# Best Hi-Hats for Power Metal: 2026 Ultimate Guide > What hi-hats are used in power metal? Discover what Scott Travis, Aquiles Priester, Nicko McBrain, and Mikkey Dee actually play — Sabian HHX Groove, Ufip Class, and Paiste Signature & 2002 — from budget to pro, built for galloping precision. **Guide URL:** [https://metalforge.io/guides/best-hi-hats-for-power-metal](https://metalforge.io/guides/best-hi-hats-for-power-metal) **Last Updated:** 2026-07-07 --- ## What Hi-Hats Are Used in Power Metal? Power metal's galloping, triplet-based rhythmic vocabulary and theatrical, keyboard-orchestrated arrangements demand a hi-hat that stays bright and clearly articulate rather than blurring into wash. A hi-hat that washes out under a galloping pattern buries the very rhythmic feel power metal's European scene was built on. Scott Travis currently plays Sabian HHX Groove Hi-Hats with Judas Priest, a bright, articulate pair that carries directly from his galvanizing "Painkiller" (1990) performance — the album that became a direct blueprint for the entire European power metal movement. Aquiles Priester runs Ufip Class Hi-Hats on his current Angra return cycle, chosen for the warmer, more complex consistency his sustained 180-220+ BPM neoclassical double-bass patterns demand. Nicko McBrain's Paiste Signature Hi-Hats have powered Iron Maiden's galloping, triplet-based rhythmic vocabulary that power metal's entire European scene directly built upon, while Mikkey Dee's Paiste 2002 Hi-Hats bring European hard rock cutting power and touring endurance across Motörhead and Scorpions. This guide compares Sabian HHX, Ufip, and Paiste Signature/2002 hi-hats for power metal — breaking down what each of these four influential drummers plays and why, with recommendations across every budget. **Key Points:** - Sabian HHX Groove Hi-Hats give Scott Travis the bright, articulate cut that defined power metal's speed-and-precision blueprint on "Painkiller" - Aquiles Priester's Ufip Class Hi-Hats support sustained neoclassical double-bass patterns with a warmer, more complex voice - Nicko McBrain's Paiste Signature Hi-Hats and Mikkey Dee's Paiste 2002 Hi-Hats both deliver the galloping-rhythm brightness power metal's European scene depends on - 14" bright, cutting hi-hats dominate power metal, prioritizing theatrical presence over dry, controlled sustain --- ## What Makes a Great Power Metal Hi-Hat? ### ✨ Bright, Clean Chick Power metal's galloping rhythms and soaring clean vocals need a hi-hat that chicks cleanly rather than washing. Scott Travis's Sabian HHX Groove Hi-Hats and Nicko McBrain's Paiste Signature Hi-Hats are both voiced for brightness and articulate attack that stays present against keyboard-orchestrated arrangements. **Recommendation:** Bright, cutting hi-hats that stay articulate against dense, theatrical arrangements ### 🔔 Clarity for Galloping Triplet Patterns Power metal's galloping, triplet-based rhythmic vocabulary — the direct legacy of Nicko McBrain's Iron Maiden foundation — demands a hi-hat that stays clearly articulate at speed rather than blurring into wash. **Recommendation:** Medium-weight hi-hats with strong stick definition for galloping triplet patterns ### 🎯 Sustained Double-Bass Consistency Aquiles Priester's Ufip Class Hi-Hats are chosen specifically for consistency at the sustained 180-220+ BPM double-bass patterns his neoclassical style demands — a hi-hat needs to hold up to relentless, high-tempo foot work without losing character. **Recommendation:** Durable B20 bronze hi-hats rated for sustained high-tempo double-bass performance ### 🛡️ Touring Endurance Mikkey Dee's Paiste 2002 Hi-Hats have survived decades of Motörhead and Scorpions arena and festival touring. Power metal's biggest bands live on the festival circuit, so a hi-hat needs to hold tone and durability across relentless live schedules. **Recommendation:** Heavy-gauge bronze hi-hats built for daily touring wear ### 🎭 Theatrical Dynamic Range Power metal's fantasy-and-mythology songwriting often swings between delicate keyboard-led passages and explosive double-bass choruses. Your hi-hat needs to handle both extremes convincingly, from a whisper-quiet pattern to a full-kit crash accent. **Recommendation:** A hi-hat with a wide dynamic range from quiet patterns to loud accents ### ⚖️ Warmth vs Brightness Aquiles Priester's Italian-made Ufip Class Hi-Hats give a warmer, more complex voicing than the brighter Sabian HHX or Paiste alternatives — proof power metal's cymbal requirements have room for a different tonal character at the highest level. **Recommendation:** Ufip-style warmth for a distinctive voice; Sabian/Paiste brightness for the classic gallop sound --- ## Top Hi-Hats Used by Power Metal Legends ### 1. Sabian HHX Groove Hi-Hats — Sabian **Model:** HHX Groove Hi-Hats 14" **Price range:** €260-320 per pair **Tier:** pro **Material:** B20 Bronze, Bright/Brilliant **Rating:** 4.8/5 Scott Travis currently plays Sabian HHX Groove Hi-Hats with Judas Priest, having returned to a Sabian HHX setup for "Invincible Shield" (2024). The HHX line's bright, focused attack traces its lineage directly back to "Painkiller" (1990), the title track that became a direct blueprint for the European power metal movement that followed. HammerFall, Blind Guardian, and countless power metal bands cite "Painkiller" as a foundational influence, making Travis's hi-hat choice a genuine through-line for the genre's speed-and-theatrics template. **Pros:** - Scott Travis's current Judas Priest setup — direct lineage to power metal's foundational "Painkiller" blueprint - Bright, focused B20 bronze attack cuts through galloping double-bass patterns - Strong stick and chick definition at high tempo - Proven across Judas Priest's most influential and recent recordings **Cons:** - Brighter voicing less warm than Ufip's Italian character - Premium Sabian HHX pricing - Less raw aggression than a heavier, darker alternative **Who uses it:** - Scott Travis (Judas Priest) — 14" HHX Groove Hi-Hats — "Painkiller" lineage, current setup **Verdict:** The power metal foundational standard. Travis's setup carries a direct line from "Painkiller" to the genre's modern era. ### 2. Ufip Class Hi-Hats — Ufip **Model:** Class Hi-Hats 14" **Price range:** €220-290 per pair **Tier:** pro **Material:** B20 Bronze, Italian **Rating:** 4.6/5 Aquiles Priester runs Ufip Class Hi-Hats on his current Angra return cycle, chosen for the warmer, more complex consistency his sustained 180-220+ BPM neoclassical double-bass patterns demand. The Italian-made B20 construction gives a distinctive voice compared to the brighter Sabian or Paiste alternatives more common across the genre. Priester's choice proves power metal's hi-hat requirements have room for a warmer, more complex tonal character alongside the genre's more common bright, cutting standard. **Pros:** - Aquiles Priester's current Angra setup — a distinctive, warmer alternative to the genre's brighter standard - Consistent response at sustained 180-220+ BPM double-bass tempos - Warmer, more complex Italian B20 character - Proven across Angra's technically demanding neoclassical catalog **Cons:** - Less widely available than Sabian or Paiste in some markets - Warmer voicing less cutting than Sabian HHX for pure gallop articulation - Premium Italian craftsmanship pricing **Who uses it:** - Aquiles Priester (Angra) — 14" Class Hi-Hats — sustained neoclassical double-bass consistency **Verdict:** Best for a warmer, more complex power metal hi-hat voice. Priester's setup proves the genre has room beyond bright and cutting. ### 3. Paiste Signature Hi-Hats — Paiste **Model:** Signature Hi-Hats 14" **Price range:** €270-350 per pair **Tier:** pro **Material:** CuSn8 Bronze **Rating:** 4.7/5 Nicko McBrain's Paiste Signature Hi-Hats have powered Iron Maiden's galloping, triplet-based rhythmic vocabulary for decades — the exact rhythmic foundation that power metal's entire European scene directly built upon. The bright, articulate CuSn8 bronze construction stays defined even at Maiden's fastest gallop tempos. McBrain's setup is arguably the single most influential hi-hat sound in power metal's genealogy, given how directly bands like Blind Guardian and HammerFall trace their rhythmic template back to Iron Maiden's galloping foundation. **Pros:** - Nicko McBrain's Iron Maiden setup — the direct rhythmic foundation power metal's European scene built upon - Bright, articulate CuSn8 bronze stays defined at fast gallop tempos - Proven across Iron Maiden's entire genre-defining catalog - Excellent stick definition for triplet-based patterns **Cons:** - Premium Paiste Signature pricing - Less warm/complex than Ufip's Italian character - CuSn8 alloy feels different from B20 alternatives, requiring adjustment **Who uses it:** - Nicko McBrain (Iron Maiden) — 14" Signature Hi-Hats — galloping triplet foundation of power metal **Verdict:** The genre's foundational gallop hi-hat. McBrain's Maiden setup is the rhythmic root of power metal's entire European scene. ### 4. Paiste 2002 Hi-Hats — Paiste **Model:** 2002 Hi-Hats 14" **Price range:** €180-250 per pair **Tier:** mid **Material:** CuSn8 Bronze **Rating:** 4.5/5 Mikkey Dee's Paiste 2002 Hi-Hats bring European hard rock cutting power and decades of touring endurance across both Motörhead and Scorpions. The bright, cutting CuSn8 bronze construction handles power metal-adjacent hard rock energy with the same reliability that's carried Dee through two of hard rock's most demanding touring schedules. Dee's setup shows power metal's hi-hat requirements scale down to a more accessible Paiste tier without losing the bright, cutting character the genre depends on. **Pros:** - Mikkey Dee's proven Motörhead/Scorpions setup — decades of touring endurance - Bright, cutting CuSn8 bronze tone - More accessible pricing than Signature or HHX Groove lines - Reliable Paiste build quality for heavy touring use **Cons:** - Less directly power metal-specific than Travis's or McBrain's setups - Warmer complexity of Ufip Class not present here - Mid-tier pricing sits between budget and ultra-premium options **Who uses it:** - Mikkey Dee (Motörhead / Scorpions) — 14" 2002 Hi-Hats — European hard rock touring endurance **Verdict:** Strong mid-tier alternative for power metal. Bright, reliable, and proven across decades of touring. --- ## Best Budget Hi-Hats for Power Metal You don't need HHX or Signature pricing to start chasing power metal's bright, galloping hi-hat sound. These pairs deliver real performance at accessible prices. ### Paiste 2002 Hi-Hats — Paiste **Model:** 2002 Hi-Hats 14" **Price range:** €180-250 per pair **Tier:** mid **Material:** CuSn8 Bronze **Rating:** 4.5/5 See above. Mikkey Dee's proven, reliable choice remains one of the more accessible ways into power metal's bright, cutting hi-hat sound. **Pros:** - Bright, cutting CuSn8 bronze tone - Proven touring reliability - More accessible than Signature or HHX Groove lines **Cons:** - Less directly power metal-specific than flagship setups **Verdict:** Top budget pick for bright, galloping power metal hi-hats. ### Sabian AAX Stage Hi-Hats — Sabian **Model:** AAX Stage Hi-Hats 14" **Price range:** €180-260 per pair **Tier:** mid **Material:** B20 Bronze **Rating:** 4.1/5 An affordable entry point for drummers chasing Scott Travis's bright, cutting Sabian HHX character, before upgrading to the full HHX Groove line. **Pros:** - Bright, cutting B20 tone similar to HHX character - Accessible pricing - Clear upgrade path to HHX Groove **Cons:** - Less complex overtones than true HHX Groove **Verdict:** Best entry point for power metal's bright, galloping hi-hat standard. --- ## Bright vs Warm Hi-Hats for Power Metal Power metal's hi-hat choices split into two camps, defined by the genre's most influential drummers: **Bright & Cutting (Sabian HHX Groove — Scott Travis; Paiste Signature — Nicko McBrain; Paiste 2002 — Mikkey Dee):** - Sharp, articulate attack that cuts through theatrical, keyboard-orchestrated arrangements - Excellent clarity for galloping triplet patterns - The genre's dominant, most widely heard tonal standard **Warm & Complex (Ufip Class — Aquiles Priester's choice):** - Warmer, more complex Italian B20 character - Consistent under sustained, high-tempo neoclassical double-bass patterns - A distinctive alternative for drummers wanting to stand apart tonally **Power Metal Verdict:** Choose bright and cutting (Sabian HHX Groove, Paiste Signature, or Paiste 2002) if you want the genre's dominant galloping-rhythm standard. Choose warm and complex (Ufip Class) if you want Aquiles Priester's distinctive, neoclassical-informed alternative. | feature | birch | maple | | --- | --- | --- | | Gallop Articulation | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | | Tonal Warmth | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | | Power Metal Tradition | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | | Price (entry) | €180+ | €220+ | --- ## Our Top Picks for Power Metal - **Best Overall:** Sabian HHX Groove Hi-Hats — Scott Travis's Judas Priest setup — direct lineage to power metal's foundational "Painkiller" blueprint. - **Best for Galloping Foundation:** Paiste Signature Hi-Hats — Nicko McBrain's Iron Maiden setup — the rhythmic root power metal's European scene built upon. - **Best for Warmth & Complexity:** Ufip Class Hi-Hats — Aquiles Priester's Angra setup — a distinctive, neoclassical-informed alternative. - **Best Budget:** Sabian AAX Stage Hi-Hats — Real bright, cutting HHX-adjacent character without the flagship price. --- ## FAQ **What hi-hats are used in power metal?** Scott Travis of Judas Priest plays Sabian HHX Groove Hi-Hats. Aquiles Priester of Angra plays Ufip Class Hi-Hats for a warmer, more complex voice. Nicko McBrain of Iron Maiden plays Paiste Signature Hi-Hats, and Mikkey Dee of Motörhead/Scorpions plays Paiste 2002 Hi-Hats. **What hi-hats does Nicko McBrain use?** Nicko McBrain of Iron Maiden plays 14" Paiste Signature Hi-Hats, part of a setup that has powered the band's galloping, triplet-based rhythmic vocabulary for decades — the direct rhythmic foundation power metal's European scene built upon. **What hi-hats does Scott Travis use?** Scott Travis of Judas Priest currently plays 14" Sabian HHX Groove Hi-Hats, part of his current setup for "Invincible Shield" (2024), carrying a direct lineage back to his galvanizing "Painkiller" (1990) performance. **What size hi-hats for power metal?** 14" is the standard power metal hi-hat size, used by Scott Travis, Aquiles Priester, Nicko McBrain, and Mikkey Dee alike. It balances bright, cutting projection with the articulate response galloping triplet patterns demand. **Bright or warm hi-hats for power metal?** Both work at the highest level. Bright hi-hats (Sabian HHX Groove, Travis's choice; Paiste Signature, McBrain's choice; Paiste 2002, Dee's choice) suit the genre's dominant galloping-rhythm standard. Warm hi-hats (Ufip Class, Priester's choice) offer a distinctive, neoclassical-informed alternative for drummers wanting a different tonal character. --- ## Find Your Power Metal Hi-Hat Voice Power metal hi-hats come down to a proven, bright and cutting standard — the sound Scott Travis, Nicko McBrain, and Mikkey Dee all build their setups around — with Aquiles Priester's warmer Ufip Class Hi-Hats offering a distinctive alternative for drummers chasing neoclassical complexity. If you play galloping, triplet-heavy power metal, start with a Sabian HHX Groove pair or the budget AAX Stage — both stay bright and articulate through fast, theatrical arrangements. If you want a warmer, more complex voice, Ufip Class Hi-Hats prove the genre has room beyond its brightest standard. Whatever you choose, prioritize clean articulation and dynamic range over flashy features — the hi-hat has to stay defined through power metal's fastest gallops and its most delicate, keyboard-led passages alike. 🤘 **Now go gallop.** --- ## Related Guides - [Best Ride Cymbals for Power Metal: 2026 Ultimate Guide](https://metalforge.io/guides/best-ride-cymbals-for-power-metal) - [Best Crash Cymbals for Power Metal: 2026 Ultimate Guide](https://metalforge.io/guides/best-crash-cymbals-for-power-metal) - [Best Snare Drums for Power Metal: 2026 Ultimate Guide](https://metalforge.io/guides/best-snare-drums-for-power-metal) - [Best Hi-Hats for Metalcore: 2026 Ultimate Guide](https://metalforge.io/guides/best-hi-hats-for-metalcore) ## Related Drummers - [Scott Travis](https://metalforge.io/drummer/scott-travis) — Sabian HHX Groove Hi-Hats — Judas Priest's "Painkiller" lineage - [Aquiles Priester](https://metalforge.io/drummer/aquiles-priester) — Ufip Class Hi-Hats — Angra's neoclassical double-bass consistency - [Nicko McBrain](https://metalforge.io/drummer/nicko-mcbrain) — Paiste Signature Hi-Hats — Iron Maiden's galloping triplet foundation - [Mikkey Dee](https://metalforge.io/drummer/mikkey-dee) — Paiste 2002 Hi-Hats — Motörhead/Scorpions touring endurance --- **More LLM resources:** [Guides Hub](https://metalforge.io/llms/guides.md) · [Site index](https://metalforge.io/llms.txt) · [Full database](https://metalforge.io/llms-full.txt)