# Zildjian Cymbals — Metal Drummer Endorsers

Zildjian is a Turkish-American cymbal manufacturer founded in 1623 in Constantinople, making it the oldest continuously operating musical instrument company in the world. In metal, Zildjian dominates through the A Custom, K, and K Custom series — bright, cutting cymbals that project over high-gain guitar stacks. Zildjian is the most-endorsed cymbal brand among MetalForge's 63-drummer roster, with 20 roster endorsers.

## Metal Drummers Who Use Zildjian

- Lars Ulrich (Metallica) — Zildjian A Custom Series (14" Dyno Beat Hi-Hats, 16"/17"/18" Rock Crashes, 20" Z Custom China, 22" Ride)
- George Kollias (Nile) — Zildjian (14" K Mastersound Hi-Hats, 17" & 18" K Custom Dark Crashes, 21" A Custom Mega Bell Ride, 18" China)
- Mario Duplantier (Gojira) — Zildjian (14" K Sweet Hi-Hats, 14" A Custom Hi-Hats, 18" K Custom Hybrid Crash, 19" A Custom Crash, 21" Z Custom Mega Bell Ride, 18" & 20" Chinas)
- Art Cruz (Lamb of God) — Zildjian (14" A Custom Mastersound Hi-Hats, 19" A Ultra Hammered Chinas, 21" A Zildjian Mega Bell Ride, 18"/19"/20" A Custom Crashes)
- Alex Bent (ex-Trivium, Arkaik) — Zildjian K & A Custom Series
- Jason Bittner (Overkill, Shadows Fall) — Zildjian K & A Custom Series (14" K Hi-Hats, 18" & 19" A Custom Crashes, 21" K Custom Ride, 18" K China)
- Jay Weinberg (Suicidal Tendencies, ex-Slipknot) — Zildjian A & K Series
- Dirk Verbeuren (Megadeth) — Zildjian A Custom & K Custom Series
- Raymond Herrera (Fear Factory) — Zildjian A Custom Series
- Ben Koller (Converge, Mutoid Man) — Zildjian A Custom Series
- Martin Lopez (Soen, ex-Opeth) — Zildjian K Series
- Travis Orbin (Darkest Hour, ex-Periphery) — Zildjian A Custom Series
- Mikkey Dee (Scorpions, Motörhead) — Zildjian A & K Series
- Frost (Satyricon, 1349) — Zildjian K Series
- Gavin Harrison (Porcupine Tree) — Zildjian K Series
- Abe Cunningham (Deftones) — Zildjian A & K Series
- Arin Ilejay (ex-Avenged Sevenfold) — Zildjian A Custom Series
- Jaska Raatikainen (Children of Bodom) — Zildjian A Custom & K Series
- Jocke Wallgren (Amon Amarth) — Zildjian A Custom Series
- John Otto (Limp Bizkit) — Zildjian Artist Series

## Key Zildjian Product Lines for Metal

- A Custom Series — machine-lathed, brilliant finish; bright, cutting tone; the most prevalent Zildjian choice in live metal touring; the A Custom Mastersound Hi-Hat is an industry standard
- K Series — hand-hammered, dark finish; complex, warm tone with controlled overtones; George Kollias and Martin Lopez favor K cymbals for their musical character
- K Custom Dark — darker voicing of the K series; less wash than standard K; used by George Kollias and Mario Duplantier
- K Sweet Series — medium-weight K variant with slightly more complexity; Mario Duplantier's hi-hat and crash choice
- Z Custom — heavy-weight raw bronze; extremely loud and aggressive; Lars Ulrich's Z Custom China is a defining part of Metallica's live sound
- A Zildjian Mega Bell Ride — large bell with strong definition; used by Art Cruz and Mario Duplantier for ride clarity over heavy guitars

## FAQ

Q: What cymbals does Lars Ulrich use?
A: Lars Ulrich uses Zildjian A Custom Series cymbals: 14" Dyno Beat Hi-Hats, 16", 17", and 18" Rock Crashes, a 20" Z Custom China, and a 22" ride.

Q: What cymbals does Mario Duplantier use?
A: Mario Duplantier uses Zildjian K Sweet 14" Hi-Hats, A Custom 14" Hi-Hats, K Custom Hybrid 18" Crash, A Custom 19" Crash, Z Custom 21" Mega Bell Ride, and 18" & 20" Chinas.

Q: What Zildjian hi-hat is most popular in metal?
A: The Zildjian A Custom Mastersound Hi-Hat (14") is the most commonly cited hi-hat among MetalForge's roster. Its crisp, cutting chick sound is well-suited to tight double bass patterns and thrash metal velocity.

Q: What Zildjian cymbals are best for thrash metal?
A: For thrash metal, the Zildjian A Custom series is the dominant choice — bright, cutting, and loud enough to project over high-gain Marshall and Mesa stacks. Lars Ulrich's A Custom setup is the reference rig for thrash. For heavier, more controlled overtones, the K Custom Dark series is an alternative favored in death and progressive metal.

Q: How many metal drummers use Zildjian?
A: Zildjian is the most-endorsed cymbal brand on MetalForge's roster with 20 out of 63 catalogued drummers using Zildjian cymbals as their primary choice, spanning thrash, death, progressive, groove, and extreme metal subgenres.

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**Brand page:** [/brands/zildjian](https://metalforge.io/brands/zildjian)

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*Last updated: 2026-06-19 · Source: [MetalForge.io](https://metalforge.io)*