SABIAN PLAYERS' CHOICE CYMBALS

WWW.RHYTHMMAGAZINE.CO.UK JULY 2012 |
113
SABIAN PLAYERS’
CHOICE CYMBALS
VERDICT: I loved the china and crash,
both specialised but atypical with new
colours. Less keen on the hats, too
mellow for me personally, and the ride I
found too bright/thin for general use.
BUILD QUALITY
PLAYABILITY
VALUE FOR MONEY
RATING
While the ride has a rather tinny, shrill body
the 14" HHX Click hats have a dark and mellow
closed sound. Similar to the ride though, the
stick-tip response is distinct and if you apply
pressure with your foot the pitch raises way
up so you can get some novel effects, while
the pedalled ‘chip’ sound adds breadth and
complexity. Played part-open the sizzle sound
remains deep, and live with a band I found
these hats didn’t cut through as well as, say,
PRICES:
20" AAX Stadium ride,
£332;
14" HHX Click hats, £492;
20" HHX Zen china, £400;
18" AAX Aero crash, £285
(also available in 16" and
20")
CAST OR PRESSED
Cast
ALLOY USED
B20 bronze
FINISH
Polished
HAND OR MACHINE
HAMMERED
Both
COUNTRY OF
MANUFACTURE
Canada
DIAMETERS
AVAILABLE
20" AAX Stadium ride
14" HHX Click hats
20" Zen china
16", 18", 20" AAX Aero
crashes
MODELS AVAILABLE
Crash, ride, china and hats
SUITABLE FOR
Various styles, each
cymbal is different and
requires imagination
CONTACT
Westside Distribution
0141 248 4812
www.sabian.com
Essential spec
ZEN CHINA
China’s rim is bent
down for easy crashing
and riding
AAX AERO CRASH
Cymbal has 19 rows of
four small holes
radiating from the
centre to the edge
Sabian’s HHX X-celerator hats. But as the Click
moniker implies they should record discreetly.
Sabian’s O-Zones were, I believe, the fi rst
crashes with holes in them and this 18" Aero
differs by having a much larger number of
smaller holes. The holes reduce the mass and
thin the sound, making it shorter, faster and
more punchy. So Sabian has given the cymbal
a large heavy bell, presumably to compensate
and aid projection. The result is a fast-reacting
bright and splashy crash which will add
startling new colour to any set-up.
RHY204.gear_sabian.indd 113 5/15/12 9:51:04 AM