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Thread: Sabian HiHat Help

  1. #1

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    Question Sabian HiHat Help

    I currently use 13" AAX Fusion Hats. These are great and have a great closed hat sound. They are also very controllable so fit very well with the varied applications I require.

    However, I'm not thrilled with the open hat sound. They sound a little choked to me; as if they are screaming at me to stop whilst at the same time telling me off for treating them bad!

    What I would like is an all rounder that I can use to play a variety of styles on whilst also being able to control them. I play anything from Classic Rock covers through to church applications. I can't currently afford the luxury of multiple hats so the 13" fusions will need to be sacrificed. I like the AAX series as they have the cut and bright sound I like but are still controlled.

    My current thinking is towards a 14" model to give that wider sound when played open. So, the choice is between:

    Stage
    X-Celerator
    Studio
    Fast

    I'd be interested to hear opinions on these models. Many thanks!
    PDP | Black Panther | Sabian |

  2. #2

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    Default Re: Sabian HiHat Help

    i just bought a pair of 14inch sabian handhammered hi hats, and i love them. great chick, closed stick sound and are really nice opened up about an inch

  3. #3

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    Default Re: Sabian HiHat Help

    Best all-round hi-hats, imho, are the 14" Paiste Sound Edges. Others may disagree, but that's my choice.
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  4. #4

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    Default Re: Sabian HiHat Help

    Probably the most recorded hats ever are 14" Zildjian New Beats, and their Sabian counterparts are AA Mediums.
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  5. #5

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    I have the AAX-celerators (14") and I think their pretty darn good, I only have a few complaints. When played semi open, they are a bit dry, not like the glassy sound sound you get in a lot of modern rock tracks. I actually wanted to get the HHX model, but AAX was all they had, and I couldn't stand the brass hi hats I had before :P


    They sound pretty good, you really can't close them super tight, because they aren't as articulated when closed tightly as regular hi hats (that is the edge on the hi hats is straight and level, not wavy like the X-celerator bottom) When you click the pedal down, the hats give a nice cry chick sound, not the best, but definitely up there in my opinion. I absolutely love the hi hats when you play a rhythm and quickly open and close it, like in John Bonham's half time shuffle. They're pretty loud and cutting too, when I'm playing along to music, sometimes the music drowns out the AAX-plosion crash I have, but the hi hats never get overpowered by the music, it's always the other way around, just to give you an idea of the volume.

    I love these hats, the only thing I might trade them in for is a pair of HHX-celerators.
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  6. #6

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    I use 13" Zildjian A Custom mastersounds but the 13" Sabian HHX Evolutions are to die for!

  7. #7

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    I have the Sabian AA 14" Medium Hats and love love them. They are great all around unless you are playing some death metal but they may even work for that.
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  8. #8

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    I have the AA version of your hats (13" AA Fusion) and had your current hats (AAX Fusion) when I used to use a big kit. I sold the AAX ones and kept the AAs, which have served well for almost 15 years now. I also experimented with 14 AA Regular hats, which may be worth a look for you.

    I always felt the Fusion hats felt solid to me due to the large unlathed bottom. That bottom makes for tight, articulate, clear strokes, but when open, anything that's unlathed won't give much of a full, warm wash.

    If you're firm on the choices you list, I vote Stage. I really like my Stage and Metal Crashes.
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  9. #9

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    Thanks for all the help so far guys. I'll be going to a drum store this weekend so I'm hoping to try a few. I'll certainly look at the AA Mediums.

    I'm afraid I am a Sabian man, rightly or wrongly, and, for some reason, I have a block against mixing and matching brands. I used to do this when I first started out; just picking up decent cymbals and then trading up when I had the spare cash. Having said that, I love how sabian hold up to my playing and the bright, glassy sounds of the AAX series. I have played Zildjian and Paiste and love the 15" dark K crash I used to have but it doesn't suit my playing.
    PDP | Black Panther | Sabian |

  10. #10

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    I've got HHX Groove hats. They have a real nice, solid chick and and a good open sound.
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  11. #11

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    I've now had a go with the X-Celerator hats and really liked them. However, I do have the same concern as that mentioned earlier; they struggle with a really tight hat. They need to be a little loose on the foot in order for them to properly articulate. This does make them a little harder to control but the fast decay makes this somewhat easier.

    The search continues...
    PDP | Black Panther | Sabian |

  12. #12

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    Sabian HHX 14" power hats! Such a nice chick sound but when the music gets heavy you can handle it!

  13. #13

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    well really it depends on the player and his/her ear but to me an open set of 13" hats will not give you back a lot. I've been wanting to try out some 15's latley. wish I could try a set at practice first without buying to get the full effect. For now I'm pretty happy with my 14" AAX stage hats.
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  14. #14

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    Quote Originally Posted by marko138 View Post
    I use 13" Zildjian A Custom mastersounds but the 13" Sabian HHX Evolutions are to die for!
    13" HHX Evolutions are my favorite hi hats and to compare i also own 13" Paragon's, 13.25" K Custom Hybrid's (my second Favorites) and 14" A custom Mastersound. The Evolutions blow the rest away in my option.
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  15. #15

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    I have the 14" HHX Evolution hats.I went through probably 4-5 sets of hats to find the right ones. Can usually find them used for around $199 a pair. The bottom hat is very heavy,like the fusion hats. I had the 13" I think AA fusion hats and the bottom hat was almost as heavy as the Evolution one.
    I have let a friend use the evo hats and he really liked how they cut through everything. For me,they are the perfect hat,but others will disagree.It's all about the sound YOU are looking for,but they are worth looking into.
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  16. #16

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    I've got a pair of 14" AA Medium hats which I love. Great closed sound, great open sound, just all-around sweet hi hats.
    Matt

  17. #17

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    I also have a pair of 13" AA Fusions and love them, but understand what you're looking for. They do lack that big, open washy sound. I really like the Xcelerator for what it is, but I think that a pair of Evolutions or plain mediums may be what you're looking for. I'd strongly advise not getting rid of your Fusions though. You WILL miss them. You can probably find a pair of regulars pretty cheap used.

  18. #18

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    Try AAX Fast Hats. I have a pair of 13" that are very clear and you can get some volume out of them if need be. Good luck!

  19. #19

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    Can't comment much on the AAX fusions as I haven't yet owned/played them extensively. I do have lots of praise for the AA mediums, but I thought compared to the Zildjian Avedis New Beats that they were a slight bit more washy and louder.
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  20. #20

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    I've never tried a bottom with holes or a wavy edge.....what effect do you feel those have on the overall sound. I know it is supposed to eliminate airlock and make the foot chick louder but do people find that to be the case in practice?

  21. #21

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    Quote Originally Posted by dorfmeister View Post
    I've never tried a bottom with holes or a wavy edge.....what effect do you feel those have on the overall sound. I know it is supposed to eliminate airlock and make the foot chick louder but do people find that to be the case in practice?
    I'm sorry, Dormeister, I missed this question for some reason.

    I've found that the vented hi-hat bottom does aid the sound when played with the foot. It also makes the effect of striking the hats while open then closing them more pronounced but with a much quicker decay than with undrilled models.

    I'ev now got HHX stage hats which are un-vented. I love these hats to death but they are not as loud under foot and the decay is longer.
    PDP | Black Panther | Sabian |

  22. #22

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    Good thing I read to the end because I was going to mention the HHX Stage Hi-hats. They're on the darker side, but very clear and cutting, at least the ones I have played. They had worked for any style I needed. Hope you enjoy them!

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