Nick’s approach for getting a good drum sound starts with his gear. “Have good equipment, because that is the biggest thing,” he says.

One of Nick’s tricks to cut through the wall of guitars is using nylon-tipped sticks. “They are louder and I think the bounce back is better too,” he says. “I’ve tried wood tip sticks before and I can play with them but they don’t sound the same to me.”

For tracking the drums on In Waves, Nick played solo to a scratch track. “Matt recorded all the guitars to a click, no solos, just rhythm,” explains Nick, who is not intimidated by the oft-dreaded click.

“I found it easy. I did an EP with an old band of mine, three songs. That was my first time with a click and I didn’t have a problem with it and it was even easier the second time around.”

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Now check out Rhythm’s current Issue 203 for interviews with Butch Vig and former G N’R sticksmen Steven Adler & Matt Sorum. Or subscribe to Rhythm here for a monthly dose of new gear reviews, kit buying guides, pro drum lessons and all-star interviews.

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Liked this? Now read: Drum kits of the pros: stars' live and studio drum setups in pictures

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