Mike Portnoy Guitar Strings & Gear
Apr 23rd 2024
About Mike Portnoy
If you even casually listen to metal and rock, you’ve almost certainly heard Mike Portnoy. As the original drummer for Dream Theater, he played a huge role in the development of progressive metal, keeping the beat for multiple gold records as the genre and the band hit the big time. Other projects such as Liquid Tension Experiment, Transatlantic, Flying Color and the Winery Dogs have let Portnoy stretch his musical wings. He’s also played extensively with Neal Morse and even did an album with Avenged Sevenfold.
A native of Long Beach, New York, Portnoy’s father was a local radio DJ, instilling a love of all music in young Mike. With influences ranging from Keith Moon to Neil Peart, it’s easy to see why Portnoy has cast such a wide musical net. Things came full circle in 2023 when, after 13 years apart, Portnoy rejoined Dream Theater with plans to record a new album.
What Does Mike Portnoy Use for Guitar Strings?
Although primarily known as a drummer and singer, Portnoy is also an accomplished bass guitar and electric guitar player. When he picks up his six-string electric axe, it has D’Addario XL Pro Steels EPS510 Light 10-46 strings. These corrosion round-wound strings are the brightest ones D’Addario makes with impressively accurate lows — a great combination for playing metal and hard rock. The D’Addario DP0002 Black Guitar Pro-Winder allows Mike to quickly change strings on acoustic, electric and bass guitars. This three-in-one tool includes a winder, a bridge pin puller and a string clipper to save space in his gig bag.
Follow Mike Portnoy
Mike Portnoy's official website
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