Best Hi-Hats for Nu-Metal 2026 | MetalForge Expert Guide
What hi-hats are used in nu-metal? Discover what John Otto, Joey Jordison, and Ray Luzier actually play — Zildjian A Custom, Paiste RUDE Wild Hi-Hats, and Sabian AAX Series — from budget to pro, built for syncopated groove and breakdown chaos alike.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hi-hats are used in nu-metal?
John Otto of Limp Bizkit plays Zildjian A Custom Hi-Hats for controlled, articulate syncopated grooves. Joey Jordison of Slipknot played Paiste RUDE Wild Hi-Hats for a raw, trashy breakdown voice. Ray Luzier of Korn plays Sabian AAX Series Hi-Hats for a bright middle ground that cuts through dense, down-tuned guitars.
What hi-hats does John Otto use?
John Otto of Limp Bizkit plays 14" Zildjian A Custom Hi-Hats, a setup confirmed since the band's earliest years through their 2020s revival on "Still Sucks," chosen for its quick, articulate chick under syncopated, hip-hop-influenced grooves.
What hi-hats did Joey Jordison use?
Joey Jordison of Slipknot played 14" Paiste RUDE Wild Hi-Hats during the Iowa era, part of a full RUDE cymbal setup that also included RUDE crashes, a RUDE Ride, and a RUDE Wild China — a raw, unlathed voice built for Slipknot's theatrical aggression.
What size hi-hats for nu-metal?
14" is the standard nu-metal hi-hat size, used by John Otto and Joey Jordison alike. It balances quick response for syncopated grooves with enough body to punctuate breakdown-heavy riffing.
Zildjian or Paiste hi-hats for nu-metal?
Both are proven at the highest level. Zildjian A Custom (John Otto) offers controlled, articulate groove definition. Paiste RUDE Wild (Joey Jordison) delivers raw, explosive aggression. Sabian AAX Series (Ray Luzier) sits in between, bright and cutting but more polished than RUDE. Choose based on whether your material leans groove-first or aggression-first.