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Mastodon, Photo: Ian D'Andrea

Photo: Ian D'Andrea · CC BY-SA 4.0

Independent research by truerecs. Not affiliated with, endorsed or verified by Mastodon. Every item links to its public source.
58 items · Last checked

What drums does Mastodon play?

Mastodon's Bill Kelliher uses his ESP Sparrowhawk signature guitar, a Friedman Butterslax signature head and a Line 6 Helix. Troy Sanders uses his Fender signature Precision Bass, a Warwick and a Wren and Cuff Elephant Skin distortion. Brann Dailor has been seen playing Tama drums and Meinl cymbals.

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AllTop 5Bill Kelliher: amps and effectsBill Kelliher: guitarsTroy Sanders: bassTroy Sanders: amps and pedalsBrann Dailor: drumsBrann Dailor: cymbals
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What gear Mastodon uses: a sourced gear guide

Independent research by truerecs: every item links to the public source it comes from.

Bill Kelliher: amps and effects

17 items

Bill Kelliher: guitars

9 items

Troy Sanders: bass

5 items

Troy Sanders: amps and pedals

10 items

Brann Dailor: drums

9 items

Brann Dailor: cymbals

8 items
Questions

About Mastodon's gear.

What guitar does Bill Kelliher play?

Bill Kelliher uses his ESP signature models, the Sparrowhawk, Royal Shiva, BK-600 and his own Eclipse, plus an ESP Ron Wood guitar, per Guitar.com in 2024. He has also been seen with his 1982 Silverburst Gibson Les Paul Custom and his Halcyon signature Les Paul.

What amp does Bill Kelliher use?

He uses his Friedman Butterslax signature head along with Victory Super Kraken and Super Duchess heads, with a Line 6 Helix for most effects, according to Guitar.com. Premier Guitar's 2014 rig rundown showed Friedman JJ Cantrell and HBE heads.

What bass does Troy Sanders play?

Troy Sanders uses his Fender signature Precision Bass, his Fender Jaguar Bass and a Warwick he has played on every Mastodon album and tour since Crack the Skye, per Guitar World in 2026.

What pedals does Troy Sanders use?

Live, he uses just a tuner and a Wren and Cuff Elephant Skin distortion, he told Guitar World in 2026. His 2014 board also had a TC Electronic PolyTune and Corona Chorus, a Wren and Cuff Tall Font Russian and a Dunlop wah.

What drums does Brann Dailor play?

Brann Dailor has been seen playing a Tama Starclassic Bubinga kit with a 14x6 Starphonic brass snare, Tama Speed Cobra pedals, Vater 5B sticks and Evans heads, plus Meinl cymbals including his signature 21-inch Classics Custom Ghost Ride.

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Mastodon
About this guide · Last checked

Mastodon are the Atlanta progressive metal band behind Leviathan, Crack the Skye and Emperor of Sand. This guide covers Bill Kelliher's guitars and amps, Troy Sanders' basses and pedals, and Brann Dailor's Tama drums and Meinl cymbals.

truerecs put this guide together from public videos, interviews and posts. Each item says how we know and links to the source. Mastodon didn't write it or choose anything on it. How we source gear guides.

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