Walk into any arena where Iron Maiden is headlining and you’ll see it before you hear it. A massive, sprawling wall of sparkling drums and cymbals that looks more like a fortress than a musical instrument. It’s the Nicko McBrain drum set, a rig so legendary it basically has its own zip code.
But here is the thing. Most fans think the secret to that "gallop" is just having more toms than a small village. They’re wrong.
The British Drum Co. Era: A Shift in the Force
For decades, Nicko was the poster child for Sonor. That relationship felt like a marriage that would never end. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, he jumped ship to the British Drum Company (BDC). It wasn't just a business move; it was a homecoming.
Nicko’s current kit, specifically the "Senjutsu" and "Future Past" variations, is a masterpiece of UK engineering. We’re talking about the Legend Series shells. These aren't your off-the-shelf drums. They are cold-press molded, meaning the wood isn't microwaved into submission. It sits in a mold and cures naturally.
The shells are a mix of 9-ply birch with a single interior ply of fishtail oak. That oak is the kicker. It adds a dark, punchy grit that cuts through Steve Harris’s clanking bass.
The Massive Specs
Let's get real about the sizes because they are frankly ridiculous. Nicko doesn't do "small."
- Rack Toms: 6x8, 8x8, 10x10, 12x12, 13x13, 14x14, 15x15, 16x16.
- Floor Tom: 18x16.
- Bass Drum: 24x18 (a 14-ply beast to support the weight of those rack toms).
- The Snare: His signature "Talisman," a 14x6.5 seamless spun British steel shell.
It’s a literal mountain of gear.
Why One Kick Pedal Matters
If you want to start an argument in a drum shop, bring up Nicko's right foot. In a genre dominated by double-bass madness, Nicko McBrain uses a single pedal. He’s been rocking a DW 9000 lately, but for years, he was a Ludwig Speed King guy.
People swear he’s using a double pedal. He isn’t. That "Where Eagles Dare" intro? Single foot. The triplet gallops on "The Trooper"? Single foot.
He sets his pedal spring tension as tight as it will go. It’s like trying to step on a brick. This gives him the rebound necessary to play those lightning-fast bursts. If you try to play his parts with a double pedal, you’re basically cheating—and you’ll never get that specific "push-pull" feel that makes Maiden swing.
The Cymbal Wall of Paiste
You can't talk about the Nicko McBrain drum set without mentioning the gold. He is a Paiste devotee through and through. His setup is mostly Signature Reflector series, which are glassy, bright, and loud enough to be heard in space.
The crown jewel is the 22" Signature Reflector Bell Ride, affectionately known as the "Powerslave" ride. It has a bell that sounds like a literal church bell being hit with a sledgehammer. It has to. When the guitars are at 11, that ping needs to pierce through the mid-range.
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He also uses a 22" Heavy China that he mounts so high and flat it looks like a serving platter. Most drummers would break their wrists trying to hit it, but for Nicko, it’s the perfect accent for those dramatic crashes.
Those "Boomer" Sticks
Nicko doesn't use toothpicks. His Vic Firth "Boomer" signature sticks are essentially 5B shafts but longer and heavier. They’re beefed up in the neck because he plays with a lot of "shoulder" on the cymbals. He needs the mass to move the air.
The Art is Part of the Sound
The "Eddie" custom wraps aren't just for show. On the BDC kits, the wrap is actually the first ply inside the mold. It becomes part of the shell's resonance.
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Whether it’s the Samurai Eddie from Senjutsu or the classic Piece of Mind artwork, the aesthetics are baked into the soul of the drum. It’s a 360-degree experience.
How to Get the "Nicko" Sound (Without Spending $30k)
You probably don't have the room (or the roadies) for a 10-piece kit. That's fine. Honestly, the core of the Nicko sound comes down to three things you can actually do:
- High-Tension Tuning: Crank those rack toms. Nicko’s toms are tuned much higher than the "thuddy" sound most modern metal drummers go for. They need to sing.
- Single Pedal Mastery: Spend a month playing only a single pedal. Work on your "slide technique" or "heel-toe." If you can't do it with one foot, you aren't playing like Nicko.
- The "Bell" Ride: Get a ride with a massive, unlathed bell. It’s the signature voice of the kit.
Nicko McBrain’s setup is a testament to being an individual. In a world of triggered drums and sample replacement, he’s still out there hitting real wood and metal with everything he’s got. It’s messy, it’s loud, and it’s undeniably Maiden.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Audit your tuning: Try tightening your resonant heads higher than your batter heads on your smallest toms to get that "chirp" Nicko is famous for.
- Check the Talisman: If you’re looking for a new snare, the BDC Talisman is the most accessible part of his rig and works in almost any high-volume rock setting.
- Watch the "Future Past" Rig Tour: Search for the official British Drum Co. breakdown to see the "aged copper" hardware finish up close—it’s a masterclass in custom drum building.