# Abe Cunningham vs John Otto — Deftones vs Limp Bizkit Drumming Compared | MetalForge > Side-by-side comparison between Abe Cunningham (Deftones) and John Otto (Limp Bizkit). **Category:** Alternative / Nu-Metal · **URL:** https://metalforge.io/vs/abe-cunningham-vs-john-otto Deftones' Abe Cunningham vs Limp Bizkit's John Otto pits two of the nu-metal era's most enduring drummers against each other from opposite ends of the genre. Cunningham has anchored Deftones' shifts between crushing heaviness and atmospheric restraint since the band formed in 1988. Otto has driven Limp Bizkit's hip-hop-infused rap-metal groove as a founding member since 1994. This comparison covers gear, technique, band context, and career trajectory across both drummers' full careers. --- ## At a Glance | Spec | Abe Cunningham | John Otto | |------|-----------------|-----------| | Drums | SJC Custom Drums | OCDP Custom Type 5 Acrylic | | Cymbals | Zildjian K Custom & A Custom Series | Zildjian A Custom Series | | Snare | SJC Custom 14x6.5" Brass | OCDP 14x6.5" 40-ply Vented / 10x6" 20-ply | | Pedals | DW 9000 Series Double Pedal | Gibraltar G Class Bass Drum Pedals | | Sticks | Vic Firth American Classic 2B | Zildjian Artist Series | --- ## Gear Deep Dive ### Abe Cunningham Setup - **Drums:** SJC Custom Drums - **Cymbals:** Zildjian K Custom & A Custom Series (14" K Custom Hi-Hats, 18" & 20" K Custom Crashes, 22" K Custom Ride, 19" A Custom China) - **Snare:** SJC Custom 14x6.5" Brass - **Pedals/Hardware:** DW 9000 Series Double Pedal, DW Hardware - **Sticks:** Vic Firth American Classic 2B Abe Cunningham's SJC Custom kit is the bespoke setup that has anchored Deftones' atmospheric alt-metal sound across their peak commercial era on [White Pony](https://metalforge.io/articles/white-pony-drum-setup) (2000), Diamond Eyes (2010), and Koi No Yokan (2012). The SJC Custom 14x6.5" Brass snare delivers a warm, cutting crack that projects through Deftones' layered guitar textures without overwhelming the band's dynamic range. Zildjian K Custom and A Custom cymbals define the kit's sonic character — dark, nuanced hi-hats and crashes built for passages that shift between crushing and delicate — while a DW 9000 Series Double Pedal anchors the low end. ### John Otto Setup - **Drums:** Orange County Drum & Percussion (OCDP) Custom Type 5 Acrylic - **Cymbals:** Zildjian A Custom Series (13" A Custom Mastersound Hi-Hats, 16" & 17" A Custom Projection Crashes, 20" A Custom EFX, 20" FX Oriental Crash of Doom) - **Snare:** OCDP 14x6.5" 40-ply Vented, OCDP 10x6" 20-ply - **Pedals/Hardware:** Gibraltar G Class Bass Drum Pedals, Gibraltar Custom Racks - **Sticks:** Zildjian Artist Series John Otto's transparent OCDP acrylic drum kit defined his visual and sonic identity throughout Limp Bizkit's nu-metal peak on [Significant Other](https://metalforge.io/articles/john-otto-drum-setup) (1999) and Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water (2000). Two signature OCDP snares — a 14x6.5" 40-ply vented shell for primary work and a 10x6" 20-ply piccolo for accents — give Otto's grooves their tight, punchy crack. Zildjian A Custom cymbals round out the kit, while a single-pedal Gibraltar G Class configuration drives the straight-ahead funk and rock grooves behind tracks like "Rollin'" and "Break Stuff." --- ## Style & Technique Comparison Abe Cunningham co-founded Deftones in 1988 and has appeared on every album since, developing a style built on dynamic contrast — his playing has to move fluidly between crushing, hard-hitting grooves and atmospheric, nearly ambient restraint within the same song. That range is what separates Deftones from the rest of the nu-metal era: Cunningham's fills are composed to support the band's shoegaze-adjacent textures one moment and detuned, riff-driven aggression the next, a balancing act heard clearly across "White Pony," "Diamond Eyes," and "Koi No Yokan." John Otto has been Limp Bizkit's drummer and a founding member since the band formed in Jacksonville, Florida in 1994, and his technique is rooted in a deep sense of groove drawn from hip-hop and funk rather than metal's usual emphasis on speed or blast beats. His tight, syncopated snare work and dynamic pocket playing gave Limp Bizkit's rap-metal fusion its rhythmic identity, helping the band become one of the best-selling acts of the nu-metal era. --- ## Key Differences The fundamental divergence is textural range versus rhythmic pocket. Cunningham's Deftones drumming spans a wider dynamic spectrum — from near-silence to crushing heaviness — while Otto's Limp Bizkit playing stays locked into a tight, groove-forward pocket built for rap-metal's vocal-driven arrangements. Gear reflects the same split: Cunningham's SJC Custom kit with Zildjian K Custom & A Custom cymbals is voiced for dark, controlled textures suited to atmospheric passages, powered by a double pedal for crushing low-end sections. Otto's OCDP acrylic kit with Zildjian A Custom cymbals is voiced brighter and punchier, and he drives it entirely with a single-pedal Gibraltar setup — precision groove over sustained double-kick speed. Band context matters too: Cunningham has stayed with one band, Deftones, for over three decades, shaping his playing around the group's evolving sound across nine studio albums. Otto has likewise remained Limp Bizkit's sole drummer since 1994, but within a genre that leaned harder into hip-hop and rap vocal delivery, demanding pocket-first drumming rather than atmospheric range. --- ## Influence & Legacy Abe Cunningham helped define Deftones' atmospheric metal approach and is widely regarded as one of alternative metal's most dynamically versatile drummers. His work on "White Pony" — frequently cited as a genre-defining record — established a template for combining heaviness with ambience that influenced a generation of post-nu-metal and alternative metal drummers. John Otto's hip-hop-infused groove playing demonstrated nu-metal's deep rhythmic connection to funk and rap at a moment when the genre dominated mainstream rock radio. His work anchoring Limp Bizkit's multi-platinum albums helped define the commercial peak of the nu-metal era and remains a reference point for groove-based metal drumming. --- ## Verdict Abe Cunningham and John Otto represent two distinct approaches within the same nu-metal/alternative metal generation. Cunningham built Deftones' atmospheric, dynamically shifting sound across more than three decades of restraint and power. Otto anchored Limp Bizkit's hip-hop-infused groove and helped define the genre's biggest commercial breakthroughs. Both answer "who is the better nu-metal drummer?" from opposite directions — Cunningham through atmospheric versatility, Otto through pocket and groove. --- ## FAQ **Q: Who is the better nu-metal drummer, Abe Cunningham or John Otto?** A: Both are foundational nu-metal era drummers with different strengths. Abe Cunningham (Deftones) is known for dynamic, atmospheric playing that shifts between crushing heaviness and ambient restraint. John Otto (Limp Bizkit) is known for tight, hip-hop-influenced grooves and pocket playing. Cunningham represents alt-metal's atmospheric evolution; Otto represents nu-metal's groove-driven, rap-metal fusion. **Q: What is the Deftones vs Limp Bizkit drumming style comparison?** A: Deftones' Abe Cunningham favors dynamic, textural playing that serves the band's shifts between heaviness and atmosphere, heard on albums like "White Pony" (2000) and "Diamond Eyes" (2010). Limp Bizkit's John Otto favors a tighter, more groove-based approach rooted in hip-hop and funk, driving tracks like "Rollin'" and "Break Stuff" from "Significant Other" (1999) and "Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water" (2000). **Q: What gear do Abe Cunningham and John Otto use?** A: Abe Cunningham plays an SJC Custom drum kit with Zildjian K Custom & A Custom Series cymbals and a DW 9000 Series Double Pedal. John Otto plays an Orange County Drum & Percussion (OCDP) Custom Type 5 Acrylic kit with Zildjian A Custom cymbals and Gibraltar G Class bass drum pedals. **Q: How long have Abe Cunningham and John Otto been with their bands?** A: Abe Cunningham has been Deftones' drummer since the band formed in 1988, appearing on every studio album. John Otto has been Limp Bizkit's drummer and a founding member since the band formed in Jacksonville, Florida in 1994. --- *Full comparison: [metalforge.io/vs/abe-cunningham-vs-john-otto](https://metalforge.io/vs/abe-cunningham-vs-john-otto)* *[Abe Cunningham drummer profile](https://metalforge.io/drummer/abe-cunningham)* *[John Otto drummer profile](https://metalforge.io/drummer/john-otto)* *[White Pony drum setup](https://metalforge.io/articles/white-pony-drum-setup)* *[John Otto drum setup](https://metalforge.io/articles/john-otto-drum-setup)* --- *Last updated: 2026-07-01 · Source: [MetalForge.io](https://metalforge.io)*