Crashes as Hi-Hat Tops

[KCMcC]

I currently have on my set some 14" sabian HH regular hats (I bought them used in 94)
I like them alot, but I have occasionally switched up to using the HH hat top as a bottom, and my 14" K custom dark Crash as a top. I like this sound even more, crisp and funkily dark, with just enought trash to make it unique, but not so much as to make it weird or innapropriate. It ends up being a light top, medium bottom, as opposed to a medium top, heavy bottom.

That brings me to 2 questions (2.5 maybe)

1. Are there any serious issues for this as far as durabilty goes, putting a cymbal as thin as a crash up against another cymbal and then hitting it 8 times every measure as opposed to a couple times per song (obviously there is more wear and tear, but is it enough to worry about from a practical perspective)?

2. For those of you have dones similar things, or for those who like thinking about this sort of thing, what would be some good crashes to try. I like the 14" K too much as a crash to just start using it this way, but I figure I can basically double my hi-hat options for the price of a single crash. Since I like the 14" K custom dark, the K dark thin, and probably something from the HH line jump to mind immediately, maybe a 14" dream? Anything else?

[rendezvous_drummer]

Ronnie Vanucci uses two 16" crashes as his hi hats....and they sound awesome. I don't see anything wrong with it. They should be fairly durable.

[Deathmetalconga]

SOunds like a neat idea. I'd think the chick would be diminished some, but the wash would be very bright and controllable.

www.terrasonus.com

[KCMcC]

The chick is still pretty solid, a little darker, but still noticeable (and perhaps more differentiated from the ride cymbal) and I love the stick sound (open, closed, and inbetween).
My biggest question is the durability one, and if it seems okay on that, what would be some interesting crashes to try it out with (especially if they are also decent in their own right as crashes, cause that way by buying 1 crash, I'd be 1. Doubling my hi-hats, 2. Adding a crash)

I tried the Crash with the hat bottoms, but the difference was too much I guess, it just sounded harsh and a weird combination of clang and trash with nothing inbetween.

[mofle]

Ahmir Thompson ( from the Roots) does it too. I Scanned his gear from Modern Drummer for you!

I think a lot of drummers do this, and it works GREAT for Ahmir.

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o110/OleMofjell/AhmirThompsonGear.jpg

[TopCat]

Ahmir Thompson ( from the Roots) does it too. I Scanned his gear from Modern Drummer for you!

I think a lot of drummers do this, and it works GREAT for Ahmir.

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o110/OleMofjell/AhmirThompsonGear.jpg

In the lastest rhythm, he said he used two 14 Vintage K crashes' for hats. Kerrazy.

[Drumms]

I used to use a 14" Stagg SH regular crash over a brass bottom, it made a pretty dark, trashy and soft hi-hat. Nothing exceptionnal, but far better than an all-brass pair.

[evans_69]

10" k splash top with 10" k custom splash bottom lol.........lovely mini hats

[Drummer Karl]

Yeah, that idea is cool.
I think they should be as durable as normal Hi-Hat cymbals.

My drum teacher just cut down an old 18" Paiste Signature crash to 14" and used it with another bottom cymbal as the Hi-Hat top cymbal. Haha, this thing sounds crazy...in a positive way. although it is better to use a real 14" crash as a hat cymbal because through cutting a bigger cymbal down the profile is usually very flat and so also the chick sound goes away.

Overall it is great to do this, sounds unique...

PS: lol, ever tried a 24" Hi-hat??? :-D

Karl

[hauk]

PS: lol, ever tried a 24" Hi-hat??? :-D

Karl

i imagine you'd have to retrofit your hi-hat stand or else the weight would pull the hats down to always closed, lol
that would be absolute insanity

[mofle]

PS: lol, ever tried a 24" Hi-hat??? :-D

Karl

I tried a 20'', I used a 20'' Paiste 2002 Medium and a Sabian 20'' HH Chineese, sounded aweful! I stick to 10''- 15'' from now Karl. Don't go to a shop and buy two 24'' Crashes now!

[Solaris]

Nothing wrong with using crashes as hats. with the durability question I think you may just need to be a bit careful about laying into them heaps, but I'm guessing you're not using them in a rock band so it shouldn't that much of an issue.

I remember ?uestlove mentioning that he has to check himself with his hat work so he doesn't p;lay to heavily and break one of the cymbals.


All in all, with the proper care they should be fine.

[fusssion]

Ronnie Vanucci uses two 16" crashes as his hi hats....and they sound awesome. I don't see anything wrong with it. They should be fairly durable.


A concept started by Steve Jordan if I'm not mistaken...............

[KCMcC]

but I'm guessing you're not using them in a rock band so it shouldn't that much of an issue.


Oh, no. We're a rock band. We're a very bluesy, funk based rock band though (we may actually be a funky blues based rock band, or a rocking funk based blues band, but I'm pretty sure it's the first one). I prefer the darker sound and I don't feel a need to slice through the guitars with a superloud highpitched cymbal sound. Plus both guitarists play amps that are capable of gaining out and warming up at fairly low volume, one plays a Mesa Blue Angel that he usually switches to the 15Watt setting, and the other plays a matchless clubman that's only 35Watts.

A concept started by Steve Jordan if I'm not mistaken...............

I can't speak to that one way or another, but I would point out that there was certainly a time after the hi-hat was invented as a device, but before specific cymbals were designated as hi-hats, or as hi-hat tops and bottoms.

[fusssion]

I can't speak to that one way or another, but I would point out that there was certainly a time after the hi-hat was invented as a device, but before specific cymbals were designated as hi-hats, or as hi-hat tops and bottoms.

Oh...let me re-iterate....I mean...Steve Jordan had put together a prototype set of 16" hi-hats back in the 90's...can't remember what company did them....but I think it was Paiste.
That's what I meant....16" hi-hats is what he started...I think ...at least having a company make them for him,...not necessarily just putting cymbals together to make a hi-hat.