Great video! Excellent selection! I love 13” hats, also a Copeland fan. When I used to play in the 90s, I had Sabian 13” sizzle hats. They were the best. AA top and a very heavy HH bottom with 8 rivets for added volume and 4 holes in the bottom bell to prevent air lock. Crisp but balanced and loud when played open. Thanks again!
My favorite hats are 15” HHX Complex medium hats. They are dark and have a lot of sizzle. I have played drums for 46 years and I’ve played a lot of hats from a lot of different brands, but these are my favorite ones! They feel buttery smooth, and they sound so great. Just a joy to play. Runner up: 14” Dream Bliss hats I got recently on Black Friday sale for $99. They are pretty light, at 796/977 grams. These sound like some lighter 70s hats I’ve played, and you can really get some great sounds from them. I enjoy your videos immensely. Thanks for taking the time to make them. Keep ‘em coming!
Hiya! I can imagine the Complex hats sound incredible! I recently got my hands on a new range of HH cymbals and they are dark! Super pleased you like my videos!
Very nice demo! I very like 15 Groove which you demonstrated. I have 14 byzance medium trad, AA rock 15 and istanbul mehmet 16 trad light. Very like byzance tone but this is so loud when opened when you playing gigs in clubs even tho I playing heavy stuff. So now I use it more often for "records" and just playing for fun. For indoor gigs I using 16 mehmet, it so smooth and not earraping audience. 15 AA have more classic "rock" sound, I using it often on outdoors gigs (tbh I prefer byzance but not want to expose it for possible rains, dust, sweat etc lol).
Definitely liked the Grooves best here - but the Artisans were really nice too. Best I've found are 15" HHX-Celerators, although a 19" Legacy Crash over an HHX-Plosion is really fun as well. Definitely want to try some more 15/16"s, especially the new Legacy ones.
@@louistotalcontrol yeah I mean I only tried it out of curiosity because I had them both, and was very surprised: drive.google.com/open?id=1fGT9bIPJMGVOdIse8DQFOvsAGDb8tynG
Great video. I played 13” HH fusion hats for years. Moved up to 14” AAX fusion hats but found that the HHX Evolution top is a much better fit than the AAX top. Sadly the fusion hats are no longer made but mixing top hats with the super heavy bottom is fun to experiment with.
Every UA-camr asks for the viewers opinions in the comments section but I love how you *actually* respond. Fantastic playing! I'm still fairly new to drumming, playing 8 months. But I got a sweet deal on 14" Paragon hats today and I'm very happy with them ahaha great video :)
Those Artisan Vault 13s sound great! I have a drummer friend with a really special set of K/Z 13s. I ask her to sell them to me just about every time we get together. She never budges. These AVs remind me of those K/Zs in the best way.
Hey Kevin just saw your post...It's a few years old, but if you're looking for that K / Z in Sabians...The 13" Fusion AAX's are the answer to those. Medium top extra heavy bottom. Natural finish sounds very close to those K / Z's indeed...Best of luck!
Appreciate you watching the video and commenting - the 15" Groove hats are current favs for me! Although I'm just about to take delivery of some HH 14" medium hats...!
You find them beefy? I just got some and have found them to be WAY too bright, but I’m also coming off of playing 15s for years, so perhaps my ear is attuned to that kind of beefiness. I’ll probably opt for the 15” Groove Hats after watching this.
I learned something here. I've using 14" Zildjian Quickbeats to try and find that crisp Copeand-esque very prominent hats sound. I need to try 13s. When it comes to bronze I have no allegiance. I'll play anything that sounds appealing
@@louistotalcontrol gotta add the 16" AAX X-Plosion hats to the list, Sabian did a proper job making a set of big hats that can still be crisp and articulate.
@@louistotalcontrol dude, i gotta know: what were those hats you were using in your sabian master class? They looked like some 16 or 17" HHX somethings... And that main crash on the left, an HHX ISO??? Is that a custom shop pie or is it gonna be a production item? I love the aax iso crashes, even saw a set of prototype iso hats on reverb one time. hhx deserves iso pies as well!
My dream setup (not giging setup but the monster kit I’ll build when I’m out of college). Will have lots of remote hats all sounding different So this video was great for getting ideas!
I have a set of the complex 15s and they are magic. I also have a set of fierce hats thats i was lucky enough to find in 14" size that also sound great.
@@louistotalcontrol well I got the complex performance set that has 15, 19 and 22, the fierce hats and actually today i ordered an hh raw bell dry ride brilliant finish for 200 USD I just couldn't pass it up. I like the complex ride but I like something with a little more stick and those rides sound great and I prefer the added slight glassy sound with the brilliant finish. I've just always been at home with sabian ever since my b8s. what would be your desert island ride and hats?
@@jermss_ All I can say is that you have fantastic taste! I also own a brilliant HH Raw Bell Dry Ride and it's exactly as you described. My desert island ride/hats is probably something like the HHX Groove ride and HHX Groove Hats. However, there are too many to choose from!
The common perception that brilliant finish cymbals are higher pitched or "brighter" is a classic example of "hearing with the eyes".. the brilliant finish process either buffs the cymbal surface which makes the cymbal thinner, hence lower pitched, or in the case of some manufacturers it's an additional coating which will damp the response slightly and reduce the high frequencies. If you contact the cymbal manufacturers they'll confirm this, or try doing a direct comparison test of two cymbals which are identical other than the finish. Natural finish will be higher pitched.
Regarding other hats, I'm currently using AA 12" Mini hats as my mains now and couldn't be happier. The gap between the snare is a bit awkward, so I'll probably get a pair of HHX EVO as my main, and keep the AAs just to the right of them.
@@louistotalcontrol They sizzled a bit to much and sounded kinda rough to be honest. I now use them as part of stacks with AAX 14" china and AAX 15" Xtreme China. AAX 13" Fast hats as mains now, AAs in stacks, and Vault Radia 9"s mounted on the kick.
Nice playing, and some very nice hats...14" AAX Freq hats, 14" 90's Zildjian New beats, 13" AAX Fusion (natural finish), and 13" Zildjian K hybrid hats are my picks for best in show!
I decided to go with the 13" HHX Evolution Hi-Hat. That was 5 years ago and I don't regret at all. The sound, closed and open, is phenomenal and because of 13", quiet high. The only "downside" there may be is that it cuts so hard in the mix, it's quiet omnipresent in the mix. To level the HiHat with my other cymbals can get a bit difficult :D
@@louistotalcontrol really, oh that's unfortunate! I was looking for a second Hi-Hat (closed, on the right side of the kit), that matches mine.. but that turned out to be really difficult. I just couldn't decide on 1 pair.. you know? to be like "this is it. 100%." I would buy them all, but that's not an option, I guess 😂
Your kick and SLP sound awesome. On another note, check out the Zildjian New Beat, the K Custom Session, the K Light Hats, and the Sabian HHX Evolution (All in 14"). Those are the best hi hats I've ever come across in my life.
Thanks man. Great vid. I have a pair of Savian Vault 14”, I absolutely love them. I’ve had them for over 10 years now I believe. Bought them brand new. I am looking for something a little quicker with some extra crisp. The artisan and paragon have really peaked my interest. I’m gonna do some more research on those 2. I was thinking I should go Ziljian on my hats(I use a sweet ride and AAX dark crashes) but so far I haven’t like any ziljian hats I’ve heard except the K sweets but all 4 of these sound better to me. The Paiste Signature Dark Crisp peaked my interest as well, so far. Thanks for sharing man.
Hi, Gordon from Montreal, Canada! Session drummer I am! I also have the 14 inch paragon hats! You are right about this set: so versatile! Thanks for sharing your hihats choice! The HHX groove hats are awesome too. Probably my next purchase! I am a Sabian endorse too🥁😎
Howdy, Gorgon - nice to meet you! Stoked you enjoyed the video and share similar taste to me. Let me know how you get on with the future purchase - you won't regret it :)
Love your format on these videos, man. I have quite a few pairs of Sabian hats including the brilliant finish 14” X-celerators. If I had to pick a top 4 it would be: 14” AAX Stage hats (these sound just perfect for me and incredibly affordable if you can find them used!) 14” HHX Evolution hats (shoutout to Dave Weckl and Jose Pasillas ultimately for introducing me to the Evolutions!) 14” AA Sizzle hats (I believe Sabian discontinued these and they’re pretty rare) 13” AAX Stage hats (when I want a bit more brightness!) On my wishlist is definitely the 14” HHX Click Hats and maybe a dryer set of hats like the 14” XSR Monarchs
Great video demonstration. I like the 15” Groove hats and was thinking about getting that same size and model. My question is do you think those 15” Groove hats will cut through on stage ( not miked) playing R&B Funk and Motown style music? Thanks again for a nice video and playing.
Well, the sound man just told me to leave them without a mic but just the overhead because they cut really well live and that was for the 14" ones...I find the open sound to be a little harsh sometimes but closed they really sound nice and btw, I prefer them over the other 3 in this presentation but the paragon hats sound great too.
I got Zildjian 15" K light hats right now, but I've always loved sabian more than zildjian. looking to get 14" evolutions because of their versatility. But I'm also wanting some 18" AA sick hats or 15" artisan light hats. My most loved cymbal however is my HHX 3-point ride! I highly suggest you check it out! Love this video man you just got a new subscriber!
I started with 13" Evolution hats and they were the BEST - I can imagine the 14" model sounds nice. I've always loved the look of the 3-point ride :) thank you so much for subscribing!
Great video. Those 15 inch groove hats sounds amazing. Right now my favorites are the 15 inch HHX evolution hi hats. (Brilliant finish) I love the balance of bright and dark sounds they give.
Thanks for watching! Let me know what YOUR favourite hi-hats are in the comments below...!
I am a big fan of the Artisian cymbals.
The groove hats sound awesome. No "yelp" or yawn sound which is something i look for in a hat. Very cool.
Great video! Excellent selection! I love 13” hats, also a Copeland fan.
When I used to play in the 90s, I had Sabian 13” sizzle hats. They were the best. AA top and a very heavy HH bottom with 8 rivets for added volume and 4 holes in the bottom bell to prevent air lock.
Crisp but balanced and loud when played open. Thanks again!
Digging the Grooves. I'm going to look for a comparison between the grooves and 15" HHX Evolution.
Well done..
All sound good...HHX...PARAGONS...MY FAVES😊
I enjoyed your demonstration 👍🏼 I personally have 14” AAX freq hats …. I love them …very clickety flickety and can handle burst notes too
I have 14 xcelerator hats and the 15 groove hats love them but been wanting the complex series but also been loving what meinl is doing
I have some 14" HHX groove hats and have never desired another sound ever haha. I love them so much!
My favorite hats are 15” HHX Complex medium hats. They are dark and have a lot of sizzle. I have played drums for 46 years and I’ve played a lot of hats from a lot of different brands, but these are my favorite ones! They feel buttery smooth, and they sound so great. Just a joy to play.
Runner up: 14” Dream Bliss hats I got recently on Black Friday sale for $99. They are pretty light, at 796/977 grams. These sound like some lighter 70s hats I’ve played, and you can really get some great sounds from them.
I enjoy your videos immensely. Thanks for taking the time to make them. Keep ‘em coming!
Hiya! I can imagine the Complex hats sound incredible! I recently got my hands on a new range of HH cymbals and they are dark! Super pleased you like my videos!
Very nice demo! I very like 15 Groove which you demonstrated. I have 14 byzance medium trad, AA rock 15 and istanbul mehmet 16 trad light. Very like byzance tone but this is so loud when opened when you playing gigs in clubs even tho I playing heavy stuff. So now I use it more often for "records" and just playing for fun. For indoor gigs I using 16 mehmet, it so smooth and not earraping audience. 15 AA have more classic "rock" sound, I using it often on outdoors gigs (tbh I prefer byzance but not want to expose it for possible rains, dust, sweat etc lol).
Definitely liked the Grooves best here - but the Artisans were really nice too.
Best I've found are 15" HHX-Celerators, although a 19" Legacy Crash over an HHX-Plosion is really fun as well. Definitely want to try some more 15/16"s, especially the new Legacy ones.
I'd love to try some 15" HHX X-Celerator hats! Loving some of your ideas for bigger hats - I always think of the Thomas Pridgen Drumeo video!
@@louistotalcontrol yeah I mean I only tried it out of curiosity because I had them both, and was very surprised: drive.google.com/open?id=1fGT9bIPJMGVOdIse8DQFOvsAGDb8tynG
Great video. I played 13” HH fusion hats for years. Moved up to 14” AAX fusion hats but found that the HHX Evolution top is a much better fit than the AAX top. Sadly the fusion hats are no longer made but mixing top hats with the super heavy bottom is fun to experiment with.
Every UA-camr asks for the viewers opinions in the comments section but I love how you *actually* respond. Fantastic playing!
I'm still fairly new to drumming, playing 8 months. But I got a sweet deal on 14" Paragon hats today and I'm very happy with them ahaha great video :)
I def. try my best to keep up with comments and genuinely reach out! Amazing about the hi-hats - enjoy!!
Love all! All looks and sounds amazing in very different situations. My favorite for all is Hhx 15 Groove hats!!!!
The Groove Hats are rather dreamy☺️
Those 14" paragon hats sound quite a bit like a pair of 1980's zildjian new beat hats i used to own. Still regret getting rid of them.
Those Artisan Vault 13s sound great! I have a drummer friend with a really special set of K/Z 13s. I ask her to sell them to me just about every time we get together. She never budges. These AVs remind me of those K/Zs in the best way.
Kevin Osborn Don’t they just! Are you able to source these magic cymbals anywhere else?
I've had my K/Z 13's since the early 90's Love 'em :)
Hey Kevin just saw your post...It's a few years old, but if you're looking for that K / Z in Sabians...The 13" Fusion AAX's are the answer to those. Medium top extra heavy bottom. Natural finish sounds very close to those K / Z's indeed...Best of luck!
That was a delight! Nice chops as well.
15" 2002 Sound Edge - produced in '77
2002 produced in 77? They waited 25 years to release them?!?!
The Sabian artisans are my fav sounding hats overall.
I like the 14s and 15s best though.
Appreciate you watching the video and commenting - the 15" Groove hats are current favs for me! Although I'm just about to take delivery of some HH 14" medium hats...!
Great picks! My favorite is the Meinl byzance 14" sand hat. So musical and versatile and it feels like butter to play on.
Glad you like my picks - yes, Byzance hi-hats are really smooth!
Just picked up a pair of AAX Freq 14" hats and they're beautiful. Beefy, yes, but just on the edge of crisp, right where I like it.
I've yet to try Freq hats in my studio but they look insane and sound great in sound demos I've heard!
You find them beefy? I just got some and have found them to be WAY too bright, but I’m also coming off of playing 15s for years, so perhaps my ear is attuned to that kind of beefiness. I’ll probably opt for the 15” Groove Hats after watching this.
I learned something here. I've using 14" Zildjian Quickbeats to try and find that crisp Copeand-esque very prominent hats sound. I need to try 13s. When it comes to bronze I have no allegiance. I'll play anything that sounds appealing
HHX Groove hats all day
AMEN!
@@louistotalcontrol gotta add the 16" AAX X-Plosion hats to the list, Sabian did a proper job making a set of big hats that can still be crisp and articulate.
@@nathankleber9150 I'd love to try them!
@@louistotalcontrol dude, i gotta know: what were those hats you were using in your sabian master class? They looked like some 16 or 17" HHX somethings... And that main crash on the left, an HHX ISO??? Is that a custom shop pie or is it gonna be a production item? I love the aax iso crashes, even saw a set of prototype iso hats on reverb one time. hhx deserves iso pies as well!
Always wanted X-Celerators. Check out AAX (or HH) Fusion hats if you haven't already.
I was fortunate enough to own a pair of HH 13” Fusion hats… loved them (and regret selling them!)
@@louistotalcontrol Ah!
Snar sound good
My dream setup (not giging setup but the monster kit I’ll build when I’m out of college). Will have lots of remote hats all sounding different
So this video was great for getting ideas!
brettzilla craft sounds absolutely epic - I’m glad I helped!
I have a set of the complex 15s and they are magic. I also have a set of fierce hats thats i was lucky enough to find in 14" size that also sound great.
jermss you’re one lucky drummer - the entire Complex line is beautiful!
@@louistotalcontrol single with no kids! helps the drum collecting a lot!
jermss sounds dangerous😆what other SABIAN cymbals do you own? Any favs?
@@louistotalcontrol well I got the complex performance set that has 15, 19 and 22, the fierce hats and actually today i ordered an hh raw bell dry ride brilliant finish for 200 USD I just couldn't pass it up. I like the complex ride but I like something with a little more stick and those rides sound great and I prefer the added slight glassy sound with the brilliant finish. I've just always been at home with sabian ever since my b8s. what would be your desert island ride and hats?
@@jermss_ All I can say is that you have fantastic taste! I also own a brilliant HH Raw Bell Dry Ride and it's exactly as you described. My desert island ride/hats is probably something like the HHX Groove ride and HHX Groove Hats. However, there are too many to choose from!
My favorite hi hats are the 14" AAX Medium Hats
A fine choice!
The common perception that brilliant finish cymbals are higher pitched or "brighter" is a classic example of "hearing with the eyes".. the brilliant finish process either buffs the cymbal surface which makes the cymbal thinner, hence lower pitched, or in the case of some manufacturers it's an additional coating which will damp the response slightly and reduce the high frequencies. If you contact the cymbal manufacturers they'll confirm this, or try doing a direct comparison test of two cymbals which are identical other than the finish. Natural finish will be higher pitched.
Not sure about this - I listen to like for like cymbals in brilliant & natural and the brilliant one sounds way brighter.
Oh, hell yeah! The 15" HHX hats rule the roost here! Lovely.
🥳
Regarding other hats, I'm currently using AA 12" Mini hats as my mains now and couldn't be happier. The gap between the snare is a bit awkward, so I'll probably get a pair of HHX EVO as my main, and keep the AAs just to the right of them.
I've yet to try any 12" hats but I bet they sizzle!! HHX Evolution hats are really lovely - they were the first pro hats I purchased as a kid.
@@louistotalcontrol They sizzled a bit to much and sounded kinda rough to be honest. I now use them as part of stacks with AAX 14" china and AAX 15" Xtreme China. AAX 13" Fast hats as mains now, AAs in stacks, and Vault Radia 9"s mounted on the kick.
Nice playing, and some very nice hats...14" AAX Freq hats, 14" 90's Zildjian New beats, 13" AAX Fusion (natural finish), and 13" Zildjian K hybrid hats are my picks for best in show!
Some excellent picks!
Those where ineed useful ones! NICE upload!
I decided to go with the 13" HHX Evolution Hi-Hat. That was 5 years ago and I don't regret at all. The sound, closed and open, is phenomenal and because of 13", quiet high.
The only "downside" there may be is that it cuts so hard in the mix, it's quiet omnipresent in the mix. To level the HiHat with my other cymbals can get a bit difficult :D
Speck Sparrow my favourite drummer favours them (Jose Pasillas of Incubus) and I used to own a pair... gutted I got rid of them!
@@louistotalcontrol really, oh that's unfortunate! I was looking for a second Hi-Hat (closed, on the right side of the kit), that matches mine.. but that turned out to be really difficult. I just couldn't decide on 1 pair.. you know? to be like "this is it. 100%." I would buy them all, but that's not an option, I guess 😂
Your kick and SLP sound awesome.
On another note, check out the Zildjian New Beat, the K Custom Session, the K Light Hats, and the Sabian HHX Evolution (All in 14").
Those are the best hi hats I've ever come across in my life.
Thanks man. Great vid. I have a pair of Savian Vault 14”, I absolutely love them. I’ve had them for over 10 years now I believe. Bought them brand new. I am looking for something a little quicker with some extra crisp. The artisan and paragon have really peaked my interest. I’m gonna do some more research on those 2. I was thinking I should go Ziljian on my hats(I use a sweet ride and AAX dark crashes) but so far I haven’t like any ziljian hats I’ve heard except the K sweets but all 4 of these sound better to me. The Paiste Signature Dark Crisp peaked my interest as well, so far. Thanks for sharing man.
Thanks for your comment - I'd recommend you check out the SABIAN 13" HHX Evolution hi-hats if you want a quick, crisp sound.
i had those hhx groove hats but 14 inch. they were great. unfortunately i sold all my drum stuff so i could get a ticket to escape my country lol
Great Video - I am now looking for my first 'proper' set of cymbals - hi hat first - have no idea what to go for
Thank you! What's your budget? Maybe I can help you whittle it down!
Louis Sellers - second hand up to about £300 ??
You’ll be able to get a lovely set for that. Pop me an email at info@totalcontroldrumtuition.com and I’ll offer suggestions.
Hi, Gordon from Montreal, Canada! Session drummer I am! I also have the 14 inch paragon hats! You are right about this set: so versatile! Thanks for sharing your hihats choice! The HHX groove hats are awesome too. Probably my next purchase!
I am a Sabian endorse too🥁😎
Howdy, Gorgon - nice to meet you! Stoked you enjoyed the video and share similar taste to me. Let me know how you get on with the future purchase - you won't regret it :)
I love my 14 HHX Manhattan Jazz!
Awesome... I bet they sound really smooth!
Love your format on these videos, man.
I have quite a few pairs of Sabian hats including the brilliant finish 14” X-celerators.
If I had to pick a top 4 it would be:
14” AAX Stage hats (these sound just perfect for me and incredibly affordable if you can find them used!)
14” HHX Evolution hats (shoutout to Dave Weckl and Jose Pasillas ultimately for introducing me to the Evolutions!)
14” AA Sizzle hats (I believe Sabian discontinued these and they’re pretty rare)
13” AAX Stage hats (when I want a bit more brightness!)
On my wishlist is definitely the 14” HHX Click Hats and maybe a dryer set of hats like the 14” XSR Monarchs
Pleased to hear, Eric - more to follow in the future. LOVE your top picks, esp. the 14" Evo hats!
I like you drum sound, congratulations!!! What is your snare drum in that video?
Thank you - I believe I'm using my Tama Bell Brass snare!
Very informative thanks 😊
Glad it was helpful!
Great video demonstration. I like the 15” Groove hats and was thinking about getting that same size and model. My question is do you think those 15” Groove hats will cut through on stage ( not miked) playing R&B Funk and Motown style music? Thanks again for a nice video and playing.
Ah the 15" Groove hats are delicious! Honestly, I do think they will cut through but in a really musical and pleasing way!
Well, the sound man just told me to leave them without a mic but just the overhead because they cut really well live and that was for the 14" ones...I find the open sound to be a little harsh sometimes but closed they really sound nice and btw, I prefer them over the other 3 in this presentation but the paragon hats sound great too.
Sabian Paragon is amazing! 🔥
I got Zildjian 15" K light hats right now, but I've always loved sabian more than zildjian. looking to get 14" evolutions because of their versatility. But I'm also wanting some 18" AA sick hats or 15" artisan light hats.
My most loved cymbal however is my HHX 3-point ride! I highly suggest you check it out!
Love this video man you just got a new subscriber!
I started with 13" Evolution hats and they were the BEST - I can imagine the 14" model sounds nice. I've always loved the look of the 3-point ride :) thank you so much for subscribing!
Great video. Those 15 inch groove hats sounds amazing. Right now my favorites are the 15 inch HHX evolution hi hats. (Brilliant finish) I love the balance of bright and dark sounds they give.
They are beautiful cymbals, for sure! I played 13" Evo hats in my former years and can only imagine 15" versions sound lush!
Funny if you never played those 13 in AAX, for this video you described them perfectly. I heard Stewart Copeland and they were very high pitched.
They def. have a SC thing going on!
i’m gonna get me a pair of them HHX groove hats bby gurlll
You won’t regret it!
For some reason I have never liked the sound of any 13 inch hats or 15+ inch....14 is perfect for me. Getting o set of HHX Evolutions today
14" Evo hats will be delightful - let me know how you get on!
Oy nice video mate
I like extra light weight hi hats. That's plenty enough hi hat volume for me.
15” evolution hatsssss
Holy grail hi-hats!!