Sabian AAX Stage Hi-Hats

Just purchased my new set of 14" SABIAN Stage Hi-Hats, great sound for most of the time but when I try to play with both hands ie 16th note patterns on the hi-hats they dont sound good. My old Paiste 101's were the same.

I am only a beginner and I'm thinking its my technique. I've tried different levels of pressure on my also newly acquired TAMA HH75W pedal and strinking the hi-hat at different strengths but I cant seem to get a good sound from them.

I know they sound different in real life than they do on records etc but they just dont sound good. I can get good sounds ,nice chick etc when I play 8th notes with one hand, its just when I try playing 16ths with both hands, it dont sound right.

Can anyone think of anything that I may be doing wrongly and perhaps point me in the right direction.

Thanks from a beginner

Huddo

Be sure that you don't have the top hihat cymbal chocked to tight in the hihat clutch or the part that holds the top cymbal to the stem. It should swing pretty freely to let the cymbal ring. Just loosen off the tightening screws a bit.

I have tried them tight,loose all ways and still cant get good sound from them. I'm thinking it is my technique as they sound good when i'm doing 8th notes with one hand.

When I have them with the 'chick' sound it just sounds very mechanical and doesn't sound good, when I have them loose they sound very washy and the strokes just blend into that loose washy sound. I have never played with a band and perhaps they would sound good with other musical instruments (???????)

If you go to the SABIAN website and listen to the cymbals they dont sound anything like the sound i'm getting from mine, even when playing 8th notes.

Did you try the little tilt thing on the bottom of the hit hat to get away from that air lock sound?

Yes tried that, didnt make any difference.

I would describe the difference between the sound of my hats in the flesh and on the website is that there is much more high-tone ringing from my hats, is this normal ?

I know they have probably edited the sound on the website is it normal to have a highend tone from them ?

Can someone with AAX Stage hi-hats listen to them on the Sabian site and tell me if theres sound the same, im getting paranoid now that I have been sold some dud ones.

Hmmm...they sound a lot like mine I think. It sounds like those quick 32nd note diddles are executed with the tip of the stick on top of the hats. That makes it sound brighter than using the shoulder at the edge of the hats. Is that it perhaps? Or are you pressing down too hard with your foot.

Just a couple of ideas. Not sure if you explored those yet. I doubt they are duds if they sound good when you play 8th notes. Good luck.

That's what I was wondering. Tip of the stick on top, or shoulder on the edge? Both methods sound different and would be useful in different situations IMO. I have Sabian AAX Fast Hats and when I play with both hands on the hats, sometimes it's with the tip, other times shoulder on edge - depends on the situation. I don't know mang

Things to consider. Did you try them in the shop, and did they sound good there? If so, how different is the room you're playing in? If you're in a small room, or there's a low roof, you'll hear all sorts of ringing and overtones that will not be as noticeable in a larger room. They'll sound louder and harsher, and will not sound like the cymbals you heard on the recording, but that doesn't mean they're actually any different.

Technique: play the tips on top about halfway between the edge and the bell.

Or, play the edge with shoulders of sticks for a more raw sound. Either way, the strokes need to be even and the same volume except for accents. How's your 1/16ths on a practise pad or any other surface? Have you checked that your 1/16 ths are good ? That's worth a check before looking at the quality of the hats.

Food for thought anyway.

mmmm could be the room, its a tiny bedroom I play in, not much bigger than the drumkit itself, I think this may have something to do with it and I'm thinking Its probably my technique on the 16ths, Im just a beginner so theres plenty of time to practise and get it right.

One further point when the SABIAN website refers to a loud open hit what exactly is this, is it just playing the top hi-hat with them completely open or is it with them closed but not too tight to get a washy sound ???

Don't know for sure without hearin it, but I would venture very open, but the hats should still clang together. I usually set my hats for the most amount of "sizzle" I want (a bit more than a sizzle actually, but I don't keep them wide open like some players), and then work everything from closed and in-between. Much of the feel and the "size" of your sound come from how you work the hats.

i wouldn't base any decisions on those cymbals sounds you hear online, whether it's sabian, zildjian, or anyone else. Most cymbals vary in sound quite a bit, even if they are the same size and model. For instance, i played 2 zildjian k dark crashes w/ the same diamter at this music store and they sounded COMPLETELY different.

What i did last time i bought a cymbal was bring in another cymbal from my kit to match it soundwise. Last time i needed a crash, so i brought the crash i already had with me.

Though cymbals can vary within a model, i.e. K dark crashes, they never vary so much that you can't hear the main characteristic of the series. For instance, on a website, I heard sound bites of about 6 x 20" Istanbul agop signature rides. They all varied in pitch, but they all had the same type of overall sound in common, a washy, dark sound. I've heard the sabian HHX evolution 18" crash at sabians site, and it sounds exactly the same as mine. I've heard all my zildjian cymbals at the zildjian site, and they all sound the same. However, it's always good to play them in a shop first.