is set up. Here is a selection of Mike Portnoy drum kit diagrams that have been published in DRUM! Magazine over the years.
Mike Portnoy Drum Kit Diagram
PORTNOY’S 2004 MONSTER
Drums: Tama Starclassic Maple
1. 22″ x 18″ Bass Drum
2. 20″ x 16″ Bass Drum
3. 14″ x 5 1/2″ Melody Master Maple Snare
4. 12″ x 5″ Melody Master Steel Snare
5. 16″ x 16″ Floor Tom
6. 10 1/4″ LP Steel Timbalio
7. Octobans
8. 8″ x 8″ Tom
9. 10″ x 9″ Tom
10. 12″ x 10″ Tom
11. 14″ x 6″ Tom
12. 13″ x 11″ Tom
13. 10″ x 10″ Tom
14. 20″ x 14″ Gong Bass Drum
Cymbals: Sabian
A. 14″ AAX Stage Hats
B. 14″ HHX Studio Crash
C. 18″ HHX Chinese
D. 18″ HHX Studio Crash
E. 7″ Max Splash
F. 9″ Max Splash
G. 18″ AA Medium-Thin Crash
H. Medium Max Stax with 7″ Radia Bell on top
I. 20″ HHX Chinese
J. 22″ Hand Hammered Rock Ride
K. 13″ HHX Groove Hats
L. 19″ Hand Hammered Fierce Crash
M. Low Max Stax
N. 12″ Ice Bell
O. 17″ Hand Hammered Thin Crash
P. 11″ Max Splash
Q. High Max Stax
R. 8″ Max Stax (two combined to make hi-hat)
S. Triple Hi-Hat
T. 20″ Hand Hammered Chinese
U. 16″ HHXtreme Crash
Mike Portnoy also uses Tama hardware and pedals, Pro-Mark 420 Mike Portnoy Signature sticks, Slick Nut cymbal fasteners, and Remo heads.
PORTNOY’S PREPOSTEROUS 2005 KIT
Drums: Tama Starclassic Maple
1. 22″ x 18″ Bass Drum
2. 26″ x 14″ Bass Drum
3. 14″ x 5.5″ Melody Master Maple Snare
4. 14″ X 6.5″ Brass Snare
5. 16″ x 16″ Floor Tom
6. 10.25″ LP Steel Timbalito
7. Octobans
8. 8″ x 8″ Tom
9. 10″ x 9″ Tom
10. 12″ x 10″ Tom
11. 14″ x 6″ Tom
12. 14″ x 10″ Tom
13. 16″ x 16″ Floor Tom
14. 18″ x 16″ Floor Tom
Cymbals: Sabian
A. 14″ AAX Stage Hats
B. 14″ HHX Studio Crash
C. 18″ HHX Chinese
D. 18″ HHX Studio Crash
E. 7″ Max Splash
F. 9″ Max Splash
G. 18″ AA Medium-Thin Crash
H. Medium Max Stax with 7″ Radia Bell on top
I. 20″ HHX Chinese
J. 22″ Hand Hammered Rock Ride
K. 13″ HHX Groove Hats
L. 19″ Hand Hammered Fierce Crash
M. Low Max Stax
N. 12″ Ice Bell
O. 17″ Hand Hammered Thin Crash
P. 11″ Max Splash
Q. High Max Stax
R. 8″ Max Stax (two combined to make hi-hat)
S. Triple Hi-Hat
T. 20″ Hand Hammered Chinese
U. 16″ HHXtreme Crash
Mike Portnoy also uses Tama hardware and pedals, Pro-Mark 420 Mike Portnoy Signature sticks, Slick Nut cymbal fasteners, and Remo heads.
MIKE PORTNOY DRUM KIT 2007 SET
Drums: Tama (Albino Monster)
1 22″ x 18″ Bass Drum
2 14″ x 5.5″ Melody Maker Signature Snare Drum (maple)
3 12″ x 5″ Melody Maker Signature Snare Drum (steel)
4 6″ Octoban
5 16″ x 16″ Floor Tom
6 8″ x 8″ Tom
7 10″ x 9″ Tom
8 12″ x 10″ Tom
9 14″ x 6″ Tymp Tom
10 14″ x 6.5″ Brass Snare Drum
11 26″ x 14″ Bass Drum
12 14″ x 10″ Tom
13 16″ x 16″ Floor Tom
14 18″ x 16″ Floor Tom
Cymbals: Sabian
A 14″ AAX Stage Hi-Hats
B 14″ HHX Studio Crash
C 18″ HHX Chinese
D 18″ HHX Studio Crash
E Signature Max Stax (high)
F 7″ Signature Max Splash
G 9″ Signature Max Splash
H Signature Max Stax (medium)
I 12″ Ice bell upside down
J 18″ AA Medium Thin Crash
K 20″ HHX Chinese
L 22″ Hand Hammered Rock Ride
M 13″ HHX Groove Hats
N Signature Max Stax (low)
O 19″ Signature Fierce Crash
P 15″ Sabian “Prototype” Hi-Hats
Q 16″ Vault Crash
R 11″ Max Splash
S 24″ Sabian “Prototype” Ride
T 18″ AAX Stage Crash
U 19″ Vault Crash
V 20″ Hand Hammered Chinese
W 28″ Zodiac Gong
Mike Portnoy also uses Pro-Mark sticks, Remo heads, and Tama hardware.
PORTNOY’S 2009 “BLACK & SILVER MONSTER”
Drums: Tama Starclassica Bubinga
1 22″ x 18″ Bass Drum
2 20″ x 18″ Bass Drum
3 14″ x 5.5″ Melody Master Signature Snare
4 12″ x 5″ Melody Master Signature Snare
5 16″ x 16″ Floor Tom
6 Octobans
7 8″ x 8″ Tom
8 10″ x 9″ Tom
9 12″ x 10″ Tom
10 14″ x 5.5″ Tom
11 13″ x 5″ Tom
12 14″ x 14″ Floor Tom
13 20″ x 14″ Gong Bass
Cymbals: Sabian
A 14″ AAX Stage Hi-Hat
B 14″ AA Extra Thin Crash
C 18″ HHX Chinese
D 18″ HHX Studio Crash
E 8″ Mike Portnoy Signature Max Stax
F 7″ Mike Portnoy Signature Max Splash
G 9″ Mike Portnoy Signature Max Splash
H 10″ Mike Portnoy Signature Max Stax
I 7″ Radia Cup Chime
J 18″ AA Medium Thin Crash
K 20″ HHX Chinese
L 22″ HH Rock Ride
M 19″ Fierce Crash
N 14″ Mike Portnoy Signature Max Stax
O 10″ Chopper
P 13″ HHX Stage Hi-Hat
Q 8″ Chopper
R 9″ Mike Portnoy Signature Max Splash
S 16″ HHX X-Treme Crash
T 20″ AA El Sabor Ride
U 18″ AAX Stage Crash
V 10″ Max Stax
W 11″ Max Splash
X 20″ AA Chinese
Y 8″ Radia Flat Bell
Z 12″ Chopper
Percussion
AA Sabian 28″ Zodiac Gong
BB Latin Percussion Mounted Cyclops Tambourine
CC Latin Percussion Rock Ridge Rider Cowbell
DD Latin Percussion Studio Bar Chimes
Electronics
EE Roland PD-8 Trigger Pad
FF Roland Rhythm Coach
GG Buttkicker Concert Transducers
Mike Portnoy also uses Tama hardware and pedals, Pro-Mark mallets, rods, and sticks, and Remo heads.