MP3 Poll: Which hats do you like best?

These 4 hi hat pairs were recorded by Michael Vosbein at Bosphorus USA, for my review and possible purchase. I originally heard some heavy weight New Orleans hats (1050g over 1296g) that I fell in love with, and Michael is being kind to attempt to find me something that I will like that is already available in this hemisphere.

I have a few thoughts on these, but I'm curious to see what your opinions are on them. Michael is all for this poll -- he thought it would be fun to get opinions from the interwebz.

LISTEN HERE:

http://www.mediafire.com/?1mjjydy3qgd

Hi Hat Models:

1) Traditional series Bright hats, 1000g over 1200g

2) Master series hats, 950g over 1156g

3) Turk series Dark hats, 960g over 1120g

4) New Orleans series hats, 890g over 1070g

Please do me a favor -- once you've listened and voted, share your thoughts in a post. I'd like to know more than which one you like, I'd like to know why.

The first one has a lovely open and half open noise. I like it. The second one, I don't like at all. Third has that trashy edge, not really my style. And the fourth was nice also. First being my favorite.

Loss.......to be honest they all sounded the same to me but if I had to choose one pair it would have to be the Masters for their sizzle effects.

The second pair is winning by a landslide on another forum I belong to.

I voted for the first pair. In truth I don't care much for any of them, which surprised me because I've heard some Bosphorus rides to die for. Haven't heard their hats, though.

I'm not sure about the recording--seemed to be lacking in highs. Computer speakers are no standard by which to judge, but other things sound okay. This sounded like the FR took a nose dive after 5kHz or so. AM radio.

Either that or they're all super dark!

First pair was the only one with a good enough chick for me to consider. The pair also sounded good together.

Second pair sounded off somehow, maybe a poor matchup between top and bottom.

Third pair, ditto but better. Still, meh.

Fourth pair, well matched pair. Dark, but without the complexity you hear from, say, Constantinople Ks--just dark, not dark and rich if you know what I mean.

Sorry loss, I'm not much help here. None of 'em float my boat.

Yeah the second. Has a nice blend of brightness and dryness. Needs a hair more chink to the sticked - stucked? sound. I can't get over NewBeats.

The first pair. second.

Third pair sounded like 1940s hats.

Fourth pair sounded like 50s hats.

Deliberately didn't read any comments until I'd made my mind up and I listened 3 times till I was sure. Definitely No2. I had to play the samples a few times as it was a close run thing: No 1 sounded good also, but had a bright chime when open that niggled. We're splitting hairs, though.

Didn't like No3 at all. Yuk. No 4, I could take or leave (nothing that inspiring).

PS, is this the point when you tell us they're all the same hi-hat and we look like total d*cks??

LOL, no. The models are stated on the recording and listed on the post.

Depends on what you are looking for, but I would agree.

I don't have the most distinguished ear but...they all sound nice & pretty heavy but # 2 seemed to have the most brightness combined with heavy aspect.

Tough to tell on here. I picked 3. But it's just not the same as "being there". Plus, those are what "I" liked. Not even sure what your lookin' for J, or if any a simalar to the New Orleans hats you talk about.

Hey, tell Mike, Mark Ogle said "Hi!"

Traditional - a bit trashy for my taste in hats, but surprisingly bright for the trashy-ness

Masters - a bit trashy for my taste in hats

Turk - too heavy sounding

New Orleans - same as Masters

so, I don't really like any of them, but if I had to choose, I would say the Turk Darks are my favorites

More info:

Since these hats are for me, I wanted to share some further insight of what I'm looking for. I want a set of hats in a heavier weight because of the volume and articulation they will give me. I have owned other brands and models before, but when I heard the heavy New Orleans hats there was something special about them. They had a bit of raw "bite" to them that other hats don't have, and although they interacted well together when sizzled, they didn't lose their articulation and offered a tight "chick" sound when played by foot or by stick on the closed hat. Open, they were warm and musical, and not overly complex, but just unique enough that they were definitely NOT an off-the-shelf pair from one of the larger manufacturers. They seemed to have a fairly stiff response, because of the heavier weight.

This is the best I can do to describe them -- and all that said, I'm not sure any of these four are firing all cylinders for me.

Pair #1 is too bright and sizzly for me. I had returned a pair of Traditional Crisp hats in favor of the New Orleans special order, for the same reason.

Pair #2 sounds great, but again feels just too "loose" in the chick. PLUS, I already own these hats in the 13" size, and this sample seems like a slightly lower-pitched version of the sound I already have.

Pair #3 sounded in the pitch range of what I'm looking for, but again seemed "loose" to me because of the weight issue. The hats I want would need to play and react more firmly.

Pair #4 was a little too complex, and definitely too lightweight. I think the heavier version of these I heard had a bit tighter tone.

Any thoughts, my forum brothers?

My tastes are prolly way off of yours, but the only ones that had any chick to speak of were the first. The rest didn't have any. But that's just me.

The demo's a big factor too. Generic Jazz in this case.

Yup. I have to say I much prefer the demo videos on mycymbal.com (Memphis Drum Shop's site).

OK here's how I ranked them

4, 1, 2, 3,

My girlfriend (who doesn't play, but has a fantastic musical ear from her years at Julliard) picked 1, 4, 2, 3

But it was very close between 4 and 1. I chose 4 because I like a little darker sound, but perhaps 1 would be a better choice for versatility.

2 was too bright and 3 was too dark.

Of course all of this is clouded by so many factors like how they were recorded, mics, the fact that it's been compressed for Mp3 etc...

Do yourself a favor and find your self a pair of paiste sound creation dark hats from the early 80's. They will give you all the answers you seek.

(sorry..can't resist)

I liked this order..

3-4-2-1

3 was nice, 4 was a little heavier but nice, 2 was nice and lite but too bright, and 1 was super heavy and clangy.

But I listened on laptop speakers so...

None of them did it for me...

Damn, I wish I could load this on my iPhone. I won't have internet until September. Is there a way someone can reload the audio with YouTube or something streamable?

This is pretty much exactly what I thought as well.

I prefered the 2nd set the best, but even they lacked a little something. Could use a fatter chick sound on closed sticking and on closing the hats. The had a nice sizzle that was pleasing to the ear though.