Nicholls owned a Pearl Export drum kit, which he used for recording on their first album
Count Your Blessings. Following the release of that album, he bought a
Tama Starclassic, which he used for recording on the group's next four albums. While performing live, Nicholls uses a SJC drum set, which he has been playing since 2008. His double pedal kit consists of a Joey Jordison Signature Export kit and the Speed Cobra brand. Nicholls owns a
Roland drum kit that he uses to play and learn stuff on at home. He also had a gong drum which SJC made for him. Nicholls owns a variety of snares, including his main Vinnie Paul snare, a Pearl snare and an SJC snare. He also has a 14" Black Brass and a 13" G Maple. Nicholls has a 16" and 18" floor toms, as well as a 22"x16" kick drum to fit the "faster metal stuff" the band plays. He has a pair of closed hats that is a part of his set up on the right side of his kit. He prefers to mix his cymbals set up while he plays. He used to own a
China cymbal when the band was playing heavier music, but has since gotten rid of it. On ''
That's the Spirit'', Nicholls uses an 18" A Custom EFX cymbal and an A Custom Rezo crash cymbal. He also uses his
Zildjian Gen16 cymbals. As of 2019, Nicholls uses an 18" EFX and the 21" Special Dry Trash Crash. Nicholls plays with
Vic Firth sticks. Nicholls' set up was inspired by
Abe Cunningham from
Deftones. Since the band added electronics into their music, Nicholls plays to a click using his SPD-S. ==Playing style and technique==