Super extra articulate hi hat cymbals...

I hate mixing and matching brands but I'm seriously considering a pair of non-Sabian hi hats. I've played Sabian cymbals since I was 18 but I'm having trouble finding a pair of hand hammered extra super articulate 14" hi hats.

My first concern is that they do not cut and slice through the mix. As in, bleed into the vocal microphones. I'm looking for something that will work in a low volume situation.

I'm hoping to find something dark, not clangy (when half opened), good foot "chick", not too loud.

I was finally able to make to a music store a few months ago to try out some hi hats I've been considering.

I was extra hyped to hear the Sabian HHX 14" Click Hats... nope. Too clangy (half opened), too low of a foot "chick", and in no way "clicky" enough, as advertised.

Sabian 14" HHX Evolution hats... close but not articulate enough and when they took on a Betty Crocker pie pan tonality when I played them tightly closed.

Sabian 14" HH Vanguard... these were perfect as far as not being too loud in any way but the foot "chick" sound was almost non-existent and they were just too dark. If these were just a bit brighter and had a more pronounced foot chick, I would've bought them.

I hate not having a place like Rick's Drums or the Drum Center because you can't try out their great selection. They pretty much had anything you wanted to try out. Now I have to listen to sound samples and YouTube videos where the recordings sound completely different and you wonder if the true sound is actually being represented.

I want a pair of hi hats that won't

So I'm hoping somewhere here will know what I'm looking for.

I'm looking for:

14" Sabian (but will consider another brand)

super extra articulate closed sound

not bright, cutting, or obnoxious when played half opened

good foot "chick" sound

Any suggestions?

Thanks!

sounds like you know what you want so rather than tell you what I think sounds good I would say try another brand. You need to hear them in person to be satisfied so try every brand you can in person? Also did you try to mix and match within the Sabian brand? Try a hhx top with an HH bottom or vice versa etc etc, maybe that would be the ticket?

Drill some vent holes in the bottom hat of the HH Vanguards and you'd probably get what you want. Possibly even mix a polished bottom with a Vanguard top.

You may try calling Sabian and talking to one of their specialists. They may be able to help you with a custom design.

Back to rocket science. Call Hawking, he may have a idea or 2.

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Originally Posted by rickthedrummer

Back to rocket science. Call Hawking, he may have a idea or 2.

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LOL

all the best...

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Originally Posted by N2Bluz

Drill some vent holes in the bottom hat of the HH Vanguards and you'd probably get what you want. Possibly even mix a polished bottom with a Vanguard top.

You may try calling Sabian and talking to one of their specialists. They may be able to help you with a custom design.

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I agree.
I did some vent holes on one of my XS hi-hats and it made a crazy difference!

When I think of articulate hats, I think of 13" hats, but vent holes or a wavy edge certainly help larger diameter cymbals.

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Originally Posted by weezy

When I think of articulate hats, I think of 13" hats, but vent holes or a wavy edge certainly help larger diameter cymbals.

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HHX Evo 13" with vented bottom cup and 8 rivets provide me with the articulation I need.

http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab16/late8/3-3.jpg

http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab16/late8/4-3.jpg

http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab16/late8/5-3.jpg

http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab16/late8/7-1.jpg

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Originally Posted by late8

HHX Evo 13" with vented bottom cup and 8 rivets provide me with the articulation I need.

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Did you drill those yourself?

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Originally Posted by jgraham798

Did you drill those yourself?

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No, I bought the hats new and sent them to the Sabian factory for the modification in order to keep my 2 year factory warranty in tact. It cost a mere $40 USD to have them drill two vent holes in the bottom hihat cymbal cup and to add 8 rivets. I paid for shipping one way and Sabian shipped them back for free. I paid more to have them shipped than what the modification cost. Go figure....

Attachment 14629

Attachment 14630

As Weezy says, 13" hats will yield better stick and chick definition. It will come at the cost of some of the nice wash you get with 14s when played slightly open.

That's awesome Sabian was able to do that for you Late

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Originally Posted by noreastbob

As Weezy says, 13" hats will yield better stick and chick definition. It will come at the cost of some of the nice wash you get with 14s when played slightly open.

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I agree....but I must say, I'm blown away by the "total package" of sound I get out of the hybrid Zildjian 13" A/Z
combo I just picked up. The slightly open wash is better than any set of hats I've ever played. The stick & chick is better as well.

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Originally Posted by SpazApproved

That's awesome Sabian was able to do that for you Late

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Great customer service with Sabian Spaz!

I am late to the party, but I would like to add a +1 for vented bottom hat. I used to use a mix of K Custom top hat with an A quickbeat bottom. Gave a real middle of the road timbre. Still had the dark K cusom top. But now I had hats that were slightly dried out, with increased foot chick, and great articulation.