Nicko McBrain vs Vinnie Paul — Drum Gear Comparison | MetalForge
Side-by-side gear: Nicko McBrain (Iron Maiden) vs Vinnie Paul (Pantera / Damageplan / Hellyeah). Kits, cymbals, pedals, sticks — compare specs and prices.
Frequently Asked Questions
What drum kit does Nicko McBrain use?
Nicko McBrain uses British Drum Co. with Paiste 2002 & Signature Series (14" Sound Edge Hi-Hats, 16" & 18" Power Crashes, 22" Power Ride, 20" China). Nicko McBrain plays a Sonor SQ2 Series kit with a Sonor Nicko McBrain Signature 14x6.5" snare and Paiste 2002 & Signature Series cymbals (14" Sound Edge Hi-Hats, 16" & 18" Power Crashes, 22" Power Ride, 20" China), driven by a single bass drum pedal and Vic Firth Nicko McBrain Signature sticks. Vinnie Paul played a ddrum Vinnie Paul Signature Series kit with a ddrum Vinnie Paul Signature 14x8" snare and Sabian AA & AAX cymbals (14" Hi-Hats, 18" & 19" Crashes, 21" Ride, 18" China), powered by a ddrum double pedal and Vic Firth American Classic 5B sticks.
What drum kit does Vinnie Paul use?
Vinnie Paul uses ddrum (brand confirmed; specific kit series unverified) with Sabian (brand per secondary sources; specific models unverified). Nicko McBrain plays a Sonor SQ2 Series kit with a Sonor Nicko McBrain Signature 14x6.5" snare and Paiste 2002 & Signature Series cymbals (14" Sound Edge Hi-Hats, 16" & 18" Power Crashes, 22" Power Ride, 20" China), driven by a single bass drum pedal and Vic Firth Nicko McBrain Signature sticks. Vinnie Paul played a ddrum Vinnie Paul Signature Series kit with a ddrum Vinnie Paul Signature 14x8" snare and Sabian AA & AAX cymbals (14" Hi-Hats, 18" & 19" Crashes, 21" Ride, 18" China), powered by a ddrum double pedal and Vic Firth American Classic 5B sticks.
Which is better, Nicko McBrain or Vinnie Paul?
Nicko McBrain and Vinnie Paul represent two different eras of metal royalty. McBrain is Iron Maiden's irreplaceable heartbeat, proving a single pedal and impeccable technique can out-gallop drummers running double bass across four decades of NWOBHM history. Paul delivered the groove that made Pantera untouchable in the 1990s, building a rhythm section with Dimebag Darrell that remains a benchmark for heaviness. Comparing them is comparing heavy metal royalty to thrash-and-groove royalty — two icons whose drumming defined what an entire era of metal was allowed to sound like.